Nominating Period for Supervisor Elections Opens

DUGDEMONA SWCD
SUPERVISOR’S ELECTION

NOMINATING PERIOD

OPENS: APRIL 1, 2010
CLOSES: APRIL 30, 2010

For individuals interested in Serving - Nomination Petitions can be obtained at: The Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District office located at in .
Petitions must be completed between April 1and April 30, 2010 and must be postmarked PRIOR to May 1, 2010. For more information please call, 318-628-4438, visit our website at http://dugdemonaswcd.shutterfly.com/, or email us at dugdswcd@bellsouth.net

Elections will be held on Saturday June 12, 2010

The Dugdemona Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is local unit of State Government, working under the umbrella of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry-Office of Soil & Water Conservation, and in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and others to provide landowners with conservation measures on their land.

The Dugdemona SWCD was established March 25, 1939, and includes all of Jackson and Winn Parishes, as well as the portion of Caldwell Parish west of the Ouachita River. Our office is located at 301 West Main Street, Suite 210 in Winnfield, Louisiana (2nd floor of the Winn Parish Health unit Building). Our office hours are Monday- Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts were formed to keep decision making on natural resource conservation matters at the local level. We are an important link in local, state, federal and private cooperation in all conservation and natural resource projects.

The Louisiana Conservation Program was established by resident landowners and is governed by the Board Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors is made up of local landowners. Each SWCD has three elected supervisors or board members and two appointed supervisors. The Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors meet the second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. from March thru October and at 5:00 p.m. from November thru February. We meet on the second floor of the Winn Parish Health unit Building in room 219; the Winn Parish Genealogical Historical Association’s meeting room. The meetings are open to the public and interested parties are encouraged to attend.

We have three USDA Field offices, which serve the Dugdemona SWCD. They are:
Columbia Field Office… Servicing Caldwell Parish
7128 Highway 165 South
Columbia, Louisiana 71418
(318) 649-2651 Ext. 3
Vacant, District Conservationist

Ruston Field Office…Servicing Jackson Parish
1803 Trade Drive,
Ruston, Louisiana 71270
(318) 255-3136 Ext. 3
James Shivers, District Conservationist

Natchitoches Field Office…Servicing Winn Parish
6949 Highway 1 Bypass
Natchitoches, LA 7157
(318) 357-8366 Ext. 3
Glenn Austin, District Conservationist

Becoming a Member of the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors

The Dugdemona Soil & Water Conservation District encompasses all of Winn and Jackson Parishes and a portion of Caldwell Parish. Concerned and eligible landowners in these parishes have an opportunity to help manage and conserve the natural resources in this area by serving on the Dugdemona Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board. If the issues and programs stated in this document interest you, please call Vikkie Lafollette at (318) 628-4438.

I.
Mission:

To provide leadership, education, and technical assistance through conservation planning and programs to assist all land-users in solving the needs to conserve, sustain and improve the soil, water, and other natural resources in the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District.
• By working with communities and other organizations to ensure vital natural resources will continue to enrich our lives.
• By serving as a catalyst fostering natural resource conservation.
• By listening and responding to customers, alliances and each other.
• By putting quality first and strive for improvement.
• By promoting comprehensive natural resource management.
• By provide the best assistance possible to clientele.
• By advocating voluntary solutions to solve natural resource concerns.
• By soliciting new and innovative opportunities to solve problems.
Vision:

To be recognized as the community leader by establishing partnerships
and coordination plans of action to achieve soil and water conservation.

II. Goals and Objectives:
· Establish soil and water conservation policy for the SWCD.
· Assess resource needs.
· Develop strategies to address these needs.
· Provide quality conservation education to Parish educators and school children.
· Provide land users with technical assistance.
· Develop programs to address local natural resource problems.
· Serve as a focal point for addressing local natural resource issues and coordinating various programs to help solve identified concerns.

III. Legal Authority:
Title 3, Section 1201-1219 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes defines a Soil & Water Conservation District as a governmental subdivision of the State of Louisiana, and a public body corporate and politic.

IV. Current Major Issues:
· Landowners needing technical assistance
· Surface Water Quality
· Coastal wetland loss
· Cropland erosion
· Invasive/Non-native plant species
· Urban storm water runoff
· Insufficient operating funds

V. Major Programs and Activities:
· Federal Farm Bill conservation programs
· CWA Section 319 agricultural cost-share program
· Conservation equipment rentals
· Tree seedling sales
· Approval of conservation plans
· Review of Parish planning proposals
· Conservation educational programs for Agricultural producer, school, and civic groups
· Publish SWCD newsletter
· Revise and publish annual business plan and annual report.

VI. Funding Sources:
· State government
· Local governments (Police Jury, Drainage Board)
· Local business and organization donations
· Competitive grants
· Federal grants, cooperative interagency agreements
· Tree sales and equipment rentals
· Educational workshops and seminars

VII. Expectations of SWCD Supervisors:
· Take advantage of SWCD supervisor training opportunities
· Attend board and conservation related meetings
· Participate in district programs and activities
· Serve on a LACD (Louisiana Assoc. of Conservation Districts) committee
· Be involved and responsible for SWCD program direction
· Promote soil and water conservation in the community
· Help manage SWCD staff
· Represent the SWCD in public
· Help secure financial resources

VIII. Benefits of being a SWCD Supervisor:
· Representing locals resource concerns
· Providing a voice and a service for the citizens within your SWCD
· Satisfaction of providing your time to improve the environment and sustaining local resources
· Being actively involved with assistance and educational programs
· Provide leadership in community resource conservation


Items To Consider Before Submitting a Nomination

If you are unable to answer any of these questions, please contact the SWCD Chair at (318) 628-4438 for more information.

1. Do you understand and are you committed to the mission of the District?

2. Can you devote the time, resources, and energy required of a SWCD board member?

3. Do you understand the roles and responsibilities of the District?

4. Are you willing to attend meetings regularly, making them a priority for the duration of your term?

5. Are you willing to participate in the necessary training, education, and development activities?

6. Will you actively serve on District and LACD Committees?

For individuals interested in Serving - Nomination Petitions can be obtained at:
The Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District office located at 301 West Main Street, Suite 210 in Winnfield, Louisiana 71483.

Our office is open Monday- Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Petitions must be completed between April 1 and April 30, 2010 and must be postmarked PRIOR to May 1, 2009. For more information please call:
318-628-4438, email us at dugdswcd@bellsouth.net or visit our website at http://dugdemonaswcd.shutterfly.com/

Conservation Practices For Forestland Owners

Forest landowners can now take advantage of the conservation practices available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) by applying for the program at their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or Soil and Water Conservation District office.

Funding is available for forest landowners within the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District to implement forestry practices on their property. This includes cost sharing assistance for practices such as site preparation, tree planting, fire lane construction, prescribed burning, mid-story chemical release, and many other practices for landowners in Winn, Jackson and Caldwell parishes.

Every application will be ranked according to total environmental benefits derived from the implementation of conservation practices. NRCS evaluates each application using a state and locally developed evaluation process. Local priorities are developed each year at the annual locally led conservation work group meeting. High priorities are given to applications that encourage the use of cost-effective conservation practices, address state and national conservation priorities, and optimize environmental benefits.

EQIP helps producers through cost sharing and incentive payments for the implementation of conservation practices. All EQIP activities must be carried out according to a conservation plan of operations developed by the producer, NRCS, and in cooperation with the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District.

Individuals qualifying as beginning farmers or limited-resource farmers may be eligible for increased payment rates. For more information on the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and how it may help you and your operation, in Jackson Parish visit the NRCS Ruston Field Office at 1803 Trade Drive in Ruston or contact us at (318) 255- 3136 extension 3; for Winn Parish visit the NRCS Natchitoches Field Office at 6949 LA Hwy 1 Bypass in Natchitoches or contact us at (318) 357- 8366 extension 3; for Caldwell Parish visit the NRCS Columbia Field Office at 7128 Hwy 165 South in Columbia or contact us at (318) 649-2651 extension 3; or visit the Dugdemona SWCD at 301 West Main Street, Suite 210 (upstairs in the Winn Parish Health Unit Building or contact us at (318) 628-4435.

All programs and services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or disability.

EQIP Application are being taken...

Farmers, livestock producers and other landowners can now take advantage of the conservation practices available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) by applying for the program at their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office.

"On a statewide basis, we have over 50 conservation practices that producers can sign up for right now," said James Shivers, NRCS District Conservationist. "We have cost sharing assistance for practices from fencing to ponds and from tree planting to prescribed burning. EQIP offers many practices to help farmers, livestock producers, and forest landowners install conservation on farms.

Every application will be ranked according to total environmental benefits derived from the implementation of conservation practices and the best will be funded. NRCS evaluates each application using a state and locally developed evaluation process. High priorities are given to applications that encourage the use of cost-effective conservation practices, address state and national conservation priorities and optimize environmental benefits.

EQIP helps producers through cost sharing and incentive payments for the implementation of conservation practices. All EQIP activities must be carried out according to a conservation plan of operations developed by the producer, NRCS and in cooperation with the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District.

Individuals qualifying as beginning farmers or limited-resource farmers may be eligible for a greater payment rate than other producers.

For more information on the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and how it may help you and your operation in Jackson Parish, call the Ruston Field Office at 318-255-3136, ext.3 ; for Caldwell Parish call the Columbia Field office at 318-649-2651 ext. 3; for Winn Parish call the Natchitoches Field Office at 318-357-8366 or you may call the Dugdemona SWCD office at 318-628-4438.

All programs and services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or disability.