Welcome to the 79th Annual Meeting of the National Association of Conservation Districts!
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Meeting of the Legislative Committee, comprised of NACD board members from the following 19 states and territories: Alaska, American Samoa, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming. Perimeter seating open to all.
Meeting of the NACD Board of Directors members from the Northeast Region: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia. Perimeter seating open to all.
Join Dr. Ariel Rivers, NACD’s Director of Membership Engagement, to learn more about NACD and meet new friends and colleagues! We invite anyone to attend who is new to the organization or the NACD Annual Meeting, or is interested in learning more about what NACD does and how we function. We’ll go over how to navigate the meeting to have a great experience, provide introductions to NACD leadership, staff, and members, and network around NACD programs and activities. Bring questions!
Indy Urban Acres (IUA) is a non- profit urban farm that harvests 60,000 pounds of produce annually in Indianapolis, IN and distributes all of its produce to local community partners that serve individuals experiencing food insecurity. IUA serves 250 families in need through its veggie box program and engages over 1000 volunteers annually. Come learn about the conservation partnership between IUA and Marion County SWCD that has implemented a variety of soil health practices on the farm.
As part of the ACTION Climate-Smart Commodities Partnership project being led by OpenTEAM, CTIC, Houston Engineering and The Nature Conservancy are leading development of the CTIC Conservation Connector, a new web app whose initial purpose is to allow farmers, ranchers, landowners and trusted advisors find conservation and climate-smart ag programs available to them, as well as service providers who can assist with the planning, implementation, and verification of incentivized practices.
Hear two exciting presentations during this session!
Capacity Through Partnerships in Times of Need - Within North Carolina, we have an agreement that allows employees in the conservation partnership to be trained to complete Damage Survey Reports (DSR's) in response to natural disaster to expedite the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP). This agreement builds capacity, enhances partnerships, and supports the mission of delivering conservation in real times of great need. David and I will share the successes of the work performed through our agreement. We will highlight the steps taken to get the agreement in place and accomplishments and services provided to citizens and local governments.
The Emergency Watershed Protection Program in East Providence: A Case Study In Partnership - Rhode Island USDA NRCS is a nationwide leader in using Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) funding to conserve land and assist residents in the state's increasing number of flood prone areas. In this case study, learn how USDA NRCS, Rhode Island Association of Conservation Districts, and Northern Rhode Island Conservation District worked together with the City of East Providence and other stakeholders to bring relief to residents of a flood prone neighborhood along the Runnins River.
Hear two exciting presentations during this session!
Georgia's Conservation Districts and Feral Hog Control - Feral swine are one of the greatest invasive species challenges facing Georgia causing significant damage to agricultural crops and natural resources. The economic impact of damage caused by feral swine in Georgia is estimated at over $150 million. Conservation Districts and GACD are partnering with state and federal organizations to lead multiple efforts to address this growing problem including outreach and education, equipment rental and control services.
Managing Invasive Species on Rangelands: Staying with a Wicked Problem - Invasive annual brome increase in Great Basin shrublands has altered historical fire regimes and shifted landscapes to annual grasslands. Reestablishing the values of these lands requires using available research and knowledge, but with an increased emphasis on 1) detailed long-term conservation planning with well-defined contingencies 2) flexible availability of technical and financial assistance for landscape-scale implementation and 3) integration of site-specific monitoring results.
Hear two exciting presentations during this session!
Construction of an Off-Channel Wetland Treatment System Optimized for Nutrient Removal - Clermont SWCD and the East Fork Watershed Cooperative completed construction of an off-channel nutrient removal wetland in November 2023 utilizing a 3-acre reservoir formerly connected to a low-head dam. This session will review the project design and results of a monitoring program which show that the wetland treatment system has been highly successful in reducing nutrient loads to the East Fork Little Miami River and ultimately East Fork Lake which has been experiencing annual HABs since 2009.
Incentivizing Phosphorus Reduction in the Kalamazoo River Watershed via Novel Reverse Auction Program - Supported by the US EPA's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, this 4-year collaboration between Delta Institute, Allegan Conservation District, and Michigan Farm Bureau was designed to reduce phosphorus runoff to Lake Michigan from agricultural fields through a performance-based incentive program.
Precision Farming with Smart Soil Insights: How Advanced Soil Profiling Enhances Farm Economics and Ecology
Traditional soil analysis is limited in scope and insight. Breakthroughs with in-field sensors and in-lab analytics provide a complete soil profile to help maximize yield and minimize impact.
Hear two exciting presentations during this session!
Benefits of Snow Survey to conservation in the U.S. West - Water conservation efforts in the U.S. West have benefitted from water supply forecasts based on snowpack conditions for over 100 years. This breakout session will focus on the use of NRCS Snow Survey data and reports to inform & support conservation efforts both historically and for the foreseeable future. Speakers will include NRCS Water Supply Specialists employed by the Snow Program as well as water managers from local Conservation Districts to underscore the importance of this partnership.
Engaging Climate Conversations: Helping Planners Navigate Climate Strategies - This session explores the powerful role of conservation partnerships in driving climate mitigation and resilience. Through collaboration with USDA, NRCS, and RCDs, participants will learn about the climate change and mitigation projects happening across the U.S. and gain insights on how planners can effectively guide clients in climate mitigation outreach and education. The session will include an interactive segment where participants can share their training needs and hear how to get involved.
The Taos Soil and Water Conservation District is empowering community members to play a more active role in the planning and implementation of wildfire risk reduction efforts on federal lands near Taos, New Mexico. This work is training high school students in forestry sciences while delegating oversight of forest thinning efforts to local agricultural producers who are concerned about the wellbeing of the watersheds they rely on and are eager to take action.
The ICCD Growing for Good Health Initiative was launched with a goal of inspiring and empowering our older adult population to prioritize nutrition and health through the benefits of growing and consuming fresh produce. Participants in this workshop will learn how the ICCD was able to utilize non-traditional partnerships to implement a unique specialty crops program to reach an undeserved population in Indiana County.
