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Purpose: The Division of Conservation Districts provides administrative
support to the State Conservation Commission, which
develops policy and regulations for the State’s 28 locally elected
conservation districts. Conservation districts work for the conservation and
proper development of the state's natural resources by taking available
technical, financial and educational resources, and coordinating them to
meet the needs of landowners and land users. They often work in
cooperation with counties, the
United States Natural Resources Conservation Service, as well as other
public and private agencies for the conservation of soil, water and related
natural resources.
Mission: The division's mission is
to serve the State Conservation Commission in assisting, guiding and
regulating Nevada's 28 locally elected conservation districts to meet the
goals of Nevada land owners and land users in conserving renewable natural
resources through training and partnerships with public agencies and the
private sector.
Organizational Structure:
The Division of Conservation Districts is one of eight divisions comprising
the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The division's
acting administrator (who is designated as "acting" because this is also the
administrator of the Division of State Lands
and is not an authorized/funded FTE in the Division of Conservation
Districts) also serves as executive secretary to the State Conservation
Commission.
Statutory Authority:
NRS Chapter 548
NAC Chapter 548
Number of Employees: 3 FTE/2000;
2.5 FTE/2008 |
Accomplishments: During the biennium, several conservation
districts received training in strategic planning. Training has also
been provided to Districts to assist them in effective conservation and
management and the development of quality education programs. The
division continues to conduct training with the conservation districts
for capacity building, multi-year planning and the use of the
supervisor’s handbook.
In FY2006, conservation districts generated $27.00 for every
$1.00 of state 'grants to districts' funding received. In FY2007,
conservation districts generated more match funding of $19.00 for every
$1.00 of state grant funding. In FY2008,
the numbers showed an
impressive ability to match state funding and creativity with
partnerships to implement conservation projects throughout the state.
The amount of match generated for every dollar of state funding was an
impressive $21.73.
Like everybody else in the state, the
division has been very conservative operating on budget reductions.
Overall budget reductions were 14½ percent for the agency. The division
has filled the vacancy for an Administrative Assistant II at a reduced
part-time status. Other reductions include reductions to the CD state
grant from $5,000 to $4,200 annually, 61% reduction in out-of-state
travel, and a 31% reduction in in-state travel. Training received the
largest percentage reduction, as it has been eliminated.
The Division provided a representative to the
Walker River Steering Committee by participating with technical
assistance. This effort will help with watershed restoration and
water quantity/quality efforts in the Walker Lake basin.
Division staff continues to seek additional
funding that would allow each district to have at least one full-time
employee to assist the districts in implementing conservation programs
and expand current and ongoing conservation projects. Assistanct
to districts in grant writing and implementation is a priority.
The Nevada Association of Conservation
Districts coordinates with division staff to assist districts. The
Annual NvACD meeting of conservation districts and their partners is a
cooperative effort to assimilate the newest information, provide
assistance and coordinate district programs.
Divisional goals are being addressed as district programs expand and by
implementing conservation plans on private lands, undertaking projects
to improve water quality, taking an active role with other partners on
weed control, expanding equipment programs to provide state of the art
technology for reseeding rangelands, doing watershed restoration on the
Carson River and expanding memorandums of understanding with federal
agencies to do joint conservation programs on both private and public
lands. The Nevada Tahoe Conservation District is a leader, in conjunction with the Natural Resource Conservation
Service, in the Backyard Conservation Program.
Districts are
active in agricultural education in the classroom and have been involved
in programs such as: Adopt a Stream; Project Wet; Adopt A Watershed; the production of
educational materials, such as brochures, handbooks and videos;
conservation poster contests; the Nevada Youth Range Camp; the Steamboat
Creek restoration project; and noxious weed control activities.
The
State Conservation Commission provides all 28
locally led conservation districts with guidance in the volunteer
process of implementing conservation practices and programs.
 For
local Conservation District news, announcements and forms, please visit
our
FORMS page.
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