Celebrating Conservation Districts

Celebrating Conservation Districts. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.

Governor Kulongoski has proclaimed November 1st through November 7th as Soil and Water Conservation District Week in Oregon. For nearly 70 years, Oregon's soil and water conservation districts have helped protect the state's natural resources through varied but effective projects and programs that continue to stand the test of time.

JAINDL:  The districts are an essential component of the state's effort to address conservation needs whether its for soil conservation, water conservation, or fish and wildlife.

Ray Jaindl (JAN-dull) of the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Division says the governor's proclamation gives the elected district directors, staff, and volunteers a well deserved pat-on-the-back. He says they all play an important role.

JAINDL:  Sustaining our fish and wildlife- looking for opportunities that can contribute to providing the habitat they need while maintaining the economic viability of agricultural activities, the farms and ranches that we have throughout the state.

There are 46 soil and water conservation districts that include 305 elected directors, about 200 employees, and hundreds of volunteers working to protect and enhance Oregon's conservation needs in both rural and urban counties of the state. The proclamation will hopefully result in more Oregonians recognizing all the good work being done. Jaindl says urban Oregonians may not always see all the work that soil and water conservation districts do for all areas of the state.

JAINDL: They appreciate the outcome of their efforts but they never realize how it gets there. That's, government is that way. Things are not noticed until they go wrong. The districts are doing things right in many areas by helping their neighbors, helping the landowners.

Jaindl says without the districts and their long history of successful efforts, Oregon' wouldn't be as far along in achieving conservation goals.

JAINDL: It's a matter of starting off at ground zero or starting halfway in. That's what we've been able to do because the districts have been there since early on as conservation became a strong effort in this state.

That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.