North Dakota's Collaborative Conservation Successes
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From the 2020 NACD Annual Meeting. Learn about two successful projects in North Dakota and how partnerships were crucial in their success. Learn how the District Activity Report Tool (DART), developed in coordination with the North Dakota Conservation District Employees Association and the State Soil Conservation Committee, tells the story of what districts do across the state. Learn about the Supervisor Leadership Academy Program, developed via a partnership between NDSU Extension and the North Dakota Health Department, and how it can be replicated by other conservation districts.
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North Dakota's Collaborative Conservation Successes
- 1. North Dakota’s Collaborative Success Stories Presenters: Sarah Tunge, District Manager – Mercer County SCD, N.D., Director – North Dakota Conservation District Employees Association; Bruce Schmidt, Program Coordinator – NDSU Extension Watershed & Soil Conservation Leadership Program
- 2. Background – ND State Soil Conservation Committee • 1995 ND Legislative Session – Study to integrate functions of SSCC into Sate Water Commission or NDSU Extension. • 1997 ND Legislative Session - State Soil Conservation Committee budget was consolidated into the NDSU Extension budget.
- 3. Background – ND State Soil Conservation Committee • Pros • Extension has been an active advisor. • Involvement with educational activities such as tillage demonstration. • Cons • Potential loss of funds. • SSCC lose identity.
- 4. Background – ND State Soil Conservation Committee • 2017 ND Legislative Session: • NDSU Extension has a 14.1 % cut in the 2017 Legislative Session - many other State Agencies experience the same cuts. • Legislative Management to study the need for the State Soil Conservation Committee during the interim 2017 - 2018 .
- 5. Background – ND State Soil Conservation Committee • 2017 ND Legislative Session Effects: • Due to Extension budget reductions and future funding uncertainty the SSCC – NDSU Ext. Program Leader resigns in April 2017. • Extension position remains unfilled until November 2018. Position gets partial funding from an EPA 319 Dept. of Health grant for Leadership Development.
- 6. Background – ND State Soil Conservation Committee • 2017 ND Legislative Session Effects: • December 17th 2017 Interim Agriculture Committee meet to determine the future of ND State Soil Conservation Committee. • The NDSU Administrative assistant leaves in January 2018.
- 7. ND Structural Organization Soil Conservation Districts SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS / AGENCIES State Soil Conservation Committee SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS / AGENCIES Est. 1937 Federal Conservation Law Act ND State Legislature 5 Elected SCD Supervisors - 1 from each Area NDSU Ext Soil Conservation Assistance Funding - Legislation 2 Governor Appointed Members Program Leader Operating and SCDAP Funding Administration - Regulations - Supervisor Training Coordination - Accountability in NDSU Ext Budget State Funding - Grants NDSU Ext Budget - Grants I NDSU Extension Service I USDA- NRCS District Directors / Ext. Agents Soil Districts Technical Asssitance Technical Assistance SCD Supervisors Federal Appropriations (State & County Appropriations) 3 Elected 2 Appointed District Conservation Plan ND Forest Service National Association of Mill Levy - Sales ND Dept. of Ag. & Conservation Districts (NACD) I I I ND Game & Fish National Voice I I I Technical Asssitance (Membership. Services, grants) I I I State / Federal Appropriations I I I ND Association of Soil I Conservation Districts (NDASCD) SCD District Employees I Watershed Coordinators North Dakota Legislation Proposals - Lobbiest Local Support I Local Conservation Projects Health Dept. Dues, Lincoln Oakes Nurseries Mill Levy - Grants - Sales - I Federal Funds - Mill Levy - Grants Funding I Federal Appropriation - EPA 319 ND Soil Conservation District I Employee Association (NDSCDEA) Land Owner / Land User Networking - Employee Training Organization Major Contribution Employee Memberships Organization Funding Source
- 8. Background – ND State Soil Conservation Committee • 2019 ND Legislative Session: • Continue the funding for the State Soil Conservation Committee due in great part to the changes made in response to the Legislative Review. • Bill passed to require yearly ongoing training for SCD Supervisors.
- 9. • NDCC 4.1-20-19 Soil conservation district supervisors - Training. As soon as practicable after an individual is elected or appointed to the position of a soil conservation district supervisor, the individual shall attend a training session delivered by the state soil conservation committee. An individual who has attended a training session as an elected or as an appointed soil conservation district supervisor may not be required to attend any additional or subsequent session. • NDCC 4.1-20-19 Soil conservation district supervisors - Training. As soon as practicable after an individual is elected or appointed to the position of a soil conservation district supervisor, the individual shall attend a training session delivered by the state soil conservation committee. And the individual shall attend or participate in annual training as determined by the state soil conservation committee
- 10. NEED – Lack of locally lead leadership training for people elected or appointed to conservation positions.
- 11. • Topic areas include: Basics of watershed hydrology Managing nutrients in watersheds Impacts of human activities on watersheds Roles and responsibilities of Conservation District. Recognizing the components of an effective meeting Navigating conflict successfully Group facilitation and the role of citizens in watershed planning Project planning, management and marketing. Managing human resources Recognizing current water and conservation issues in the state
- 12. Title / Year One Year Two Districts Position 5 sites 4 sites Represented SCD Supervisors 31 60 42 SCD Clerk / Mgr. / 24 9 33 District Tech 16 10 23 NRCS 8 4 10 Watershed Coord. 9 2 10 SSCC 2 4 4 Others 5 3 0 95 92
- 14. I Understand my responsibilities as a SCD or Water Resource Board member. 50.4% 73.8% 23.4% I can utilize online resources to understand watersheds. 55.5% 81.1% 25.6% I am aware of ND open meeting laws. 61.7% 80.7% 19.0% I understand how to involve citizens in watershed planning 52.6% 67.9% 15.3% Key Concept BEFORE Total AFTER Total Overall Change
- 15. I understand the value of a District watershed conservation business plan. 61.6% 90.9% 29.3% I understand how to identify resource concerns. 69.4% 87.9% 18.5% I can identify partners to help with a watershed conservation project. 60.3% 86.0% 25.7% I understand how to implement a successful watershed project. 56.3% 80.7% 24.4% I feel prepared to serve in watershed leadership role. 58.0% 77.3% 19.3% Key Concept BEFORE Total AFTER Total Overall Change
- 16. North Dakota Conservation District Employees Association District Activity Reporting Tool (DART)
- 21. Bruce Schmidt Program Coordinator NDSU Extension Watershed & Soil Conservation Leadership Program 701-328-9717 Bruce.Schmidt@ndsu.edu Sarah Tunge District Manager Mercer County Soil Conservation District 701-873-2101 ext. 3 mcscd@westriv.com
Editor's Notes
- Background information on the ND SSCC structure. 1995 no longer State Agency -
- So lets fast forward to 2017 again it’s is are tough Legislative Session Ext. has a 14.1% cut in funding And due to poor legislative session for the SSCC a Legislative Review of Duties, responsibilities and cost of SSCC was ordered ….. Basic question to be asked … is there a Need for the SCD & SSCC.
- Concerns from 1997 loss of funding and lose identity expressed in 1997 came true. Legislative management review results in Program Leader leaving position and Ext. not filling this position until November and filling it only until June 30, 2019. Relationship with partners was strained due to Legislative session…. Support staff was looking to leave …. So what kind of an idiot would apply for this position …
- So now fast forward to the Legislative management Ag Committee December meeting it was a disaster … thank goodness for the Partners testimony. No vote was taken, but if one would have been we would have failed.
- Listing of all the Partners that support the SSCC … every group spoke at the Dec. meeting. It was apparent that we had some work to do if we get a second chance. By this time I’m all alone In the office Adm. Assistant left … But after doing a lot of damage control on April 12 second shot before the Legislative Review …. And it was successful .
- Going into the 2019 Legislative Session the outlook was positive and the 2019 Session was a good Session …. Ripple effect from Study was need to change the NDCC with mandatory training.
- So while all of this was going on NDSU Extension Leadership Academy started its planning in August 2017 with funding from EPA 319 grant. The grant money would be how the Program Leader position gets funding 50% …. Also funding to develop an educational program for SCD Supervisors / District Staff A locally delivered educational program to build participant’s skills and enhance their ability to lead soil and water conservation and community-based projects that will protect soil and water quality for future generations.
- It was decided the training needed to be 2 days of training – since EPA 319 funding had a number of water quality topics – along with conduct effect meetings and how to conduct program planning. Advisory Board of Extension, Dept. of Health and District SCD selected the topics. – Extension Team had very Little to no knowledge of the SCD so after the first meeting we did some tweaking but overall the planning team did A good job selecting and developing the curriculum. One glitch the training was called Watershed Leadership training.
- So here are the results – first the attendees make up Year one 2018 - 30% of attendees were Supervisors – intended audience Year Two 2019 - 60% ….. Only had 4 sites due to snowstorm and not rescheduling. NRCS grant in Sept 2018 – Ext Team developed a Level Two training, topics which builds on Level one training and now it is a only one day training. The NRCS grant also allows the development of follow-up online you tube videos – 10 to 12 minute training session for the Districts to view at monthly meetings. After 3 sites - 62 attendees 61% Supervisors and added 4 Districts that had not attended previously. Site #4 was today And one additional site Feb 18th – on track for 100 attendees.
- Overall change = increased knowledge
- In Sept. 2019 – renewed the EPA 319 grant and plans are to repeat Level Two training in 2021 and Plans are to develop a Level Three for 2021 – 2022.