Central Georgia Soil & Water Conservation District annual plan of work

CENTRAL GEORGIA SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
ANNUAL PLAN OF WORK FISCAL YEAR 2014
(July 1, 2013 June 30, 2014)
1. Purchase supplies, pay communication costs, and purchase equipment needed to conduct the District's program of protecting soil and water resources.
2. Provide educational and informational materials to schools, landowners, and other groups to promote the need for management and protection of soil and water resources.
3. Maintain membership in and pay membership dues to the National Association of Conservation Districts, the Georgia Association of Conservation District Supervisors, and the Pine Country Resource Conservation and Development Council; and to cooperate with these groups to jointly promote soil and water conservation goals.
4. Sponsor and provide funding, when available, for students to represent the District in the Envirothon program, Soils Judging teams, and other natural resource and environmental competitions.
5. Promote public understanding for the need for soil and water stewardship by purchasing and distributing conservation education materials and programs during Soil Stewardship Week.
6. Conduct the annual Conservationist-of-the-Year program in March to recognize individuals for their contributions to soil and water conservation in each of the District's seven counties. Use this recognition to promote conservation ethics to other farmers and land users.
A. Expend District funds necessary for meeting expenses and seek donations from other private groups to assist with this program.
7. Sponsor demonstrations and tours to promote water quality and Best Management Practices to farmers and other land users.
A. Expend District funds to purchase exhibits, promotional materials, and supplies; and to pay meeting expenses to promote conservation demonstrations and tours.
B. Cooperate with other agencies to hold legislative tours to educate elected officials on agricultural concerns.
8. Sponsor tuition from District funds and seek other funds for students to attend the Youth Natural Resources Conservation Workshop to introduce them to the concepts of soil and water conservation.

9. Purchase conservation equipment, as needed, to demonstrate new and innovative methods of installing Best Management Practices to farmers and landowners. Continue to promote use of the no-till drill.
10. Provide supervisors with financial resources to improve their knowledge of conservation issues, and assist supervisors with financial resources to individually promote the programs of the District. Provide per diem payment of up to $120 and mileage payment for supervisors to attend Supervisor Training and the GACDS Annual Meeting when funds are available.
11. Seek outside sources of income such as erosion and sediment control certification courses to strengthen and support District activities and programs.
12. Manage and direct funding received from grants, donations, and other sources, which assist the District in the promotion of soil and water conservation methods.
13. Arrange publicity and expend funds for public outreach to increase the public's awareness of the need for soil and water conservation.
14. Appoint committees, as necessary, to plan and conduct special District promotions of soil and water conservation programs.
15. Provide for oversight of District funds by the annual review of expenditures and income, and provide a detailed financial report to the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission at the end of each fiscal year.
16. Support and continue to seek outside sources of funds to continue the David Dykes Scholarship for Conservation for qualified district students and be involved in the selection process.
17. Continue to support the Southeast Georgia Ag. Water Initiative. Sponsor field days to inform other landowners of the Program.
18. Support the Conservation Commission's Irrigation Specialist position by providing financial and technical support.
19. Promote the Conservation Commission's "Partners for Fish & Wildlife" program by sponsoring wetland and habitat projects to protect wildlife.
20. Support the GA Department of Natural Resources' Bobwhite Quail Initiative program by encouraging landowners to restore habitat for quail.
21. Overview local governments to ensure that they are complying with the requirements of the GA Erosion and Sedimentation Act of 1975, as amended.
22. Help to find funds for technical assistance for Bleckley and Twiggs Counties.
23. Host a tour of local forest lands for the NACD Forestry Committee to show them how private forests are managed in the Southeast.

24. Support the Conservation Commission staff during the annual field trips of the Bleckley and Laurens County Schools to Gully Branch and the Tomlinson Farm by providing financial support for literature to help educate the students.
25. Host a chemigation/fertigation irrigation demonstration to educate the public on the financial and conservational benefits of this technology and provide a demonstration of how to properly install a water meter on an irrigation system.
26. Host a Local Work Group Meeting to set priorities for USDA Farm Bill programs.