La Plata Conservation District ‘LPCD’ PARTNERSHIP IN SERVING LANDOWNERS JAN 2015 UPDATE

Objectives  Improve our current Healthy partnership.  LPCD Update.

‘LPCD’ - La Plata Conservation District  Response to 1930’s Dust Bowl  LPCD Established1947, Colorado State Statues

CO Revised Statutes -  Operate as ‘special district’  75 Districts in Colorado – 11 with Mil Levy, not LPCD.  Supervisors – elected officials – 7 volunteer >11  CSU Extension Ex-Officio  Partner – NRCS, Office in same building  Focus > Landowner : soil, weeds/crops, animals, water.

Powers/Duties [abbreviated]:  Conduct demonstration projects  Erect/maintain structures - prevent soil erosion  Enter into agreements  Erosion control, flood control, water conservation  Acquire/control property, including by eminent domain - flood control, or sediment control

Powers/Duties  Provide –  machinery, fertilizer, seeds and seedlings  Administer soil conservation, erosion control or prevention projects  Participate in nonpoint source water pollution control programs related to agricultural practices

Relationship with County Counties to cooperate The county commissioners of any county in which a conservation district lies in whole or in part shall cooperate with the supervisors of such district in carrying out the purposes of this article, and to that end may use the equipment of the county and persons employed by the county to do such physical work as may be required by the supervisors, and may make a reasonable charge therefor; and, if the county commissioners find that the benefits accruing to the county by reason of the program of a conservation district justify such action, they may make donations to such district of money, services, or the use of equipment.

Current work

Poster Contest – 6 th grade – Sharon Orr 2

Arbor Day – Tom Campion & Paul Gray.  2015 – th Graders  Planting & Conservation – demo

District Scholarship  2015 – Steve Phillips managing process  College  ~$1000  Durango Herald and/or District Newsletter, Facebook

Annual Tree Sale – Cecilia Whitaker 1/6/ :18 PM - Screen Clipping ~ 5000 trees annually Available - laplatacd.org April Delivery

Weed Barrier – reduce erosion and weeds.  300’ x 3’ wide - $50

PlotMaster – rental - $50/day Small Acreage Plant – cover crops Pasture reseed Erosion control

Stinger – partnership Martin Moses - Private Lands Wildlife Biologist Steam/bank erosion control - rental.

Community Outreach  Marketing ‘booth’ – First National Bank  Facebook  Website – Dave Miller  Newsletter – 2015 rollout

Workshops  2014 and 2015 ‘Dust in the air’.  Upcoming:  Partnership with ‘Animas Watershed Partnership’ – Mar 17  Managing nutrient impact in waterways  Ditch Health/Management

La Plata Conservation District grant. Bill Szilva and Dave Miller In partnership with the County  $25,000 – cost share - targeted weeds. [$0 admin fee]  50% of herbicide costs – up to $300  Engage landowners - treat approximately 500 acres.   Train landowners - weed species identification

Weed Cost Share  Administered by La Plata County Weed Management. Funded by LPCD  Onsite visit by the La Plata County Weed Manager  Multi-year integrated noxious weed treatment plan

In process grant applications  Florida River Noxious Weed - $12,500  100 Acres North of Lemon San Juan Mountains Cooperative Weed Management Area - $51,000 LPCD’s role undetermined. Inventory and simultaneous treatment of Oxeye daisy on approximately 1396 total acres located in the San Juan Mountains

Special Thanks to:  Susan Hakanson  Dust workshops, general ‘partner’  Rod Cook and Butch Knowlton  Administration and grant work assistance.  Good Team

Hoping to return -  Handout – Colorado Assoc. of Conservation Districts – Conservator  Quick update: 3 – 4 months.  Thank you.  Tom Hartnett  President, LPCD    Laplatacd.org  31 Suttle St, Durango, CO 81301