Representatives from Patrick County attended the annual Area V Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation District meeting at The Barn at Pine View in Keysville, Virginia.
Guest speakers included representatives from the National Weather Service Office in Blacksburg VA; Department of Conservation and Recreation; Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District; Virginia Association Conservation District Employees; National Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Kevin Dunn, Area V Chairman.
Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District Area V includes Blue Ridge, Halifax, Lake Country, Patrick, Peaks of Otter, Peter Francisco, Piedmont, Pittsylvania, Robert E. Lee, Southside.
Representatives from Patrick County were Tony Collins, Patrick SWCD Conservation Specialist; Sandra Heath, Patrick SWCD District Manager and Stacy Horton, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Conservation District Coordinator for Patrick County.
Soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) were established in the 1930s. Today, 47 districts serve as local resources for residents in nearly all Virginia localities. Districts, which are political subdivisions of the state, manage conservation programs, employ staff and deliver conservation services.
Since the mid-1980s, DCR has relied heavily on districts to help deliver many programs aimed at controlling and preventing nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, often on a hydrologic unit basis. With their volunteer boards and more than 150 full- and part-time technical and administrative employees, districts provide a valuable delivery system for Virginia’s statewide nonpoint source pollution prevention programs.
Anyone interested in the agricultural cost-share program may contact the Patrick County Soil and Water Conservation District office at (276) 694-2911 or visit the office that is located at 104 Via Avenue, Stuart.
