Leading Your District To Be All That It Can Be David Williams, Deputy Director Div. of Soil & Water Conservation 2016 Spring Area Meetings

The Board of Supervisors is the District  NC G.S. 139 confers upon the Board of Supervisors the responsibility to carry out the powers and duties of the district  District supervisors may work through staff employed by the district, county, state or federal government to fulfill this responsibility  Districts may also enter into agreements with other districts or organizations

District Operational Agreement  Each district has executed an Operational Agreement to formalize a local partnership to implement a comprehensive conservation program  Parties to the OA include: –District Board of Supervisors –NRCS –County –Division of Soil & Water Conservation

Roles & Responsibilities  The parties agree to jointly commit their program authorities and financial and human resources to implement a unified conservation program in areas of mutual concern.  Both NRCS and SWCD employees will maintain adequate knowledge of available programs to provide basic customer service

Setting Program Priorities  Implement programs based on mutually developed priorities, recognizing individual responsibilities  Annually re-evaluate priorities  Board organizes local work groups to assess resource conditions and establish local priorities  Develop a single partnership plan of work each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30)

Program Implementation  Use federal, state, and local programs in a complementary fashion to address local concerns and priorities  All employees work across program lines to assure efficient and effective service  Use a common marketing effort to inform public of opportunities and benefits

Technical Standards and Planning Expectations  Standards adopted by NRCS or Commission (may use more stringent local standards)  All employees provide conservation planning assistance that meets NRCS planning policy.

 Sound conservation planning should be the basis of all conservation work with landowners.  Documents that the practices being installed are “needed and feasible.”  Conservation plans should: Conservation plans –Make landowner aware of all resource concerns observed on fields being planned –Provide recommendations and alternatives to address all identified concerns –Record landowner decisions –Instruct landowner on proper operation/maintenance  No requirement that farmer implement any recommendations Conservation Planning

 Commission and Association encourages district staff to become Certified Conservation Planners  Every AgWRAP contract must be based on a conservation plan signed by a CCP  NCASWCD District Operations Action Item #6 encourages mentoring to assist district staff become CCP Certified Conservation Planner

Job Approval Authority (JAA)  Employees provide technical assistance based on assigned JAA  JAA is based on: –Acquired knowledge and skills –Demonstrated ability  Each technical employee will acquire skills to qualify for JAA for routinely used engineering & ecological sciences practices  Attend available training sessions

 Authority provided to an individual to approve designs and practice installation for specific practices in accordance with relevant standards and policies  Many practices, especially engineering practices, have specific classes of JAA based on size or complexity What is Job Approval Authority

 Districts and partners need to maintain reputation of technical competence and quality – landowner trust  Ensure that partnership technical employees have received appropriate training and demonstrated ability to design and/or approve installation of particular BMPs  Accountability for cost share programs  Protects district and supervisors from liability  Timely implementation/approval - self sufficiency Why is JAA important?

 Varies depending on what type of practice –Non-Engineering Conservation Cover Fencing Pastureland/Hayland Planting –Engineering Grassed Waterway Pipeline –Non-agricultural (CCAP) Raingarden Cistern –AgWRAP Pond Sediment Removal Pond Site Assessment How do staff get JAA?

 Work with DC or experienced district employee to plan and design specific practice  Submit practice plans and designs to DC for review  DC reviews designs and implementation  Once individual consistently demonstrates competence, DC recommends JAA approval to Area Engineer/Resource Conservationistrecommends  Board of Supervisors must request JAA for district employees How do staff get JAA? Agricultural Practices

 CCAP and some AgWRAP JAA approved by the Commission  NRCS-Comparable practices (e.g., critical area planting, grassed swale) –Submit evidence of JAA for comparable NRCS practice to SWCC  Other non-engineering practices (e.g., backyard raingarden, small cisterns) –Work with experienced district employee or Division/NCSU engineer to plan and design specific practice. –Submit practice plans and designs to engineer for review –Engineer reviews designs and implementation –Once individual consistently demonstrates competence, Division Engineer recommends JAA approval to Commission  JAA for some engineering practices can only be awarded to Professional Engineer How do staff get JAA? Non-Ag Practices (CCAP Practices)

 Most district staff have JAA for some practices  Approved by –NRCS for agricultural practices –Commission for non-agricultural practices and some agricultural activities  District staff AND supervisors responsibility to ensure that the person signing JAA for a contract and RFP has JAA for that practice.  The board should have a summary of JAA for each employee, and it should be updated as staff receive additional JAAs.summary of JAA Job Approval Authority

Supervisor Roles  Participate in Training Opportunities  Require Employee Development Plans  Encourage Staff Training – Commit necessary resources  Expect Technical Staff to Obtain JAA  Review and Approve Conservation Plans (May require closed session)  Encourage staff to become Certified Conservation Planner

 Conservation Action Team working to implement PCEP (supported by NCASWCD – District Operations, Policy #17)  District employees, supervisors, NRCS, Division, NCASWCD involved on committee  Focus is on raising capacity of the whole partnership, including supervisors Professional Conservation Employees Program (PCEP)

 The Association supports training plans and encourages supervisors to develop and implement training plans for District employees –District Operations Policies 8 and 19  Have developed a training plan template for –Technical Employees –Education Coordinators –Administrative Staff –Managerial Staff Professional Conservation Employees Program (PCEP)

Supervisor Training District Operations Action Item #2 The Association President will work with the Commission Chair and Division Director to obtain legislation requiring all district supervisors, both elected and appointed, to participate in Commission-approved supervisor training at the UNC School of Government or equivalent training. Training will be on an approved schedule and will ensure supervisors are current with their knowledge of information pertinent to their roles and responsibilities. In addition, the Commission Chair will appoint a work group to define supervisor roles and responsibilities, and develop a structure for supervisor professional development to include continuing education credits and a training approval process.

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