1. _____?____ Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) *Insert District Logo if available

2.   Start your presentation with a personal story and a slide of pictures!  Personal Story examples could include:  Why you are a commissioner  Why you practice conservation on your farm or at your home  A story about how the SWCDs conservation efforts reached youth, acknowledged someone doing great conservation work in the county, helped a landowner put conservation on land that needed it, etc.  A story about how funding could help the SWCD meet a need they are currently not meeting The SWCD in Action

3.   Formed across the nation after the devastation of the Dust Bowl – a consequence of farming without conservation and drought conditions  Formed to be link between government resources and local farmers to increase the application of conservation on private land History of SWCDs

4.   5 elected commissioners in the county  *Insert name of Commissioners Who is the ? SWCD? *Insert pictures of your District Commissioners or Office NRCS

5.  Organization of SWCDs  5 elected Commissioners  *Insert District Staff name & title *Insert SWCD logo  *Insert State Staff name & title  *Insert Federal Staff name & title

6.  Represented by Conservation Districts of Iowa on the state level. There are 500 commissioners in 100 SWCDs in Iowa Other Partners & Support Represented by National Association of Conservation Districts on the national level. There are 17,000 commissioners in 3,000 SWCDs in the nation *Insert other staff, partners & affiliations

7.  What do SWCDs do? Soil Loss Complaints  Enforce Iowa’s soil loss complaint-which requires conservation if soil loss exceeds acceptable limits and a complaint is filed

8.  What do SWCDs do? Leverage Funds & Raise Funds  SWCD funding is matched by funds from the landowner  Conservation projects are installed by local contractors, supporting Iowa businesses  *Insert SWCDs fundraising, grant writing efforts *Insert Photos/Slides From Your District

9.  What do SWCDs do? Provide Technical Assistance & Cost Share for Conservation  *Insert stats on the dollars spent in the county over the last year.  *Insert stats on the number of conservation practices installed in the past year by the District *Insert Photos/Slides From Your District Cover Crops & Rain Garden

10.  What do SWCDs do? Outreach & Education  *Insert details on the Districts outreach & education accomplishments over the past year.  Include watershed projects, poster contest, scholarships, awards programs, field days, etc. *Insert Photos/Slides From Your District

11.  Who do SWCDs assist?  There is an SWCD in every county, every Iowan is served by an SWCD  Farmers  Urban Residents  Youth Everyone! IDALS-DSC

12.  Why are SWCDs needed? Ensure Sustainable Agriculture  Iowa is a leader in agricultural production  The world depends on Iowa for the crops we produce  Anticipated increases in world population will place additional demands on Iowa’s farmers and land Agriculture puts pressure on Iowa’s natural resources NRCS

13.  Why are SWCDs needed? Ensure Clean Water  Soil and polluted water runs off crop land and urban surfaces making Iowa’s water bodies, streams, rivers & lakes dirty  Iowa’s water bodies run downstream, impacting national waters, such as the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone NRCS David Thorson

14.   Healthy soil and clean water is vital to Iowa’s economy  Conservation practices provide habitat for native wildlife and game  Conservation provides natural areas and recreational opportunities that make Iowa a desirable place to live and visit Why are SWCDs needed? Economy, Recreation, Wildlife, Quality of Life NRCS

15.  FY2016 Funding Needs  Support for staff  An additional $1.77 million needed to staff the 100 soil and water conservation districts who implement all the state’s soil and water conservation programs and projects

16.  FY2016 Funding Needs  Support for the Nutrient Reduction Strategy/Water Quality Initiative  $6.75 million for the Nutrient Reduction Strategy/Water Quality Initiative

17.  FY2016 Funding Needs  Support for the creation of an urban conservation line item  $1 million for urban conservation

18.  FY2016 Funding Needs  Support for projects & programs  $3.84 million to close 17 Ag Drainage Wells  $2 million for Conservation Reserve Enhance Program  $2 million for the Conservation Reserve Program  $6.75 million for Iowa Financial Incentive Program/Cost Share  $2 million for District Initiative/Conservation Reserve Program  $2.75 million for the Watershed Protection Fund  $850,000 for Farm Demonstration Projects

19.  FY2016 Funding Needs  Support for projects & programs  $600,000 for Loess Hills – Hungry Canyons  $250,000 for the Southern Iowa Development & Conservation Authority  $20 million to fully fund the Resource Enhancement and Protection Fund  $5 million to the Watershed Improvement Review Board

20.  FY2016 Funding Needs  IWILL (Iowa Water and Land Legacy)  In 2010, 63% of Iowans voted in favor of a fund dedicated to Iowa’s natural resources.  Polling currently being conducted shows Iowans are still in favor of putting the fund in place to provide consistent and reliable funding for conservation!

21.  Save the Date 2015 Iowa Conservation Partnership Day Thursday, January 29 th 10 AM – 3 PM at the Capitol Rotunda in Des Moines

22.  Thank you! For your past and ongoing support for soil and water conservation!