Soil and Water Conservation
Location
District Office Location:
403 NC Hwy 32 N Roper, NC
Phone: 252-791-0108 ext 3
Fax: 252-793-5303
Business Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Technician: Christopher Respess
washingtonsoilandwater@gmail.com
What We Do
The Washington County Soil & Water Conservation District has the responsibility of developing and carrying out a sound soil and water conservation program; a program necessary to the well-being of all people. The district works closely with the Natural Resource Conservation Service and other cooperating agencies to assist and educate landowners in proper use of the land. By providing information and technical assistance, the landowner gets the most from his land and the homeowner finds a way to solve a drainage problem around his house.
Our Mission: To provide quality service in natural resource conservation to the public of Washington County through technical excellence, education, and teamwork.
District Board
The Washington Soil & Water Conservation district’s operations are directed by a state governing board. Three members are elected officials and two are appointed by the Board and approved by the State soil & Water Conservation Commission. The Board positions are non-partisan positions. Following is a listing of our Board members:
| Gerda Rhodes | Chairman | 252-791-0108 ext 3 |
| Guy Davenport | Vice Chairman | 252-791-0108 ext 3 |
| Don Small | 252-791-0108 ext 3 | |
| Justin Allen | 252-791-0108 ext 3 | |
| Colby Davenport | 252-791-0108 ext 3 |
The Board establishes District programs, sets priorities for the District’s work, and approves and generally oversees the State Cost-Share Program activities. For additional information on Board activities, contact one of the members above or the District office.
North Carolina Agriculture Cost Share Program (NCACSP)
The North Carolina Agriculture Cost Share Program (NCACSP) was established in 1984 to help reduce the sources of agricultural non-point source pollution to North Carolina’s waters. The NCASCP helps owners and renters of established agricultural operations improve their on-farm management by using Best Management Practices. The NCASCP is a financial assistance program geared to protect water quality. It is administered by the NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation Under the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The objectivities of the NCASCP are to reduce the delivery of agricultural non-point source pollution into the watercourses of the state and include:
- properly managing nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) to make them less available to runoff
- reducing sediment delivery into steams, rivers, lakes and estuaries
- managing farm pesticides in an environmentally-sound manner, and
- reducing freshwater loading in Primary Nursery Areas (fishery breeding grounds).
Technical assistance is available free to landowners in local Soil and Water Conservation Districts throughout North Carolina. Technicians help landowners install Best Management Practices (BMPs) that will improve water quality.
Financial assistance is offered to farmers to share the cost of the installation of the BMP’s up to 75% of the average cost for each BMP installed. The results can make farmers more productive while reducing the potential for polluting surface and ground water. For more information contact the North Carolina Division of Soil and Water at 733-2302
USDA Programs
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers landowners financial, technical and educational assistance to implement conservation practices on privately owned land. Using this help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners apply practices that reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and enhance crop land. forest land, wetlands and wildlife habitat. The incentives offered by USDA promote sustainable agricultural and forestry practices which protect and conserve valuable farm and forest land for future generations.
The following is a list of USDA programs that assist landowners in the protection of natural resources:
- Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
- Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
- Forest Stewardship Program (FSP)
- Forestry Incentives Program (FIP)
- Small Watershed Program
- Stewardship Incentive Program (SIP)
- Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
- Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
For more information on these programs contact your local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office.
North Carolina Division of Soil and Water Conservation
North Carolina Soil & Water Conservation Commission