The
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) agency that provides each conservation district a District
Conservationist to service private landowners within that district.
Partnering Agencies
The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation district partners with many statewide and local groups and organizations.
The two main agencies that assist with Conservation Districts are the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. There are three main non-profit organizations who assist Districts as well: the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts, the Michigan Association of Conservation District Employees, and the National Association of Conservation Districts.
| MDA | MACDE | FSA |
| NRCS | MDNR | NACD |
| MACD | MSUE | MDEQ |
The Environmental Stewardship Division of the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) assists districts in the planning and coordinating of local programs and assures that each District is operated and maintained as an entity of government. The Michigan Department of Agriculture provides the district its annual operating budget dispersed in quarterly payments over the fiscal year.
The Michigan
Association of Conservation Districts (MACD)
is a non-governmental, non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, established
to represent and provide services to Michigan's 82 Conservation Districts.
The Association represents its members at the state level by working with
legislators, cooperating agencies, and special interest groups whose programs
affect the care and management of Michigan's natural resources, especially
on private lands.
The
Michigan Association of Conservation District
Employees (MACDE)
was formed in 1984
to represent Conservation District employees interests at the state and
national level. It’s purpose is to strengthen Conservation Districts
in Michigan by providing a system of resources and communication whereby
District employees may more effectively exchange information and ideas.
The result is better coordination and effectiveness of Conservation District
programs. MACDE is a voluntary organization of personnel employed by Michigan’s
82 Conservation Districts, and directed by a ten-member board elected
by the general membership.
The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) is the non-governmental, nonprofit organization that represents more than 3,000 conservation districts across the nation. NACD was founded by districts and their state associations in 1946, following the Dust Bowl crisis and the creation of a nationwide conservation district system. NACD enables districts to do collectively what would be difficult or impossible individually. NACD pools district experience and develops national policies on a continuing basis. It maintains relationships with organizations and government agencies; publishes information about districts; works with leaders in agriculture, conservation, environment, education, industry, religion and other fields; and provides services to its districts.
The
Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) of
the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) is a federal agency with the very general
goal of natural resource conservation. Primarily working on farm resource
conservation, the NRCS also deals with other private and public resources.
Based on an agreement between the NRCS and conservation districts nationwide,
the NRCS provides each
district a District Conservationist to provide
technical service to private landowners.
The Farm Services Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a federal agency that provides cost share moneys for federally driven programs. Most of this cost share money is for farming related activities. The FSA assists the District board with the establishment of the Local Work Group which develops resource issues for submission for funding under federal USDA programs.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) is responsible for the management of the state's natural resources especially as it relates to state owned land. Conservation districts have the most contact and collaboration with the Forestry, Wildlife, and Real Estate Divisions of the DNR.
The Michigan State University Extension Service (MSUE) focuses on bringing knowledge-based educational programs to the people of the state to improve their lives and communities. MSUE staff serve districts as another source of natural resource information and assist Districts in demonstrations and education programs which promote interest in and understanding of conservation needs, problems and solutions.
The Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) is responsible for enforcement
of many natural resource and environmental regulations including wetlands,
surface water quality, and soil erosion and sedimentation control. MDEQ
also provides grants to Conservation Districts to conduct non-point source
pollution control programs on a watershed basis. This federal program
is known as the 319 watershed program and is administered through the
Surface Water Quality Division.
Other Organizations
In addition to the above, the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District
has established a working rapport with numerous local agencies and authorities
concerned with conservation issues in our area. Following are a few of
those organizations: Copper Country Ducks
Unlimited, the Northwoods
Conservancy, the Nature Conservancy, the Keweenaw Industrial Council,
Western U.P. Planning & Development Region, the Houghton & Keweenaw
County Board of Commissioners, and more.
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