Keeping it rural

Fencing around this pond prevents at Brookview Farm keeps the cows out of  the water.

 If you want rural, you need farms, which need healthy soil, best management practices, and clean water to thrive. The Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District (MSWCD) supports local agriculture by providing a myriad of educational services and facilitating access to government grant money for those engaged in agriculture.

          Want to get involved? The MSWCD is seeking applicants to fill an appointed director vacancy, created when the incumbent, Richard Ayers, declined to seek reappointment. This is an unpaid position.

          According to Jonathan Lyle, one of Goochland’s elected MSWCD directors and board chair, Ayers has served for approximately 14 years and “the district is better for his service and efforts.”

 The organization’s mission “is to provide technical assistance, education and leadership to improve natural resource conservation in Powhatan and Goochland counties.”

The MSWCD is self-governed by a six-member board of directors—two elected from each of Goochland and Powhatan counties, one appointed, and the local Virginia Cooperative Extension agent. It is a subdivision of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Funding is provided by DCR, Goochland and Powhatan counties. Services provided by the MSWCD are available to all. Open Board meetings are held every third Monday at its office in the Central High School Educational and Cultural Center on Dogtown Road in Sandy Hook.

 MSWCD administers a grant program that helps local farmers fence their livestock out of streams to prevent water contamination. In addition to the fencing, the grants fund alternate water sources for livestock. The Virginia General Assembly increased the amount of money for this program in the current state budget.

Other programs include pasture management; conservation; erosion and drainage issues; and agricultural land use options.

The minimum duties of an MSWCD director, whose term of office is four years, are: attend monthly District meetings; participate on District committees and in work groups; represent the citizens of the district counties on conservation issues; work with a multitude of agencies; approach resolution of problems through teamwork; adhere to state law and policies of the Virginia Soil & Water Conservation Board; establish and implement District policies and procedures; and foster positive relationships with local, state and federal officials; and practice conservation ethics.

Desired qualifications for director are: knowledge of agriculture, rural land use issues and associated conservation practices; knowledge of urban development issues and associated conservation needs; understanding of local, state and national legislative processes; working knowledge of parliamentary procedures; willingness to listen, learn and work with others;  willingness to cultivate and recruit potential Directors and Associate Directors; experience with personnel management; experience with budgeting, fiscal management and organization operations; technical background in environmental sciences, agriculture or engineering a plus.

The estimated time commitment for a MSWCD directors is approximately 12 hours per month including meeting attendance and preparation.

          Go to https://www.monacanswcd.org/ for more information about the organization. Call the office at 804-556-4936 to obtain an application or contact Lyle at monacanconservation@earthlink.com.