updates

DUVAL SOIL & WATER
  • Our History
  • Supervisors
  • Regeneration Park
  • Start Farming
  • Local Working Group
  • Education
  • Programs
  • Blog
  • Minutes
  • Links
  • Contact Us
  • Donate

District Aide - Apply Today!

1/13/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Duval Soil and Water Conservation District is looking for a part-time District Aide. This volunteer position works closely with elected officials and assists with District communications and administrative needs. See the position description below and contact us if you are interested!

0 Comments

Support Conservation Districts in FL!

1/9/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture

The Florida Legislature is considering legislation to abolish all 58 Florida conservation districts this year. The Duval Soil and Water Conservation District (DSWCD) opposes HB 783 and SB 1078. These bills are currently in committee.

Since their inception during the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s, almost 3,000 conservation districts located in counties throughout the United States and its territories, have provided critical conservation services through citizen driven, locally directed agencies led by nonpartisan elected, unpaid Supervisors. What makes conservation districts unique is that their programming is designed to meet the specific needs of each county they serve.

In Duval County, our programs, projects and activities are focused on the needs of our thriving urban District. Through partnerships with FDACS (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) , NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service), USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and others, DSWCD provides much needed cost share funding to agricultural operators who engage in Best Management Practices to save millions of gallons of water, reclaim land, restore water quality, protect wildlife and enhance soil nutrition to maximize crop production and yield. Over the last three years, through these partnerships, DSWCD facilitated free technical and financial assistance valued at $1,021,503.12 to growers and residents in Duval County.

In addition, DSWCD provides conservation education in many forms including student programs like the annual Fred B. Miller Jr. Regional Envirothon, Joe B. Forshee, Jr. Speech & Poster Contest, visits to classrooms, and other events for students and educators. We also provide programs for the public including our annual Conservation Photo Contest, Earth Day Celebration, educational workshops and more. In 2021, we expanded our Start Farming agricultural awareness event into a yearlong mentorship program for beginning farmers and established our Regeneration Park green infrastructure and community stewardship project in the urban core. These two programs brought in more than 100 new volunteers and over $65,000 in new private donations and grants to conserve, improve and sustain the natural resources of Duval County. 

Simply put, Soil and Water Conservation Districts are volunteer educators, not regulators, who meet a critical public need with funding from private donations and grants. Your support in opposing this legislation is both imperative and greatly appreciated. Please reach out to your state senators and representatives and let them know that you oppose ​HB 783 and SB 1078 any legislation that would dissolve or weaken any Florida Soil and Water Conservation District. 

Additional Information - Association of Florida Conservation Districts Memorandum Regarding SB 1078 / HB 783
​

0 Comments

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

We Want to Hear from You!

MEETING NOTICE: Our Full Board Meetings are the third Wednesday of each month at the Duval County Extension Office, 1010 N. McDuff Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32254, at 3:30 p.m.  The Plan of Work Subcommittee meets on the first Wednesday of each month at the same time and location. All meetings are open to the public. Public participation is available via Zoom teleconference. Links to participate are posted on our Facebook page.

(c) 2022 Duval Soil and Water Conservation District
  • Our History
  • Supervisors
  • Regeneration Park
  • Start Farming
  • Local Working Group
  • Education
  • Programs
  • Blog
  • Minutes
  • Links
  • Contact Us
  • Donate