Statewide natural resource assessment survey invites participation from landowners
Maine’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), in cooperation with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), are conducting a natural resources assessment (NRA) across the state and need the help of Maine’s citizens. The goal is to determine natural resource priorities so that districts and the NRCS can assist landowners, professionals and municipalities with best management practices that protect and improve land and water resources.
To gather this information, districts are distributing a statewide survey and holding local meetings to document natural resource conservation concerns and to build on the data collected in the first assessment, completed in 2011. The priorities articulated in the survey and meetings will inform state and local natural resource programs and funding opportunities in the coming five year cycle.
According to Dale Finseth, executive director of the Kennebec SWCD, “The Natural Resources Assessment process is a great opportunity for people to express their conservation priorities by completing a survey or participating in a freewheeling discussion at a locally held meeting. The results of this process stand to have a broad reach starting with your local conservation district on up to the state level. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the Department of Environmental Protection and state legislators are already looking forward to seeing the survey results.”
Joe Dembeck, executive director of Somerset County SWCD, coordinated the development of the 2016 NRA survey to help guide the assessment process. Dembeck said, “This year’s survey will be distributed by all 16 conservation districts and will address statewide conservation concerns as well as give us the chance to drill down to local issues and priorities. We are asking that all citizens make their voices heard by participating in the assessment, whether by completing a survey or attending a local meeting.”
To encourage participation, some conservation districts will enter everyone who completes a survey — or attends a meeting — into a drawing for an exciting prize. Districts encourage farmers, woodland owners, resource professionals and members of the general public to take advantage of this opportunity. The survey may be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JQ5GPL5.
Preliminary survey results will be available at local, county level meetings that will be scheduled throughout the month of March. Join friends and neighbors at a local meeting for a lively discussion about protecting Maine’s natural resources and complete a survey to be eligible for a prize.
Piscataquis County landowners may participate in the survey through March 31. For more information, please contact the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District at info@piscataquisswcd.org or 564-2321, extension 3.