Why Do We need Conservation?
About the Gratiot Conservation District
The purpose of the Gratiot Conservation District is to provide information and technical assistance to private landowners, local units of government, educational institutions and other citizens to better understand, plan, manage, protect and utilize the resources of Gratiot County. We are the local providers of natural resource management services, much like our local emergency, health and school services. We are also your neighbors. We live local and work local. Your concerns are our concerns. We work for you so that our environment can be a cleaner, healthier, economically stronger place to live, work and grow for our community.
The mission of the Gratiot Conservation District is to protect and enhance the natural resources in Gratiot County through promotion wise stewardship education, and providing access to sustainable conservation practices. We provide landowners and wildlife enthusiasts free technical assistance for personal projects and state and federal programs. We also facilitate and promote relevant education and outreach in these areas.
Gratiot Conservation District's elected officials serve on the Board of Directors to steer the programs of the GCD as the staff address the concerns established by the County Needs Assessment (CNA). The CNA is done every five years and is a deliverable attached to our state funding. The CNA for 2022 established these top natural resource concerns:
1. Wildlife Habitat
2. Invasive species
3. Native plants
4. Water Quality
Our directors, help to plan and implement physical projects, outreach, and educational events in these areas. Programs and partners we currently have are:
Gratiot Conservation District's elected officials serve on the Board of Directors to steer the programs of the GCD as the staff address the concerns established by the County Needs Assessment (CNA). The CNA is done every five years and is a deliverable attached to our state funding. The CNA for 2022 established these top natural resource concerns:
1. Wildlife Habitat
2. Invasive species
3. Native plants
4. Water Quality
Our directors, help to plan and implement physical projects, outreach, and educational events in these areas. Programs and partners we currently have are:
- the Hunter Access Program (HAP), serviced by our Farm Bill Biologist - Logan Banning
- the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), serviced by our MAEAP TA - Rebekah Faivor
- technical assistance for Farm Bill program such as CRP, ACEP, CSP, and EQIP etc. Serviced by Logan Banning and Rebekah Faivor
- Technical Assistance for any wildlife habitat project. Serviced by Logan Banning
- Member of the Central Michigan CISMA steering committee, designated staff member - Ladean Anderson, administrative manager. This partnership is currently in the process of bringing invasive species removal projects to Gratiot county. CM-CISMA is also a hub for the Go Beyond Beauty program.
- CISMA Uprooter tool rental, for invasive species removal, serviced by Ladean Anderson
- EGLE, Tire Collection Grant, organized by Ladean Anderson and serviced by all staff
- DNR native grass drill rental for planting native grasses. Serviced by Ladean Anderson. These funds also provide drill maintenance, district projects, outreach, and education about cover crops, pollinator habitat, and food plots.
- 15' John Deere no-till drill rental, Serviced by Ladean Anderson. These funds are used for the same purposes as the DNR native grass drill.
- Spring and Fall Native Plant and Tree Sale, organized and serviced by all staff, funding promotional items, projects, outreach, and education.
- Other workshops and field days. See our Facebook page and newsletters for more information.
History of conservation Districts
After the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s ravished the land and national attention was focused on the devastating effects of soil erosion, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established conservation districts as units of local government to preserve and manage America’s natural resources. Thanks to the ongoing conservation partnership between local landowners and conservation districts, our land is in far different shape than it was in the 1930’s.
The Gratiot Soil Conservation District was organized April 28, 1952, as the 64th conservation district in the State of Michigan. It is governed by five local directors who are elected for four-year terms at annual meetings.
Since 1953, the Gratiot Conservation District has held an annual tree sale. The profits from the tree sale help to support the District’s programs. Since 1990, the District has planned and managed the publishing of Gratiot County Plat Books. These books are published approximately every three to five years and are a very useful county resource.
In 1993 the District obtained 90 acres of land located in Seville Township, which was then leased to the Gratiot-Isabella RESD. This property has been transformed into a learning center called the Forest Hill Nature Area. This nature center provides an outdoor learning experience for approximately 2,000 school children each year.
The Gratiot Soil Conservation District was organized April 28, 1952, as the 64th conservation district in the State of Michigan. It is governed by five local directors who are elected for four-year terms at annual meetings.
Since 1953, the Gratiot Conservation District has held an annual tree sale. The profits from the tree sale help to support the District’s programs. Since 1990, the District has planned and managed the publishing of Gratiot County Plat Books. These books are published approximately every three to five years and are a very useful county resource.
In 1993 the District obtained 90 acres of land located in Seville Township, which was then leased to the Gratiot-Isabella RESD. This property has been transformed into a learning center called the Forest Hill Nature Area. This nature center provides an outdoor learning experience for approximately 2,000 school children each year.
"The guiding philosophy of Conservation Districts nationwide is that decisions on conservation issues should be made at the local level, by local people, with technical assistance provided by government-affiliated organizations. To this end, our CDs work hand-in-hand with local, state, and federal organizations to roll out programs that directly assist and impact the environmental quality of local communities and our beautiful peninsulas.
"All citizens are also welcome to get involved with their local CD, whether through joining their District's Board of Directors, applying for a staff position, becoming an Advocate, or volunteering with community outreach programs ..." (from MACD.org https://www.macd.org/what-districts-do)
"All citizens are also welcome to get involved with their local CD, whether through joining their District's Board of Directors, applying for a staff position, becoming an Advocate, or volunteering with community outreach programs ..." (from MACD.org https://www.macd.org/what-districts-do)