[Durham INC] What is the SWCD? (and why you should care about the petition I requested you sign)

[Pat Carstensen]

Historically, SWCD were initiated in response to the dust bowl and worked with farmers to do contour farming, no-till practices and other ways to reduce erosion.  They are sort of text book of federalism working: The national government provides research and funds, the state provides regional expertise and the district (usually a county-wide organization) has a local board that hires staff, does the detail in policy.



________________________________
From: INC-list <inc-list-bounces at lists.deltaforce.net> on behalf of Melissa Rooney <eddietheelectron at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 1, 2021 12:32 PM
To: INC <inc-list at lists.deltaforce.net>
Subject: [Durham INC] What is the SWCD? (and why you should care about the petition I requested you sign)

Since my message requesting that people sign Durham's SWCD petition (https://chng.it/tRmyLFxGk7), I have received some questions about what the SWCD even is.

So this message is to provide some information on how the SWCD benefits Durham and why we should all want to ensure it does not fall into toxic dysfunction.

Durham’s SWCD is the organization that initiated the “BETC” program, which pays Durham public high school students and teachers to design, install, and maintain "best stormwater practices" like rain gardens, cisterns (giant rain barrels), and vegetative landscaping practices that reduce (and naturally filter) stormwater runoff on Durham school campuses and public and private properties. Using “CCAP funds” (which match the costs of 75-100% of applicable “best stormwater practice” projects, public or private), SWCD funds have been used to install cisterns, grassy open areas, sustainable landscaping, and educational trails and gardens at EK Powe Elementary School, George Watts Elementary School, Creekside Elementary School, Lowe’s Grove Middle School, Riverside High School, Jordan High School, Northern High School, Southern Highschool - and those are just the ones I am familiar with. Durham’s SWCD also provided funding (and assistance) to install a cistern at my old house, cisterns or rain gardens for many of my neighbors, a stream bank restoration at a rental property I own, and so many other necessary projects that will continue to reduce the pollution of our (currently impaired) waterways for as long as they exist. The SWCD has also provided the Enivirothon for area schools, including preparatory education, as well as Conservation contests for grades K-HS that conclude with award ceremonies and cash prizes for the winning students and their teachers. This is in addition to the organization’s direct roles in sustainable NC farming and agriculture.

The situation below is a grave threat to what has been the passionate conservation mission of Durham’s SWCD and a great benefit to Durham with regard to its prioritization of sustainability and the financial costs associated with repairing the health of our waterways, as required by state and federal governments (with substantial monetary penalties).

Please sign the petition and stay abreast of this situation in case it requires your further input and support.

Very Sincerely,
Melissa


~~~~~

>From Anjali Boyd, an elected Supervisor on the board of Durham’s Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).

On behalf of Phoebe and I, I would like to say THANK YOU soo much for your support! We are blown away by all of the signatures and messages we've received in the last 48 hours.

When we originally decided to file a complaint and draft the letter, we never imagined we would get as many signatures as we have. Within the last 48 hours we've collected more than 200 signatures from members of our community and people throughout the state! To help us better keep track of all the signatures and ensure everyone's name is listed on the letter, we are now using Change Dot Org to collect signatures.

We ask that you re-sign the letter by adding your name to the petition using the link below:
https://chng.it/tRmyLFxGk7

Once again, thank you so much for your support and sharing Phoebe's story with those in your network. We could not have done this without your support!

Thanks,
Anjali

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