Mission and Initiatives
Lamoille County Conservation District was established in 1945 in response to the degradation of natural resources vital to the agricultural livelihood of residents in Lamoille County. Working in partnership with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency, the Conservation District works to:
- Maintain and improve our natural resources;
- Aid and educate our fellow citizens to appreciate and adjust to the changes taking place in our natural resource system;
- Be a local voice for conservation, preservation, and stewardship of all natural resources and work in conjunction with other agencies (private and public) at the grassroots level.
To support our mission and support our local community, LCCD writes and receives grants to complete projects in Lamoille County and Lamoille Watershed. The following initiatives maintain the success of these ongoing projects.
Lamoille Valley Farm & Forest Initiative
LCCD supports the working landscape and advocates for a farm and forest lands-based economy of the Lamoille River Watershed through the Lamoille Valley Farm and Forest Initiative (LVFFI). The initiative is comprised of a series of projects that support the working landscape, whether farming or forestry. Through this initiative, a Local Producers Guide was created to support the localvore movement in Lamoille County. More recently with the passing of the Vermont Clean Water Initiative, LCCD provides information and program support to a variety of stakeholders identified in the initiative. These include farmers on the new Required Agricultural Practices through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
Lamoille River Watershed Initiative
Community and partner organizations involved in the Lamoille Watershed Basin planning process recognized the need for a group to lead watershed-wide projects and created the Lamoille Watershed Association housed under the auspices of LCCD. Rather than forming another organization, LCCD took the lead for these watershed-wide efforts through the Lamoille River Watershed Initiative. Since that time, LCCD completes many projects throughout the entire Lamoille River Watershed annually. For up to date projects throughout the watershed, refer to the Lamoille Watershed Initiative page.
Resource Protection & Conservation Projects
LCCD collaborates with many partners to seek funding and support for locally driven valuable projects to insure the livelihood of our neighbors and to protect the health of the soil, water, lands, and wildlife in our community. We assist landowners in measureable ways to follow state and federal protocols and regulations. These projects are varied and are often realized through Local Working Group Meetings, an annual meeting of concerned citizens to help address natural resource issues and concerns. Included in these projects are municipalities and their counterparts, who are provided information and technical assistance on a variety of new Stormwater and Road Regulations from the VT Clean Water Initiative. Examples of these projects include our successful Trees for Streams Program, and equipment cost-share programs, including the Vactor and the Hydroseeder Shareholder Program, and the implementation of Green Stormwater Infrastructure projects.
