Locally Led Conservation Process

The “locally led conservation process” is a term used to describe the Soil & Water Conservation Districts’ broader outreach mechanism in which they utilize a variety of unique strengths to address natural resource concerns and deliver management services.  Through the locally led process stakeholders assess current conservation needs, identify and prioritize those needs, set goals, identify programs and additional resources to address priority needs, develop plans and recommendations, implement solutions and measure their successes. 
 

The Locally Led Work Group (LLWG) is one part of the locally led process.  The purpose of the LLWG is to facilitate the USDA portion of the locally led process, provide advice to NRCS concerning the implementation of conservation programs in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and serve as a subset of the State Technical Committee.  The Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) prohibits non-government individuals from spending federal dollars or providing advice in a formal decision-making process related to the expenditure of such funds.  Membership of the LLWG is limited to Federal, State, county, tribal or local government representatives. 

North Cook County Soil & Water Conservation District’s Role:

◘  Assemble & Convene the LLWG in accordance with FACA.

◘  Acquire input, in the form of conservation needs assessment, from community stakeholders.

◘  Develop a District-wide conservation needs assessment using submitted assessments
from community stakeholders.

◘  Identify priority resource concerns that can be addressed by USDA programs.

◘  Make program policy recommendations based on information gathered.

◘  Establish local USDA conservation program delivery priorities.

◘  Identify, as appropriate, high priority areas that need USDA assistance.

◘  Forward final recommendations to USDA-NRCS State Conservationist.

In the coming weeks the North Cook Co. SWCD will be making contact with local stakeholders to invite their participation in this important process.  In light of rising transportation cost and in the interest of time the North Cook Co. SWCD (District) board has decided to utilize a survey process to facilitate the collection of local conservation needs.  In accordance with FACA the District will begin the process by inviting all 60 municipal Mayors / Managers within the District to participate.  Others to follow may include, but are not limited to, Townships within the District, Cook County, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and some area park district boards. 

The District is hopeful that many local stakeholders will let their concerns and needs be know by choosing to participate in this essential needs assessment via the survey process. 

For further explanation please see the Locally Led Work Group Fact Sheet created by NRCS Montana or contact the North Cook Co. SWCD office at 847-468-0071.