This year the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (RSWCD) will have one district commissioner position on the November 5, 2024 General Election ballot.
The election of conservation district commissioners is through the petition process on a non-partisan basis. Conservation district commissioners are non-salaried officials. Candidates must be registered voters in the county in which they are seeking office.
The completed petition forms must be provided to the County Board of Voter Registration and Elections no later than 12:00 NOON, July 15, 2024 for a candidate's name to be placed on the November 5th General Election ballot.
The conservation district is managed by a five-member board. These individuals serve as conservation district commissioners in each of the state's forty-six soil and water conservation districts. In South Carolina, conservation district boundaries are the same as county lines.
Conservation districts were created in 1937 by State law for the purpose of managing natural resources and assisting landowners with the latest management tools.
Each year conservation district commissioners volunteer thousands of hours promoting soil and water conservation practices in urban and rural areas, combating erosion and storm water problems, and providing conservation education programs in their communities. Their tasks include planning and directing conservation programs, assigning priority to resource development and serving as a community clearinghouse for information and services on natural resource issues. Regular board meetings are held, usually monthly, to set priorities and plan with cooperating state and federal agencies' staff.
Through a partnership with the federal and state agencies, technical, administrative, and financial assistance is provided though conservation districts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (federal) and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (state).
RSWCD promotes the wise use and care of natural resources--with a focus on soil and water--for long-term sustainability in a changing environment. Richland County supports RSWCD's work with staff and other resources. To learn more about the programs of the RSWCD, visit www.richlandcountysc.gov/rswcd.
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