By LIZ MARTHALER, guest columnist
Happy New Year, Brown County! My name is Liz Marthaler and I am the new district manager for the Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and tell you a little about what your local soil and water conservation district (SWCD) offers.
We will start with a little bit about me: I grew up and currently reside in western Bartholomew County. I attended Ball State University where I earned a bachelor of science degree in natural resources with a concentration in soil and water conservation.
I have spent most of my career in the field of environmental education, focusing on wildlife and environmental conservation. Most recently, I worked for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of State Parks as an interpretive naturalist for Brown County State Park. You may have even attended a few of my programs or taken a virtual hike with me!
I am an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoy any chance to surround myself with nature. I spend most of my free time hiking, kayaking (in the warmer months), fishing, camping and mountain biking.
Now that you know a little bit more about me, let’s talk about what the Brown County SWCD can do for you.
If you are not familiar with the Brown County SWCD or SWCDs in general, we are a local unit of government that manages and directs natural resource management programs at the local level. We are a subdivision of state government under the Indiana State Department of Agriculture Division of Soil Conservation. We are led by a five-member board of supervisors, of which three are elected and two are appointed positions.
Here at the Brown County SWCD, we offer technical assistance, including landowner property surveys for wildlife habitat assessment and invasive species surveying within the county.
We provide financial assistance through our conservation mini-grant cost share program. This unique program allows Brown County residents to apply for cost-share money to help them achieve their conservation goals. To be eligible for this program, you must send in an application form and then if qualified, you will present your project proposal in front of staff and board members. After further review, a limited number of applicants will be selected for funding. Our 2021 mini-grants have already been awarded, but 2022 applications will be available soon. Be sure to keep an eye out!
Along with landowner surveys and our mini-grant program, we offer soil testing by providing soil sample bags and instructions that you then send off to the lab.
We also offer water testing during our Well Water Sampling Blitz held each August.
If you are interested in educational opportunities, we offer programming and workshops to service clubs, schools, church groups, 4-H groups, Scouts and others. Adult programming and certification courses are also offered.
The Brown County Soil and Water Conservation Districts offers many opportunities to bring conservation programming and opportunities to our community. If you would like more information on what we do or offer, please visit our website at browncountyswcd.com or email us at [email protected].
