CLICK HERE to take the survery and be entered to win a $100 Murdoch's Gift Certificate! 

Help Set Local Conservation Priorities

Around here, the best ideas for improving our land and water don’t come from far-off offices, they come from the people who live and work on the land every day. That’s what “locally led conservation” is all about, and it’s why the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are helping NRCS ask for your input through their Local Working Group (LWG) survey.

The LWG process, supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is how local conservation priorities are identified and help guide where NRCS funding will go through their programs. In short, this is your opportunity to say what matters most, whether that’s irrigation efficiency, rangeland health, weeds, wildlife habitat, soil health, or drought.

Why your input matters

The Local Working Group is advisory, but its recommendations carry real weight. NRCS uses this input to help determine:

• What resource concerns are prioritized
• Which projects are most competitive for funding
• What conservation practices are supported locally

That means the results of this survey will directly influence conservation efforts and funding decisions for the next fiscal year. If you’ve ever thought, “We need more focus on this,” this is your chance to speak up!

What is a Local Working Group?

A Local Working Group brings together producers, landowners, agencies, and community members to identify conservation needs and recommend solutions. It’s designed to reflect real conditions on the ground, not assumptions made somewhere else.

These groups help:

• Identify priority natural resource concerns
• Recommend funding criteria and conservation practices
• Coordinate efforts between agencies and local partners

Just as importantly, the process is open to the public. Anyone with an interest in local natural resource issues is welcome to participate.

Take the survey

We’ve made participation quick and easy. You can fill out the survey in just a few minutes by:

• Scanning the QR code included in our outreach materials
• Or visiting: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/eig81FJi8L

As a thank-you, Rio Blanco County residents who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Murdoch’s gift certificate.

What happens next

Survey results will be compiled and discussed at a joint White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts board meeting in July (date to be announced). This meeting will serve as our Local Working Group session, where priorities are reviewed and finalized.

The public is welcome to attend, and we encourage anyone interested to join the conversation. It’s a great way to hear what others in the community are seeing and to help shape the direction of local conservation efforts.

Planning ahead

NRCS program applications are accepted throughout the year, with a typical cutoff in the winter for the next funding cycle. Because timelines can vary by program, it’s always a good idea to reach out early if you’re considering a project.

Even if you don’t plan on applying, your survey input helps ensure that future programs better match the needs on the ground.

Watch for more information

We’ll be sharing reminders and updates about the survey and upcoming July meeting through:

• Newspaper ads
• Flyers around the community
• Social media
• The Districts’ website

If you know someone who should have a say, please pass the survey along. The more responses we receive, the better we can represent the needs of our community.

Conservation works best when it reflects the people it serves. Whether you’re running cattle, managing hay ground, tackling weeds, or simply caring about the health of the county’s landscape, your input makes a difference.

Take a few minutes to complete the survey and help guide conservation priorities for the year ahead.