THE TEAM
WEST POTTAWATTAMIE
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
How Conservation Districts Work
​
Conservation districts in Iowa are managed by five commissioners elected on the general ballot in each county. Each of the five commissioners serve four-year terms and only two commissioners may reside in any single township. With assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Stewardship-Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality, commissioners address the natural resources issues that are most critical in their districts.
​
Conservation Districts Role
​
Soil and Water Conservation Districts are legal subdivisions of the state government. Commissioners are responsible for carrying out state laws and programs within district boundaries. These include: Sediment control law, Conservation Cost-Sharing, Conservation revolving loan funds, Water quality protection projects, Resource enhancement and protection.
Districts also play a key role in carrying out federal programs including, but not limited to: Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Compliance, Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), Conservation Planning.
Commissioners (4-year term)
​
Don Dilts, Chair - Hazel Dell Twp
David Dittmer - Minden Twp
Russ Goesner - Boomer Twp
Dolores Bristol - Lake Twp
Gary Larson - Hazel Dell Twp
​
Assistant Commissioners (1-year term)
​
Mary Nixon​
John Hurd
Tim Kealy
West Pottawattamie Field Office Staff​
Brooke Bauer - Conservation Assistant
Laura Ferguson - District Conservationist
Brett Bengard - State Technician
Kelsi Solheim - Farm Bill Specialist
Brad Richardson - Resource Conservationist
Laura Monson - Education Coordinator
​