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
Linda Durick
John Hurd
West Pottawattamie Field Office Staff
Keith Marie Feliciano - Cortes - District Conservationist
Brooke Bauer - Conservation Assistant
Brett Bengard - State Technician
Jason Andersen - Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist
Kelsi Solheim - Farm Bill Specialist
Brad Richardson - Soil Conservationist
Rafael Gonzalez - Soil Conservationist
Emily Hugen - Education Coordinator
Thomas Bottoms, Federal Technician, retired after 32 years of service. Bottoms was instrumental in putting conservation on the land in the Loess Hills and southwest Iowa. His work for NRCS and the District are appreciated and he will be missed!
With his retirement from the agency he gives his well wishes for the future and hopes to see the agency continue to improve upon its mission of customer service.
All staff of the West Pottawattamie SWCD field office work together to carry out the Districts' mission "to conserve Iowa's natural resources through leadership, education, technical and financial assistance."
The field office staff work hand-in-hand providing technical assistance for both state and federal programs. You can read more about programs that are offered below.