Marion Soil & Water Conservation District outlines technical assistance, grants and urban habitat program

Brenda Sanchez, district manager for the Marion Soil and Water Conservation District, briefed the Staton City Council on July 21 about the district’s services, education programs and grant offerings.

Sanchez said the district operates like a special district funded by grants and levies, providing technical assistance, conservation planning and education at no cost to landowners and homeowners. She described on-site help for erosion control, manure management, hedgerows and pollinator plantings and said the district’s staff includes farm planners, a natural-areas planner and an urban conservation position the district plans to fill.

Sanchez reviewed two grant programs: a conservation-assistance grant that can provide up to $10,000 with a 25% local match, and a partner grant the district piloted for partners such as the city. The partner grant amount was described in the presentation as “up to $35.00 a year” in the staff summary; Sanchez said the partner grant is intended to help partners with implementation, outreach and education and that the city could apply. (Staff later discussed the partner grant as a pilot and confirmed the district would consider partnership proposals.)

She described the district’s urban habitat program (“Little Habitat Project”), which certifies residential habitat and places a sign on certified properties; the district said it has 140 enrollees and has certified 31 homes. Sanchez also mentioned salmon-watch educational field trips for K–12 students and ongoing invasive-species outreach for emerald ash borer and garlic mustard.

Councilors thanked the district for outreach and noted opportunities to partner on Wilderness Park grant applications for site cleanup and habitat restoration.

Ending: Sanchez invited the city and residents to use district services and said the board is open to partner grants and walk-in requests for technical assistance.