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Conservation district outlines programs, says $50,000 county allocation leverages larger state and federal funding
Summary
Reno County Conservation District presented 2024 results and described how a $50,000 county allocation leverages state cost‑share, NRCS technical assistance and Cheney Lake Watershed grants.
Liz Lutz, district manager for the Reno County Conservation District, briefed commissioners on the district’s work and the returns from the county allocation.
Lutz said the district is a voluntary, nonregulatory program that provides technical and financial assistance to producers and landowners. She told commissioners the county’s $50,000 allocation in 2024 helped secure roughly $34,000 in state match and supported cost‑share contracts and local technical assistance. Lutz said the State Cost Share program allocated more than $51,000 to Reno County last year.
Why it matters: The district is the local administrative partner for several conservation programs that aim to protect soil and water resources and to reduce downstream impacts on Cheney Lake, a regional water supply. Lutz described the Cheney Lake Watershed program as locally led and nationally recognized; Chloe Gehring, Cheney Lake project manager, said the project serves about 633,000 acres across five counties and that roughly 80% of participating acres are in Reno County.
Program details: Lutz described state cost‑share steps (application, ranking, contract, work, receipts and checkout) and said funds go directly to producers. She highlighted durable conservation practices — high tunnels, cover crops, cross fencing and no‑till drills — and said county funding also helps leverage technical assistance grants from national foundations and the Division of Conservation.
Commission remarks and next steps: Commissioners asked about Cheney Lake funding partners; Gehring said some project costs are paid by the city of Wichita (matching EPA 319 funds) and that Cheney Lake Watershed staff are Reno County Conservation District employees, which is why personnel pass through the district budget. Lutz invited commissioners to field days, workshops and the district’s legislative breakfast.
Ending: Commissioners thanked the district for the presentation and materials. The district asked the county to continue its allocation to preserve leverage for state and federal matching funds and to support local technical assistance.
