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Lincoln Conservation District tells county it fills small-scale planting gap with equipment, school projects and outreach
Summary
Lincoln Conservation District manager Jeremy Saugstead briefed the commission on the district’s education, tree- and grass-planting services, specialty equipment and partnerships with NRCS and local schools, and explained county funds support outreach rather than a separate restricted fund.
Jeremy Saugstead, manager of the Lincoln Conservation District, told the Lincoln County Commission on Aug. 5 that the district serves as a local link between landowners and technical service providers, focusing on education and on‑the‑ground planting projects rather than regulation.
“We’re the link between the land users and the service providers,” Saugstead said, explaining the district cannot levy taxes or mandate conservation practices and instead uses funds to provide information, planting products and specialty planting equipment for small sites.
The district provides planning and implementation assistance for tree planting, grass waterways, terraces and other conservation practices. Saugstead described specialty equipment the district makes available — including an 8‑foot disk, a 7½‑foot tiller, a tree planter, fabric/tree tube installers and a no‑till grass drill — and said the district focuses on smaller, targeted projects that larger agricultural contractors may not serve.
Saugstead highlighted a hands‑on project with Harrisburg School District that planted trees and native grasses to create an outdoor learning area. He said such projects combine education and long‑range conservation goals and are part of the district’s ongoing outreach to schools and individual landowners.
Corey, a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff member who works closely with the district, described NRCS programs available to local producers. He said EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) is active in the county, with about 25 active contracts and more than 30 pending applications, and that NRCS provides technical planning while relying on district equipment and crews for some field implementations.
Commissioners asked how EQIP works in practice; Corey described a typical path in which producers meet with NRCS, a conservation plan is developed, resource concerns are identified and applications are scored and ranked for potential funding in spring batching dates.
Commissioners thanked the district and NRCS for their work and noted copies of handouts and business cards were available for residents who want more information.
What happens next: Commissioners did not take formal action on funding at the meeting; residents and producers seeking technical assistance were encouraged to contact the Lincoln Conservation District or NRCS for planning and program application details.
