Andy Gallagher, district manager for the Crook County Soil & Water Conservation District, briefed the board Dec. 17 on conservation work and grant activity.

Gallagher said the district has nearly 250,000 acres enrolled in the sage-grouse Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) and noted a $115,000 technical assistance grant the district received in October. He reported the district helped secure an America the Beautiful Challenge award approaching $3.5 million for work in the Hampton area that would treat roughly 2,500 acres and disperse about 1,000 pounds of native seed through contract work.

The SWCD is preparing a spring application for a grant a little over $1,000,000 to support fish passage and screening projects in the Approach Cove Creek watershed and described ongoing solar-farm mitigation work including a 215-acre juniper-cutting project. Gallagher said the SWCD has begun wildfire recovery planning with US Fish and Wildlife Service funding to help landowners plan restoration after 2024 fires.

He also announced a new juniper-bill round with applications due Jan. 16 and indicated the SWCD expects more interest than available funding (the program has a little over $1,000,000 in funding for distribution). Gallagher said the district now has four staff and is coordinating with NRCS and BLM-funded positions.

The board thanked Gallagher and had no requested changes to the SWCD programs presented.