About Us
Soil conservation is not something new or recently
considered. In the mid-1930’s Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote to
the governor of each state recommending legislation to
establish soil and water conservation districts to prevent
the loss of valuable soil resources. The President’s letter
expressed this concern: “The nation that destroys its soil
destroys itself.” Soil Conservation District laws were
passed in all states to provide local leadership for soil
conservation programs.
The Robert E. Lee Soil and Water Conservation District was
organized on July 24, 1940, under the provisions of the
Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Districts Law of 1938.
The District was originally made up of the counties of
Amherst, Appomattox, Campbell, Buckingham and Cumberland. It
was reorganized in 1972, at which time the City of Lynchburg
joined the District and Buckingham and Cumberland Counties
withdrew to form a separate Soil and Water Conservation
District known as the Peter Francisco District. Amherst,
Appomattox, Campbell Counties and the City of Lynchburg now
make up the Robert E. Lee District.
The District covers an area of about 1385 square miles.
Programs and initiatives are directed by a volunteer Board
of Directors. Two Directors are elected to four-year terms
from each of the three counties and the City of Lynchburg in
the regular general elections. Two additional Directors are
appointed; one serves as a Director at-large and the other
represents
Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Associate Directors are also appointed by the Board for
their expertise, as they apply to the District's mission.
Occupations of the current members of the Board include beef
cattle and general agriculture, education, civil service,
land development and environmental consulting.
Staff
The District's Staff consists of an Office Administrator, Watershed Coordinator,
Education Specialist, Ag. BMP Conservation Specialist and a
TMDL Ag.BMP Technician, all of whom operate out of a small
suite of offices in Appomattox; these offices are shared
with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources
Conservation Service. Office space for the District is also
maintained at the Amherst County Service Authority in
Madison Heights.
Responsibilities of the staff include:
*Administration of the Virginia Agricultural Best Management
Practice Cost Share Program
*Erosion and Sediment Control Plan Review
*Coordination of Watershed Surveys for Monitoring and
Protection
*Environmental Education and Outreach
*Grant Oversight for Special Watershed Initiatives and
Coordination of District Operations.
District
meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of every month at
6pm at the Spring House Restaurant in Concord, VA. (no
meeting in December). The public are welcome to attend.
District Strategic Plan 2009-2010
2009 District Annual Report |
