Conservation Districts were created when FDR and the federal government sought out local landowners to address soil erosion as a result of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. The Central Aroostook SWCD, the first in the state, was formed in 1942 as a result of legislation sponsored by Sen. George Findlen of Fort Fairfield.
Our goal is, and has always been, to promote non-regulatory conservation to protect our natural resources while serving as a liaison between landowners and state and federal natural resource agencies. Today, there are 16 SWCDs across Maine, with three in Aroostook County. The District Board is made up of farmers, foresters, a code enforcement officer, a retired teacher, and landowners that discuss local issues and govern our activities.
Historically, our work has been with farmers trying to keep soil on the farm and out of the water, and the impact can be seen across the County. Next time you are touring the countryside on your bike or in your car, take a look at the grass waterways in swales running down field slopes, grass strips and diversions running along the contours. These practices, among many others, slow water flow to let the soil from field runoff settle out before it reaches our streams, rivers, ponds and lakes. There is a good chance that farmer worked with the District or our partner, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), to put these in place. With the damage from recent, intense rainstorms, it is evident that more of these practices are needed to mitigate the severe erosion that can occur.
Both the District’s and NRCS’s role has evolved and expanded in recent years to provide more services to more landowners. We assist woodlot owners, foresters, and loggers with forest management plans, thinning and pruning practices, wildlife habitat management, and stream crossings to prevent sedimentation. We develop watershed management plans that lay out priorities to protect our most vulnerable water bodies, such as the Prestile Stream. We are working more with livestock, small-scale, and organic farmers that are expanding in Aroostook. We work with municipalities and state agencies to host trainings and educational workshops for the public. The list goes on and on; many more of our projects and other resources we provide can be found on our website www.caswcd.org or by contacting the office.
Editor’s note: This is the first in the monthly series from the District that will provide updates on Conservation Issues in our area and beyond. Benji Lynch is the director for the Central Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District and can be reached at the District office, 764-4153 or via e-mail at benjamin.lynch@me.nacdnet.net.
