Serving as a Conservation District Director
Conservation Districts cover all of Oregon's 36 counties & these districts are lead by district Directors. More than 15,000 SWCD Directors of conservation district programs and services across the United States are committed to the
stewardship of natural resources at the local level. Soil and Water Conservation Districts are subdivisions of state government created by law.
Oregon has 48 conservation districts since some counties have two districts. Each of these Districts is led by individuals who believe decisions affecting
natural resources are best made by people closest to those resources – the people in the local
community.
Conservation district directors are public officials that represent and protect the
needs and interests of the public through their actions and decisions. More importantly, you will be entrusted with the power to administer state and local programs; receive and spend
public funds; educate the public on conservation issues; and much more. The citizens of your
local district as well as the state of Oregon as a whole count on SWCD's for leadership.
District Director Roles
A conservation district director has an important role. Main responsibilities include:
• Setting and scrutinizing the district’s mission and overall strategy and working to achieve
it;
• Supporting district employees, and assuring they function efficiently and
responsibly. They represent your district to the community on a day-to-day basis;
• Managing the district’s resources - both funds and property;
• Serving as a bridge and buffer between the district and its cooperators and partners; and
serving as an advocate for the district to build support in the community.
The good news is that Oregon has some of the most effective conservations districts in the country
with professional and knowledgeable staff. A network
of local, state, and national conservation partners are also available to help.
Helpful Hints for Acting Directors
• There are a variety of ways your time and talents can be put to use.
• Attend and participate in monthly board meetings;
• Ask questions. Most likely you are not the only one who would like clarification, and it is
a friendly reminder to district employees that the public may need more information as well;
• Offer your expertise to assist district employees with programs and projects;
• Serve on committees where your knowledge and experience can contribute to district
programs or operations;
• Be open and honest in communications with your fellow directors and with district
employees;
• Communicate your needs and expectations to your fellow directors and district
employees and ask what they need from you.
On-the-Job Training for Directors
It’s important to remember that you can’t learn everything at once. Individuals who have been
involved with conservation districts for years are still finding new opportunities for learning and
growth. As a start, during the next six months, New Directors try to find time to do the following (Use this
checklist to track your progress):
• Sit down with the District Chair and the district employees to hear what your
conservation district is all about. Become familiar with the topography, demographics,
including past and present resources that are useful to influence the specific goals of your
conservation district.
• Schedule some one-on-one time with your district employees to find out specifics about
the Board and employee relationship. Also, see which roles you will need to play to make
sure the relationship is successful.
• Schedule some one-on-one time with your State Soil and Water Conservation
Commission Representative. Their job is to assist you through advice and consultation
about the state soil and water conservation laws to include rules and regulations under
which SWCDS operate.
• Read the Oregon Conservation District Law. Pay special attention to the powers of
conservation districts.
• Ask for copies of your district’s annual goals and objectives, annual report and longrange strategic plan. These documents will give you a picture of what the district is all
about and what they are trying to accomplish.
• Ask your fellow directors about regional and statewide meetings and opportunities for
training on specific aspects of the conservation district.
For more information about the “big picture” of conservation districts, try these websites:
ODA - at this site you will find many helpful tools to orient you with who we are and what we are doing around the state of Oregon. Be sure to check out the "Toolbox"OACD -This is the Oregon Assocation of Conservation Districts (OACD)website.
The website lists and describes the many programs and services provided to districts by the Oregon Assocation of Conservation Districts. Through this website you can learn how to locate conservation districts in Oregon.
NRCS - This is the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) website. The NRCS provides leadership in a partnership role with local soil and water conservation districts tohelp America’s private land owners and managers conserve soil, water, and related natural resources. Their website can help you learn more about NRCS.
NACD - This is the website of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD). The mission of NACD is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for America’s 3,000 conservation districts on conservation issues.