The current funding level of the District at about $355,000 ($233,000 from the county) not large in proportion to the multi-billion dollar value of the soil and water resources it helps to protect with its programs. These volunteer powered efforts are protecting land surfaces and many miles of waterways that feed into the critical ground and surface water resources that the entire county depends on. The District’s programs employ a small staff that operates a substantial number of river clean-ups that depend on the labors of enthusiastic volunteers to remove tons of trash from over 50 miles of streams. Much of our staff efforts are directed at educational programs in the schools and in the community and providing technical assistance and conservation plans for erosion-stopping farming efforts of the state cost share program that prevented almost 8 tons of nitrogen from and the related sediment and phosphorus from entering our rivers. The direct cost is low but the total result is significant. With careful fiscal management our current funding is just adequate to continue with our current programs.
The District actively pursues grants from a variety of private and public sector sources to further expand our reach further leverage our core group of committed volunteers. Other counties have expanded the funding of their conservation districts programs: Loudoun has funded a fencing subsidy for horse owners, Fairfax and Loudoun have funded HOA assistance grants for their conservation districts to help communities address stream bank erosion. Areas to consider expanding in Prince William are stream bank stabilization and on-site stormwater capture and retention to reduce the erosion. It might well be a cost effective way to meet the stormwater goals of the county.
The District actively pursues grants from a variety of private and public sector sources to further expand our reach further leverage our core group of committed volunteers. Other counties have expanded the funding of their conservation districts programs: Loudoun has funded a fencing subsidy for horse owners, Fairfax and Loudoun have funded HOA assistance grants for their conservation districts to help communities address stream bank erosion. Areas to consider expanding in Prince William are stream bank stabilization and on-site stormwater capture and retention to reduce the erosion. It might well be a cost effective way to meet the stormwater goals of the county.
