Conservation Districts were originally formed during the days of the Dust Bowl to combat the severe erosion problems caused by intense farming practices. In Indiana, a Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is a governmental sub-division of state government.

The Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District was created by the vote of the landowners on August 27, 1947, in accordance with the provisions of the Indiana Soil Conservation Act of 1937. Their purpose is to provide information about soil, water, and related natural resource conservation; identify and prioritize local soil and water resource concerns; and connect land users to sources of educational, technical and financial assistance to implement conservation practices and technologies.  The Wayne County Soil & Water Conservation District is governed by a five-member board of supervisors who work directly with the community on conservation concerns. Three are elected by the local land users at the annual meeting and two are appointed from Wayne County by the State Soil Conservation Board. The supervisors combined diverse backgrounds, talents, skills, experiences and knowledge of the natural resource problems in the county helps guide the programs of the district to areas that will prove most beneficial. They identify local soil, water and related natural resource concerns, set natural resource priorities, and then develop, implement and evaluate long and short range plans and programs to address these prioritized resource concerns.

Monthly Board Meeting time/location:

2nd Tuesday of the Month @ 8:00 AM — Wayne County SWCD Office, 823 S. Round Barn Road, Richmond, IN

Wayne County SWCD Supervisors

Jason Ward, Chairman
Mat Berger, Vice-Chairman
Michelle Walther, Secretary
Travis Frame, Member
Lisa Bihl, Member

Wayne County SWCD Staff                                                                                                                                   

Raquel Baker
SWCD District Technician
Raquel.Baker@in.nacdnet.net

Jennifer Brown
SWCD Office Coordinator/Treasurer
Jennifer.Brown3@in.nacdnet.net

LuAnne Holeva
SWCD Conservation Education Coordinator
Luanne.Holeva@in.nacdnet.net

Dakota Bertsch
Assistant SWCD Conservation Education Coordinator
Dakota.Bertsch@in.nacdnet.net

Sean Drew
District Conservationist
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Sean.Drew@usda.gov

Kade Sheffield
Soil Conservationist
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Kade.Sheffield@usda.gov