Other Duties of the District

Fremont SWCD also approves all CRP contracts within the District for the US Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS). This is another way that the USDA assures the funding they give these projects goes to help the intended resources.

The District, along with the Fremont County FSA County Committee and other local people, have set up priorities, cost-share rates, and a ranking system for the EQIP program. Funding for this federal program is going to be in the billions of dollars this year, so Fremont SWCD will have a lot of dollars to work with. Practices for EQIP range from terrace construction and pasture management, to wildlife habitat and wetland restoration.

The District currently has one employee, who organizes field days and conservation/education opportunities for Fremont County residents. The district employee also works with the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) helping landowners and producers enroll filter strips, various wetland practices, waterways, and a variety of other CRP practices.

The District Commissioners are comprised of local farmers and landowners who are elected to their position. Every month, the district meets to discuss various issues, including local cost share budgets, new conservation plans, CRP approvals, and district budgets. The commissioners work in close contact with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship-Department of Soil Conservation (IDALS-DSC) to disperse cost-share funds for various practices. The District is in charge of the list and rules for terrace construction, and sign off on terrace jobs that are to be paid.

The District Commissioners are: Phillip Wing, Chairperson; Sheryl Sanders, Vice-Chairperson; Harold Mitchell; and Mark Kilpatrick. Tammy Grebert, State Secretary, is the Secretary/ Treasurer of Fremont SWCD. There are also appointed Assistant Commissioners who may participate in meetings and other district affairs. They are Robert Smith, Darwin Bugg, James Doyle, and David Welchans.