Shelly Lewis and Craig Christensen, from Murray Soil and Water Conservation District, attended a legislative briefing and meetings at the State Capitol March 20-21 in St. Paul.
They joined a group of other officials from the state’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) who met in St. Paul to gather support for conservation districts’ programs and issues.
“It is important for us to get the conservation message out to our elected officials in St. Paul,” said Lewis, of Slayton. The 2017 Legislative Session will be critical to the future of conservation programs in the state, noted Christensen. “This year legislators will address issues including state funding for programs and projects across the state including SWCD grants, the Reinvest in Minnesota Reserve conservation easement program, appropriations of constitutionally dedicated sales tax funds through the Clean Water Fund, Outdoor Heritage Fund and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, as well as various policy issues. We have to work hard to make sure local soil and water conservation issues don’t fall by the way-side. Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts play an integral role in enhancing Minnesotan’s quality of life through conservation on private lands, which yields environmental, wildlife and aesthetic benefits to the public.
To read the rest of this article – pick up a copy of this weeks Murray County News or subscribe to our e-edition at http://eedition.murraycountynews.net/sub/account_login.asp
