 In 1992, the Tripp County Conservation District
provided the impetus to build a 3.5-acre dual purpose (cattle and wildlife) pond for a
landowner in Tripp County, South Dakota. Funding and technical assistance were provided
through South Dakota Partners for Fish and Wildlife. Conservation Districts are units of local
government, typically organized on county lines. In each state there is also an
Association of Conservation Districts, which, in turn is aligned with the National
Association of Conservation Districts, both non-profit organizations.
In South Dakota, our state Association
of Conservation Districts receives grants and other contributions, and then funnels these
funds out to 45 of their member Conservation Districts to pay for conservation work as
part of Partners for Fish and Wildlife. For example, in April 1995 we channeled the
following funds through the South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts:
North American Wetland Conservation Fund
FEMA
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Ducks Unlimited
Wildlife Forever
Aberdeen Development Corporation
South Dakota Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks
Total |
$767,675
600,000
504,000
169,000
10,000
30,000
10,000
$2,090,675 |
The Conservation
Districts at the local level are the "eyes and ears" to seek out landowners who
want to participate in the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program. The local Conservation
Districts collect a cost share from the landowners and raise other local dollars from a
variety of sources to complete partner conservation work. Through this work they earn
"in-kind" credits, which earn even more grant dollars to flow to their
districts.
In South Dakota, this arrangement has
been a tremendous asset in delivering Partners for Fish and Wildlife. It has also had the
spin-off effect of building trust for all aspects of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
activities by giving the Service favorable visibility all across the state. |
