WCCD millage question okayed for August ballot

by Megan DeLeeuw, District Manager of Washtenaw County Conservation District for the May Conservation Update

On April 22, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners voted to approve placing a millage question on the August 4 ballot on behalf of the WCCD. The .02 mil, 6-year levy would raise an estimated $348,109 for the Conservation District annually. The estimated cost to a household of an assessed value of $100,000, would be $2.00 per year.

The WCCD has been without general operating support for more than a decade. Millage funds would be used to:

• Provide adequate staffing to create a stable organizational infrastructure. Sale and grant revenue do not provide sufficient funding for indirect expenses to adequately fund the infrastructure necessary to support the management our current and future programs.
• Provide matching funds for competitive grants. The WCCD does not have an income stream that provides funds that can be used as matching funds necessary to secure competitive grants. Many funding opportunities for conservation work in the county have been lost due to lack of matching funds.
• Provide funds for existing and expanded programming. The WCCD is working to assist more landowners and residents with their conservation needs to improve conservation on the ground. Creation of additional programs to help address those needs will be possible through millage dollars.

How does WCCD currently serve residents? The WCCD assists residents and landowners with the conservation, management and wise use of natural resources in Washtenaw County through:

• Trees, plants & tools for conservation: More than 7.1 million trees and plants that have been planted as a result of WCCD’s work since the 1950s, contributing to conservation work such as reforestation, soil erosion reduction & water quality improvement, habitat restoration, naturalization projects. The Native Plant Expo & Marketplace is the largest event in Southeastern Michigan showcasing native plant resources and education and is part of the WCCD’s expanded efforts.

• Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP): MAEAP is an innovative, non-regulatory, proactive program that helps farms of all sizes and all commodities voluntarily prevent or minimize agricultural pollution risks. These practices protect our region’s surface and ground waters and promotes responsible stewardship of our natural resources.
• Conservation Education: The WCCD provides seasonal educational workshops on how to implement conservation on the ground, through both Backyard Conservation Education Series for home conservationists and the Conservation Ag Field Series for farmers. Workshop topics are selected through annual input from residents and include topics such as: tree planting and care, restoring native habitat, natural lawn and garden care, water catchment, no-till farming, rotational grazing, invasive species removal and more.
• JLW Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA): The JLW CISMA works across a three-county region (Jackson, Lenawee and Washtenaw) to provide education, outreach and some mitigation assistance around invasive species (e.g. Stiltgrass, Japanese knotweed, Frogbit, etc) that threaten the health of our natural areas.
• Community-wide hub for conservation resources: The WCCD serves as a one-stop location for conservation information through our website, site-specific assistance from Conservation experts on how to address needs, planning assistance for various programs and connecting residents and landowners to local, state and federal cost-share opportunities.

The Friends of the Washtenaw County Conservation District, a newly formed ballot initiative group independent of WCCD, will be conducting outreach related to the WCCD ballot initiative. Hannah Bradshaw, an Associate Director with the WCCD, is serving as the Campaign Coordinator and Treasurer for the group. If you are interested in helping with this effort, please contact Hannah at friendsWCCD@gmail.com, 734.645-8760. Read more about the Friends of the WCCD on Facebook @FriendsWCCD. Please contact Hannah to make donations that will assist with mailings and online outreach.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.