Bookcliff, Mount Sopris and South Side Conservation Districts

Your local conservation districts are here to assist you. We have had to cancel or postpone many programs over the summer. We are still available for the Garfield County Noxious Weed Cost Share Program, Irrigation Cost Share, and technical assistance. Please contact our district office with your resource questions, concerns, and ideas at 970-404-3439.

Your local Bookcliff, Mount Sopris and South Side Conservation districts are three of 76 districts across Colorado. All districts work with local landowners to conserve land, water, forests, wildlife and related natural resources. Conservation districts grew out of the ecological disaster of the Dust Bowl from the 1930’s. When dust from the west darkened the sky in Washington DC, the US Congress passed legislation declaring soil and water conservation a national policy and priority. President Roosevelt in 1937 encouraged state governors to allow local landowners to form soil conservation district through state legislation.

The goals of conservation districts include farm and ranch conservation practices to minimize water use, improve yield and conserve soil. Districts work with developers and homeowners to manage the land in an environmentally sensitive manner. Through community outreach and local schools, the value of natural resources and conservation is promoted. The district offers opportunities to plant trees and other land cover to prevent erosion, clean the air, and to provide cover for wildlife and beautify neighborhoods. Protection and conservation of ground and surface water resources is also a priority.

All board members of a Conservation District are elected officials who are landowners within that district. The board meets once per month to discuss goals and priorities for the district. The programs and projects that are implemented in the district are based on requests or suggestions from local landowners. The district works closely with the Natural Resource Conservation Service and follows NRCS’s best practices. Other valued partners include the CSU Extension and local government and county agencies, including the Garfield County Board of County Commissioners. 

What is a Conservation District? 

A conservation district is a legal subdivision of the state of Colorado governed by a board of supervisors elected at large from within the boundaries.  Its boundaries are based on watershed or county lines.  The conservation movement grew out of the "Dust Bowl" days in the early 1930's, when soil erosion created an unprecedented ecological disaster.  President Franklin D. Roosevelt recommended that all states pass legislation allowing the creation of conservation districts.  Each district holds regular, open meetings to direct the district's business.  A conservation supervisor is responsible for local soil and water conservation programs, just a elected county officials are responsible for county services or school district boards are responsible for education. 

Mission Statement 

The mission of the Conservation Districts is to provide leadership, encourage wise resource decisions, set standards, encourage stewardship and education cooperators, agencies, land users, and youth to conserve, improve and sustain our natural resources and the environment.

 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)