When most people across the Wilmington area think about elected officials and conservation, they are picturing their state legislators, county commissioners and city officials.
But there are other elected positions on the ballot that are tasked with protecting the area’s natural resources: soil and water conservation district supervisors.
According to N.C. General Statute 139, soil and water conservation districts are designated as governmental subdivisions of the state. They are considered independent political units, and on Election Day — Tuesday, Nov. 3 — residents across the Wilmington area will choose officials for their local soil and water conservation district boards of supervisors.
Here’s what to know about the soil and water conservation
districts in the Wilmington area.
1. The state has 96 local soil and water conservation districts.
For the most part, the district’s boundaries coincide with each county’s boundaries with the exception of the Albermarle Soil and Water Conservation District, which encompasses five counties: Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Pasquotank and Perquimans.
2. Each district is governed by a board of supervisors.
The boards are made up of five supervisors, except for Albemarle Soil and Water Conservation District, which has 17 supervisors. On the five-member boards, three are elected in a non-partisan race during the election of county officers, and two are appointed by the NC Soil and Water Commission based on the recommendation of the local board of supervisors. All serve four-year terms.
3. The supervisors focus on conservation.
“The board of supervisors meets monthly to establish local soil and water conservation priorities based on the needs of the district,” according to the Soil and Water Conservation Division’s page on the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website.
The board delivers federal Farm Bill conservation programs and state programs, such as the Agriculture Cost Share Program, Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program, Community Conservation Assistance Program, and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. It also assists communities with issues erosion control, stormwater management, stream restoration and other issues.
Renee Spencer is the community engagement editor at the StarNews. Reach her at rspencer@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Conservation programs hinge on races few Wilmington voters know
