Douglas County Conservation District                                                                         ~Helping People Help the Land~                                                                                                            

                                                                            PO Box 688, 7519 E. Hwy 86, Franktown, CO 80116

                                        About Us    District History    Board of Supervisors    Contact Info 

YOUTH Conservation Activities

FREE!

Kids ages 7-14 are welcome

                      Connecting Youth to Agriculture

                                              Outdoor learning activities include Water Quality,

                                              Rangeland Plants, Entomology (bugs), Soils,

                                              Gardens and Irrigation, and Understanding

                                              Riparian Areas (streambanks).

Seedling Tree Program has ended for 2010

The 2010 seedling tree program has ended this season with a total of 14,698 trees sold to 145 Douglas County  landowners.   If you are interested in receiving a seedling tree order form for the 2011 season and you are not currently on our list, please email us and we will put you on our list so you will be sent an order form sometime in November 2010.  Please check out the requirements to participate in the seedling tree program.   A list of recommended species for Douglas County is available to assist you in your decision of what species to purchase.  

Conservation Activities

Grant "Bayou Gulch Project"

Throughout Douglas County there are areas that are infested with one of the states noxious weeds Leafy spurge. The district was awarded grant money in 2009 totaling $12,000.00 to assist landowners along Bayou Gulch in Parker to control Leafy spurge.  There were a total of eight  landowners that participated in this project which was a 50% cost share to control leafy spurge on their property using  various control methods such as mechanical (mowing), chemical (spring/fall), and biological (insects).  The district has secured another grant 2010 to expand  to other landowners along Bayou Gulch.

education Activities

Youth Conservation Camp in Castle Rock July 14, 2010  See above

About the Douglas County Conservation District

The Douglas County Conservation District is helping people help the land by promoting projects through education to further the long-term sustainable use of natural resources balancing the needs of agriculture and urban growth.  For more detailed information about the District go to District Info.

We receive funds from several sources such as the County and state to help our District residents, none of which comes through direct taxation and the district receives revenue from product sales:  

    State grant funds for conservation practices

    Sale of Grass and Wildflower Seed

    Sale of Seedling Trees

    Sale of Growing Aids (Polymer, Fertilizer tablets, Weed barrier, and Staples)

    Sale of Gopher Traps

    Sale of Mosquito Larvicide

    Rental of Grass Seed Drill

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A Brief History of Conservation Districts

How We Got Started
The date was late 1929 and the Great Plains region was plunged into a severe drought. The dry, unprotected soil was ravaged by winds sending great clouds of dust rolling east across the country and out over the ocean. It was observed by members of Congress standing outside the Capitol building in Washington, DC.  Concerned individuals realized this destruction of land had to be stopped.

In 1935, the Soil Conservation Act was passed which provided assistance and technical expertise to farmers and ranchers. In order to reach the local landowners, states formed soil conservation districts. The county was served beginning February 7, 1940 when the West Plum Creek soil erosion district was formed.  Three years later on May 5, 1943, the Cherry Creek Soil Conservation District was formed.  In 1960, a referendum was held to consolidate the two districts into the Douglas County Soil Conservation District.  The new district covers nearly all of Douglas County except for the original incorporated towns and a few landowners who chose not to participate.  For more detailed District information go to District Info.

In 2002, the 77 Colorado "Soil Conservation Districts" removed "Soil" from their name to more accurately reflect that emphasis not be solely concerned with soil, but for all the natural resources. 

Flood Protection  The Douglas County Conservation District co-sponsors 22 watershed flood control dams in the county with Douglas County.
 
Drought Protection
In 1956, after a serious drought in the Great Plains region, Congress passed the Great Plains Conservation Program. Now, cost-share funds were available to local landowners who wanted to apply conservation methods to bring their lands back into production. By going through the conservation districts and NRCS, these funds could be delivered to landowners using local agencies -- those who knew and could best serve individual landowners.  These programs were most recently renewed with the 2002 Farm Bill.

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Douglas County Conservation District Board of Supervisors and Staff

In picture: Scott McHenry-Member, Johanna Harden-President, Gary Boynton-Member, Graham Thompson-Member, Mark Moore-Vice-President, Dave Dirkse-Treasurer, Michael Swanson-Secretary and Pam Brewster-District Administrator  

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Contact Information for the Douglas County Conservation District

Douglas County Conservation District

PO Box 688

7519 E. Hwy 86 (next to Post Office in Franktown)

Franktown, CO  80116

Phone 303-688-3042 x100

Fax     303-660-3838

Email  pam.brewster@co.nacdnet.net

Your feed back and comments are important to us.   Thank you.

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