By Robert Kendall, MCSWCD Urban Conservationist
I attended the two-day Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ Annual Conference in late January, which provided valuable networking opportunities to benefit MCSWCD. Two sessions were particularly helpful:
Succession Planning for Districts: This session emphasized the importance of a standard operating procedures (SOPs) guide for leadership transitions. It highlighted how documented procedures for each position, including daily, monthly, and annual tasks and deadlines, ensure smooth transitions and prevent disruptions to funding, partnerships, and overall progress. MCSWCD is well-positioned in this regard, as most of our procedures are already documented. Since joining in October 2023, these SOPs for the Urban Conservationist position have enabled me to focus on my work rather than learning everything in the moment, ensuring that I was able to meet all deadlines by the end of 2023.
Building a Watershed Project from Scratch: This session outlined the process of initiating watershed conservation projects by assessing needs, resource acquisition (financial and non-financial), partnership building, reporting requirements, and overcoming common obstacles. The importance of solid partnerships for labor, funding, and resource tracking was emphasized. Without solid partnerships, projects are difficult to enact and grant requirements become much more confusing to track. The confusion takes away precious resources from progressing the project which can make the project last longer than intended. Lastly, the presenters highlighted resources like the Hoosier Riverwatch and Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy for stakeholder education on water quality and watershed maintenance. Between those two resources, free testing kits and educational materials will be available. For watershed project funding, a recommended grant is the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s 319 Grant, which supports research, planning, and implementation of solutions to nonpoint source pollution.
These sessions provided valuable insights for developing future MCSWCD projects and ensuring their long-term success through effective succession planning, which is crucial for maintaining both financial and non-financial resources. MCSWCD’s partners and our watershed project information can be viewed on our website here: https://marionswcd.org/partners/
