Conservation District Supervisor

Our natural environment in West Virginia is worth protecting. The West Virginia Conservation Agency is tasked with protecting our state, and they work through 14 conservation districts, each of 1 to 6 counties, and 114 conservation district supervisors.

Conservation district supervisors (CDS) are men and women elected by the citizens in their county to support citizens as they interact with the environment, protect people from environmental hazards, and improve our natural world. Duties include (https://www.wvca.us/distSupervisor.cfm#rsp):

  • Be actively involved in the financial management of the district and its budget
  • Through their districts, develop comprehensive plans for: the conservation of soil and soil resources; the control and prevention of soil erosion and flooding; and the conservation, development, use and disposal of water within the district
  • Represent the district at local public meetings regarding conservation of soil, water and other natural resources, and actively promote conservation programs in the community
  • Be available to speak at schools, workshops, field days and other functions
  • Participate in poster contests, camps and competitions for students, as well as photo contests for the public, to help share the conservation message
  • Hire and oversee a work crew (in some districts) to help with conservation practices on farms, like spreading lime or building a fence
  • Attend 12 regularly scheduled board meetings annually, as well as district committee meetings
  • Approve agricultural enhancement applications, in which local farmers (cooperators) agree to voluntary conservation practices on their land
  • Effectively work with state legislators to promote local conservation of natural resources
  • Award contracts for work on dam construction and other projects within the district
  • Serve on related local boards that develop and implement programs to protect and conserve water, woodlands, wildlife and other renewable natural resources
  • Work with partners like the West Virginia Conservation Agency and the federal USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service when necessary

Conservation district supervisors are non-partisan positions elected in the primaries, which is next on May 14, 2024. Terms are four years.