Mancos Conservation District

PO Box 694
604 Bauer Avenue
Mancos, CO 81328
(970) 533-7317
mancoscd.org

Background

In the early 1930s the United States experienced an unparalleled ecological disaster known as the Dust Bowl. Severe, sustained drought in the Great Plains caused soil erosion and huge black dust storms that blotted out the sun. The storms stretched south to Texas and east to New York. Dust even sifted into the White House and onto the desk of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. After seeing the sky black with dust in Washington, the U.S. Congress unanimously passed legislation declaring soil and water conservation a national policy and priority. Since about three-fourths of the United States was privately owned, Congress realized that only active, voluntary support from landowners would guarantee the success of conservation work on private land. In 1937, President Roosevelt wrote the governors of all the states recommending legislation that would allow local landowners to form soil conservation districts. The Mancos Conservation District was formed in 1948 and serves Montezuma County, the Town of Mancos, and the San Juan Watershed.

Mission

The unified mission of all conservation districts is to coordinate assistance from all interested public, private, local, state, and federal resources to develop locally driven solutions to natural resource concerns. The mission of the Mancos Conservation District is to promote long-term sustainable use and protection of the natural resources of the Mancos River Watershed.

Management

The Mancos Conservation District is served by a volunteer board of supervisors. These folks devote their time and energy to helping landowners resolve issues associated with increasing population and meeting increasing demands on all natural resources in our watershed. They provide educational, financial and technical assistance to local landowners to improve agricultural and livestock sustainability. They are working with the Colorado River Salinity Control Forum in cooperation with the NRCS to install pipelines and irrigation systems that replace dirt ditches. This will reduce soil erosion and saline sediment transport. The board of supervisors also conducts and sponsors workshops in integrated weed management, water irrigation seminars and rangeland management. The board is currently working on a project to replace old, dysfunctional water diversions along the Mancos River. Several projects have been completed to improve fish and aquatic health on the river.

Unless otherwise noticed, the Board of Directors meets the 2^nd Tuesday of each month at 4 pm at 604 Bauer Ave., Mancos, CO 81328. The Executive Director is Gretchen Rank and Neva Connolly is the District Manager.