District Dialogues: A Conservation Podcast

Sensa Wolcott interviews the current staff of the Mancos Conservation District about what projects and programs they are currently a part of, highlighting projects that can help landowners, producers, and our community. She is joined by the MCD executive director, district manager, and forestry team.

This concludes our two-part first episode. Keep an eye out for episode 2, which will focus on soil health in Montezuma County.

Timestamps:

00:28: Episode introduction

00:47: Danny Margoles introduction

03:00: Overview of MCD’s mission and goals

05:33: Neva Connolly introduction

06:16: Soil Health Program

09:25: Tarra Harris introduction

10:12: Rowan Henke introduction

10:55: Forestry Program

18:39: Sensa Wolcott introduction

19:38: Watershed Program

22:53: Education and Outreach Program

26:10: Wrap-up

To learn more about any of the Mancos Conservation District’s programs mentioned in this episode or to contact our staff:

About MCD: https://montezumacountyconservationdistricts.org/about-mcd 

Soil Health Program: https://montezumacountyconservationdistricts.org/soil-health

Forestry Program: https://montezumacountyconservationdistricts.org/programsandprojects/project-three-8zgh7-t485x

Watershed Program: https://montezumacountyconservationdistricts.org/programsandprojects/new-water

Neva Connoly: [email protected]

Tara Harris: [email protected]

Rowan Henke: [email protected]

Sensa Wolcott: [email protected]

Find the transcript on our website or follow this link to view it directly.

Sensa Wolcott is joined by Jack Burk to discuss this history of conservation districts, his experience with them, and how conservation districts work today. From the dust bowl to efforts today, they cover the role a conservation district can play in its community.

This has been part one of our first episode! Keep an eye out in February for part two where we dive deeper into the programs the Mancos Conservation District Offers with board president, Mike Nolan.

Timestamps:

00:54 Introduction of host, Sensa Wolcott, and guest, Jack Burk

01:16 Jack describes his history with conservation districts

02:26 What a Conservation District is

04:47 Creation of the Soil Conservation Service and Soil Conservation Districts

07:15 Transition to the Natural Resources Conservation Service

09:05 How conservation districts are structured in Colorado

10:35 How a district is structured and functions

12:47 What makes a district successful

16:56 Educational benefits to a community

19:10 A brief look into the history of the Mancos Conservation District's notable programs

22:20 Jack touches on a riparian restoration project his property is a part of

25:34 Wrap up

To learn more about different organizations mentioned in the episode, follow these links:

Conservation District History: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/history/brief-history-nrcs

CACD: https://www.coloradoacd.org/

NACD: https://www.nacdnet.org/

NRCS: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/

Montezuma School to Farm Project: https://www.mstfp.org/

Trees, Water & People: https://treeswaterpeople.org/

Mountain Studies Institute: https://www.mountainstudies.org/

Montezuma Land Conservancy: https://montezumaland.org/

Native Conservation Corps: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/native-conservation-corps.htm

Find the transcript on our website or follow this link to view it directly

District Dialogues: A Conservation Podcast will be a quarterly podcast starting at the end of January, 2025. Focusing on local natural resource issues and programs, you will be able to find the episodes on our website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Youtube.

Join us for our first episode focusing on what a conservation district is and what programs the Mancos Conservation District is currently offering!

Transcripts will be available on our website, https://montezumacountyconservationdistricts.org/