Ontonagon County Conservation District board directors Valerie Talsma and Charles Burger staff the OCCD information booth at the Bruce Crossing Independence Day Celebration on Saturday in Stannard Township Park.

OCCD release

BRUCE CROSSING — Community members will see members of the Ontonagon County Conservation District popping up at events this summer.

On Saturday, Directors Valerie Talsma, Charles Burger and Mike Jarvi took turns manning the information booth at the Bruce Crossing Area Independence Day Celebration at Stannard Township Park. Talsma also set up at Log Cabin Days at Old Victoria on June 30. Going forward, look for board members at the Ontonagon Council on Aging Senior Fest on Wednesday, July 17, at Ewen Trout Creek School from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at Copper Fest, Saturday, July 27, in Ontonagon. Burger will also be presenting at local township meetings about Community Forestry grant opportunities.

Conservation districts are a governmental subdivision of the State of Michigan, and a public body – corporate and political, created by referendum of the people within the district boundaries under provisions of the Soil Conservation District Law, Public Act 297 of 1937. The OCCD stated mission is to: “Promote stewardship of natural resources through education, outreach, community partnerships and management.”

To facilitate that mission, the OCCD partners with the US Forest Service (Ottawa Unit), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) and the Forestry Assistance Program (FAP). Through these partnerships, the district is able to connect property owners with conservation technicians to assess needs, formulate plans of action and seek grant funding.

By Michigan law, conservation districts are required to have a five-person elected board of citizens from their county. This year, Talsma and Burger, who were both previously elected to partial terms, must stand for reelection. This opens the two board seats to any eligible county resident. Interested candidates must be at least 18 years old, residents of Ontonagon County, and should have an interest in the District’s mission to promote stewardship of natural resources through education, outreach, community partnerships and management, fresh ideas, the will to make a difference and two to three hours per week. Board members serve as volunteers and attend the Regular Monthly Meetings. Board positions will begin after the election at the annual meeting Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, at 5 p.m. at Rockland Township Hall. Residents of Carp Lake and Bergland townships are especially encouraged to apply for election to represent the western side of the county around White Pine and Lake Gogebic.

Petitions of candidacy must be filed 60 days before the annual meeting. Interested candidates have until close of business on Friday, Sept. 6, to file a nominating petition for the election that will take place on Nov. 7. If you have questions or are interested, please contact the Ontonagon Conservation District at ontonagon@macd.org. Information is also available on the OCCD website: https://www.ontonagonconservationdistrict.com/.

Today, conservation districts are overseen by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development with each being administered by a publicly elected board of directors as defined by the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act Public Act 451 of 1994, as amended. Conservation districts are local providers of natural resource management services that help citizens implement conservation on their land and protect the environment for a cleaner, healthier and economically stronger Michigan. The primary goal of a conservation district is to address the most critical local resource concerns. Currently, Michigan has 75 conservation districts, which are generally organized along county boundaries.

Ontonagon County Conservation District works to provide for the conservation, protection and restoration of natural resources locally within the county. The board participates in identifying and addressing conservation needs within the district through available resources and agency partnerships. Decisions relating to water quality, fisheries and wildlife habitat improvement and restoration, and invasive species are examples of the types of resource issues that a Board Member might provide insight and advice. Board members serve as volunteers and attend the Regular Monthly Meetings. Board positions begin with the election at the annual meeting.

District elections are held under the oversight of The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, who will certify the elections.

Upcoming OCCD meetings on the Summer Schedule are Aug. 12 and Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. at Rockland Township Hall.