About
Partnering with agencies across Connecticut to preserve our land and water.
Our Mission
The Mission of the Council on Soil and Water Conservation is to advise and assist the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Commissioner of Agriculture and other partnering agencies in conserving and protecting the land, water and other resources of the State in order to preserve and enhance quality of life for present and future generations.
Our Charge
The Connecticut Council on Soil and Water Conservation is created by state statute (Sec. 22a-315 of the Connecticut General Statutes) to coordinate activities and partnering opportunities of Connecticut’s soil and water conservation districts with other federal, state and local agencies on environmental and natural resource land use projects. The council operates under the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and primarily focuses on erosion and sedimentation control, water quality and quantity issues, and land use issues.
Members of the Connecticut Council on Soil and Water Conservation
The council's nine voting members
a representative of each of Connecticut’s five soil and water conservation districts
the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection or designee
the Commissioner of Agriculture or designee
a representative of the Cooperative Extension System
a representative of a non-governmental organization appointed by the Governor
At-large non-voting members
a representative from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS)
a representative from Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
a representative from Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station
municipal staff responsible for erosion and sedimentation control
a representative from Farm Service Agency
a representative from the Resource Conservation and Development Councils
Through its legislative charge, the council coordinates Conservation District projects with other state, regional and local agencies on various natural resource and land use projects. Such projects include:
Comprehensive review of development projects
Native landscaping, buffer and streambank restoration assistance
Erosion control and stormwater plan reviews
Workshops on natural resource topics
Soils and geographic information, including GIS
Pond inspections and trouble-shooting
Natural resource surveys and inventories
Wetland boundary verification
Channel restoration and design guidance
Soil sampling
Funding assistance to municipalities and land owners for special projects
Facilitating connections to other natural resources professionals