Conservation District mill levy funding question on November General Election ballot.

Once again, the Laramie County Conservation District’s local mill levy funding, derived from property taxes, will be on the ballot for the residents of Laramie County to vote on. The ballot will ask for the renewal of a half mill levy, which has been collected since 1988.

What is a Conservation District?  

A conservation district is governed under Wyoming State statutes to provide leadership in implementing natural resource   conservation district programs and projects within their boundary. There are 34 conservation districts in Wyoming. The district is your local voice on natural resource management issues and is managed by a five member elected board, which directs a              9 member staff.

How is the Conservation District funded?

Forty percent of the Laramie County Conservation District’s budget is provided through a voter approved ½ mill levy. The mill levy was first approved in 1988 and every four years since. In 2000, the district’s mill levy was overwhelmingly approved by a 67% margin. The mill levy funding allows us to bring additional funding for natural resource conservation programs into Laramie County through additional grants, agreements, and sales from our programs. The mill levy is worth approximately $370,000.00, and the district’s budget is nearly $800,000 annually.

What kind of programs and services does the Laramie County Conservation District provide?

The district has several natural resource conservation programs, including:

·       Seedling Tree Program- for those who own two or more acres, low cost seedling trees and shrubs and tree planting and fabric mulch application service.

·       Living Snow Fence Program- living snow fences are rows of trees and shrubs planted to alleviate blowing and drifting snow on city, county and state roads.

·       Wildlife Program- provides assistance to establish habitat for wildlife throughout Laramie County, as well as provide assistance with the Endangered Species Act.

·       Range Program- provides assistance to small and larger acreage owners on grazing management, plant identification, and pesticide and fertilizer recommendations.

·       Water Program- improves water quality and assists people with practices that save energy and water.

·       Education and Information- educates all age groups, as well as provides quarterly newsletters, displays, and media releases.

·       Special Projects- the district helps urban landowners with designing backyard wildlife habitats, planning low water use landscapes, providing information on tree questions and improving  the natural beauty of Laramie County through community enhancement projects.

Water News

Watershed Plan Amendment Finalized - The document is an Amendment the Crow Creek Watershed Plan and provides recommended actions for the upper portion of the Crow Creek Watershed.  Read more... 

Aquifer Study in Progress - The Laramie County Commissioners are sponsoring a study of Laramie County's aquifers through the Wyoming Water Development Office.  Read more...

Final Ruling on Pole Mountain Lawsuit - The 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the lower court's decision on December 17, 2007.  Read more...              

 We are a taxpayer supported agency that provides information and help to residents of  Laramie County, Wyoming in maintaining and improving soil and water resources, wildlife  habitat, agricultural production and more. Here are some of the services we provide:

• Classroom Education
  We teach students in our local schools about caring for our natural resources, including our ecosystem, and the trees, wildlife, rangeland, groundwater, and surface water.  We are also available to help with outdoor education programs.

• Contests and Fun
  We judge local science fairs and hold an annual Natural Resources Poster Contest for local students. We hold a Conservation Leadership Camp, and send students to Wyoming Resource Education Days during the summer.

• Our Publications
  We publish our Report on Progress and Conservation Corner with important information about conservation for Laramie County residents.

• Living Snow Fence
  There are now 223 Living Snow Fence locations in Laramie County, and we are working on additional sites.

• Range Program
  We help land owners with grazing and land management, landscaping, seeding, and more.

• Seedling Trees & Tree Planting
  We provide seedling trees to Laramie County residents at low cost. We'll help you set up a windbreak or living snow fence, and show you how to improve the survivability and growth of your trees.

• Planning
  We provide technical review of all proposed subdivisions in Laramie County, and are working on the revision to the Medicine Bow National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.

• Irrigation and Water Use
  We help local irrigators and homeowners conserve water and use efficient irrigation techniques, saving them money and conserving our valuable resources.

• Wildlife Habitat
  We help Laramie County landowners and homeowners establish and maintain wildlife habitat, in both rural and urban settings.

• Crow Creek Watershed
  We offer valuable information about the current efforts to develop a plan for the Crow Creek Watershed.

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