|

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.
BACK
TO TOP
|