County budgets cuts to the Jefferson Conservation District will mean fewer federal dollars for landowners to protect and enhance forests and other natural resources. On Tuesday, Jefferson County Commissioners approved a $26,000 cut in funding to the district.

Prior to the recent cuts, the district helped local residents acquire more than $400,000 in federal funding to thin trees and improve the health of more than 3,500 acres of private forest. Following the Hi Meadow and Hayman Fires, the district obtained more than $700,000 in federal funding to restore 6,000 charred acres and help more than 100 fire victims.

County funding defrays the district's costs to run healthy forest and other conservation programs. The Jefferson Conservation District, lead by volunteers with little funding from state or other sources, will be forced to cut services because of the county's actions. Without the district's help, local residents will likely not meet lengthy, and often onerous, federal grant requirements.

The district has been serving the citizens of Jefferson County and protecting the county's natural resources since 1942. The role of the district in helping people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment is unique and special. At one end of the conservation process is the individual landowner who takes care of the majority of land in the county. At the other end of the conservation process, the district links citizens to a multitude of local, state, and federal natural-resource management programs.

We - JCD and our community partners - have many recent accomplishments.

Over the last two years, the JCD provided conservation technical assistance to more than 2,300 county residents, groups, and local governments.

The district obtained 35 federal grants to help private landowners reduce fire hazards, insect damage, and improve forest health.

Estimates of the local economic benefits of the district's fire restoration work exceed $35 million.

Other district programs and services available to county residents include environmental education, storm water management, nutrient management, watershed and agricultural land protection. For more information about the district or the impact of budget cuts on district programs, please call Sally Lobel at 720-544-2870.