OSCEOLA-LAKE CONSERVATION DISTRICT

"Managing Our Natural Resources"

Programs - Services - Information - Education

 


Our Mission

Our mission as leaders in the care of our natural resources is to serve the public as a team of trained skilled professionals dedicated to protecting and conserving our natural resources while educating future generations so they may become caretakers of our water, air, land, plants, and wildlife.

Our Vision

The Osceola-Lake Conservation District works to educate, inform, and assist all resource users in the wise use and management of our Natural Resources.


Managing Our Natural Resources

Created to serve as stewards of our natural resources, the Osceola-Lake Conservation District provides site-specific, technical assistance and information to landowners/users in all aspects of resource management.

A five-member board of elected directors develops policy and directs the programs within the district. The Osceola-Lake Conservation District was established in 1944, and is a local entity of state government. It operates under the Soil Conservation District Law, Act 463, P.A. 1998. We are able to receive charitable contributions with our 170(C)1 Status (always check with your tax advisor).

All Conservation District programs and services are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or disability.

Visit our office to browse the wealth of information that is available. Also, check out our LENDING LIBRARY. We have books, videos, cd-roms, and other resource information available for all ages regarding the care and management of our Natural Resources.


The "Gateway" to Natural Resource Management

If you hunt, fish, boat, hike, garden, farm, or do anything else involving natural resources, then you benefit from Michigan’s' 82 Conservation Districts working to put conservation on the land!

Michigan's Conservation Districts are unique local units of State Government, that utilize state, federal and private sector resources to solve today's conservation problems. Created to serve as stewards of natural resources, Michigan's Conservation Districts take an ecosystem approach to conservation.

In recent years, land patterns have changed dramatically. The land is continuously being divided, creating new landowners who have little or no knowledge of land and resource management. Pressures on natural resources have continued to mount with erosion problems due to developing sensitive areas without proper conservation measures in place; and other non-point source pollution occurring due to the actions of the many new landowners in rural and suburban areas. Conservation Districts have evolved in order to serve this new and expanding clientele, in addition to serving their agricultural customers.

Conservation Districts are referred to as "gateways" in their local communities. They provide linkages between land managers and a host of conservation service providers that include state, federal and local governments, conservation organizations, and Internet resources. Conservation Districts continuously scan the needs of their local communities, work in partnership with others involved in conservation to set local priorities, and develop action plans to solve natural resource problems. The delivery of these efforts by Conservation Districts allows citizens to manage their private lands for a cleaner, healthier Michigan. It allows the public a point of access in their communities when questions arise on how to manage natural resources.

Conservation Districts have a wide variety of resource professionals available to assist you and your conservation needs: foresters/wildlife biologists, water quality specialists, resource technicians, soil erosion control agents, conservation education specialists, and more. Contact the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts at (231) 930-2975, or on the web at www.macd.org for more information on how to contact the Conservation District near you.

How does a landowner get assistance?

Go to: DISTRICT ASSISTANCE REQUEST FORM


 

Board of Directors

Chairman

L.D. Hesselink

Vice-Chairman

Shawn Gingrich

Secretary

Mark Bontekoe

Treasurer

David Randall

Member

Jerry Powell

 

 

 

Staff

Administrator

Charmaine Lucas

charmaine.lucas@mi.nacdnet.net

District Forester

Rick Lucas

rick.lucas@mi.nacdnet.net

Groundwater Technician

Lorry Klinger

lorry.klinger@macd.org

USDA-NRCS District Conservationist

Greg White

greg.white@mi.usda.gov

USDA-NRCS Farm Bill Specialist

Susan Cavner

susan.cavner@mi.usda.gov


Board Meetings

Regular Board Meetings are held the second Thursday of the month at the USDA Service Center and the Conservation District office located at 138 W. Upton, Suite #2, Reed City, MI 49677.
Call the office to verify dates and times. From time to time we have to change the schedule due to reasons beyond our control. Call (231) 832-2950.

Meetings are open to the Public

Contact Us:

138 W. Upton, Suite #2
Reed City, MI 49677
Contact: Charmaine Lucas
Phone (231) 832-2950
Fax (231) 832-2683