Soil and Water Conservation districts are local units of government that develop, manage, and direct natural resource programs at the local level. Districts have been around since before Alaska was a state. Alaska’s conservation districts were established after the Territory of Alaska passed legislation in 1947 that authorized their formation. Our programs are driven by the Board of Supervisors, and the resource concerns brought to them from our cooperators.
One crucial niche districts fill is that of providing soil and water conservation services to owners of private lands -- from individuals of small parcels to Native organization owning thousands of acres. Helping landowners learn about and manage their lands and waters, whether for forestry, agriculture, recreation, or other uses, is key to economic sustainability and local quality of life.
Please explore our website and consider becoming an active member of your District and sign up as a cooperator.
Homer Soil and Water Conservation District has projects for which we need people with specific qualifications. To apply, e-mail a cover letter, resume, and contact information for 3 professional references to Info@HomerSWCD.org. Open until filled. For more information, e-mail Info@HomerSWCD.org or, call 907-235-8177 ext. 5 or just stop by the office on Pioneer.
Drone Mapping Trails:
Looking for a drone operator to provide remote-access mapping services. Must be able to traverse uneven terrain to accompany the drone, possibly camping on longer trips. Drone footage must be able to produce geo-TIFF-formatted orthoimagery for use in GIS software with a range of ground sample distance (GSD) resolutions, preferably between 2.5 - 5 cm/pixel.
Food System Analysis:
Looking for part-time employee or contractor to conduct interviews, collect and analyze data, and write reports. Will need excellent communication and organizational skills. Will need to be able to work independently as well as part of a team. Examples of previous experience conducting similar studies required. Experience in local agriculture highly preferred. Position for one year. Pay starting at $18hr, DOE.
Invasive Pest Management:
Looking for contractor and/or part-time employee for our Invasive Weeds Program. Duties may include; supervision of technicians in the field and at the office, applying treatments to customers' properties, documentation (both paper and electronic). The successful candidate will have excellent communication and customer service skills, will have a current and valid Alaska Pesticide Applicator Certification, and be adaptable, teachable, and technologically savvy. Pay starting at $18hr, DOE.
Homer Soil and Water Conservation District is an equal opportunity employer.
We're moving!
After decades in the "blue bank building," NRCS and Homer Soil and Water are all moving into the Frontier Building between ACS and Remax on Pioneer. As of mid-December 2017, our new address is 432 E Pioneer Ave. Homer Soil and Water will be in Suite D and NRCS will be in Suite C, where Tech Connect used to be.
Come say hi and see our new place!
Below is a list of goals for the coming fiscal year, identified by the Board of Supervisors. Our Annual Plan of Work, outlining our goals and objectives, and how we aim to accomplish them, can be viewed by downloading this document.
We value your civil rights. It is the policy of the Homer Soil and Water Conservation District to recruit, hire, train and promote for all job classifications without regard to a person’s race, religion, color or national origin, age, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, parenthood or any other impermissible characteristic as defined by law when the reasonable demands of the position do not require distinction of the aforementioned items.
Local Conservation Solutions
Current Newsletter (Fall 2017).
▶Click here to view
Local Working Group Meeting (LWG)
News for NRCS high tunnel program applicants:
The application period is open again until May 11, 2018!
1.) For landowners enrolling in the conservation practice Crop Rotation (328), there is a new requirement starting in FY2018. The crop rotations must include a small grain which is grown to a height of at least 4” in the entire growing area at the beginning or end of the summer.
2.) Starting in FY 2018, there is a new rule regarding payment on high tunnel contracts. Landowners must fully complete the building of their high tunnel (including sides, tops, and end walls) before NRCS will issue a payment on the contract.
Contact the NRCS office for more details at 235-8177 ext 3.
