Soil and Water Conservation districts are state-authorized entities 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 our five-member Board of volunteer Supervisors and the resource concerns brought to them from our cooperators.
One crucial niche Alaska's districts fill is that of providing soil and water conservation services to owners of private lands -- from individuals of small parcels to Alaska Native organizations 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.
Districts are made up of cooperators (land owners or managers willing to voluntarily work to conserve and use natural resources). From this group of cooperators, a five-member board is elected to direct the activities of the district.
Chris Rainwater (Chairman)
Chris was born and raised in Alaska, having spent most of his time on his family’s homestead near the Head of Kachemak Bay. Chris has extensive knowledge of the area’s natural resources, and has been involved in ranching, raising hay, gold mining, and construction work. Chris is an active member of the Kenai Peninsula Farm Bureau and currently is serving as the president of the Alaska Association of Conservation Districts.
Otto Kilcher (Vice Chairman)
Otto lives on the family homestead on East End Road. He ranches and operates a boat transportation service. The Kilcher family has a long and colorful history around the Homer area. Otto raises hay and cattle on the homestead and sits on the Kenai Peninsula Cooperative Weed Management Area Council and is an active member of the Kenai Peninsula Farm Bureau.
Genarita Grobareck (Treasurer)
Genarita moved to Alaska in 2007 to work as a fisheries biologist. Since settling in Anchor Point in 2009, she has been focused on developing her small scale market garden, and free range egg business that focus on sustainability and environmentally conscious practices. As a biologist and environmental scientist, she is committed to building awareness of best management practices for the different types of land uses, as well education outreach for the youth in our community to help educate the next generation of stewards of our land.
Tim Alzheimer (Secretary)
Tim moved to Alaska in 2006 and began working at the forest service in moose pass. He moved to Homer in 2009 and started working at K-Bay State Park doing trail maintenance and construction. He has a degree in Horticulture and has worked in a variety of green industry jobs. He was an organic farming consultant in Moldova under CNFA (charity national for agriculture) which was funded under US Aid. He has worked and lived in South Africa, New Zealand, and the lower 48 on a variety of organic farms. He is an avid outdoorsman who loves and cherishes our relationship and responsibility concerning nature. He began his landscape company in 2016 and offers an array of services and conservation practices. His passion is conservation and restoration.
Jim Engebretsen
Jim Engebretsen has been in and around Anchor Point since 1974, and had the first high tunnel contract with the NRCS’s EQIP program. A local grower of a myriad of things, his specialties include particularly tasty French fingerling potatoes and gooseberries. When he’s not farming, he’s commercial salmon fishing on a driftboat. Jim is attuned to the community and after filling in on the board, has decided to take a seat with us. Here he is pictured with his Kenai Peninsula Fair 2014/15 first-place Zucchini Cocozelle from Italian stock.
Board typically meets on the second Wednesday of each month, and all meetings are open to the public.
Local Conservation Solutions
