Soil & Water Conservation

The Buncombe County Soil & Water Conservation District's mission is to conserve the soil, water, and related natural resources of Buncombe County by providing education, information, technical assistance, and economic incentives to County citizens and by establishing new programs in concert with other appropriate organizations to meet changing needs. Our mission is significant because the County's water quality is vital for those utilizing our streams as a source of agricultural water supply and for those taking advantage of wide range of recreational activities.

News & Events

April's Gardening in the Mountains Free Classes

Soil and Water's Successful Seedling Sale Grows Educational Opportunities

Purpose

The Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) — governed by a five-member board of elected and appointed District Supervisors — works with its core partners, residents, and others to conserve Buncombe County's soil, water, and related natural resources. In a nutshell, the SWCD "helps people help the land." Our programs lead to better water quality in local streams and more productive agriculture, protected forest, and wildlife lands. The SWCD’s educational and farmland preservation programs also have positive impacts on local agriculture, recreational, and other water-related activities. Our Conservation Technical Assistance and Cost Sharing programs provide local citizens with the information and financial resources they need to manage their land and take corrective measures to solve soil erosion and water quality issues.

Board Members

• Jeff Foster, Chairman
• Elise Israel, Vice-Chairman
• David Snelson, Secretary
• William Hamilton, Treasurer
• Louise Scruggs, Member

Purpose

The Buncombe County Agricultural Advisory Board is composed of nine County residents appointed by the County Commissioners. A minimum of five of the Board members must be actively engaged in farming. Those five are selected from candidates recommended by the Soil & Water Conservation District, the N. C. Cooperative Extension Service, and the Farm Services Agency committee.

Responsibilities

• Review and make recommendations concerning the establishment and modification of agricultural districts.
• Review and make recommendations concerning any ordinance or amendment adopted or proposed for adoption.
• Hold public hearings on public projects likely to have an impact on agricultural operations, particularly if such projects involve condemnation of all or part of any qualifying farm.
• Advise the governing board of the county or city on projects, programs, or issues affecting the agricultural economy or way of life within the county.
• Perform other related tasks or duties assigned by the governing board of the county or city.

Ag Advisory Board Members

• Gary Roberts
• Terri Wells
• Loring McIntyre
• David Lee
• David Snelson
• Alan Lang
• Amanda Sizemore
• Ed Bulluck
• Brandon Hensley

Online Tools

WSS provides soil data and information for general farm, local, and wider area planning. NRCS has soil maps and data available online for more than 95% of the nation's counties, and is the largest natural resource information system in the world.

USGS Water Resources of North Carolina
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Real-time water information including streamflow, groundwater, water quality, and water use and availability.

USGS WaterWatch of NC Drought Conditions
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Live map of below-normal 7-day average streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the day of year. Can also toggle the map for flood, historical flow data, and more.

Soil & Water Staff

• Gary Higgins
  District Director
• Anthony Dowdle
  NCACSP Soil Conservationist
• John Ottinger
  NRCS Supervisory Soil Conservationist
• Taira Lance
  Soil Conservationist / Environmental Educator
• Ariel Zijp
  Soil Conservationist/
  Farmland Preservation Coordinator
• Jessica Hughes
  Administrative Assistant