Pike County SWCD Expands Office Staff through CWI Watershed Grants
The Pike County SWCD was pleased to learn that their Clean Water Indiana (CWI) Watershed Grant for 2012 was awarded which allowed the County to complete another milestone in the District’s history. For the first time the SWCD had funding to hire a part time soil technician who would be shared with Gibson County SWCD as they were a partnering watershed on the grant.
The SWCD’s first offered the job to Pike County native Jamen Frederick. Jamen’s knowledge in the conservation field coupled with his education quickly earned him an opening position as a Resource Specialist with the Indiana State Department of Ag after only five quick months of employment. The boards were saddened to learn of his departure but also accepted it too as it would mean another qualified conservationist assisting to improve our natural resources in Pike County for several years to come.
After going through another round of interviews, the Pike SWCD offered the position to Matt Robinette, another Pike County native. A 2012 Hanover College graduate specializing in Environmental Studies, Matt quickly learned the ropes and has been assisting with conservation efforts in both Pike & Gibson counties which has greatly reduced the waiting time for responding back to producers with conservation designs and solutions as well as reduced the workload of the NRCS District Conservationist. In the picture, Matt is shown completing CRP re-enrollments in Pike County. Almost 40 were completed in just a couple months due to the extra staffing.
The additional staffing would not have been possible without securing a 2012 Clean Water Indiana Watershed Grant through the State Soil Conservation Board and the Indiana State Department of Ag. The Pike County SWCD has seen a tremendous response in conservation efforts in our District and the SWCD feels it is accredited to the fact that the SWCD is has conservation and career driven people in the office that have a passion with improving the counties natural resources.
You can now find us on Facebook too to stay up to date on the Pike SWCD's conservation achievements, workshops and programs too!