Partners

Our Partners

Natural Resources Conservation Service

The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture helps individuals, groups, organizations and units of government to wisely use natural resources by providing direct, on-the-ground assistance in planning and implementation of conservation. NRCS has a Cooperative Working Agreement with your conservation district and SCDNR-LWCD, which says how the partnership of NRCS, SCDNR, and the District will work together on personnel, program delivery to customers, technical standards, facilities, equipment, data sharing, funding, liability and civil rights. 

The district is served by a NRCS field office. Berkeley District is served through the Charleston NRCS office.
 NRCS work through the Conservation Districts includes assisting:
  • Individuals such as farmers, ranchers, foresters, and land users
  • Groups such as realtors, developers, land users, commodity organizations
  • Units of government such as planning commissions, county and city councils, public works commissions
 Technical services include:
  • Whole farm and total planning to use, manage and sustain our natural resources
  • Designing, surveying, laying out and inspecting construction of all practices outlined in the Field Office Technical Guide
  • Inventorying and evaluating soil conditions
  • Inventorying natural resources problems and planning solutions 
Legal responsibilities include: 
  • Planning and carrying out federal community development programs such as the Resource Conservation and Development
    (RC&D) and PL-566 Small Watershed Programs (mostly for flood control)
  • Planning and carrying out federal conservation programs such as cost-share programs (Forestry Incentives, Environmental Quality Incentives, Wildlife Habitat Incentives, etc.) and land retirement programs (Conservation Reserve and Wetlands Reserve) In addition to providing services to the public, NRCS personnel are required to attend regularly scheduled District board meetings, special meetings called by the Board of Commissioners, and District, Area, and State Association meetings. NRCS also assists the Board in establishing priorities and developing annual and long-range plans to address conservation problems.
 NRCS also: 
  • Provides leadership in incorporation of NRCS concerns into the Partnership’s annual and long-range plans
  • Keeps the board informed about NRCS activities in the district, and requests that the board takes action on issues that require it
  • Reviews and discusses with district officials the civil rights policies contained in the Cooperative and Mutual Working Agreements on annual basis
Contact information for our regional (Charleston) NRCS office can be found by clicking here. 
See the NRCS webpage for more information by clicking here.

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

The Berkeley Soil and Water Conservation District is a subdivision of state government, under the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 

The primary mission of the SCDNR-Land, Water and Conservation Division is to help ensure that the natural resources of the state are managed wisely.

As the division of state government charged with administering the Soil and Water Conservation Districts Law, the SCDNR-LWCD provides professional, technical, and financial assistance to the state’s 46 conservation districts in carrying out conservation programs.
The division also coordinates development of programs to address nonpoint source pollution; collects and makes available to the public a wealth of information about the land and related resources for wise land resource planning decisions; provides technical assistance in the design and use of “Best Management Practices.” 

The SCDNR has six additional divisions that contribute to the conservation of South Carolina’s natural resources as well. They are the Administrative Services Division, Conservation Education and Communications Division, Law Enforcement Division, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division and Marine Resources Division. As the division responsible for the coordination of South Carolina’s conservation districts, SCDNR-LWCD provides funds and staff to the conservation districts for program planning and implementation, technical assistance, education and public affairs. 

The SCDNR, through the Land, Water and Conservation Division, assists conservation districts by:
  • Providing professional and technical staff assistance and financial assistance through state-appropriated funds and federal grants
  • Assisting in developing annual and long-range plans for carrying out district goals and objectives
  • Assisting in preparation of annual reports of each district 
  • Providing timely training for all district commissioners, associate commissioners, district staff, and other volunteers
  • Developing, conducting and evaluating conservation education programs in concert with district com missioners
  • Promoting programs of districts through the news media, exhibits, tours, conferences, visual aids, brochures, and staff presentations to civic, educational, agricultural, church, youth and other groups
  • Securing the cooperation of State and Federal agencies in assisting districts and land users 
  • Assisting districts in assessing erosion and sediment reduction and stormwater management
To learn more about SCDNR, please click here. 

Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust

The Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust is a non-profit land trust founded by the Berkeley Soil and Water Conservation District in 1992. LBCT protects lands in and around Berkeley County. 
 
The District created the land trust to fulfill its shared mission of protection of natural resources in and around Berkeley County. 
 
The Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust conserves the natural environment, cultural and historical sites, and productive lands that anchor our sense of place throughout Santee Cooper Country.

To learn more about the Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust, please click here. 

Berkeley County Farm Bureau Federation

Berkeley County Farm Bureau Federation is the local branch of South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation. This non-profit entity seeks to further the success and education of agricultural producers through local support and by coming together as a group to give a voice to our leaders for the needs of producers here in the lowcountry.

BSWCD shares some of the same mission goals as BCFBF, therefore our alliance can strengthen our effectiveness to help farmers in Berkeley County. We have supported each other and the community through common community educational opportunities, education for our legislators and other resources for the farmers in Berkeley County.

2023 Affiliate Members

The Berkeley Conservation District relies heavily on the tax-deductible support of Affiliate members. Without the support of local businesses and persons that support our mission, many of our programs would not be possible.
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