Looking ahead while looking back — NRD updates management plan at 65 years

While reflecting on more than six decades of conservation work, the Weston County Natural Resource District is also looking ahead, launching a new long-range management plan update as it marks its 65th year serving landowners, residents and the natural resources that shape the county.

District officials say the planning process, which is required every five years, provides an opportunity not only to look ahead but also to reflect on decades of conservation work and community partnerships.

Caleb Carter, district manager for the district, said the update is being launched early to allow time for public input and careful evaluation.

“We’re required to update our long-range plan every five years, and our next deadline is in 2026,” Carter said. “We’re starting the process now so we can collect feedback from folks on what their natural resource concerns and priorities are for the county and begin drafting updates to the existing plan.”

Carter said the regular review helps prevent the plan from becoming outdated.

“It’s easy for plans like this to get written, put on a shelf and never looked at again,” he said. “We see this as a chance to revisit past concerns and decide whether they’re still the same issues we’re seeing today, or whether trends are shifting.”

Those shifts can be influenced by many factors, Carter said, including climate, legislation and economic pressures.

“It’s an opportunity to really take a deep dive into what those concerns are and make sure we’re on track to address them, or to shift our efforts if needed,” he said. “In the end, we’re working for our district members, and we want to make sure we’re being as effective as possible.”

Water availability has historically been one of the county’s top natural resource concerns, and Carter expects that to remain the case.

“Generally speaking, water has always been near the top, and I think it probably will continue to be,” he said. “It’s a major determining factor in grazing distribution and how long operations can sustain themselves.”

Forest health is also becoming a growing concern, particularly as drought conditions persist.

“With continued drought, we’re starting to see some mountain pine beetle activity again — not at the levels we saw over a decade ago, but it’s there,” Carter said.

Recent fires in the region have also increased interest in fuels mitigation projects, such as removing trees near structures to reduce wildfire risk.

“There’s been a lot of interest from folks wanting to do fuels mitigation on their properties,” Carter said. “That’s being driven in part by recent fires and also by insurance companies increasing rates or, in some cases, dropping coverage if those steps aren’t taken.”

While the management plan helps guide district priorities, Carter emphasized that it does not impose regulations on landowners.

“I don’t think the plan itself will have any direct effects on individual landowners,” he said. “We look at it as our five-year road map for where we’re going and what we’re going to emphasize.”

If community feedback reveals new or emerging priorities, Carter said, the district may adjust how programs are offered or how funding and staff time are allocated, but he does not anticipate drastic changes.

Instead, the process gives residents a voice in how public funds are used.

“This is an opportunity for district members to say, ‘This is how we’d like those funds used. This is where we want you to focus your efforts,’” Carter said. “Transparency is really important to us.”

The long-range plan also serves as the foundation for the district’s annual plan of work, which is reviewed regularly by staff and the board.

“The idea is that over the course of five years, we achieve the goals in that plan by breaking them down into manageable annual pieces,” Carter said. “If we’re doing that process correctly, we should be accomplishing most of those goals by the end of the five-year period.”

Community input is a key component of the update. Surveys are available online at westoncountynrd.org, by mail and at the district office.

“Later this spring, we’ll start collating the results and seeing what people’s thoughts are.”

Beyond local conservation programs, Carter said, the district also plays an advocacy role that many residents may not realize.

“A lot of people don’t realize that we’re able to lobby,” he said. “We work closely with state legislators and local representatives to keep them aware of concerns related to natural resources here.”

As the district marks its 65th anniversary, Carter said the milestone pairs naturally with the planning process.

“It’s an exciting time to reflect on the last 65 years —what our priorities have been, what we’ve accomplished and what we’ve been successful at,” he said. 

He described the moment as “reflecting back but refocusing on the future.”

“We’re here to work for and represent our district members,” Carter said. “All of our programs are voluntary.”

Erin Darlington, who works for the district, said the organization’s mission has remained consistent even as its programs have expanded.

“WCNRD has always been about helping local landowners with natural resource issues,” Darlington said. “For much of the 65 years, the district’s focus was on rural and agricultural issues, but in the past couple of decades, we’ve worked to create programs that benefit our urban residents as well.”

Darlington said the anniversary highlights the value of long-term experience.

“The details change, but the problems are often pretty similar,” she said. “We can look back to see how these problems were dealt with in the past, so we don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time.”

Looking ahead, Darlington said the district will focus on efficiency and grant opportunities.

“We’re hoping that the responses to our survey will help us determine if we need to shift our priorities or make changes to any of our cost-share programs,” she said.

Tucker Hamilton, a local landowner and voluntary rural member of the district’s five-person board, said the district’s programs deliver tangible benefits.

“They have a lot of good resources available to them, and that makes them available to us,” Hamilton said, pointing to education opportunities and partnerships.

Hamilton said water projects, including pipelines, have been especially valuable.

“A good way to turn some of our tax money back into the community locally — this comes right back into the county and put out there on the ground,” he said.

As the district looks toward its next chapter, Carter said public support remains essential.

“We’re grateful for the partnerships we’ve had over the last 65 years,” he said. “It’s an honor to serve and represent Weston County, and we take that responsibility seriously.”