Soil & Water

Soil & Water Conservation District

29 Liberty Street, Suite #3
Batavia, NY 14020
Phone: (585) 343-2362 ext. 5

Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month at 8:30 am
at the USDA Center 29 Liberty Street Batavia, NY 14020


Department Description

The Genesee County Board of Supervisors created the district in 1944 to "conserve soil resources and control and prevent soil erosion." This was done according to state law known as the Soil Conservation Districts Law. A 1964 amendment to the state law added "water" and the title became the Soil and Water Conservation Districts Law. Another amendment in 1989 added language regarding water quality improvement and abatement of non-point sources of water pollution. In 1989 the Genesee County Legislature designated the district as "the local planning, management, and implementing agency responsible for 1) erosion and sediment control on potential non-point sources such as streambanks, construction sites, forestry, mined land, road banks, urban sources and agriculture; 2) stormwater runoff; 3) fertilizer and pesticide management; 4) agricultural waste."

Mission

It is the mission of the Genesee County Soil and Water Conservation District to work directly with county landowners to provide for the conservation of soil and water resources, improvement of water quality, and prevention of floodwater and sediment damages, thereby protecting the natural resource base and promoting health, safety, and general welfare of the county residents.

SWCD Staff Directory:

District Field Manager:
Jared Elliott, CCA    Jared.Elliott@ny.nacdnet.net 

Clerk/Treasurer:

Laura Bestehorn Laura.Bestehorn@ny.nacdnet.net

Conservation Technician:

Tim Welch , CCA    Tim.Welch@ny.nacdnet.net


Conservation Technician:
Rebecca Olsen
Rebecca.Olsen@ny.nacdnet.net
 
Conservation Technician:
Joan Hodges  Joan.Hodges@ny.nacdnet.net

SWCD Board of Directors:
Chairmen/Grange Rep: 
Dennis Phelps

Farm Bureau Rep: 

James Kingston

Vice-Chair/Legislature: 

Christian Yunker

Legislature: 

Rochelle Stein

At-Large Rep:

Marirose Ethington 

District Vacancy Announcement(s)
Accepting Applications for Conservation Technician
Conservation Technician

Water Quality Coordinating Committee:
Genesee County's Water Quality Coordinating Committee had its start in 1988 as an advisory group to the Soil and Water Conservation District. The purpose of the committee was to provide direction for the District's water quality program and coordinate activities of member organizations.

In 1991, the committee began meeting as the Genesee County Water Quality Coordinating Committee and began work on a Water Quality Strategy for Genesee County. The strategy was completed in 1992 and revised in 2018.

The committee's function or general objectives, as identified in the strategy were to:

  1. Gather and prioritize facts on county water resources.
  2. Discern the best methods to educate people as to their responsibilities to maintain or enhance water quality and availability.
  3. Provide guidelines for governments or community groups to use in protecting their water resources.
  4. Identify funding sources and agencies or organizations to carry out water quality management projects.
  5. Prepare an annual report of the committee activities and member agency and organization work toward maintaining or enhancing water quality and availability.

The water quality meetings are held twice a year, call for next meeting date.