On November 6-7, OACD members gathered in Redmond, Oregon, for our annual meeting. The meeting included a business meeting, but also presentations that were an opportunity to learn from fellow SWCDs and OACD's partners. The gathering was an inspiring demonstration of the passion Oregon SWCDs have for conserving our state's natural resources and strengthening communities in the process. Meeting attendees expressed gratitude for their partners from local landowners and their District staff, to state partners like OACD and ODA, to regional and national partners like NACD and NRCS.

OACD staff and board members are grateful for those who attended to share their perspectives and participate in the event, and to all SWCDs and partners. We look forward to continuing to work together to promote a healthier, more resilient Oregon through voluntary conservation of soil, water, and habitat.

Highlights of the November 2019 Annual Meeting, including presentation slides and handouts are below. OACD members can access presentations and minutes from the Business Meeting on our Members Only page.

District Presentations and Awards

Distinguished District of the Year Award - ODA Agricultural Water Quality Program Manager John Byers presented Klamath SWCD with the Distinguished District award for their excellence in forming and leveraging partnerships.

NACD Technical Assistance Grant for Cultural Review Backlog and Bradshaw Drop

 Irrigation Project - Randy White, Jackson SWCD District Manager. Email: randy.white@jswcd.org

• Bradshaw Drop Story Board

Deschutes SWCD Strategy and Projects - Jeff Rola, Deschutes SWCD board member, and Todd Peplin, Deschutes SWCD manager/program lead. Email: todd.peplin@or.nacdnet.net

Partner Presentations

Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT) and the Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program - Nellie McAdams, OAT Manager. Email: nellie@oregonagtrust.org

Oregon's 100-Year Water Vision - Meta Loftsgaarden, OWEB Executive Director

Marketing Your Conservation District (No More "Best Kept Secret") - Laura Johnson, Washington Conservation Commission. Email: ljohnson@scc.wa.gov, 

• WCC Communications Toolkit website

Department of Agriculture Updates

• Strategic Implementation Areas - John Byers, ODA Agricultural Water Quality Program Manager.Email: jbyers@oda.state.or.us
• ODA SWCD Program - Eric Nusbaum, SWCD Operations Specialist. Email: enusbaum@oda.state.or.us

NRCS Update on Farm Bill and Programs - Loren Unruh, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist (Programs and RCPP)

NACD Update - Ariel Rivers, Pacific Region Coordinator. Email: ariel-rivers@nacdnet.org

Oregon Envirothon - Garrett Duyck, Oregon Envirothon Manager. Email: info@oregonenvirothon.org

Special Districts Association of Oregon - Phil Wentz, SDAO/SDIS Risk Management Consultant

• OACD members can access handouts from SDIS relating to workers compensation and the SDAO/SDIS drone program on the members only page The 2020 OACD Annual Meeting will be a virtual meeting on Zoom from 8:30 – 5:00.  Please pre-register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_V76cQqIPRSqtqokd-jIO9w.The business meeting and partner reports will take place in the morning.  There will be an hour lunch break, followed by 4 workshops.  See the attached agenda for workshop descriptions.