Washtenaw County Residents Asked to Weigh in on Conservation Priorities

Washtenaw County residents are being asked to share their top conservation concerns through June 15 as part of the Washtenaw County Conservation District’s Conservation Needs Assessment, a survey that will help shape the district’s next five-year plan.

According to the district, the survey helps guide how staff time, programs and millage funding are used over the next five years.

Jill Lada, the district’s community engagement specialist, said past survey responses have helped shape the district’s work in concrete ways.

In the 2021 survey, residents’ top concern was land use. Among those who selected that category, 68% said they were concerned about the pace of development and zoning regulations, while 67% supported preserving natural areas. Farmland preservation ranked third at 59%, according to the district.

Lada said those responses helped lead to several programs launched since 2021.

One is the Washtenaw County Conservation Collective, a partnership that helps landowners learn about options for preserving their land. The group includes the Washtenaw County Conservation District, River Raisin Watershed Council, Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission, Ann Arbor Greenbelt, Huron River Watershed Council and Legacy Land Conservancy.

Lada said the district also created a Land Toolkit to connect landowners with resources for assessing, managing and preserving their land.

Another example is MI FarmLink, a program that started at the district to connect people who own land with people looking for farmland and help keep land in agricultural production. Lada said the program has since expanded statewide.

This year, Lada said, the district especially wants to hear what programs residents would like to see offered or expanded.

The district said its broader priority areas include preserving natural areas and farmland while allowing for growth, managing invasive species and pollution, protecting surface and groundwater quality, and educating residents about waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting and microplastics.

Residents can complete the survey online at washtenawcd.org/survey or request a paper copy by calling 734-302-8715. Responses will be accepted through June 15.