CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Conservation Agency and the West Virginia Association of Conservation Districts held their 2023 Conservation Day activities at the state Capitol Complex on Feb. 8.

WVCA staff and conservation district supervisors met with legislators during the morning and evening to discuss priorities and also current efforts to get conservation on the ground across the state.

Topics of discussion included major dam rehabilitation projects across the state, and legislators also were encouraged to support an improvement package to benefit the West Virginia Conservation Agency's Agricultural Enhancement Program.

The $1 million improvement package would be a boost to agricultural enhancement cost-share funding, which allows the districts to partner with farmers and other residents who are using conservation best management practices (BMPs) in their operations.      

The goal of the Agricultural Enhancement Program is to conserve soil and water in a continuous manner to increase agricultural sustainability and profitability.

The improvement package would allow the 14 conservation districts to meet increased demand for conservation BMP cost-share opportunities, implement invasive species cost-share programs and expand public outreach. Requests for cost-share assistance have outpaced available funding in recent years.

Conservation Day on Feb. 8, in conjunction with Agriculture Day, was held around the Capitol Rotunda and outside the Senate chambers. A dinner for legislators was held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Building 7 at the Gaston Caperton Training Center.

Below are several more photos of the day’s activities.