Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

CASSOPOLIS — The Cass County Conservation District is ready for a new year.

Administrator Korie Blyveis recently provided an update as to what the Cass County Conservation District has been up to recently and what residents can look forward to in 2021. While the office remains closed to in-person activities, Blyveis assured that staff are hard at work and are responding to phone messages.

To start, the district board has officially changed meeting dates and times to 3 p.m. the second Monday of each month. Meetings will be hosted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic until further notice. Contact the office at (269) 445-8641, ext. 5 for Zoom meeting information.

“Our regular board meetings are always open to the public, and we encourage you to attend and help us grow,” Blyveis said.

Additionally, district staff are excited to begin the five-year county resource assessment.

“We will be seeking your help to create a new business plan to better protect and enhance Cass County’s natural resources,” Blyveis said. “Volunteers are needed to serve on planning committees, assist with tree sale and assist the invasive species strike team efforts when they begin in our area.”

In other Cass County Conservation District news:

• The 2020 Cass County Plant Book is now available for $32 with tax included. New features include historic vegetation map and Underground Railroad information.
• The district welcome new MAEAP technician Emily Haluda. This Lake Superior State alumni is ready to work with Cass County farmers and open space landowners to show they are top stewards of their land by helping them earn MAEAP verification.
• The district welcomed the new NRCS district conservationist Tiffari Jenkins. NRCS staff is available to assist producers with programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program and Environmental Quality Incentives Program to address resource concerns. For more information, contact NRCS at (269) 445-8641, ext. 3.
• The spring tree sale will be April 29 to May 1.
• Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permits are required for projects within 500 feet of a lake or stream or projects over an acre in size. Find applications and more information regarding SESC at cassccdistrict.org.
• Tuesday night Hike with a Naturalist events will be resuming with warmer weather and longer days. For updates, visit the Cass County Conservation District on Facebook.