Partners
Fremont SWCD works with many different non-profit organizations and state and federal agencies on a daily basis. These partners help local landowners with everything from cost-share programs to purchasing land for public use. Following is a list of groups that the District works with and an explanation of Fremont SWCD's relationship with that organization.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS):
This agency has employees in every Service Center. Brian Gross, District Conservationist, and Marvin Freed, Conservation Specialist, are NRCS Employees. The NRCS is also responsible for funding many of the big programs that the Service Center offers, including WRP, EWP, EQIP, WHIP, GRP. See a detailed explanation of these programs on the program page.
· Brian Gross - District Conservationist
· (712) 374-2014, fax: 374-2563
· http://www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov/
This agency has employees in every Service Center. Brian Gross, District Conservationist, and Marvin Freed, Conservation Specialist, are NRCS Employees. The NRCS is also responsible for funding many of the big programs that the Service Center offers, including WRP, EWP, EQIP, WHIP, GRP. See a detailed explanation of these programs on the program page.
· Brian Gross - District Conservationist
· (712) 374-2014, fax: 374-2563
· http://www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov/

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship-Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality (IDALS-DSCWQ):
Providing both staff and program dollars to the conservation effort. Located in the Sidney Service Center are Conservation Assistant, Tammy Grebert and Soil Conservation Technician Kevin Brannen, both employees of the DSCWQ. The DSCWQ distributes cost-share money for terrace systems through the Iowa Financial Incentives Program (FIP) and wildlife with Resources Enhancement and Protection
Program (REAP).
· (712)374-2014, fax: 374-2563
http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us/soilConservation.asp
· IDALS Financial and Reports Management System: FARMS
Providing both staff and program dollars to the conservation effort. Located in the Sidney Service Center are Conservation Assistant, Tammy Grebert and Soil Conservation Technician Kevin Brannen, both employees of the DSCWQ. The DSCWQ distributes cost-share money for terrace systems through the Iowa Financial Incentives Program (FIP) and wildlife with Resources Enhancement and Protection
Program (REAP).
· (712)374-2014, fax: 374-2563
http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us/soilConservation.asp
· IDALS Financial and Reports Management System: FARMS

Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR):
The DNR has long been a partner with the Soil and Water Conservation District, providing advice and financial assistance for the District and landowners. The DNR has also been working with the District and the NRCS to purchase some of the floodplain easements within the county to expand their Riverton Wildlife Area.
· Matt Dollison, DNR Biologist
· (712) 374-3133, fax: 374-2563
· http://www.iowadnr.com/
The DNR has long been a partner with the Soil and Water Conservation District, providing advice and financial assistance for the District and landowners. The DNR has also been working with the District and the NRCS to purchase some of the floodplain easements within the county to expand their Riverton Wildlife Area.
· Matt Dollison, DNR Biologist
· (712) 374-3133, fax: 374-2563
· http://www.iowadnr.com/

US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE):
The Army Corps of Engineers has long been an agency in this area. In the 1920's, the ACOE straightened the lower reaches of the Nishnabotna River, then conducted the stabilization of the Missouri River in the 1930's and 1940's. Compare the Missouri River at Bartlett, Iowa, in 1938 (top) and in the 1990's (bottom) on the right. The federal levee system was then created on the
Missouri River after the flood of 1952.
Now, the Corps of Engineers, is looking to the future in a whole new way. The ACOE is looking for willing sellers along the Missouri River for mitigation projects, including some of the wetland and floodplain easements that the NRCS already has within Fremont County. They are conducting large restorations, creating sandbar habitat and back-water areas for wildlife
habitat, as well as maintaining a navigable waterway for barge traffic.
· For Mitigation questions, contact Jerry Smith, Reality Specialist
· (402) 221-4319, fax: 221-3025
· Omaha District Homepage
· Mitigation Homepage
The Army Corps of Engineers has long been an agency in this area. In the 1920's, the ACOE straightened the lower reaches of the Nishnabotna River, then conducted the stabilization of the Missouri River in the 1930's and 1940's. Compare the Missouri River at Bartlett, Iowa, in 1938 (top) and in the 1990's (bottom) on the right. The federal levee system was then created on the
Missouri River after the flood of 1952.
Now, the Corps of Engineers, is looking to the future in a whole new way. The ACOE is looking for willing sellers along the Missouri River for mitigation projects, including some of the wetland and floodplain easements that the NRCS already has within Fremont County. They are conducting large restorations, creating sandbar habitat and back-water areas for wildlife
habitat, as well as maintaining a navigable waterway for barge traffic.
· For Mitigation questions, contact Jerry Smith, Reality Specialist
· (402) 221-4319, fax: 221-3025
· Omaha District Homepage
· Mitigation Homepage

US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS):
The Fish and Wildlife Service offers advice and financial assistance to landowners who are interested in improving wildlife habitat on their land, especially when the land is not eligible for USDA programs. Located at Desoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Refuge Operations Specialist Steve Van Riper is in charge of cost-share funding for Fremont County and much of southwestern Iowa. Steve is a very good source of information for wildlife issues, especially waterfowl/wetland habitat.
· Steve Van Riper
· (712) 642-4121
· http://www.fws.gov/
The Fish and Wildlife Service offers advice and financial assistance to landowners who are interested in improving wildlife habitat on their land, especially when the land is not eligible for USDA programs. Located at Desoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Refuge Operations Specialist Steve Van Riper is in charge of cost-share funding for Fremont County and much of southwestern Iowa. Steve is a very good source of information for wildlife issues, especially waterfowl/wetland habitat.
· Steve Van Riper
· (712) 642-4121
· http://www.fws.gov/

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA):
The sister agency of the NRCS, the FSA works hand-in-hand with NRCS on programs like the Conservation Reserve Program. We have an entire page dedicated to the Fremont County Farm Service Agency; look for additional information there.
The sister agency of the NRCS, the FSA works hand-in-hand with NRCS on programs like the Conservation Reserve Program. We have an entire page dedicated to the Fremont County Farm Service Agency; look for additional information there.
Loess Hills Alliance
Loess Hills Alliance has been a partner with Fremont SWCD for the past several years providing financial assistance for hiring district employees. Loess Hills Alliance also provides cost share programs to the landowners in the Loess Hills.
Loess Hills Alliance has been a partner with Fremont SWCD for the past several years providing financial assistance for hiring district employees. Loess Hills Alliance also provides cost share programs to the landowners in the Loess Hills.

Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI) and National Association of Conservation
Districts (NACD):
These two organizations help give SWCDs in Iowa and across the country more of a voice in government. These private organizations lobby for conservation dollars that will be spent by the federal and state governments in districts nationwide.
Districts (NACD):
These two organizations help give SWCDs in Iowa and across the country more of a voice in government. These private organizations lobby for conservation dollars that will be spent by the federal and state governments in districts nationwide.
Local DrainageDistricts:
Some of the local drainage districts within Fremont County have partnered with Fremont County SWCD and the NRCS to control flooding, and as a side benefit have helped improve wildlife habitat within the Districts boundaries. Missouri Valley Drainage District, which includes much of the Missouri River Valley in Fremont County, actually paid for the construction of miles of levees to control flooding near the town of Hamburg. They also work with the landowners to improve wildlife habitat in ways that do not affect surrounding landowners.
Some of the local drainage districts within Fremont County have partnered with Fremont County SWCD and the NRCS to control flooding, and as a side benefit have helped improve wildlife habitat within the Districts boundaries. Missouri Valley Drainage District, which includes much of the Missouri River Valley in Fremont County, actually paid for the construction of miles of levees to control flooding near the town of Hamburg. They also work with the landowners to improve wildlife habitat in ways that do not affect surrounding landowners.

Fremont County Board of Supervisors:
The local board of supervisors has worked with Fremont SWCD on
a parcel of land that is to be developed as an outdoor learning center through
the Two Rivers Project. The Supervisors held the land and bid out the contract
to remove the buildings from the site, then transferred the land to Fremont
County Soil and Water.
The local board of supervisors has worked with Fremont SWCD on
a parcel of land that is to be developed as an outdoor learning center through
the Two Rivers Project. The Supervisors held the land and bid out the contract
to remove the buildings from the site, then transferred the land to Fremont
County Soil and Water.

Fremont County Extension Office:
Offering up-to-date information to landowners
and farmers, Iowa State Extension can provide information on everything from
pesticide and herbicide rates to tree farms and nurseries. The Fremont County
Extension Office has sponsored the Fremont County Fair and the Conservation
Expo, both of which Fremont County SWCD actively participates in.
· (712) 374-2351
· http://www.extension.iastate.edu/
Offering up-to-date information to landowners
and farmers, Iowa State Extension can provide information on everything from
pesticide and herbicide rates to tree farms and nurseries. The Fremont County
Extension Office has sponsored the Fremont County Fair and the Conservation
Expo, both of which Fremont County SWCD actively participates in.
· (712) 374-2351
· http://www.extension.iastate.edu/

Iowa Pheasants Forever (PF):
Pheasants Forever has been a big partner the last few years with many districts throughout the state. They have supplied SWCDs with dollars to hire district employees and purchase equipment. Since 1999, the state chapter has donated a cash match of at least $6,000 to Fremont SWCD. They also donate seed to local landowners when they plant grass mixes that are beneficial to pheasant and other wildlife.
· http://www.pheasantsforever.org/
Pheasants Forever has been a big partner the last few years with many districts throughout the state. They have supplied SWCDs with dollars to hire district employees and purchase equipment. Since 1999, the state chapter has donated a cash match of at least $6,000 to Fremont SWCD. They also donate seed to local landowners when they plant grass mixes that are beneficial to pheasant and other wildlife.
· http://www.pheasantsforever.org/

Ducks Unlimited (DU):
Ducks Unlimited sponsors local landowners with technical assistance. They also have a cost-share program that gives landowners funds to do non-program funded projects. The Regional Ducks Unlimited has sponsored a NAWCA grant for the Missouri River Area in Iowa and Nebraska, as well as sponsoring projects with the Iowa DNR.
· http://www.ducks.org/
Ducks Unlimited sponsors local landowners with technical assistance. They also have a cost-share program that gives landowners funds to do non-program funded projects. The Regional Ducks Unlimited has sponsored a NAWCA grant for the Missouri River Area in Iowa and Nebraska, as well as sponsoring projects with the Iowa DNR.
· http://www.ducks.org/