Charting the District’s Course - Planning Overview

Planning Overview

The planning process broadly defines the vision of the future and then focuses on the steps that are needed to address specific goals and objectives. A conservation district without a plan is like being afloat without a boat. Board members must consider where the district wants to go and how to get there.

Utah's conservation districts are legally defined in Utah Code, Title 17D Limited Purpose Local Government Entities, Chapter 3, Conservation District Act. The code explains that Conservation districts are political subdivisions, and as a political subdivision, a conservation district has some basic statutory duties, organizational guidelines and financial reporting ties to the state.

In an ongoing basis, conservation districts assess the resource needs of the district (resource assessment). They develop long-range and annual plans with the goals and objectives designed to meet prioritized needs. They provide linkages between land users and conservation service providers.