Community weighs in on priorities for Oceana Conservation District

Every five years we ask county residents to share what they value most about Oceana’s natural features and help us identify natural resource concerns. The responses we receive help us prioritize projects, facilitate conversations about gaps in our services, and guide our future work. In early 2022, we asked residents to fill out a Conservation Needs Assessment in survey form and we received 204 responses.

The survey requested basic demographic information from respondents, asked them to rank land use, water quality, wildlife, and habitat issues in order of importance, and asked them about their awareness of, participation in, and prioritization of Oceana Conservation District programs. Staff compiled survey response data into spreadsheets and bar graphs, and based on community input, a five-year strategic plan will be developed and adopted by staff and board members later this year.

According to the survey, the three most valued natural resources in Oceana County are:

1) Surface water–lakes, rivers, and streams

2) Open space/recreation areas–parks and nature preserves

3) Hunting and fishing land

When asked to prioritize resource concerns, stakeholders rated nine key issues either as high, medium, or low priority. The top three, high-priority categories were water quality, invasive species, and wildlife habitat respectively. Refer to the graph to see how residents ranked the various issues.

These priorities aligned with responses we received regarding areas in which residents would like to see the District expand its focus in the next five years. The highest ranking areas of requested expansion were restoration projects, invasive species removal, watershed management, and land acquisition and preservation (shown in the pie chart below).

Responses in the “additional feedback” section of the survey reinforce previously reported data and can be grouped into a few common subjects. Many stakeholders voiced their desire for the expansion of invasive species management, including increasing our response to Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in the county. Requests for more resources to support wildlife, develop forest management plans, continue reforestation efforts, and participate in organic agricultural practices were also expressed. Many residents stated they would like to see more opportunities for local school involvement and educational programing put on by Oceana Conservation District, as well as a plea for improvements to the county’s minimal recycling program. Our biggest call to action is to get more boots on the ground to manage invasive species, improve wildlife habitat, and take an active role in watershed management. Residents also want us to protect and preserve natural, scenic and farm lands that provide opportunities for education and recreation. We recently hired a Stewardship Coordinator to take the lead on these new initiatives and we look forward to reporting on our progress next year.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Oceana Conservation Needs Assessment this past spring. With over 200 responses, county residents overwhelmingly agreed on the county’s most valued resources and prioritized environmental and resource concerns in conjunction with those resources. This data will help us prioritize our services, develop new programming, update our five year strategic plan, and focus our field work efforts in 2023 and beyond.