Local Work Groups

Local Work Groups (LWGs) are subcommittees of the State Technical Committee and provide recommendations to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on local and state natural resource priorities and criteria for conservation activities and programs. The results of LWGs are also valuable to local and state leaders in the development of priorities, programs, and policies.

LWGs are rooted in the locally-led conservation process, connecting Conservation Districts, the NRCS, State and local partners, and producers to work through an assessment of current natural resource concerns in a given area or region and to identify opportunities and challenges that NRCS and partners can address through their conservation programs. This input helps guide local decision-making and can influence policy development.

Local Work Group Meetings Yeild Results

Through Local Work Group meetings, Conservation Districts bring all local area stakeholders together to identify resource concerns and develop solutions and partnerships based on those concerns and local knowledge. Conservation District Boards gather these concerns, listen to what producers, landowners, and other stakeholders have to say, and then submit a list of resource concerns and recommended priorities to the NRCS and other federal and state entities.

Keep an eye on your local Conservation District’s webpage to find out when their next LWG Meeting is being held.

Local Work Group Resources

Arizona Local Work Group Handbook

This handbook will help guide Arizona’s Conservation Districts in understanding the purpose of the Local Work Group (LWG), how to run LWG meetings, and how to engage local conservation stakeholders.

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