For NC Soil and Water Conservation Districts
The Division Engineering Virtual Panel was an interactive session designed to introduce new employees to the Division’s engineers. Participants had the opportunity to meet the team, ask questions, and learn how engineers support cost-share programs, technical assistance, and project implementation. The panel provided valuable insight into the people behind the technical guidance and resources.
For NC Soil and Water Conservation Districts
CS2 is the NC Division of Soil & Water Conservation’s secure, online system for managing all State cost-share program contracts, including the Agricultural Cost Share Program (ACSP), Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP), and others. Through CS2, districts can enter new contracts, upload required maps and supporting documents, track approvals and payments, and view program balances in real time. The system helps ensure consistent data, compliance with program rules, and timely reimbursement. The Division’s website offers training materials, user guides, and contact information for Cost Share Specialists to help district staff navigate CS2 efficiently.
(CS2 Information and Resources on the Division Website)
For NC Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Once a cost-share practice or project is completed, districts submit a Request for Payment (RFP) through CS2 (and in some cases with hard copies) to initiate reimbursement to participating landowners. These requests confirm that the work meets contract and program standards before funds are released. Districts should ensure that all required supporting documents (invoices, photos, maps, and certifications) are attached in CS2 and follow the Division’s instructions for processing payments. Timely and accurate RFP submissions help maintain compliance with ACSP, CCAP, AgWRAP and other state cost-share program rules and speed up payment to landowners. Guidance on RFPs—including templates, checklists, and program contacts—is available under the ACSP Resources section of the Division’s website.
(Requests for Payment Guidance on the Division Website)
Every Soil & Water Conservation District must develop an annual Strategic Plan for the NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission Cost Share Programs. This plan, required by 02 NCAC 59D .0101, outlines how the district will deliver cost-share and technical assistance programs over the coming year. Strategic Plans are submitted using the Division’s Strategic Plan Template and online submission form, available on the Division website. The plan helps guide budgeting and fund allocation—including technical assistance and ACSP cost-share funds—and ensures district activities align with state priorities. Resources, instructions, and templates can be found under the Division’s ACSP Resources section.
(Strategic Plan Resources on the Division Website)
Join Regional Coordinator Ken Parks as he guides you through the NC Division of Soil & Water Conservation website, showing exactly where to find key forms, program resources, training materials, and updates. This short webinar will help you navigate the site more efficiently, save time, and ensure you’re always accessing the most current information. Ken will also share tips for bookmarking and organizing frequently used pages so you can reach the information you need faster.
The NC Division of Soil & Water Conservation uses SharePoint as the primary system for document submission and sharing with local Soil & Water Conservation Districts. District staff submit required documents via the SharePoint site (AGR-SoilWaterConservation) using your county email. For first-time access or login help, contact Kristina Fischer. NC Agriculture
To keep things organized and efficient, the Division provides a list of recommended naming conventions for files stored in SharePoint. NC Agriculture
Below is a guide on how to use the system, plus key resources and best practices to help ensure documents are stored correctly and accessibly.
Districts are required to submit certain forms, reports, and other documentation via SharePoint. These may include:
To keep things consistent, discoverable, and compliant, the Division provides a quick list of naming conventions for files in SharePoint. These guidelines help ensure documents are stored in a way that’s easy to locate and reference later. NC Agriculture
Some best practices (drawn from both the Division’s guidance and the NC State Archives’ general file-naming standards) include:
Some documents may contain confidential information (e.g. certain data from agricultural producers or geo‐spatial information tied to farms) that are protected under state or federal law. Before submission or sharing, verify whether any submitted document contains confidential content, and follow the Division’s rules for handling such materials. NC Agriculture
Accurate and timely meeting minutes are essential for transparency, accountability, and compliance with North Carolina’s open meetings laws. Our website provides straightforward guidance on preparing, approving, and maintaining meeting minutes, including when minutes must be made public and how to handle confidential or closed-session records. If you have questions, contact your regional coordinator. All supporting materials have been provided by Kristina Fischer at the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Soil and Water Conservation.
Below is a document of example meeting minutes. You may see where these minutes go from very little information to very informative. What would you change about these examples?
Additional resources can be found on the Division of Soil & Water Conservation’s Website.
Understanding when and how closed sessions may be held under North Carolina law can be challenging. Our website offers straightforward guidance on the state’s open meetings and public records laws, with special attention to the rules governing closed sessions. You’ll find clear explanations, practical tips, and direct links to relevant statutes and reference materials to support compliance and transparency. If you have questions, contact your regional coordinator. All supporting materials have been provided by Kristina Fischer at the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Soil and Water Conservation.
For additional information, please see our page on NC Sunshine Laws.
Date: Thursday, August 14, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Room TBD
This interactive session will explore where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we need to go when it comes to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The goal: to break down communication barriers and build a more unified, responsive, and proactive approach to disaster work in conservation.
Soil & Water Conservation Districts and partner agencies will kick things off with brief reflections on lessons learned from recent events—but the heart of this session is collaborative problem-solving. We’ll identify what worked, what didn’t, and what support is still needed to respond effectively to future disasters.
Bring your experience, your questions, and your ideas. Together, we’ll strengthen our readiness and resilience.
Tuesday, August 12
Have you ever wondered how climate data was collected before the use of thermometers? Come find out in this interactive lesson presented by Allison Whitaker with the State Climate Office of NC. She will share our North Carolina climate report and then lead into a hands-on lesson on palaeoclimatology where we will learn how to use tree rings for the collection of climate data. This is a great resource to use for 7th grade classes and to gain more knowledge for the Project WET Climate, Water and Resilience lessons.
Ever wondered what all those squiggly lines on a topo map actually mean? This hands-on session will walk you through the fundamentals of reading topographic maps and delineating watersheds — essential skills for proper BMP design and effective conservation planning. After a brief overview, you’ll put theory into practice by delineating a watershed yourself. Come sharpen your skills and leave with practical knowledge you can use in the field.
Take control of your district’s budget with confidence! This hands-on session will walk participants through smart, practical uses of Microsoft Excel for Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) budgeting. We’ll cover tips, templates, and formulas that help reduce common errors, improve accuracy, and make budget preparation less stressful.
You’ll also get an introduction to using AI tools (like ChatGPT) to support budget-related tasks—such as formula generation, forecasting, creating budget narratives, and automating repetitive tasks.
Take your RUSLE2 skills to the next level in this interactive, computer-based workshop led by Josh Vetter with the NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation. This session is designed for conservation professionals who already have a working knowledge of RUSLE2 and are ready to dive deeper into advanced functions, troubleshooting, and practical applications in real-world conservation planning.
Participants will work through scenarios, explore advanced model settings, learn how to create and manipulate custom managements and develop RUSLE2 reports and plans. A laptop with RUSLE2 pre-installed is required to fully participate in the session.
Note: This workshop is best suited for individuals who have completed basic RUSLE2 training or have equivalent field experience.