The Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) is one of six agencies under the Secretary of Natural Resources. The Secretary of Natural Resources and Director of DCR serve at the pleasure of the governor. The agency mission is conserve, protect, enhance and advocate wise use of the commonwealth’s unique natural, historical, recreational, scenic and cultural resources. The agency helps VA’s 47 soil and water conservation districts protect Virginia’s waterways by providing programs and funding as appropriated by the General Assembly.
From an earlier module you may recall that districts implement the Virginia Agricultural BMP Cost Share Program (VACS). The cost-share program supports using various practices in conservation planning to treat animal waste, cropland, pastureland and forested land. The VACS program is administered in partnership by DCR and Virginia’s SWCDs.
To learn more about the Department of Conservation & Recreation – its programs and support of SWCDs – visit http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/.
