Soil & Water Conservation District

The Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District offers technical, financial and educational advice to Orange County landowners and operators. We provide technical consultation on erosion control and water quality issues on agricultural farmland and non-agricultural lands.

Farmland

Orange Soil & Water Conservation District Cost Share Programs

The Orange Soil & Water Conservation District has a variety of cost share programs available. Each program offers best management practices targeted to meet specific program goals. These programs help address agricultural, rural, and urban water quality and water resource issues. Typically, 75% cost share assistance can be provided to an applicant to install best management practices that improve or increase water resources in Orange County.

Eligible landowners and operators may apply for cost share assistance to install BMPs on their agricultural operations. An initial sign-up period will be held in July 2026 for those landowners and operators wishing to apply for cost share assistance. Requests for technical assistance will be received throughout the year and cost share assistance can be provided, given that funding continues to be available. To apply for cost share assistance, please contact David Latta or Caleb Lippard at (919) 245-2750. For more information, please visit the Division of Soil & Water Conservation website.

Additional Information

Agronomists, engineers, soil scientists, and other specialists from local, state, and federal agencies work closely with the Soil and Water Conservation District Staff to answer your questions. Please contact us with any questions.

Orange Soil and Water Conservation is a Division of the Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks, and Recreation - DEAPR.

Visit our Department website for more information. 

Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District in NC News


Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief - Volunteer Work Continues

Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District employee, Caleb Lippard, recently volunteered to spend a week with the Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District to provide Hurricane Helene disaster relief assistance. 

View the below photos of Caleb conducting Emergency Watershed Protection evaluations and read about his volunteer work here. 

Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District employee Caleb Lippard in Western NC