About Us
The Eaton Conservation District is a local unit of State Government established in Eaton County in 1946. The District has a five member board of directors who are elected by local property owners at the District's annual meeting held in January. The Board oversees the development and implementation of soil and water conservation in the county.
The District focuses on natural resource problems and solutions. Our services include protecting groundwater, watershed planning, woodland and wildlife improvements, soils information, stream bank stabilization, conserving and restoring wetlands, providing tree seedlings, conservation books and information workshops. The Conservation District serves as the link between the landowner and local, state and federal governments and conservation organizations. Michigan Conservation Districts are unique local units of government that are the local providers of natural resource management services, utilizing state, federal, and private sector resources to solve today’s conservation challenges.
The District focuses on natural resource problems and solutions. Our services include protecting groundwater, watershed planning, woodland and wildlife improvements, soils information, stream bank stabilization, conserving and restoring wetlands, providing tree seedlings, conservation books and information workshops. The Conservation District serves as the link between the landowner and local, state and federal governments and conservation organizations. Michigan Conservation Districts are unique local units of government that are the local providers of natural resource management services, utilizing state, federal, and private sector resources to solve today’s conservation challenges.
Board of Directors
Board members are elected at the District's Annual Meeting and serve 4 year terms. However, these terms may range from 1 to 3 years. If you would like more information about becoming a board member, please call our office at (517) 543-1512 x5. (Full length) Board Member Position Description Board Member Duties View Board Documents Michigan Association of Conservation DistrictsMichigan’s 75 Conservation Districts (CDs) are your local providers of natural resource management services -- much like your local fire, police, health, and school services. We're also your neighbors, helping fellow Michiganders conserve their lands and waterways so our environment can be a cleaner, healthier, economically stronger place to live, work and grow for our community. Formed in response to the 1930s Dust Bowl, Conservation Districts are local units of government that utilize state, federal, and private sector resources to solve today's conservation challenges. The guiding philosophy of Conservation Districts nationwide is that decisions on conservation issues should be made at the local level, by local people, with technical assistance provided by government-affiliated organizations. To this end, our CDs work hand-in-hand with local, state, and federal organizations to roll out programs that directly assist and impact the environmental quality of local communities and our beautiful peninsulas. Learn more by visiting Michigan Association of Conservation Districts and National Association of Conservation Districts.
Annual ReportsVolunteer OpportunitiesAt ECD, there are a variety of volunteer opportunities available. No matter your interests or abilities − if you care about our soil and water quality, we can use your help!
Volunteering at the Eaton Conservation District is a great way to help your community. We’re always looking for more people! Below is a list of areas in which volunteers could be of assistance. If any of these appeal to you, or if you have another idea of how you can help out, the first step to becoming a volunteer is to contact our office at (517) 543-1512 x5. Opportunities include:
|
What ARE Conservation districts?Meet our staffRachel Cuschieri-Murray, Executive Director
she/her 
Rachel’s roots in conservation began with collecting seeds and foraging with her dad on the Army bases where she grew up. Rachel attended Eastern Michigan University where she obtained degrees in communication. She worked with schools and businesses in the Detroit suburbs and Capital Region to promote conservation efforts. Rachel loves organizing the community around conservation so she was delighted to join the ECD team as Environmental Outreach Coordinator in the spring of 2022. Rachel was promoted to Executive Director in the fall of 2022. Rachel lives in Delta Township with her family, where she eats the dandelions in her lawn and plants as many varieties of native edibles as she can get her hands on.
Contact Rachel: rachel.cuschieri-murray@macd.org Gracen Zaremba, MAEAP Technician/Agriculture Specialist
|
|
Gracen grew up in Marshall, Michigan always wanting to be in nature, going on walks with her mom, and picking rocks everywhere she went. This led to her curiosity in nature where she earned her bachelor's in Environmental Science and Biology (Concentration of Ecology and Organismal Biology) from The University of Olivet. After going to college, Gracen had a hard time picking a certain topic that she wanted to pursue. She absolutely loved everything about science and loved to learn. She worked with invasive species specifically European frog-bit and is now starting this career hoping to learn more about agriculture as her and her fiancé, Nick, are starting their own farm soon. Gracen loves to fish, kayak, hunt, and read. She really enjoys being outside with her Labrador retrievers: Buck and Bear.
Contact Gracen: gracen.zaremba@macd.org |
Valerie Reisen, Environmental Outreach Coordinator
she/her
she/her
Val was born in Pennsylvania, where she learned to love nature while growing up on her grandparents’ dairy farm. She graduated as salutatorian from Connellsville HS and went on to
attend the University of Notre Dame, where she earned her B.S. in biological sciences. Val spent her summers during college working with animals in different jobs across the country.
She worked in a veterinarian’s office, as a wildlife educator in New York, and in the country’s largest reptile store in East Bay, CA. Val went on to study biochemistry and molecular biology at
Michigan State University, where she earned her master’s degree. During graduate school, Val taught a lab on cell and molecular biology and worked in a research lab studying Smith-Magenis Syndrome, a chromosomal disorder that causes developmental delay and physical abnormalities.
Val worked as the Head Technician for Transfer Biology at Lansing Community College,
coordinating the preparation of lab supplies for LCC’s biology courses, and as a research
technician at Michigan State, studying the physical and molecular characteristics of Arabidopsis,
a plant in the mustard family.
Val moved to Charlotte in 2010 and became involved in the community through volunteering in
the schools, as a Cub Scout den leader, and as a member of GFWC-Charlotte. Val currently
serves as the treasurer of Troop 45, the webmaster of the Lakewood Area Choral Society, a
member of the Charlotte Area Recreation Cooperative, and the secretary and choral director of
GFWC-Charlotte. Val is passionate about conservation, sustainability, and permaculture and
hopes to fulfill her dream of planting a food forest in the community. She lives in Charlotte with
her husband, Corigan, and her sons, Baron and Oliver.
attend the University of Notre Dame, where she earned her B.S. in biological sciences. Val spent her summers during college working with animals in different jobs across the country.
She worked in a veterinarian’s office, as a wildlife educator in New York, and in the country’s largest reptile store in East Bay, CA. Val went on to study biochemistry and molecular biology at
Michigan State University, where she earned her master’s degree. During graduate school, Val taught a lab on cell and molecular biology and worked in a research lab studying Smith-Magenis Syndrome, a chromosomal disorder that causes developmental delay and physical abnormalities.
Val worked as the Head Technician for Transfer Biology at Lansing Community College,
coordinating the preparation of lab supplies for LCC’s biology courses, and as a research
technician at Michigan State, studying the physical and molecular characteristics of Arabidopsis,
a plant in the mustard family.
Val moved to Charlotte in 2010 and became involved in the community through volunteering in
the schools, as a Cub Scout den leader, and as a member of GFWC-Charlotte. Val currently
serves as the treasurer of Troop 45, the webmaster of the Lakewood Area Choral Society, a
member of the Charlotte Area Recreation Cooperative, and the secretary and choral director of
GFWC-Charlotte. Val is passionate about conservation, sustainability, and permaculture and
hopes to fulfill her dream of planting a food forest in the community. She lives in Charlotte with
her husband, Corigan, and her sons, Baron and Oliver.
Contact Val: val.reisen@macd.org
Matthew Swain, USDA-NRCS District Conservationist
he/him
Matthew grew up on a beef farm in Lapeer County raising Angus, Simmental, and Charolais cattle for show. He was a member of 4-H and also participated in FFA, representing the state of Michigan in the Nursery/Landscape Career Development Event competition at the FFA National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.
Matthew earned a B.S. in Environmental Science and Planning from the University of Michigan – Flint and established himself with the Lapeer Conservation District. He moved on to a position assisting NRCS in Area 4 with outreach, technical assistance, and enrolling producers and landowners into Farm Bill Programs within Lapeer, Oakland, Genesee, Ingham, and Livingston counties. Matthew worked for Lapeer and Genesee Conservation Districts and as a soil conservationist at the Mason field office.
Inspired by the many amazing people he has met during his career, Matthew's passion for conservation has led him to become the NRCS District Conservationist at the Charlotte Field Office.
Contact Matthew: matthew.swain@usda.gov
Matthew earned a B.S. in Environmental Science and Planning from the University of Michigan – Flint and established himself with the Lapeer Conservation District. He moved on to a position assisting NRCS in Area 4 with outreach, technical assistance, and enrolling producers and landowners into Farm Bill Programs within Lapeer, Oakland, Genesee, Ingham, and Livingston counties. Matthew worked for Lapeer and Genesee Conservation Districts and as a soil conservationist at the Mason field office.
Inspired by the many amazing people he has met during his career, Matthew's passion for conservation has led him to become the NRCS District Conservationist at the Charlotte Field Office.
Contact Matthew: matthew.swain@usda.gov
Shawn Kelly, USDA-NRCS Soil Conservationist
he/him
Shawn moved to Michigan with his wife Danielle Zoellner in the summer of 2012. He studied Natural Resource Management and Forest Ecology at Clemson University, South Carolina, and proceeded to work with the U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station conducting prescribed burns and fire research in the Southern Appalachians.
Passionate about conservation, the move to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in 2014 was a natural fit for Shawn, enabling him to apply his knowledge of natural systems to help private landowners better understand, manage, and conserve their natural resources. Shawn spends his days developing conservation prescriptions for landowners and agricultural producers, and educating the public on the benefits of conservation. In his free time, Shawn enjoys working on his property and farm with his lovely wife and daughter, trail running, and listening to live music.
Contact Shawn: shawn.kelly@usda.gov
Passionate about conservation, the move to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in 2014 was a natural fit for Shawn, enabling him to apply his knowledge of natural systems to help private landowners better understand, manage, and conserve their natural resources. Shawn spends his days developing conservation prescriptions for landowners and agricultural producers, and educating the public on the benefits of conservation. In his free time, Shawn enjoys working on his property and farm with his lovely wife and daughter, trail running, and listening to live music.
Contact Shawn: shawn.kelly@usda.gov
Eaton Conservation District
551 Courthouse Drive, Ste. 3 Charlotte, MI 48813 (517) 543-1512 x 5 |
ECD MissionThe mission of the Eaton Conservation District is to promote and encourage cooperation with other individuals, groups, organizations, or agencies in an organized effort to conserve and improve the natural resources in Eaton County.
|
