Did you know that there are professionals throughout the state of Colorado that can provide a variety of educational, technical, and financial resources to private landowners to support their natural resource conservation goals? District Conservation Technicians, or DCTs, work with the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and local government entities called conservation districts, through a unique partnership between local, state, and federal entities. DCTs can help support landowners through a variety of means including planning and project implementation. Some of the most common support DCTs provide local landowners includes:
- creating conservation plans tailored to landowners unique property,
- optimizing irrigation systems to increase water use efficiency,
- forest management practices to support wildfire mitigation,
- implementation of innovative grazing management strategies, and implementation of soil health practices.
While it sounds like this is the sort of job that requires a very specific set of skills and education, the DCT position actually provides a unique opportunity for people from a variety of backgrounds and skill sets to pursue careers in natural resources. The Cortez NRCS Field Office has three DCTs that work in partnership with the High Desert (HDCD) and Mancos Conservation Districts (MCD), as well as two full-time staff members who began their natural resource careers as DCTs. Each of these people bring a unique background and set of skills to
the team that serves Montezuma County.
Mancos Conservation District DCT Maggie Rossino collecting water quality samples as part of MCD’s water quality monitoring program.
Magdalena (Maggie) Rossino
Maggie has an educational background in ecology, but before becoming a DCT she worked in the restaurant industry. Her favorite part of being a DCT is collecting water quality samples throughout the Mancos Watershed during the monthly River Watch sampling; “There’s nothing better than spending a day on the river and doing some chemistry.”
Mancos Conservation District DCT Casey Flynn performing forest health surveys as part of MCD’s forestry program.
Casey Flynn
Casey also has an educational background in biology, parasitology, and forestry, but has previously worked as a lifeguard, ski/snowboard instructor, and soccer coach. Her favorite thing about working as a DCT is “being able to spend part of her work week outdoors in the field.”
High Desert Conservation District DCT Adam Tess teaching middle school students about soil health and conservation.
Adam Tess
Adam has a background in wildlife ecology and management as well as biology. He has worked on several farms and ranches and worked for a nonprofit where he spent time “conducting research trips to rural areas across the country to … quantify the biological, economic, and social differences between conventional and regenerative production systems.”
Cory Schmitt
Cory was a DCT for four years before moving on to become a full-time NRCS employee. He is a fourth-generation farmer and rancher, studied secondary education, and has a technical degree in heavy equipment and diesel mechanics. Before being a DCT, Cory, “worked at Cortez Diesel for 10 years as service manager and parts sales.”
Chris Garner
Chris was a DCT for two years before taking his current position with the NRCS. He is also a rancher who raises cattle, grows hay, and has a degree in agricultural business and animal science. Before becoming a DCT, Chris was a rancher for 18 years as well as a carpenter.
Five different paths all converged in the Cortez NRCS office, resulting in a strong team of professionals dedicated to conserving natural resources in Montezuma County. While they all bring unique backgrounds with them, all the DCTs agree that the most important aspect of their job is being able to communicate well with landowners and to have a passion for conservation work. This, rather than previous training in natural resource conservation, is what has been most beneficial in their work. Careers in natural resource conservation require a wide range of skills, and each unique background – from being a snowboard instructor, to working in a restaurant, to doing ranch work – offers strength to the team. Every one of the DCTs in the Cortez office is able to bring their passion and expertise with them to contribute a variety of skills to help landowners realize their conservation and land management goals.
Many conservation districts throughout the state of Colorado have DCTs available to support local landowners. Landowners interested in getting educational, financial, or technical support for natural resource-related projects can contact their local NRCS Office or Conservation District for more information.
About the Authors:
Reese Greenbaum
Reese Greenbaum is a Watershed Restoration Technician AmeriCorps member serving at the MCD through the Rural Alliance for Dignity program. Originally from Southern California, he has a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology from UC Davis. He supports the watershed monitoring and education aspects of the conservation district. When not working, he can be found hiking, birding, and volunteering at different events.
Sensa Wolcott works as the Watershed Coordinator for the Mancos Conservation District. She has a Masters in Biology from Miami University’s Project Dragonfly, where her work focused on community-based conservation and connecting people with the land through dialogue and collaboration. Sensa lives on their family owned and operated cattle ranch and enjoys hiking, camping, mountain biking, and photography.
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