Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District: FY2026 Annual Report Summary

Summary 

The Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District (Johnston SWCD) continues to drive strong environmental stewardship and farmland preservation initiatives across Johnston County. The District team includes District Director Greg Walker, Easement Specialist Annette Adams, Soil Conservationist Payton Roberts and Elton Wilson, and Administrative Specialist, Mandy Daughtry. The District successfully utilized over $1.35 million in conservation partnership programs funding during the fiscal year. USDA NRCS Soil Conservationist Lindsay Martinez works in the District office supporting efforts for NRCS programs.  The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) are available to Johnston County landowners. Johnston SWCD has a five member board of supervisors that set program priorities addressed by staff through State funded programs.  Conservation practices are planned and installed with producers to address water quality on agricultural lands. The District staff work closely with county, state and federal governments and both public and private organizations in a non-regulatory capacity to carry out a comprehensive conservation program that protects and improves the county’s natural resources.   A recent milestone includes the celebration of current Supervisor/Finance officer, Jerry Dennis Durham, Jr., who was honored by the North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts for 20 years of meritorious service. An additional milestone included the closure of the 100th Conservation Easement that received partnership funding from NCDA and USDA on a 48.08 acre Johnston County farm outside of Smithfield NC. 

Key Programs  

1. Conservation Partnership Programs

• The District optimized financial resources from federal, state, and local programs to support farmers and protect natural resources, achieving a cumulative total program impact of $1,357,352:
• NC Agricultural Cost Share Program (ACSP): Allocated $114,093 to mitigate nonpoint source pollution by installing Best Management Practices (BMPs), such as grassed waterways, diversions, converting marginal croplands to grass, rock-lined channels in concentrated high flow areas. 
• Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program (AgWRAP): $16,332 went toward agricultural water wells to enhance farm productivity where water resources are needed. 
• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Env. Quality Incentives Program (EQIP FY 24): Delivered $219,387 in funding to conservation plans and practices. USDA NRCS works one on one with producers to develop conservation plans for conservation practices and activities to help solve on-farm resource issues. Producers implement practices to help with cleaner water, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat.
• Swine and Dairy Assistance Program (SDAP): Disbursed $207,540 in one-time relief funds targeting operations impacted by pandemic-related shutdowns. In Johnston County, five facilities were approved; two lagoons have been successfully closed, and three are transitioning through alternative closure methods. 

2. Moccasin Creek Service District - Infrastructure & Restoration 

• Addressing critical bank stabilization and drainage infrastructure, the 22 mile Moccasin Creek Service District with assistance from Johnston SWCD has secured an $800,000 collaborative funding package for Round 2 of the Moccasin Creek Stabilization project. This initiative spans engineering, surveying, permitting, preparation for bid and construction design across Laterals 7, 11, and 14 
• NCDA& CS Stream Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP); grant in the amount of  $300,000 and a $250,000 grant from the General Assembly through NC Dept of Public Safety House Bill 259 which was matched by Johnston County Commissioners for Moccasin Creek Service District that will address channel and bank erosion issues.  

3. Beaver Management Assistance Program (BMAP)

• The BMAP program is actively mitigating localized flooding and protecting buildings and roadways across the entire county. 
• FY 2026 Impacts: Conducted 535 site visits, resulting in the removal of 407 beavers, 124 dams via explosives, and 73 dams manually.
• Historic Report from Nov 2022 – Jun 2026: Since its inception, the program has successfully aided over 300 landowners across more than 200 distinct sites, extracting 1,312 beavers and clearing 660 total dams. 

4. Voluntary Agricultural Districts (VAD)

• A Voluntary Ag District (VAD) is a designated area where agricultural production  is promoted and encouraged. The VAD serves as an awareness program. The VAD recognizes the commitment to the agricultural way of life in Johnston County. The VAD advises non-farming neighbors that farms may produce smells, sounds and dust before a property is purchased as a residence.  Hopefully such notification can reduce the likelihood of legal disputes regarding farm operations.  Enrollment in VAD acts as a priority factor for state/federal grants for farmland conservation easement applications.
• VAD Enrollment: Current participation stands at 882 parcels covering 29,412 acres. Additional applications of 22 parcels (1,094.87 acres) will soon be submitted to the VAD Board and upon approval will expand the district to 30,509.87 acres across 904 parcels.
• Signage Support: Signs and frames are funded by successive $4,500 grants from the NC State Grange (covering 2023–2028) and a $6,000 commitment from the Johnston County Farm Bureau received in August 2027. 

5. Farmland Preservation and Farmland Conservation Easements

• To ensure agricultural viability for future generations, the District relies on perpetual Agricultural Conservation Easements that restrict non-farm development while retaining private ownership and traditional farming rights. With North Carolina ranked 2nd nationally for farmland loss, and Johnston County specifically projected as the 19th most threatened county in the United States for agricultural conversion by 2040, local preservation tools remain vital.  Funding is vital to protect farms in production of food, fiber and forestry and to support  rural economies and environmental health and to preserve natural habitats for future generations.
• Preservation Progress: In 2021 the Board discussed, researched and approved the District to offer Johnston County landowners the opportunity to pursue conservation 2 easements beginning in 2022. Since closing the first easement in 2023, the District has permanently protected 226.95 acres of highly productive agricultural land. Including closed easements and current applicants that have received contract notices which total over $11 million in funding from state, federal and local agencies. 
• Funding: Funding agencies include NCDA-CS Agricultural Development Farmland Preservation (ADFP); USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) and Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).
• Future Funding: This year the District will apply to the RCPP to secure federal funds for Johnston County that may be leveraged to secure additional NCDA-CS resources to close conservation easements protecting farmland.   

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