
About the
Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District
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Mission Statement:
The mission of the Wayne County Soil & Water Conservation District is to serve as a local agency prepared to manage and conserve the soil, water, and natural resources of Wayne County.​
​History of the District:
The District was chartered by New York State in February of 1944. Since then, the District has developed programs related to the needs of Wayne County and follows a mission to help the community thrive from care of the natural resources available to its residents and visitors.
Our District is unique as we are a local agency of Wayne County, but we are chartered by NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee. In 2012, the District’s Board of Directors embedded five priority areas within the Annual Plan of Operations as follows:
1. Provide critical water quality protection through technical assistance to the public and municipalities.
2. Support state mandated storm water program initiatives by conducting training, plan review, and on-site inspections.
3. Provide assistance to the agricultural community through agricultural value assessments (soil group worksheets), the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Program, the Graze NY Program, NYS Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement & Control grants, and the promotion of USDA programs and services.
4. Provide water resource quality protection through pollution prevention and abatement activities and public education.
5. Provide technical assistance and services to the public at large and conservation partner agencies on other environment related issues.
District Staff
Ron Thorn
District Manager and Agricultural Planner
Email: Ron@wayneNYswcd.org
(315) 946-7200 ext. 2
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​Ian Priestley
District Technician and AEM Specialist
Email: Ian@wayneNYswcd.org
(315) 946-7200 ext. 5
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Chris Hotto
District Technician and Soil Resource Specialist
Email: Chris@wayneNYswcd.org
(315) 946-7200 ext. 3
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Scott DeRue
District Technician and Water Resource Specialist
Email: Scott@wayneNYswcd.org
(315) 946-7200 ext. 4
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Chase Ayotte
District Technician
Email: Chase@wayneNYswcd.org
(315) 946-7200 ext. 6
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Kelly Reynolds
Account Clerk
Email: Kelly@wayneNYswcd.org
(315) 946-7200 ext. 1
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Board of Directors
The Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Board of Directors convenes for business on
the third Wednesday of every month at 8:30 a.m. at the District Office
unless otherwise specified.
All meetings are open to the public.
Lynn Chatfield
Chairman, County Legislator
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Peter Stoep
Vice-Chairman, At Large Member
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Patricia VanLare
Treasurer, Grange Representative
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Chip Bailey
Farm Bureau Representative
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Jim Brady
County Legislator
