Stokes Soil and Water Conservation District

03/02/2026

Have you worked with the Stokes Soil & Water Conservation District?
We’d love to hear from you! Your feedback helps us improve our programs, strengthen our services, and better support landowners across the county.
Our survey has 7 quick questions and takes just a couple of minutes to complete.
Your input truly makes a difference.

We would love to hear your thoughts or feedback on how we can improve your experience!

01/12/2026

The Stokes Soil and Water Conservation District is deeply saddened to share the passing of Marvin Stephen Cavanaugh on January 7, 2026. Marvin began his service with the district in 1998 and dedicated 27 years to protecting the natural resources of Stokes County and supporting the agricultural community he loved.

Marvin’s work was defined by a genuine passion for the land. He believed in stewardship not as a job, but as a responsibility; one he carried with quiet consistency and unwavering pride. Over nearly three decades, he supported countless conservation projects, guided landowners and staff with patience and practical wisdom, and helped strengthen the foundation of local agriculture for future generations.
His legacy lives on in the fields and farms he worked to protect, and in the people across our county and state who were shaped by his knowledge, kindness, and commitment. The district extends its deepest condolences to Marvin’s family, friends, and all who had the privilege of working alongside him.

Marvin was born on December 14th, 1939 and passed away on January 7th, 2026 at the age of 86

01/08/2026

Congratulations to Johnny East on 20 years of service and to James Booth on 25 years with Soil and Water. Their commitment to conservation and community is deeply appreciated.

01/08/2026

Many citizens have reached out and shared your concerns regarding the proposed data center project in Stokes County. I want to clarify the role of the Stokes Soil & Water Conservation District so that everyone has accurate information about what we can—and cannot—do in this situation.

The Stokes Soil & Water Conservation District has no authority or decision‑making role in approving, denying, or regulating the construction of a data center or any other development project in the county. Decisions related to zoning, land use, permitting, and economic development are handled by other county and state agencies.

Our mission is focused on something much more specific:
to support Stokes County’s farmers, protect natural resources, and preserve working farmland for future generations.
We do this through conservation planning, technical assistance, cost‑share programs, educational outreach, and long‑term farmland preservation efforts.

While we understand that residents may have questions or concerns about growth and development in the county, those matters fall outside the scope of our statutory responsibilities. That said, we remain committed to serving the agricultural community and safeguarding the land and water resources that define Stokes County.

If you have questions about Soil & Water programs, farmland preservation, or conservation assistance, we are always glad to help.

10/20/2025

Please join us in congratulating Johnny East on his 20 Year Service Award! Johnny is one of our Stokes S&WCD board members and was awarded his 20-year Service Award at our Area 2 Fall Meeting

08/20/2025

Please join us in welcoming Drew Bray to the Stokes SWCD as our Natural Resource Conservationist. Drew in an NC State Alum with a degree in livestock and poultry management and runs a seedstock/cow-calf operation with his wife and three daughters. We are very fortunate to have Drew on the team!

07/25/2025

Please join us in welcoming Gary East to our Stokes Soil and Water Board of Supervisors. We are pleased to have Gary join the team!

06/10/2025

Your agricultural land is a valuable asset to the citizens of Stokes County, and you can now enroll in a program that demonstrates your pride and commitment to agriculture, and celebrates your contribution to the exceptional quality of life in Stokes County.

The Stokes County Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) helps to promote agricultural values and general welfare of the county by increasing identity and pride in the agricultural community and its way of life; encourage the economic and financial health of agriculture; and decrease the likelihood of legal disputes, such as nuisance actions between farm owners and their neighbors and other negative impacts on properly managed farms.

Please contact us if you would like an application to be part of this great program!

06/01/2025

We currently have funding for an AgWRAP well. If you are a producer that has been in production for one year or greater, and have a water quantity need, please reach out to us.

05/28/2025

The following are some programs offered to the residence of Stokes County:

NCACSP: North Carolina Agriculture Cost Share Program
If you are a landowner or renter of an existing agriculture operation that has been operating for more than three years, you are eligible to participate. The NCACSP encourages voluntary participation by the agricultural community by offering financial assistance for the installation of best management practices (BMP’s). Qualifying landowners will receive 75% of predetermined average costs of installed BMP’s with the remaining 25% paid by the landowner directly. There is a yearly cap of $75,000 per landowner. Most NCACSP contracts require a 10 year maintenance period on installed practices. Some best management practices include livestock exclusion systems that exclude livestock of blue line streams while providing drinking sources for cattle, fencing, and heavy use areas, cover crops and residue and tillage management, rooftop runoff systems, strip cropping, pasture renovation, pastureland and cropland conversion, field borders, grassed waterways, livestock feeding areas, stocktrails and walkways, stream crossings, and many more.

AgWRAP: Agriculture Water Resource Assistance Program
If you are a landowner or renter of an existing agriculture operation that has been operating for more than one year, you are eligible to participate. The purposes of AgWRAP is to identify opportunities to increase water use efficiency, availability and storage by cost sharing on water supply wells and livestock water storage.

CCAP: Community Conservation Assistance Program
The purpose of the Community Conservation Assistance Program is to reduce the delivery of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution into the waters of the State by installing best management practices (BMPs) on developed lands not directly involved in agricultural production. Applicants may include homeowners, businesses, schools, parks, and publicly owned lands. All sites must have been developed for three years or more to be eligible for cost share assistance. Some best management practices available for cost share funds are Abandoned well closures, backyard rain gardens, cisterns, permeable pavement, riparian buffers, and critical area planting to name a few.