Marking high water at Ninepin Branch bridge 
Planting American beach grass in Ocean City 
Preliminary survey for Ninepin Branch PDA 
Measuring fill removed after rainfall 
Trucks with tomatoes waiting to unload at cannery 
Harvesting corn silage 
Grading watermelons 
Georgetown tax ditch near Bishopville-MD/DE line 
Clay ground pasture improved by drainage
A Soil Conservation District is a political subdivision of the State of Maryland. The Worcester jurisdiction is unique as it drains to both the Chesapeake Bay and the inland bays of the Atlantic Ocean. Our region is strongly influenced by the poultry industry, with cash grain farms comprising a large portion of the agricultural market. Additionally, the Pocomoke River provides drainage to four of the top 30 priority watersheds for pollution potential to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.
The District’s urban responsibilities include the review and approval of Sediment & Erosion Control Plans for county and municipal construction projects. On the farm: Service Center staff work to develop Soil Conservation and Water Quality Plans (SCWQPs) to protect agricultural resources and farm profitability. The District promotes the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share (MACS) Program, which has been widely used by farmers to cover a portion of the cost to install soil and water quality improvement projects.
Additional priorities at the local level include assisting farmers in complying with Maryland’s Nutrient Management regulations, Animal Feeding Operation inspection and planning requirements, as well as implementing Maryland’s Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP). Historically, the District has implemented shoreline stabilization and coastal dune maintenance programs in Ocean City.
SCD Board of Supervisors
Our five-voting-member Board meets every second Thursday of the month, typically at the SCD office. Nominating entity and term expirations per Supervisor noted below. All members are approved and regulated by the Maryland State Soil Conservation Committee (SSCC).
Chair, David Hudson, State Soil Conservation Committee (8-10-28)
Vice-Chair, Anthony DiPaolo, University of Maryland Extension (8-10-29)
Member, Renee Winter, State Soil Conservation Committee (8-10-26)
Member, Gregory Wilkins, Worcester County Appointee
Member, Valeria Nasir, Farm Bureau (8-10-30)
Workload Reports Provided Monthly from the Following Individuals
SCD/MDA – Chelsea Tyson, Maryland Department of Agriculture, District Manager
NRCS – Tabitha Edwards, Natural Resources Conservation Service, District Conservationist
UME – Maegan Perdue, Worcester Agent Associate-Agriculture
Staff
Chelsea Tyson (MDA), District Manager and SEC Plan Reviewer
Hunter Phillips (MDA), Agricultural Resource Conservation Specialist
Alicia Walsh (MDA), Agricultural Resource Conservation Specialist
Dana McNair (MDA), Agricultural Resource Conservation Specialist
Tabitha Edwards (NRCS), District Conservationist
Anderson Spratt (NRCS), Soil Conservationist
Tracey Shanklin (NRCS), Program Support Specialist
Maria Drake (Regional USDA), Lower Shore WRE Monitoring Biologist
Erin Kibelstis (Regional USDA), Lower Shore CREP Planner
Celebrating 83 years in Conservation!