OXFORD – Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District has entered into a cooperative agreement with Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District allowing Androscoggin staff to serve the Oxford district under a contractual basis.

Both districts have recognized the need to conserve resources in the present economy and are developing a model of cooperation beyond district boundaries.

Staff said the agreement will benefit both districts and their cooperators, allowing enhanced programming and mutual assistance.

All of Maine’s conservation districts have accepted the charge of “Making Conservation Work for You.”

The Oxford district is involved in mapping terrestrial invasive species in the upper Saco River watershed and is managing Cooper Spring, which provides fresh water for the public, and Colton and McDonough Dams.

The district provides LakeSmart evaluations, offers workshops for land use planning and protecting soil and water quality, participates in the Lake Awareness Day program with Oxford Middle School, the state, regional and mock envirothon and coordinates Agricultural Education Day at the Oxford Fair. Tree and shrub and trout sales are held.

New programs will include the Get Wet program for middle and high school students and an Ag in the Classroom reading program for kindergarten through fourth grades. Farm-A-Syst, a self-help groundwater and drinking water assessment tool, will also be offered.

The office will be staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Tuesday and Friday, with field work scheduled throughout the rest of the week. Anyone needing assistance may leave a message at 743-5789, ext 101. If there is no district staff available, leave a written request.

Since 1946, the district has assisted landowners and towns on a voluntary basis to conserve the natural resources of the county.