Gail Hughes is running unopposed for a seat on the Orange County Soil and Water Board of Supervisors. Hughes, a Democrat and the sister of Orange County Commissioner Earl McKee, has devoted most of her life to resource conservation.
Before retirement in early 2020, Gail was employed by the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District as a soil conservationist and education specialist for over 35 years. She managed Orange County’s Volunteer Agricultural District Program, and served as an assistant staff to the Orange County Farmland Preservation Board. Currently she serves as a project manager for the NC Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation (a non-profit that works directly with Soil and Water Districts across the state) and an environmental specialist at the NCDA&CS Soil and Water Division (both part time positions).
She has served on the board for 4 years (elected in Nov. of 2020) and fills one of the three non-partisan elected seats. (The other two are appointed by the NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission.)
When I started reading about this board and examining their minutes, I was taken with the breadth of what they deal with: everything from stabilizing streams to pet waste to helping farmers address nonpoint source pollution. They administer a lot of grants and provide a lot of educational materials and outreach to the community.
There’s not a lot written about who serves on our state’s soil and water boards or what they do; WFAE and WHQR profiled candidates running for the position in their area in 2016 and 2022, respectively, but aside from that, there’s no ongoing coverage that I could find. But it’s a really important role in our community and we’re very happy Gail Hughes is here to tell us more.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you’re rerunning for the Orange County Soil & Water Board of Supervisors.
I am proud to say, I grew up on a farm in northern Orange County where I still live today. My family farm has been in my family for over 100 years, and both of my brothers still farm. I felt I would like a career related to agriculture, so I attended NC State University and have two degrees; BS in both Soil Conservation and Agriculture Education. I worked as an intern for two summers with the USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service and I was sure this was my career path. After graduation, I began working with the local government agency- Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) as a soil conservationist. I worked with farmers and landowners to evaluate resource concerns on their property, developed plans to improve and protect the natural resources, specifically soil and water quality, and evaluated the concerns for possible state or federal funding eligibility. I also coordinated the educational programing for all ages (school students to adults). After retiring, I wanted to stay involved in this important work at a different level so I decided to run for election for the Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor Board in 2020.
What does this role involve and why should voters be concerned with the board?
The SWCD is a local agency that is affiliated with NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Science (NCDA&CS) and the federal USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). There are Soil and Water Conservation Districts in every state/territory in the US; and all have local leadership (Soil and Water Boards) that makes decisions about natural resources for their District.
As a Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor, we do not supervise staff directly each day. We meet monthly and the staff reports to the Board the current work in progress, state and federal agricultural program updates, landowners applications for funding, and general updates. The Board, with staff assistance, set funding priorities yearly in the Strategy Plan required by the NC Department of Agriculture/Soil and Water Conservation Division for funding. Funding may be available for agricultural and non-agriculture (urban) projects if there are natural resource concerns. For more about the programs offered see the following websites:
- https://www.orangecountync.gov/727/Soil-Water-Conservation-District
- Our state partners: https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/soil-water-conservation
- Our federal partners: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/north-carolina
What are your goals if reelected?
My goal is to continue to provide local leadership that will assist with bringing needed funding, and updates on new programs and technology to improve natural resources through the Soil and Water programs available to Orange County citizens.
What do you see as the biggest threat to soil and water quality?
Overall, the agricultural community is very proactive to make improvements on their farmland that protect water quality and improve soil quality. We will continue to encourage landowners to try new and innovative technology that will help continue making improvements of these resources.
How can Orange County protect soil and water resources while also ensuring we are building enough housing to meet our needs?
Local land use planning is very important to protect our local farmland. Farmland loss to development is a concern in Orange County and across all of NC. Many of our landowners are interested in Conservation Easements to keep their farms in operation, but there is limited funding for these programs. It is also important that citizens understand that our local farms are critical for our food resources.
How does the board’s work affect more rural parts of the county? More urban parts?
The work of the Soil and Water Conservation District staff/board affects both urban and rural communities. With the implementation of conservation measures in the rural area that reduce soil erosion, improves soil and water quality, (better soils grow better plants/food); this improves the urban drinking water quality in lakes, and better food production for all.
What do you wish people knew about this board? Where can they go to learn more?
This locally lead agency was established in the 1930’s after the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. The “father” of soil conservation service was born in Anson County NC and graduated from UNC, Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett. It was his vision to see that this agency was locally led by those that know their area best and have the most interest in making improvements. For more specific details:
If you could design your own Crocs to wear in your new role if elected, what would they look like?
They would be a reddish-brown color (same color as the most productive and common soil here in Orange County) with little decorations added like earthworms, beetles, plants, and blue rain/water drops…. All working together like they do in nature.
While you’re here, we don’t understand the difference between topsoil and potting soil. We have huge bags of both and they look the same to me. Will our gardens or our universe collapse if we just mix them and forget about it?
Top soil is typically sold for use more in gardens (to incorporate into the soil that exists), that will help improve the soil you have in your garden. Potting soil is usually sold for use in potted plants or containers and typically has fertilizer or other things added to help hold moisture in the soil. It is not a problem to mix them together, I do that all the time, and no disaster yet. 🙂