What Is a Local Working Group (LWG)?
A Local Working Group (LWG) is a stakeholder-driven process that helps guide conservation priorities at the local level. In New Jersey, Local Working Groups are coordinated through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in partnership with each county’s Soil Conservation District. In Ocean County, the Local Working Group brings together farmers, educators, municipal staff, conservation partners, community organizations, and residents who care about protecting natural resources.
The purpose of a Local Working Group is simple but important: it gives people who live and work in the county a direct voice in how conservation programs and funding should be prioritized. Rather than decisions being made only at the state or national level, the LWG process helps ensure that conservation efforts reflect the needs and concerns of the local community.
Why Local Working Groups Matter
Ocean County faces a unique mix of conservation challenges. These include protecting remaining open space, improving water quality, supporting agriculture, restoring native habitat, managing stormwater, and adapting to changing environmental conditions. Because these issues affect different communities in different ways, local input is essential.
The Local Working Group process allows stakeholders to:
- Identify the most important natural resource concerns in Ocean County
- Help guide how conservation funding should be prioritized
- Provide feedback on conservation programs and practices
- Share ideas for improving outreach, education, and partnerships
- Ensure that conservation efforts reflect the needs of both rural and developed areas
In short, the Local Working Group helps connect local knowledge with real conservation action.
How the Local Working Group Works in New Jersey
Each year, Soil Conservation Districts across New Jersey work with NRCS and the State Soil Conservation Committee to gather input from local stakeholders. This information is used to help guide conservation programs such as land protection, habitat restoration, soil health practices, water-quality improvements, and other natural resource initiatives.
In Ocean County, the Ocean County Soil Conservation District (OCSCD) coordinates the Local Working Group process by:
- Hosting meetings (or, when necessary, using surveys to gather input)
- Collecting feedback from residents and conservation partners
- Summarizing the results in an annual Report of Findings
- Sharing the results with NRCS and state conservation partners
The Report of Findings helps ensure that conservation priorities in Ocean County are clearly communicated and considered when programs and funding decisions are made.
Why Your Input Is Important
You do not need to be a scientist, farmer, or environmental professional to participate in the Local Working Group. If you live, work, teach, or volunteer in Ocean County, your perspective matters.
Your input helps us understand:
- What natural resources are most important to you
- What environmental issues you are seeing in your community
- What conservation programs should be expanded
- How we can improve outreach and education
The more people who participate, the more accurately the Local Working Group reflects the needs of the community.
Explore Our Annual “Report of Findings”
After the survey results are collected, OCSCD prepares an annual Local Working Group Report of Findings. These reports summarize the priorities, concerns, and suggestions shared by stakeholders each year.
On this page, you can view and download:
- 2026 Report of Findings
- 2025 Report of Findings
Take OCSCD’s Conservation Resource Concerns Survey
Although our Local Working Group occurs only once a year, OCSCD offers a Conservation Resource Concerns Survey that can be completed at anytime. Ocean County Soil Conservation District invites residents, educators, farmers, municipal staff, and community partners to complete our Conservation Resource Concerns Survey. The survey helps us identify conservation priorities and better understand what matters most to the people who live and work in Ocean County, on an ongoing basis.
We encourage you to take a few minutes to complete the survey and share your input. Your feedback directly supports conservation efforts in Ocean County and helps guide future programs, partnerships, and funding priorities.
