Natural Resources Public Meetings

About the Committee

The Natural Resources Stewardship Committee is a group of dedicated individuals working to preserve the health of public and private lands in our region. The committee's mission is to:

• Improve and modernize reclamation and mitigation processes

• Partner with local stakeholders to raise awareness of natural resource stewardship issues

• Develop education and outreach materials

• Engage with landowners and other stakeholders to assist with pipeline restoration and reclamation

The committee is committed to working with a wide range of partners, including local producers, Soil Conservation Districts, NDSU Extension, planning and zoning commissions, county commissions, local weed boards, and state and federal agencies.

Natural Resources Public Meeting Video Library

2023 Dickinson Public Meeting

Soil Health - Trey Fischbach

Soil health refers to the overall well-being and fertility of soil. It involves the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil that contribute to its ability to support plant life. Healthy soil promotes optimal plant growth, nutrient cycling, water filtration, and resistance to pests and diseases.

Planning and Zoning - Jim Talbert

Jim Talbert is a land planner with over 30 years of expertise in designing communities, commercial development, and recreational facilities. He has also written zoning ordinances, comprehensive plans, and design guidelines. Jim served as the Planning and Zoning Director for McKenzie County in 2015, guiding the county through a period of growth and development.

Badlands Advisory Group - Bill Schaller

The Badlands Advisory Group (BAG) was formed in August 2016 after Covenant Consulting Group (CCG) released a stakeholder assessment detailing the opinions and perceptions of western North Dakotans on oil development in the Badlands. Recommendations from the assessment included the development of an advisory committee to identify and work out the practical details of the assessment’s recommendations.

Natural Carbon Capture - Rebecca Phillips, Ph.D

Rebecca Phillips has a M.S. degree from Colorado State University and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Michigan, then joined the UND School of Aerospace to study carbon dioxide uptake and remote sensing-based models for agricultural landscapes. Phillips later worked on carbon dioxide fluxes in agricultural ecosystems for USDA-ARS, NASA, and the University of Wollongong. She returned to her small farm in North Dakota to work with ranchers and the ND Natural Resources Trust on carbon dioxide uptake in grazed systems.