Pittsboro, NC – The Chatham Soil and Water Conservation District is excited to welcome our new Farmland Preservation Coordinator, Andrew Waters. The Chatham County Board of Commissioners have prioritized the protection and development of agriculture by establishing and funding the Chatham County Agriculture & Development Trust Fund. In his new role, Waters will be responsible for administering the trust fund and implementing other aspects of the Chatham Farmland Preservation Plan, which will be updated early in 2024.
This new position has been created at a pivotal moment in the county. A dedicated Farmland Preservation Coordinator will allow the Chatham Soil and Water Conservation District and Chatham County Cooperative Extension Service to develop robust farmland preservation initiatives including a permanent conservation easement program.
“The establishment of the Chatham County Agricultural & Development Trust Fund along with the update of the Chatham Farmland Preservation Plan is creating strong momentum for farmland preservation in Chatham County,” says Waters. “I’m excited to play a role in these critical initiatives and to become a part of the Chatham County community. Most of all I look forward to meeting the members of Chatham County’s agricultural community and learning how I can support them in their efforts to build a vibrant and resilient food system here that preserves the integrity of our farmland and other natural resources.”
Andrew is a land conservation professional with 20 years of experience working in natural resource conservation and farmland preservation. He is the former executive director of the Spartanburg Area Conservancy in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he also served as the chair of the South Carolina Land Trust Network. Previously, he worked at the Catawba Lands Conservancy in Charlotte and the Three Rivers Land Trust in Salisbury, N.C.
A native of Hendersonville, N.C., Andrew received his undergraduate degree from UNC Chapel Hill and an MBA from UNC Greensboro. In December 2022, he received his Ph.D. in natural resource policy from Clemson University. He and his wife, Anne, have recently moved to Chatham County from Spartanburg.
If you and your family are curious about a voluntary farmland preservation easement on your property, please reach out to Andrew!
To find out more about farmland preservation, individuals may contact Andrew and the Chatham Soil and Water Conservation District Office:
Chatham Soil and Water Conservation District Office
Chatham County Agriculture and Conference Center
1192 US 64 W Business, Suite 200
Pittsboro, NC 27312
www.chathamcountync.gov/swcd
Email: andrew.waters@chathamcountync.gov
Phone: 919-545-8447