CONSERVATION MILESTONES A Brief History of SWCDs

Angela P. White, Ph.D.

The Roots of Conservation Districts in the U.S.

• Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett– “Father of Soil Conservation”.– Native of North Carolina.– Concern for land and impact of soil

loss dated back to 1905, when completing a soil survey.

– With partner W. E. McLendon developed a theory of sheet erosion (Heath, 2004, p. 2).

– 1930: Acquired $160,000 of federal funding for “soil erosion investigations” (Heath, 2004).

– 1933: SES Established within Dept. of Interior; Bennett 1st Director

The Roots of Conservation Districts in the U.S.

The economy and natural resources collide. A National crisis begins.

1929 – “Black Thursday”

1931 – “Black Blizzards”

1934, May – The Dust Bowl

The Dust Bowl

The Dust Bowl Continued

The "Yearbook of Agriculture" for 1934 announces, "Approximately 35 million acres of formerly cultivated land have essentially been destroyed for crop production. . . . 100 million acres now in crops have lost all or most of the topsoil; 125 million acres of land now in crops are rapidly losing topsoil. . . "

From the Dust Bowl…President Roosevelt’s Administration realizes

the average American's fate is closely tied to Dust Bowl farmers.

Hugh Hammond Bennett gained support of Congress via interesting circumstances.

Soil Erosion Service

April 14, 1935- Black Sunday.

April 27, 1935- Establishment of Soil Erosion Service (SES) in the U.S. Department of Interior.

Creation of SWCDsUnder the direction of Hugh H. Bennett, the SCS developed extensive conservation programs that retain topsoil and prevent irreparable damage to the land.

Source: USDA NRCS

Standard “District” Law• 1936 - Standard “District” Law adopted by

states.

• President Roosevelt makes request.• 1947 - Conservation Districts covered 1 billion acres• Soil Conservation District Program recognizes that

new farming methods must be accepted and enforced by the farmers on the land.

• One of the few grassroots organizations set up by the New Deal that is still in operation.

VA’s Soil Conservation District Law• 1938 - Virginia enacts the Soil Conservation District Law (

Title 10.1 Conservation, Chapter 5 Soil & Water Conservation, Code of Virginia )

Conservation in Virginia 1st District in VA = Tidewater SWCD, Essex County November 3, 1938 – Postcard Ballot w/ Purpose

“The purpose of a Soil Conservation District is for organization under local management to build and maintain the fertility of the soil and prevent the serious losses of farm land by erosion. The district is managed by the people through a locally elected board of supervisors. Cooperation in the District program is voluntary, there is no cost to the farmer in the District other than changes in farming practice he may desire to make.”

Conservation Milestones Continue At National Level

1946 - National Association of SWCDs

1967 - National Environmental Policy Act

1972 - Clean Water Act

1985 - Food Security Act (“Farm Bill”)

Conservation MilestonesContinue In Virginia

• Erosion and Sediment Control Law (1973)• Chesapeake Bay Program (1985)• The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (1988) • Stormwater Management Program (1989)• Agricultural Stewardship Act (1996) • Water Quality Improvement Act (1997)• Natural Resources Commitment Fund (2008)• Recordation Fee Funding Dedicated to Cost Share (2010)