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 SWCDs
Under 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 Milestones
Continue In Virginia
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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)