LOUISIANA
SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
SUPERVISOR’S TRAINING AND
ORIENTATION
Conducted by the
LA State Soil & Water Conservation Commission
at the
Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts
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This orientation will help you understand:
•Why SWCDs were formed
•SWCD Board responsibilities
•Your role as a Supervisor
•Louisiana’s Conservation
Partnership
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History of SWCDs
Dust Bowls and Gullies – 1920’s
•extensive erosion by wind and water
Harsh climatic conditions
+
Damaging land use practices
=
Epic natural disaster
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History of SWCDs
•Hugh Hammond Bennett
•1929 – USDA Bureau of Soils
•experiment stations
•1933 – Civilian Conservation Corps
•1933 – USDI Soil Erosion Service
•1935 – USDA Soil Conservation Service
•1994 – USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service
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History of SWCDs
•Land owners skeptical, situation critical
•Model legislation was sent to each state
•1938 – LA Act No. 370; State Soil & Water Conservation Committee
•Formation of SWCDs began
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History of SWCDs
The Louisiana SWCD Law, Act No. 370, as amended, exists now as Title 3,
Chapter 9, Parts 1 & 2 of the LA Revised Statutes
http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=85717
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History of SWCDs
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What is a Soil and Water
Conservation District?
What is the purpose
Of a SWCD?
Who controls or
manages SWCDs?
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Who are SWCD Supervisors?
•Local public officials
•Landowners
•Farm operators
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Elections and Appointments
3 elected supervisors
•Nominating petitions
•Local referendum
2 appointed supervisors
•Appointed by the SWCC
upon SWCD recommendation
Associate supervisors
•Non-voting, no per diem
•Provide valuable info, insight
•Apprentice for full position
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District Powers and Authorities
Soil and Water Conservation Districts are
governmental subdivisions of the State and exercise
certain public powers.
Conservation districts are given specific authorities
by Louisiana Act No. 370.
Louisiana RS: 3;1201-1219
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District Powers & Authorities
To carry out preventive and control measures for better
utilization of soil and water resources.
To enter into agreements and furnish financial or other aid
to any private or public agency or land user within the district
for better utilization of soil and water resources and for
removal of excess water as the supervisors deem necessary
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District Powers & Authorities
To obtain by purchase, exchange, lease, gift or otherwise,
any real or personal property to accomplish the goals
of the district.
To make available to land users any equipment and
materials needed to carry out soil and water
conservation programs.
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District Powers & Authorities
To construct, improve, operate and maintain works
of improvement as needed.
To develop comprehensive plans for soil and water
Management in the district and bring this information to
the attention of the public.
To take over and administer any soil conservation, flood
prevention, drainage, irrigation, water management,
erosion control or erosion prevention projects within the
boundaries of the district.
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District Powers & Authorities
To accept contributions in money, services or materials
from any source for use in carrying out the district program.
To sue and be sued in the name of the district; to have
perpetual succession unless terminated as provided in
Act No. 370, as amended; To make and execute contracts
and other instruments; and to make and amend rules
and regulations as needed.
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District Powers and Authorities
As a condition to extending benefits on private lands, the district
may require contributions in money, services, or materials, and may
require landowners to enter into agreements or covenants regarding
the permanent use of such lands to control erosion, flooding and
sediment damages.
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District Powers and Authorities
To develop and enact through a local referendum, land use
regulations within the district when needed to conserve soil
and water resources, as provided in Act No. 370, as amended.
To cooperate with other districts in the exercise of any of its
powers.
To combine, divide or discontinue a district by petition to the
State Soil & Water Conservation Committee, as provided in
Act No. 370, as amended.
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District Powers and Authorities
To organize irrigation, drainage or watershed development
projects, to install, operate and maintain works of improvement
such as levees, ditches and pumping stations.
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There’s one thing Districts cannot do!!!
As per Act No. 370, Districts do not have the power or
authority to levy, assess, or collect any taxes or
special assessments.
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District Responsibilities
Legality
Control and prevention of soil erosion, prevention of damage from
flood water and sediment, utilization and disposal of water, wise guidance
in present and future use of state land resources.
Active roles in water management for irrigation, drainage, flood control,
recreation, pollution abatement, and fish and wildlife habitat.
Soil surveys, erosion control practices, soil fertility and condition, and
preserving agricultural land.
Land and water management, landscape beautification, education and
involvement of citizens in conservation programs.
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District Responsibilities
Methodology
District board organization
District board meetings
Financial management
Technical assistance
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District Responsibilities
Methodology
District employees
Intergovernmental cooperation
Planning
Education
Reporting
Equal opportunity
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Duties of SWCD Supervisors
Administration
•Become familiar with Act No. 370
•Assist in SWCD policy development
•Supervisors handbook
•Establish needs and priorities
•Board meetings
•Long range & annual work plans
•Annual reports
•Solicit support for your district
•Maintain key contacts
•Working agreements
•MOU’s with USDA – NRCS
•Understand partnership relations
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Duties of SWCD Supervisors
Finance
•Secure adequate funding for the district
•Establish sound business procedures
•Adequate accounting & management
•Annual budget & financial report
•Efficient, judicious use of public funds
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Duties of SWCD Supervisors
Leadership
•Area and state meetings
•Local public opinion
•Active conservation recruitment
•Consult & cooperate with other entities
•Wear the SWCD hat
•Communicate outside meetings
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Duties of SWCD Supervisors
Who
Education
•Units of government
•Businesses
•Civic organizations
•Professionals
•Universities, grade schools
•Libraries
•Churches
•Farmers, ranchers, land owners
How
•Long range, annual plans & reports
•Soil Stewardship week
•Master Farmer
•Project WET
•S & W Conservation Society
•Meeting invitations
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•Ag BMP field day demonstrations
The Louisiana Conservation Partnership
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State Soil & Water Conservation Committee
•District policy, funding and regulatory decisions.
•Supervisor elections, appointments and resignations.
•District formation and discontinuance
•State Conservation Policy
•Information exchange between SWCDs
•Membership
•Chancellor, LSU Agricultural Center
•Commissioner, LDAF
•President, LACD
•5 elected SWCC Area representatives
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LDAF/Office of Soil & Water
Conservation
•Office staff managed by LADF/OSWC Asst. Commissioner
•OSWC Asst. Commissioner serves as SWCC Exec. Director
•OSWC Staff duties:
•Administration
•SWCC
•Assistance to SWCDs
•Agriculture Nonpoint Source Pollution Control
•Coastal Restoration
•LDAF Conservation Project Management
•Environmental Education
•Agriculture By-Products BMP Program
•Prescribed Agricultural Burning.
•Special projects
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“Helping People Help the Land”
History
• Federal Agency – established in 1935
• Partnership – Model conservation district
law in 1937
• Federal ↔ State ↔ Local governments
• History and success intertwined with
conservation districts
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“Helping People Help the Land”
Foundation Documents
• Mutual Agreement
• Cooperative Working Agreement
• Operational Agreement and local
partnerships
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“Helping People Help the Land”
Mutual Agreement
• Partners share a common objective of
assisting public and private landowners
and users to utilize and manage natural
resources in accordance with the
capabilities and needs for protection and
improvement.
• Signed by District, State, and Secretary of
Agriculture
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“Helping People Help the Land”
Mutual Agreement
• Each party is independent
• Respective responsibilities
• Recognizes the need to coordinate for
successful delivery of conservation
programs
• Implement long-range natural resource
conservation programs
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“Helping People Help the Land”
Mutual Agreement
• Secretary – continue to carry out broad conservation
programs – technical, research, educational, and
financial assistance
• State of Louisiana – continue commitment to aid in
administration, coordination, financing and delivery of
conservation programs through Districts
• Encourage agreements with other natural resource
agencies
• Comply with nondiscrimination provisions contained in
Law
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“Helping People Help the Land”
Cooperative Working Agreement
• Supplements the Mutual Agreement
• Establishes the relationship between
NRCS, state and District
• Does not obligate funds
• Specific projects and activities must be
under operational agreements
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“Helping People Help the Land”
Cooperative Working Agreement
• Mutually agree to:
√ Provide leadership in natural resource
conservation
√ Listen
√ Anticipate
√ Respond to customer’s needs
√ Decision making at lowest level
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“Helping People Help the Land”
Cooperative Working Agreement (cont’d)
• Mutually agree to:
√ Respect private property rights
√ Advocate comprehensive resource
management planning
√ Maintain and improve grass-roots delivery
system
√ Build new alliance – expand partnerships
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“Helping People Help the Land”
Cooperative Working Agreement (cont’d)
• Mutually agree to:
√ Foster economically viable environmental
policies
√ Improve quality of life for future generations
√ Conserve and enhance our natural resources
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“Helping People Help the Land”
Cooperative Working Agreement (cont’d)
• How to Get ‘er Done:
√ Advance and practice teamwork
√ Input in decision making process, coordination and
cooperation
√ Capacity building – shared training
√ Share leadership and ownership ↔ credit and
responsibility
√ Put quality first
√ Professionalism, dedication, and striving to improve
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“Helping People Help the Land”
Operational Agreements
• Optional
• Operational commitment between the local
partners
• Developed as needed
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“Helping People Help the Land”
District Conservationist
• Communication
– Resource issues
– Programs
– Establishing priorities
• Attend - Conservation District Board
meetings – Report
• Support District priorities – (communicate)
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“Helping People Help the Land”
District Conservationist (can’t do)
• Handle funds or finances
• Hire, managing, supervising, evaluating or
terminating conservation district personnel
• Manage district equipment or promote
district services as a condition of Federal
assistance
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“Helping People Help the Land”
Our GOAL:
To be known as the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) providing
assistance through local soil and water
conservation districts.
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The Louisiana Association of
Conservation Districts (LACD)
•Unified forum for all LA SWCDs and supervisors
•LACD benefits SWCDs, farmers and land owners
•Managed by Executive Board of Directors
•President
•1st Vice President
•2nd Vice President
•Sec.-Treasurer
•Past Presidents
•Immediate Past V. Presidents
•Immediate Past Sec.-Treasurer
•Area V. Presidents
•Area Directors
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The National Association of
Conservation Districts (NACD)
•Represents nearly 3,000 Conservation Districts and almost 15,000 supervisors
•Facilitates conservation and orderly development of America’s land, water
and related resources through local self-government
•Works with Congress to justify funding and
support to federal conservation agencies
•District Capacity Building
•Operational needs and Services
•Council
•Executive Committee
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“What a frightful lack of foresight, and what terribly
false economy it would be, if we did not go ahead with
the soil conservation job”
Hugh H. Bennett
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Supervisors Handbook Reference
Slide No.
Handbook page No.
State Law
3-5
6-7
8
9
10
11-19
20-22
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24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
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III
general reference
1
I, II, 12
12
2
3-7
17
18
18
19
28
13, 25-27
26, 27, 41, 46
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III, 2, 5, 18, 23, 26, 27, 32, 39, 40
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§1204
§1201-1202
§1206-1207
§1206-1207
§1208
§1207-1208
§1207-1208
§1207-1208
§1207-1208
§1207-1208
§1207-1208
§1204
RS 36;628G
§1208
§1203, §1204
§1204 A.(1)(a)
PPM
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4,10,12.15
1,2,3,9,12
9
4-8,10,11
15
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