History of Montana Conservation Districts
Soil Conservation Districts were a new approach to our erosion problems. As a nation,
the people of the United States did not concern themselves until recent years about the costliness
or the extent of our erosion problems.
Soil Conservation Districts were an outgrowth of a difficult period in our nation’s history.
A few early leaders recognized the destructiveness of soil erosion and undertook to control it.
History shoes George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison used the simple
methods of crop rotations, application of muck to erosion areas, hillside ditching, and
contouring. Despite these early warnings and practical examples of these and other early
American, only a few farmers adopted any kind of soil conservation practices.
District growth was hastened by a public awakening to the dust storms of the “dirty
thirties”—storms which covered the United States from coast to coast.
The year of 1928 marked the real beginning of the conservation movement that has since
spread across our land. Two events of major importance to agriculture and unique in our history,
are recorded as belonging to that year. A special educational effort was made by the United
States Department of Agriculture to stimulate interest in the problems of soil waste. The bulletin,
SOIL EROSION A NATIONAL MENACE, by Hugh H. Bennett and W.R. Chapline, gave the
first comprehensive appraisal of the problem throughout the century. These publications aroused
considerable public interest, and virtually for the first time the press began to take notice. Dr.
Bennett dramatized the problem and brought it to the attention of the public. It was not only the
farmers’ problem—it was the nation’s problem.
In December of the same year, Congress adopted the Buchanan Amendment to the
Agriculture Appropriations Bill, and as it turned out, launched a nation-wide program to save
America’s agriculture land from a slow impoverishment. The amendment provided federal funds
to: (1) Set up ten regional experiment stations for measuring the rate of soil and water losses, (2)
make surveys to determine the extent of damage by erosion and location of the principle areas
affected, and (3) work out methods of control and prevention. The first appropriation for the
work was $160,000. Two years later an additional appropriation of $330,000 was made to
enlarge the activities of the erosion research stations. Research established the fact the severe soil
losses were occurring and something needed to be done to correct this waste.
Thus our national soil conservation program was launched—back at the beginning of our
greatest economic depression. The Soil Erosion Service was set up in 1933 on a temporary basis
in the Department of the Interior to allow the work to start while more permanent plans were
made. In 1934 a national erosion control survey was started. Civilian Conservation Corps’ crews
were assigned to erosion control work to help with the job of establishing soil conservation
demonstrations on farmlands where farmers could see and study methods for protecting the soil.
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In 1936 the “Soil Conservation Act” passed Congress without a dissenting vote and it set
up the Soil Conservation Service as a permanent agency of the Department of Agriculture.
Soil Conservation Districts were an outgrowth of the erosion control demonstrations
projects set up under the Soil Conservation Service and its predecessor. These projects proved
that erosion could be controlled and soil productivity maintained. They were designed to be
showcases of wise land use treatment.
These demonstration projects averaged about 25,000 acres in size, although in some
western areas they were considerably larger. In these demonstrations areas, the government
entered into five year contracts with landowners and operators. The technical services were
provided by the Soil Erosion Service and Soil Conservation Service. The Civilian Conservation
Corps also provided most of the labor and materials necessary to establish a complete
conservation program on the project area. The owner or operator agreed to provide some labor
and materials and also to maintain the program for the duration of the contract.
The idea was that these demonstration farms would be a place for other farmers to visit
and see good conservation practices with the hope they would carry the idea back to their own
units for application.
For a number of reasons, practices did not “catch on” as most desired. First, most farmers
were impresses with the conservation work but found it too complicated for them to apply
without technical help such as the NRCS gave to the demonstration farms.
It was also apparent early after the completion of the project on the demonstration farms
that most farmers did not realize the value of the program; has no personal understanding of why
land adjustments were made; and most importantly, they had little or no financial stake in the
work. For these reasons many farmers abandoned the program when their contracts expired.
From these lessons evolved the idea of the district movement. It was apparent that some
way needed to be devised whereby landowners could play a major role in establishing their own
conservation program with the help of the government, rather than the government doing it for
them.
Credit is given to USDA Assistant Solicitor Philip M. Glich, for drafting if a standard
Soil Conservation Districts Law. Then this was finally put into final form, President Franklin D.
Roosevelt in February, 1937, sent the draft of the proposed law to governors of all the states with
the suggestion that farmers and ranchers be given the authority to organize districts specifically
to deal with conservation of soil and water resources.
Montana passed legislation, Montana Conservation District law (Section 76-15-101,
MCA) in 1939. Wibaux CD was the first in Montana, officially organizing on January 15, 1940.
Today, there are 58 conservation districts across the Big Sky State.
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Conservation District Date Formed
Beaverhead CD
Big Horn CD
Big Sandy CD
Bitterroot CD
Blaine County CD
Broadwater CD
Carbon CD
Carter County CD
Cartersville-Thurlow (Rosebud)
Cascade County CD
Choteau County CD
Culbertson – Bainville (Roosevelt)
Custer County CD
Daniels County CD
Dawson County CD
Deer Lodge CD
Eastern Sanders CD
Fergus CD
Flathead CD
Froid (Roosevelt)
Gallatin CD
Three Rivers
Garfield County CD
Glacier County CD
Granite CD
Green Mountain CD
Hill County CD
Jefferson Valley CD
Judith Basin CD
Lake CD
Lewis & Clark CD
Liberty County CD
Lincoln CD
Little Beaver CD
Lower Musselshell CD
Madison CD
McCone CD
Meagher County CD
Mile High CD
Mineral County CD
05/04/50
08/22/44
05/09/45
11/04/41
08/29/44
04/27/46
05/06/68
11/14/41
04/13/32
08/14/46
07/07/43
12/20/40
06/20/44
09/04/47
08/07/45
05/03/49
02/08/45
07/12/46
04/13/45
12/20/40
06/08/49
06/20/44
10/09/44
08/11/47
01/14/54
11/04/41
04/19/46
04/28/48
10/01/47
07/18/45
06/25/48
02/28/50
07/09/43
01/27/42
06/21/43
12/18/46
08/14/42
07/25/57
07/02/52
11/03/44
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Missoula CD
Mona-Andes (Richland)
North Powell CD
Park CD
Petroleum County CD
Phillips CD
Pondera County CD
Powder River CD
Prairie County CD
Richland County CD
Roosevelt County CD
Rosebud CD
Ruby Valley CD
Sheridan County CD
Stillwater CD
Sweet Grass CD
Sun River (Cascade)
Teton CD
Toole County CD
Treasure County CD
Upper Musselshell CD
Valley County CD
Wibaux CD
Yellowstone CD
05/08/46
04/28/49
06/08/49
10/04/51
09/20/49
07/27/45
02/17/53
12/14/76
09/17/40
09/29/94
07/07/42
12/11/50
01/15/40
06/09/54
03/31/50
03/27/44
10/08/47
12/27/47
07/19/46
06/17/50
06/21/45
01/15/40
11/16/46
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PREFACE
Montana’s conservation districts (CD’s) are political subdivisions of state government, created
by the legislature in 1939. A non-paid elected and appointed board of supervisors governs the
activities of a conservation district. The 58 conservation districts in Montana are part of national
network of over 3,000 conservation districts similarly organized in all 50 states.
Their main function is to conduct local activities to promote conservation of natural resources.
The activities vary from district to district, but generally include education, on-the-ground
conservation projects, and 310 Stream Permitting. Utilizing local knowledge and expertise, CD’s
are in the fore front on education. CD’s often bring in speakers and presenters to talk about the
newest trends in new agriculture practices, range management, urban education, and stream
management. In addition to education, CD’s sponsor on the ground demonstration projects, or
pilot projects to learn firsthand the benefits of a specific project. CD’s also administer the
Montana streambed and land preservation act, commonly known as the 310 program. This
pertains to individuals planning to work in or near a perennial stream or river must first receive a
permit from their local conservation district.
CD’s have also been given statutory authority to pass land use ordinances if necessary to
conserve local their natural resources.
Funding for conservation district operations comes from their authority to levy a tax on real
property within their district. For conservation projects and educational activities, conservation
districts rely heavily on grants from state and federal governments.
The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) provides the majority of technical
assistance for conservation district activities and the two entities usually share office space when
their offices are located in the same towns.
The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is required by law to provide the
conservation districts with administrative, technical, financial and legal assistance.
For additional information about the Department or conservation district programs, visit our
website: www.dnrc.mt.gov/cardd
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CONSERVATION DISTRICT INFORMATION
Conservation District Name:
Formation Date:
Acreage in District:
(Attach a district boundary map, if available, or list here where to find one.)
Incorporated Towns within the District Boundary:
Population of District:
Prevailing Land Uses:
Natural Resource Issues:
Other Useful Information:
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