“Through these
eyes: The First 70 Years of
Soil and Water
Conservation in
by Vic Ruhland.
Quote from the book:
“Formation of soil conservation districts (SCD’s) by local people under state law proved to be the new
approach that was needed. Early in 1937, President Roosevelt sent a standard
soil conservation district law to state governors asking them to adapt it for
their states and to have the law enacted. There was a great favorable response.
The
Law called for soil conservation districts to be governmental subdivisions of
the state, organized and operated by farmers for the purpose of conserving
their soil resources. The affairs of the district were to be governed by an
elected board of five supervisors who were responsible for developing a program
of soil conservation for the district and for the application of this program
on the land. The new approach allowed
local people to develop district programs addressing their issues and concerns
rather than having this development done by State and/or Federal government.
Districts may call upon State and Federal agencies to assist them in implementing
their respective programs.”
“The
Law also created a "State Soil Conservation Committee" (later the
name Committee was changed to Commission). At first Soil Conservation Districts
were established by watershed boundaries or township boundaries; later
established districts included the entire area of respective counties.”