What is a Soil & Water Conservation District
Farmer & sons during dust storm, 1936 (Arthur Rothstein, photographer, April, 1936, Library of Congress)
During the Dust Bowl crisis in 1935, Congress passed Public Law 74-46, recognizing that “the wastage of soil and moisture resources on farm, grazing, and forest lands . . .is a menace to the national welfare,” and established the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) as an agency in the USDA. (In 1994, the name of this agency was changed to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicating a broader scope of the agency’s mission.) To supplement this effort and to provide a local level of administration, the Standard State Soil Conservation Districts Law was passed, providing for the organization of “soil conservation districts” as governmental subdivisions of States. Franklin D. Roosevelt described the program in a letter to each state governor
In Virginia, Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) are authorized through the Code of VA 10.1, Chapter 5. The District is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It works with Federal, State, and local authorities and the private sector to address Loudoun’s soil and water conservation needs. It promotes educational and technical programs in the field of natural resources conservation, provides advice on the handling of conservation issues to governmental entities and private citizens, and administers programs aimed at specific goals.
Districts accomplish their missions through partnerships and leveraging of local, state and federal resources.
District operations are directed by a Board of five Directors (three elected in the general election process, two appointed by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board) and carried out by professional staff. Conservation efforts are further enhanced by the District’s Associate Directors and the programs of cooperating agencies.
State and local appropriations, grants, and proceeds from District special programs account for the District’s income. The District is professionally audited on a regular basis.
District Directors, staff, and representatives of cooperating agencies meet the second Thursday of each month. Please check our calendar for actual dates. The public is welcome to attend. Board work sessions and standing committee meetings are held as needed.