History of the Conservation District

THE HISTORY AND FUTURE OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS

The Origin of Conservation Districts

In the early 1930s, along with the Great Depression, came an equally unparalleled ecological disaster known as the Dust Bowl. Huge black dust storms that stretched across the nation blotted out the sun and swallowed the countryside.

On Capitol Hill, while testifying about the erosion problem, soil scientist Hugh Hammond Bennett drew back the curtains to reveal a sky blackened by dust. Congress immediately declared soil and water conservation a national policy and priority.

Since about three-fourths of the land in the U.S. is privately owned, Congress realized that only active support from landowners would guarantee the success of conservation on private land. The idea of soil and water conservation districts was born.

Today, there are nearly 3000 Conservation Districts nationwide – one in almost every county.

In The Beginning:
In their early beginnings, Conservation Districts focused their programs on rural America; assisting farmers and ranchers in conservation measurers to prevent their soil from blowing and washing away.
this new and expanding clientele, in addition to serving their agricultural customers.

Current Conservation Trends:
In recent years, land use patterns have changed dramatically. The land is continuously being divided, creating new landowners who have little or no knowledge of land and resource management.
Pressures on natural resources have continued to mount with erosion problems due to developing sensitive areas without proper conservation measurers in place. In addition, other types of non-point source pollution occur due to the actions of the many new landowners in rural and suburban areas.
It became clear to the Conservation Districts that their role must evolve in order to serve this new and expanding clientele, in addition to serving their agricultural customers.

The Future…The Gateway Approach:
Michigan’s 80 Conservation Districts are referred to as “gateways” to natural resource management in their local communities. They provide linkages between landowners and managers and a host of conservation service providers. These can include state, federal and local governments, conservation organizations, and the agricultural community.

Conservation Districts continuously scan the needs of their communities, work with others involved in conservation to set local priorities, and develop action plans to help understand and solve natural resource problems. Delivery of these efforts by Conservation Districts allows citizens to manage their land for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive Michigan. It allows the public a point of access in their communities to practical, everyday aspects of resource management. It allows the public a point of access in their communities to practical, everyday aspects of resource management.