Objective: Provide an understanding of today’s programs and agencies by understanding the intent of their creation and evolution.

1930 – Caused by intensively farmed land, combined with a prolonged period of drought. Coinciding with the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl has devastating effects. Greatest impact to soil was in the mid-west, but the deposition reached the Atlantic Ocean.

 Established in 1932  Created under the Emergency Conservation Work Act of FDR’s New Deal.  Aimed to create jobs and combat the destruction of natural resources.  Active in all States.  In the late 1930’s unemployment declined and so did enrollment in the CCC.  By 1942 the economy improve to the point that it was recommended that the Corps be abolished.

 Created in 1933 to address soil conservation concerns.  Housed in the US Department of Interior and transferred to Department of Agriculture in  Hugh Hammond Bennett was appointed the Director.  The SES received funding to demonstrate soil conservation methods in select areas.  Trained soil scientists worked directly with farmers  Provided equipment, labor and technical assistance

 By December of 1934, the SES had already achieved enough success that the US Secretary of Agriculture requested the SES be transferred to the Department of Agriculture.  In 1935, the success of the Soil Erosion Service work in demonstration areas highlighted the need to transfer this work to all agricultural lands.  Soil Conservation Act of 1935 establish the Soil Conservation Service as a permanent agency under the Department of Agriculture.

“Take care of the land and the land will take care of you” – Hugh Hammond Bennett

 In February of 1937, after a year of technical and legal work, President Roosevelt signed what was to be called “A Standard State Soil Conservation Districts Law”.  This template for establishing local Soil Conservation Districts was sent to all State Governors with an encouragement to adopt.  In August 1937, the first Soil Conservation District (Brown Creek) was established in Anston County, NC.

On March 9, 1939 Idaho Soil Conservation District Law was signed by Governor C.A. Bottolfsen. which established the State Soil Conservation Commisson and enabled counties to establish local Conservation Districts On May 1, 1940, Latah SWCD and Bear Lake SWCD became the first two Soil Conservation Districts in Idaho.

Current boundaries 1940 boundaries

“To take available technical, financial, and educational resources, whatever their source, and focus or coordinate them so that they meet the needs of the local land user for conservation of soil, water and related resources.”

Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts (IASCD)