History

HISTORY OF RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS

Resource Conservation Districts emerged in the 1930's as a result of the losses of soil productivity and erosion during the Dust Bowl. The Federal Government created the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) in 1935 and a year later began encouraging all states to adopt the Soil Conservation Act to organize farmers and landowners into different Soil Conservation Districts. These districts would act as go betweens for the Federal Government and landowners, and to this day conservation districts still work closely with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Soil Conservation Districts later became known as Resource Conservation Districts, addressing all Natural Resource issues, including air, water and soil. In California, Resource Conservation Districts are "special districts" organized under the State Public Resources Code, Division 9. All Resource Conservation Districts operate with a Board of Directors made up of elected or appointed volunteer landowners in that district. Resource Conservation Districts are mostly funded with grants and donations, although some receive limited funding through county property tax revenues.

Resource Conservation Districts not only serve the agricultural community but have expanded in serving all aspects of the conservation of the environment.

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UPDATED 08/06/2007 05:20:13 PM