What are Soil and Water Conservation Districts?
President Franklin D. Roosevelt recommended the enactment of soil conservation district legislation to the Governors of all States in February 1937 in response to the devastating soil erosion conditions that existed in America in the late 1920s and 1930s.
Rather than have federal and state governments big-foot landowners and force them to protect private lands for future generations, the proposed act suggested establishing districts to direct and manage soil erosion control programs. Local citizens would participate in planning and installing conservation practices. Each district would be empowered to decide its community’s needs. Personal contact with individual landowners would encourage maximum cooperation.
Hugh Hammond Bennett, sometimes called the “Father of the Conservation Movement,” organized the first Soil and Water Conservation District in the U.S. in August 1937.
The Florida Legislature authorized the use of Soil and Water Conservation Districts in 1937 through Chapter 582 of the Florida Soil and Water Conservation Act. The Orange County Board was created by voter referendum in 1946. The board’s main responsibility is to develop conservation plans to meet local needs. Citizens and state and federal agencies carry out these plans.
The Soil and Water Conservation District in Orange County works closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to help people conserve all natural resources on private lands. The NRCS provides scientific and technical experience to resolve issues and promote conservation education.
In addition, district boards work in cooperation with dozens of local government and conservation groups and homeowners to promote the protection of natural resources and to resolve concerns. Planning assistance, investigations, evaluations, engineering and educational programs are available to residents.
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