Yadkin Soil and Water - Governance

A true conservationist knows the world is not GIVEN by our fathers. It is BORROWED from our children.

The Dust Bowl Era of the 1930s led to the formation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts nationwide. The Brown Creek Soil and Water Conservation District (Anson County, NC), organized in 1937 by Hugh Hammond Bennett, was the first in the US.

Structure
Soil and Water Conservation Districts are governmental subdivisions of the state. Districts work closely with local, state, and federal government, as well as public, private, and non-profit organizations, to carry out comprehensive conservation programs meant to protect, improve, and conserve natural resources.

Leadership
The NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission (SWC) provides leadership in the partnership between these agencies. As the policy-making board for the state conservation programs, it provides oversight, establishes cost share procedures and allocations, mediates contract disputes, and has the authority to appoint and remove district supervisors.

Funding
Districts receive funding from federal, state, and local governments. Local funding provides for office space, supplies, staffing, and other essentials. The state provides technical and administrative assistance, as well as funding and administering the cost share programs. Through the USDA/NRCS, the federal government provides technical and financial assistance by way of federally-initiated conservation programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

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