How Did Soil and Water Conservation Districts Come To Be Formed?
Although many soil conservation activities occurred in the United States in the 1920’s, it wasn’t until the 1930’s that actions became serious. On May 12, 1934, the worst dust storm in the nation’s history swept eastward from the Great Plains to the Atlantic Ocean, obscuring the sun and depositing obvious films of dust as it moved. This catastrophic storm served as the catalyst for public outcry and congressional action for soil and water conservation throughout the nation. On April 27,1935, Congress passed and President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Soil Conservation Act of 1935, Public Law No.46, which established the Soil Conservation Service (SCS)1 within United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The new soil and water conservation thrust originated with the federal government working directly with landowners, primarily farmers. Farmers previously had little direct contact with USDA, and they were still very skeptical of federal involvement. Hugh H. Bennett, Chief of SCS;
