The History and FutureMichigan Conservation Districts

The history of Conservation Districts.Current trends in land use and conservation.How Conservation Districts are meeting the

needs of landowners.

What You’ll Learn In This Module

What ecological disaster brought about the creation of Conservation Districts?

In the beginning, Conservation Districts focused programs on what type of landowner?

What type of landowners are Conservation Districts now serving?

What do Conservation Districts provide landowners?

Discussion Questions

The Origin of Conservation Districts

In the early 1930s, along with the Great Depression,

came an equally unparalleled ecological disaster known

as the Dust Bowl.

Huge black dust storms that

stretched across the nation

blotted out the sun and

swallowed the countryside.

The Origin of Conservation Districts

On Capitol Hill, while testifying about America’s soil

erosion problem, soil scientist

Hugh Hammond Bennett

drew back the curtains

to reveal a sky

blackened by dust.

Congress saw with their

own eyes the seriousness

of the situation and

immediately declared

soil and water conservation

a national policy

and priority.

1935 – Federal Soil Conservation Service Established

1936 – Federal Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1936

1937 – Michigan passed the Soil Conservation District Law Act 297, P.A. 1937.

The Origin of Conservation Districts

Mr. Hugh Hammond Bennett

“One of the best, and certainly

the most promising, of the

devices yet invented by man

for dealing democratically and

effectively with maladjustment

in land use, as well as for

carrying forward positive

programs of desirable

conservation, and for

maintaining the work, is the

soil conservation district.“Hugh Hammond Bennett

The Origin of Conservation Districts

Michigan Conservation Districts

Special purpose local units of state government.

Created by a vote of the people to provide conservation programs assistance to local communities.

In The BeginningIn their early beginnings, Conservation Districts focused

their programs on rural America; assisting farmers

and ranchers in

conservation

measures to prevent

their soil from blowing

And washing away.

Conservation Districts Today

Michigan Conservation Districts utilize state, federal and

private sector resources to address conservation concerns

in their local communities.

Districts are the state’s private lands delivery system,

providing local delivery of private lands conservation

programs, including the Forestry Assistance Program and

the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance

Program. Districts utilize these and other programs to

provide quality service and assistance to their constituents.

Current Conservation Trends

Agricultural operations

are becoming more

complex, which brings

new conservation

challenges..

Current Conservation Trends

Pressures on natural resources have continued to mount due to developing sensitive areas without

proper conservation measurers in place.

Current Conservation Trends

And other types of

non-point source

pollution occur due

to the actions of the

many new landowners

in rural and suburban

areas.

Current Conservation Trends

Conservation

Districts address

today’s conservation

challenges and serve

all landowners and

users, from urban

customers to their

traditional

agricultural

customers.

Identify county resource issues

Utilize local, state and federal programs to address identified issues

Provide natural resource technical and educational assistance to farmers and landowners

How Conservation Districts Work

Today…Michigan’s 78 Conservation Districts provide technical

assistance and natural resource management services to help

our citizens to manage their land for a cleaner, healthier,

and economically stronger Michigan.

Conservation Districts bring a host of resources tolandowners, assisting them to better address natural resourceconcerns.

Conservation Districts partner with state, federal and local governments, conservation organizations, and the agricultural community.

Today…Conservation Districts continuously scan the needs of

their communities, work with others involved in

conservation to set local

priorities, and

develop action

plans to help understand

and solve natural

resource problems.

Today…

Conservation Districts allow the public a trusted, local

point of access in their communities

for conservation expertise,

technical assistance and

natural resource

education.

Conservation Districts have a proud history in leading the efforts to provide assistance in erosion control and rehabilitating farmlands and forests.

Today’s citizens appreciate access to the technical assistance, conservation expertise and education that Conservation Districts provide.

Summary

Summary Whether for wildlife habitat, timber, recreation,

aesthetics, agriculture and other uses, District personnel help make property owners and managers more fully aware of the complexity of the resources they own and the relationship they have to the land around them.

So if you hunt, fish, hike,

garden, farm, eat, or do

anything else involving

natural resources, then you

benefit from the work of

Michigan’s Conservation

Districts.

• What ecological disaster brought about the creation of Conservation Districts?

• In the beginning, Conservation Districts focused programs on what type of land owner?

• What type of land owners are Conservation Districts now serving?

• What is the purpose of Conservation Districts in the local community?

Review Questions

Resources AvailableAdditional information about the history of Conservation Districts and current programs can be found on the following internet sites:

Michigan Association of Conservation Districtswww.macd.org

National Association of Conservation Districtswww.nacdnet.org

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Servicewww.nrcs.usda.gov

Local historical information may be found on file in the District office.

Photos courtesy of the USDA Natural

Resources Conservation Service

Credits