History of SWCDs

In 1937, Minnesota legislature passed an Enabling Act to give citizens the power to form Soil Conservation Districts in response to the Dust Bowl of the 1930's, also known as the “dirty thirties.”  Intensive farming during a time of drought allowed high winds to erode the landscape and carry clouds of dust from the Great Plains all the way to Washington, D.C. 

Three years after President Roosevelt signed the Soil Conservation Act bill, soil erosion dropped 65% in the U.S.

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The first SWCD in Minnesota was created one year later, in 1938, the Burns-Homer-Pleasant district—later renamed the Winona SWCD. Today, there are 88 SWCDs in Minnesota.

 

Subsequently, SWCDs were developed across the country to encourage landowners to alter their farming techniques in order to more wisely use our soil and water resources. Today, there are over three thousand conservation districts across the United States. 

 

Over the years, SWCDs expanded their focus beyond agriculture to also provide assistance in forested, lakes and urban areas of their communities.

 

SWCDs today work with a variety of clientele including private landowners, counties, cities, townships and watershed districts.