The Beginning

National Focus on Soil Erosion Dust bowl in the West, severe erosion in the S.E. Hugh Hammond Bennett’s work “Soil Erosion, A National Menace” $160,000 – first federal appropriation for soil erosion investigations

National Focus – The Early Days Demonstration projects CCC camps primarily on public lands Led to establishment of Soil Erosion Service

Public Law 46 Soil Conservation Service created National soil conservation policy established Shift toward private lands Federal Legislation Supports Soil Conservation Movement

President Roosevelt & Standard State District Act N.C. adopts General Statute 139 Districts bridge gap between federal technicians and local private landowners Creation of SWCDs

Feds & districts - relational rather than statutory connection Board of Supervisors is district Brown Creek Conservation District – first in nation Key Points

G.S. 139 established the State Committee Statutory supervision of districts by the State Committee established State Committee consisted of three members State Committee

NCASWCD established Not statutory, important none the less Stage set for a state-wide conservation effort between federal, state, and local partners Districts Organize State-wide

32 SWCDs met in Washington, D.C Districts had formed in 48 states NACD established Organized to deliver unified message on national policy matters Districts Organize Nationally

Statutory Connections Grow State Committee evolves Three association members State Committee increases to six members

Supported districts without staff for 22 years 1959 – legislature funds administrative officer renamed NC Soil & Water Conservation Committee 1965 – legislature funds asst. admin. officer DSWC forerunner providing staff support to the Commission as it is today Evolution of State Committee Staff

GS-139 amended – association members to represent state’s three geographic regions Amendment allowed one at-large member Commission seats rose to seven, as it is today State Committee Grows

Association makes recommendations for commission appointments Governor formalizes official appointment appoints chair, and appoints the at-large Finalizing Commission Appointments

U.S. Clean Water Act addresses non-point pollution Soil conservation and water quality become more important Enormous impact on the state conservation agency Nonpoint Source Pollution section added State Committee changed to N.C. Soil and Water Conservation Commission State Government Reorganizes

State addresses Water Quality Concerns 1979 – Soil and Water Conservation gained Division Status within state government 1985 – Commission guidance establishes N.C. Ag Cost Share Program (ACSP) Division provides program staffing

Evolution of SWCD Technician/Administrative Staff SCS/NRCS initial and major support for districts Today, counties/state provide major staff support SWCD technical employees exceed federal

In 1990, District employees unite by establishing District Employees’ Association (DEA) District Employees Organize

Mutual, Cooperative, Operational Agreements More formally connected Feds, Counties, State and SWCDs Late ‘90s – Formal Agreements Introduced

Expanding influence of SWCD’s Response to.0200 Initiation of Community Conservation Program Pilot counties for animal waste compliance Holding conservation easements Voluntary Ag districts Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program

Conservation Partnership Expands Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation, Inc. established in 1999

Partnership Expansion Farm Bureau Federation N.C. State Grange Land Trusts Conservation Trust for North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund N.C. Ag. Development & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund NC Tobacco Trust Fund

Districts FormedReorganized using county boundaries First district – Brown Creek SWCD Early districts-multi-county, organized by watershed boundaries 1960’s – organized by county boundaries 96 districts covering 100 counties Albemarle SWCD – only multi-county district (5 counties) Governed by 5 member board – three elected, two appointed Locally responsible for NCACSP, CCAP accountability Sets local priorities, chairs local work groups Districts

Technical guide and practice standards District staff support Job approval authority for agricultural practices Technical training, guidance and supervision Farm Bill cost share funds, i.e. EQIP, WHIP, WRP Association standing committees Ag Task Force (ATF)and Technical Review Committee (TRC) Computer software Engineering design approval Formalized partnership agreements

Serves as staff to Commission Administers programs and implements Commission policies Provides area coordinators to serve local Districts Funds supervisor travel and processes vouchers Provides staff support to environmental education activities Facilitates state level contests Coordinates/staffs District Employees’ Workshop (DEW) Chairs Ag Task Force (ATF) & Technical Review Committee (TRC) Provides engineering/soil survey technical services/watershed planning staff assistance

Policy and rule-making board for state programs Establishes cost share procedures and allocates funds, considers programmatic changes Appoints supervisors after local board recommendations Establishes agricultural rules, certifications, watershed project agreements Settles ACSP and CCAP contract disputes Considers SWCD boundary change requests from local districts Overall supervision of districts Provides job approval authority for non-agricultural practices

Represents districts’ interests statewide, emphasizing consistency Recommends policies for legislation Works through eight standing committees Actively supports and seeks funding for districts Provides representatives to committees/commissions/boards: - Soil and Water Conservation Commission (SWCC) - Technical Review Committee (TRC) - NC Ag Development & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund Advisory Committee - NC Sediment & Erosion Control Commission - NRCS’ State Conservationist’s Advisory Committee - NC Foundation for Soil & Water Conservation Board of Directors - National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)

National voice for conservation Lobby on Capitol Hill

501 C (3) organization Enlists financial support for Districts to: - Build overall capacity - Provide supervisor leadership development - Accelerate educational outreach opportunities - Improve the natural environment Independent, self-perpetuating board–association has 3 seats

Personal/professional development vehicle for district employees Provides training and development workshops Works to improve the efficiency of statewide district offices Supports Association’s annual meeting Strengthens district programs by sharing information/assistance DEA Leadership helps SWCDs address challenges/opportunities Partners with Association on joint projects such as Gator Raffle and training initiatives

Local County Governments Financial support provided by Board of County Commissioners Office space, vehicles, equipment, supplies, etc. District staff salaries and benefits Matching funds to qualify for state match Holds district funds and provides for audit in some counties