How did Conservation Districts start?
During the 1930’s, results of the Dust Bowl stressed the need to conserve natural resources, especially regarding soil. Agencies ranging from Land Grant Universities to the Federal Emergency Relief Administration researched and implemented conservation practices throughout the nation. Eventually, the Soil Conservation Service (or Natural Resource Conservation Service as it is known today) was created under the Soil Conservation Act of 1935 to develop and implement soil erosion control programs. Occasionally, agencies working with conservation ended up competing with each other. Local leadership was needed to coordinate their efforts and tie them into local conditions and priorities. Because of this the President developed a model Conservation District Law for consideration by the state governments. In March 1941, the State Legislature passed an enabling act which provided for the establishment of Conservation Districts in Wyoming. Conservation Districts were to direct these programs pr
