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 The
1930s brought an ecological disaster known as the Dust Bowl. Huge black
dust storms blotted out the sun and swallowed the countryside.
While testifying on Capitol Hill on April 2, 1935, soil scientist Hugh
Bennett threw back the room's curtains to reveal a sky blackened by
dust. |
| Congress
immediately declared soil and water conservation a national policy and
priority. Since about three-fourths of the land in the U.S. is privately
owned, Congress realized that only active support from landowners would
guarantee the success of conservation on private land. The idea for soil
and water conservation districts was born.
In 1937, President Roosevelt wrote each state
recommending the legislation that led to the State Soil & Water
conservation programs. The Alaska Soil Conservation District Law was
passed in 1947 during our territorial days and is administered by the Alaska
Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
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Today
there are nearly 3000 conservation districts--one in almost every
county. Now expanded to serve all the conservation needs of our nation,
districts educate and help local citizens conserve land, water, forests,
wildlife and other natural resources.
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