In The Beginning. . . In The Beginning. . .

1935—Public Law 46 was passed by Congress:• Established soil and water conservation and wise

land use as a national policy• Created the USDA—Natural Resources

Conservation Service (NRCS)

1937—President Franklin Roosevelt wrote all Governors recommending each state adopt legislation forming conservation districts, and a state agency to provide coordination, guidance, professional, technical and financial assistance to districts.

Governor Olin D. Johnston signed the SC Conservation District Law on April 17, 1937.

Basic Agreements with Districts Basic Agreements with Districts

These agreements establish the working relationship between the United States

Secretary of Agriculture, State of South Carolina, SC Department of Natural

Resources and each conservation district in South Carolina.

Agreements at a GlanceAgreements at a Glance

Framework for cooperation with USDA

Mutual Mutual AgreementAgreement

Signed by:

US Secretary of Agriculture Governor Each Conservation District

Framework for state cooperation

Cooperative Cooperative Working Working

AgreementAgreement

Signed by:

NRCS DNR Each Conservation District

Hand in Hand . . .Hand in Hand . . .

PLANNING

EDUCATION & PUBLIC INFORMATION

DEMONSTRATION

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

COST SHARING

FARM BILL IMPLEMENTATION

URBAN ASSISTANCE

AWARDS

Conservation DistrictsConservation Districts

Man Working in Harmony with NatureMan Working in Harmony with Nature

From the mountains . . .From the mountains . . .

Caesar’s Head, SC

Photo by Trevor Zion Bauknight

. . . to the sea. . . to the sea

Pawleys’ Island Sunrise

Legislative Declaration of PurposeLegislative Declaration of Purpose

““All lands of the State are among the basic All lands of the State are among the basic assets of the State and the preservation of these assets of the State and the preservation of these lands is necessary to promote the health, safety lands is necessary to promote the health, safety

and general welfare of its people. . .”and general welfare of its people. . .”““It is further declared to be the policy of the It is further declared to be the policy of the

General Assembly to provide for the General Assembly to provide for the conservation of the soil and water resources of conservation of the soil and water resources of

this State…”this State…”

Conservation DistrictsConservation Districts

• 46 Conservation Districts in SC

• 230 Commissioners: 138 Elected in General Election and 92 appointed by the DNR

• Soil and Water Conservation Districts Law § 48-9-10, et. Seq.

Function of Conservation Function of Conservation DistrictsDistricts

8.2 million acres under a conservation plan

Coordinate conservation planning Coordinate conservation planning on public landson public lands

Develop comprehensive plans Develop comprehensive plans for the conservation of soil for the conservation of soil and water resources on private and water resources on private landslands

Jocassee GorgesJocassee GorgesRoad StabilizationRoad Stabilization

Natural Resource AssessmentNatural Resource Assessment

Urban AssistanceUrban Assistance

Conducts surveys and research relating to soil erosion, flood and sediment damage, and water conservation

Ridge Road ProjectRidge Road Project Spartanburg CountySpartanburg County

Natural Resource AssessmentNatural Resource Assessment

Rural AssistanceRural Assistance

Conduct surveys, design, and Conduct surveys, design, and other assistance to private other assistance to private landowners to improve landowners to improve soil and water quality.soil and water quality.

• 37 Watershed Districts• § 48-11-10, et seq.• 185 Directors • Taxing Authority• 75 Dams• 300 Miles of channels• Flood Control, water

supply, fish & wildlife habitat, sediment control and recreation

Special Programs Special Programs

Resource ConservationResource Conservation

Make available Make available machinery, fertilizer, machinery, fertilizer, seeds, seedlings, and seeds, seedlings, and other material and other material and equipment for the equipment for the conservation of soil conservation of soil and water resourcesand water resources

Educational ProgramsEducational Programs

• SC EnvirothonSC Envirothon• Carolina Coastal AdventureCarolina Coastal Adventure• Governor’s Institute for Governor’s Institute for Natural ResourceNatural Resource ConservationConservation

Dry HydrantsDry Hydrants

• 2500 Dry hydrants installed2500 Dry hydrants installed

• Statewide savings on insurance premiums and Statewide savings on insurance premiums and property loss approximately $50 million/yearproperty loss approximately $50 million/year

• Reaches 300,000 people Reaches 300,000 people

• 3,000 businesses benefit 3,000 businesses benefit

Stormwater ManagementStormwater Management

•County Stormwater Management ProgramsCounty Stormwater Management Programs

managed by:

- Clarendon Conservation District- Greenville Conservation District- Sumter Conservation District

In addition numerous Districts provide input on stormwater plans

Take Home Message Take Home Message

• The private sector is willing to implement best management practices (BMP’s) in a cooperative, non-regulatory framework.

•State Funded Cost Share Program•$690,000 instate funds given to Districts•Installed BMP’s worth $2,326,000•Participation is solely voluntary

• The voluntary approach by the Districts has been successful.

• State government has opportunities to have more input in natural resource management through the 46 Conservation

Districts.

The RESOURCERESOURCE

Who BenefitsWho Benefits

The StateThe Economy

and most importantly,

Thanks to…Thanks to…

Pickens Soil & Water Conservation District Greenville Soil & Water Conservation District USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service

– Dennis Bauknight, District Conservationist– Ross Stewart, Resource Conservationist, Pickens

S.C. Department of Natural Resources:

Land, Water & Conservation Division,

Von Snelgrove, Division Chief