Henderson County Soil and Water Conservation District

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Henderson County Soil and Water Conservation
District
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What is a Conservation District?

• There are nearly 3,000 across the United States.
• There is one in almost every county in every
  state.
• In North Carolina there are 94 conservation
  districts.

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North Carolina Soil and Water Conservation
Districts
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What do Conservation Districts do?

• Design farm conservation plans to keep soil in
  the fields and out of waterways.
• Conserve and restore wetlands, which purify water
  and provides habitat for wildlife.
• Plant trees and grass to hold soil in place.
• Help developers and home owners manage the land
  in an environmentally friendly manner.
• Reach out to communities and schools to teach the
  value of natural resources and encourage
  conservation.

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History of Conservation Districts

• In the early 1930s there was a severe drought in
  the Great Plains.
• As soil began to dry and blow away, huge black
  dust storms were created.
• The dust was so thick that the sun was blotted
  out and the disaster was named the Dust Bowl.
• The storms were so big that they stretched across
  the United States.

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Dust Bowl
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Dust Bowl
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Dust Bowl
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Dust Bowl
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History of Conservation Districts

• Hugh Hammond Bennett
• Born and raised in Anson County NC.

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Hugh Hammond Bennett

• Went to Capital Hill in 1935 requesting that soil
  and water conservation be a national policy.
• When Congress started to discuss the issue
  Bennett opened the curtains and revealed the dark
  skies from the approaching dust storm.
• Congress unanimously passed legislation to form
  the NRCS and state Soil and Water Conservation
  Districts.

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Conservation Practices

• Chemical Mixing Site (Before)

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Conservation Practices

• AgriChemical Handling Facility

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Conservation Practices

• AgriChemical Handling Facility

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Conservation Practices

• AgriChemical Handling Facility

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Conservation Practices

• Chemigation Backflow Prevention

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Conservation Practices

• Integrated Pest Management

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Conservation Practices

• Integrated Pest Management

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Conservation Practices

• Removal of Abandoned Orchards

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Conservation Practices

• Removal of Abandoned Orchard

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Conservation Practices

• Critical Area Treatment in Orchards

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Conservation Practices

• Critical Area Treatment in Orchards

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Conservation Practices

• Feed/Waste Storage Structure (Before)

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Conservation Practices

• Feed / Waste Storage Structure

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Conservation Practices

• Feed / Waste Storage Structure

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Conservation Practices

• Feed/Waste Storage Structure (After)

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Conservation Practices

• Feed / Waste Storage Structure (After)

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Conservation Practices

• Watering Tanks

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Conservation Practices

• Livestock Exclusion

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Conservation Practices

• Removal of Abandoned Waste Storage Structures.

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Conservation Practices

• Removal of Abandoned Waste Storage Structures.

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Conservation Practices

• Streambank Stabilization

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Conservation Practices

• Wetland Restoration

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Conservation Practices

• No-Till Crops

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Conservation Practices

• Stream Restoration

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Educational Programs

• Sponsor poster, essay, and public speaking
  contests using soil and water related topics.
• Poster contest (5th grade)
• Essay contest (6th grade)
• Public Speaking contest (8th grade)

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Educational Programs
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Educational Programs
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Educational Programs
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Educational Programs
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Educational Programs
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Educational Programs
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www.henderson.lib.nc.us/county/soil
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Educational Programs

• 2002 2003 School Year
• Placed 2nd in State Public Speaking and Essay
  Contest.

Mary Youngblood, 8th Grade Rugby Middle School
Forrest Koontz, 6th Grade Rugby Middle School
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Henderson County Soil and Water Conservation
District