WSP04599 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

SOIL CONSERVATION The Weiiton-Mohawk Valley Soil Conservation District was or- ganized by the landowners in the fall of 1950 with approximately the same boundaries as the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage Dis- trict, In the fall of 1958, the landowners in the pump area to the east (Dateland, Hyder) asked to become part of the SCD, This includsion, in 1959, brought the SCD approximately 1,500,000 acres outside the Irrigation District. In 1974, all soil conservation districts were redesig- nated as Natural Resource Conservation Districts, The Soil Conservation Service of the Department of Agriculture gives technical assistance to individuals, groups, organizations, cities and town, and county and state governments in reducing the waste of land and water resources and in putting to good use these national assets, The objective is use and conservation treatment of the land in harmony with its capability and needs. Working through conservation districts, SCS's technical staff ana- lyzes resource problems and suggests safe uses and treatment, The technical staff includes soil conservationists, soil scientists, economists, agricultural, irrigation, hydraulic, drainage and civil engineers; and agronomists, foresters, biologists, plant materials specialists and' re- source planners, Soil Conservation Districts are organized under state law, They are managed by an elected and unsalaried board of local citizens. SCS receives appropriations from Congress specifically for assistance to con- servation districts, Each district is legally responsible under state law for soil and water conservation work within its boundaries, just as a county is responsible for roads or a school district for education, There are currently two Soil Conservation Service offices serving the Wellton-Mohawk Valley Natural Resource Conservation District The Wellton Field Office, which started working with area landusers in 1958, has been headquartered with the Irrigation District since that time, The Wellton-Mohawk Special Project Office, established in 1975, is working on a five year program to assist farmers in improving their irrigation systems on approximately 23,800 acres. When each system is applied, it will have a potential irrigation efficiency of greater than 65 percent. This work is part of the program authorized by Public Law 93-320 to decrease water use and thereby decrease drainage, The Field Office continues its work ~s before, but does not duplicate any work being done by the Special Project Office, In addition to providing soils information, engineering assistance and conservation planning help; SCS personnel work with the NRCD board on conservation education; assist local, county and state agencies and urban groups in resource planning; and maintain close contact with the Irrigation District,e I~ , ~ 30