United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content




NRCS Timeline

Updated 04/14/2005

1933 1934 1937 1944 1954 1957 1994 2002

<Back to "A Partner in Conservation...">

 

Hugh Hammond Bennett September 19, 1933 - Hugh Hammond Bennett helps found the Soil Erosion Service created as a temporary agency in the Department of the Interior to demonstrate practical conservation methods to farmers.  <Back to Timeline>

March 11, 1934 -A fierce windstorm from the Great Plains swept fine soil particles across areas as far away as Washington D.C. Congress decides action must be taken immedRolling dust stormiately.  <Back to Timeline>

April 27, 1935 - The Soil Conservation Service is established in the Department of Agriculture to help landowners carry out soil conservation practices.

February 27, 1937 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt urges governors to enact conservation district law that will allow landowners to organize conservation districts.

North Carolina marker for first Soil Conservation DistrictAugust 4, 1937 - North Carolina forms the first conservation district in the nation: Brown Creek Soil Conservation District.  <Back to Timeline>

December 22, 1944 - Flood Control Act of 1944 authorizes 11 flood prevention projects and the Emergency Watershed Protection Program to help protect lives and property following natural disasters.  <Back to Timeline>

July 25, 1946 - National Association of Conservation Districts founded in Chicago, Illinois by district officials from 17 states.

August 1954 - The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act is enacted to help communities protect, improve, and develop watersheds.  <Back to Timeline>

July 2, 1957 - Arizona forms its first American Indian conservation district: Parker Valley Soil Conservation District.  <Back to Timeline>

Members of the RC & DSeptember 27, 1962 - The Resource Conservation and Development Program is created to advance community development and environmental protection in multi-county areas.

September 1966 - SCS provides soil surveys and interpretations to assist states and other private agencies in community and resource planning.

February 7, 1967 - National Association of State Conservation Agencies officially organized.

November 18, 1977 - Congress passes the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act to conserve, protect, and enhance the nation’s natural resources for future uses.

June 22, 1982 - Washington, D.C. establishes first urban conservation district: District of Columbia Conservation District.

December 23, 1985 - The 1985 Farm Bill requires landowners to carry out their conservation plans to receive USDA conservation program benefits.

NRCS LogoOctober 20, 1994 - SCS’s name changes to the Natural Resources Conservation Service to reflect its efforts to conserve natural resources.  <Back to Timeline>

April 1996 - The 1996 Farm Bill creates programs to enhance wildlife, improve wetlands, and address specific resource concerns on farms.

2002 - The Grassland Reserve Program is authorized to offer protection, restoration, and enhancement of grasslands to private landowners.  <Back to Timeline>
Attendees at CSP signing
2002 - The Conservation Security Program is created to reward farmers for practicing excellent conservation on their lands.

 

To print this page, set printer settings to "landscape".