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HISTORY
OF THE CHENANGO COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
On October 14, 1940 the Chenango County
Board of Supervisors formed the Soil and Water District.
| The Chenango
County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) was formed
by federal, state and local legislation in 1940 to assist landowners
with natural resource conservation. The Soil Conservation Districts
Law was enacted into state legislation on April 23, 1940 with
the approval of the Governor, Herbert Lehman and the State Senate
and Assembly. In Chapter 9-B of the Consolidated Laws of New
York State, the Declaration of Policy reads,
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"It is hereby declared to
be the policy of the Legislature to provide for the
conservation of the soil and soil resources of this
state, and for the control and prevention of soil
erosion, and thereby to preserve natural resources,
assist in the control of foods, assist in the drainage
of agricultural lands, prevent impairment of dams
and reservoirs, assist in maintaining the navigability
of rivers and harbor, preserve wildlife, protect the
tax bas, protect public lands, and protect and promote
the health, safety and general welfare of the people
of this state."
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As amended L.1945m c,883§ 1, eff. April 19,
1945
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| The District performs
this task in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service, the USDA Farm Service Agency, the Upper Susquehanna
Coalition, the USDA Resource Conservation & Development, and
Cornell Cooperative Extension. The SWCD is both a unit of state
and local government that is governed by a five member board
appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The five member board
consists of two County Legislatures, one member from the Grange,
one member from the Farm Bureau and a “Member at Large” who’s
is responsible for representing the rural community.
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Above Left: "Last
acre" of soil mapping for Chenango County's Soil
Survey, 1981. Above Right: The final touches are made
on the SWCD's "new sign." The sign was built
and installed by the District's Title VI crew, July 1978.
Photos courtesy of the CCSWD.
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