After the Dust Bowl: A New Way to Conserve Our Lands

Introduction

The Dust Bowl and Depression era of the United States will never be forgotten. The toll it took on the southern states has reshaped the ways in which we farm today. Without the collaboration between landowners and the government we may have never begun to recover from the havoc wreaked on southern communities.  At the end of the Dust Bowl programs started to be created to aid landowners in the reconstruction and conservation of their land in order to prevent another devastation like the Dust Bowl. 

In this blog we will go over the history of water and soil conservation, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the NCRS. We will also take a look into how soil conservation programs were created in response to the Dust Bowl, and the importance of the creation of these programs. 

A Brief History Conservation Efforts

The conclusion of the Dust Bowl left landowners in despair. When the government began to reach out to help, many land owners were not sure that the government’s involvement in their practices could be beneficial. The positive effects seen by the landowners began to shift their perspectives from reluctance to a possibility of resilience. The first step that conservationists and the government took was to create farming resources for landowners to access. In 1935 the Soil Conservation Act was passed to eliminate the” wastage of soil and moistage” and set forth the creation of the Soil Conservation Service created by Hugh Hammond Bennett; of which eventually became the NRCS in 1994. 

Only when the federal and state governments, farmers, and conservationists worked together were there sustainable plans of action to restore groundwater in addition to restoring Texas soils. Under Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency the creation of the New Deal Administration gave way for “the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, the Agricultural Adjustment Administration, the Resettlement Administration, the Farm Credit Administration, and similar programs”. With programs like these farmers were able to learn more about the different ways to conserve their land and utilize sustainable agriculture practices such as nitrogen rich cover crops, “tilling, and contouring”. 

NCRS

The Soil Conservation Service became the Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS) in 1994. The NRCS is a permanent extension of the United States Department of Agriculture. Its namesake changed in order to display the wide variety of conservation efforts that the extension is working towards such as  “agronomy, forestry, engineering, economics, wildlife biology and other disciplines”. 

The creation of a governmental extension that collaborates with farmers, instead of taking the lead, on the farmers land was a refreshing way to aid in conservation endeavors. Landowners were more trusting to work with conservationists rather than for the government. It allows for farmers and ranchers to network with non profit organizations, government entities, and other professionals that all have a goal of land restoration and preservation. The landowners can learn with these extensions and decide on which practices can benefit their land’s needs the most.  

The Beginning of Soil and Water Conservation Districts 

In the mid 1930s the USDA was interested in assistance becoming more accessible for landowners who were interested in implementing conservation practices on their land. With that, Soil Conservation Districts were proposed. In Texas the Soil Conservation District Act was signed into Law in April 1939. One month later the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) was organized. Soon after, Soil and Water Conservation Districts began. Being involved in a local Soil and Water Conservation District allows landowners to gain a deeper understanding of soil and water conservation needs. 

Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts require several characteristics before they can be formed. They are a branch of the state government, but they are controlled by local landowners. To form a district a petition signed by at least 50 agricultural landowners within a set district must be signed and will only be approved if proven to be needed and wanted. If approval is granted a board of directors is created. The board will hold five seats, of which each is a local landowner, to ensure geographic regions are equally represented. These positions last a four year term with a rotation set in order for one or two seats from a different subregion to expire each year.  

Conclusion 

The Dust Bowl was devastating to numerous communities in the south. Texas landowners suffered great losses that led many individuals to search for methods that could prevent this event from happening again. In the following years, protective legislation was enacted, governmental extensions were created, and individuals gained more knowledge about the importance of keeping our land healthy. The Dust Bowl, although harrowing, gave way to both governmental, and local, entities that gave farmers and ranchers the power to utilize the knowledge of conservationists to better care for the land they love. 

Works Cited 

“A Brief History of NRCS.” Natural Resources Conservation Service, www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/history/brief-history-nrcs#:~:text=The%20Soil%20Conservation%20Act%20was,in%20the%20New%20Deal%20administration. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

“Evolution of the Soil and Water Conservation District ...” TSSWCB, www.tsswcb.texas.gov/sites/default/files/files/programs/nonpoint-source-managment/Project%20Pages/Evolution%20of%20the%20SWCD%20Program%20in%20Texas.pdf. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

“Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts.” TexasStateSoil&Water, www.tsswcb.texas.gov/swcds#:~:text=A%20Soil%20and%20Water%20Conservation,are%20divided%20into%20five%20subdivisions. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Utley, Dan K., and Rusty Ray. “Plowing New Ground - the 75th Anniversary History of The ...” TSSWCB, 2014, www.tsswcb.texas.gov/sites/default/files/files/programs/water-supply-enhancement/Plowing%20New%20Ground-75th%20Anniversary%20History%20of%20the%20TSSWCB.pdf.