History
Concern about soil washing began in the late 1800s. The first soil survey was conducted in 1898. The extension service published bulletins, but that was not enough for soil scientist Hugh Hammond Bennett. He published a pamphlet, "Soil Erosion A National Menace," that attracted much attention. Testifying before Congress, he helped get some of the first funding to fight erosion and establish the first soil erosion experiment stations. But still no national program was established. In 1930, he gave a paper to the American Society of Agronomy in which a national program was outlined.

It took a natural disaster, the great dust storm of 1934 where literally millions of tons of soil were moved across the Great Plains, for Americans to realize the importance of conserving our soil resource. But still no national program was established. In 1930, he gave a paper to the American Society of Agronomy in which a national program was outlined. The dramatic effects of the "Dust Bowl" gained national attention. The novel, The Grapes of Wrath, portrayed the plight of the farmer under these circumstances. This news help galvanize public interest in their food supply.

Mr. Bennett lobbied congress to pass the Soil Conservation Act in 1935. This Act created the Soil Conservation Service, known today as the Natural Resource Conservation Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, it quickly became apparent that in order for conservation practices to be effective, decisions needed to be made by the local citizens. As a result, individual states were given the directive to form Conservation Districts as sub-divisions of state government. Landowners elect from their peers district board members who prioritize and direct federal assistance provided within the district boundaries. It provides local people with a voice in the process. The Arizona Association of Conservation Districts (AACD), now known as the Arizona Natural Resource Conservation Districts State Association (AZNRCD) was founded in 1944 to coordinate activities of conservation districts and to create a larger presence in state and federal conservation efforts.

The Conservation Partnership
AZNRCD promotes collaboration and understanding between conservation districts and other groups with natural resource interests. AZNRCD and conservation districts in Arizona have developed a formal partnership with the State Land Department, Tribal governments; the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and other organizations and individuals. Together, this partnership promotes responsible management and use of Arizona's natural resources. This partnership provides for the Governor of the State of Arizona to address natural resource issues through local, state, and federal assistance. It also provides a process for identifying and addressing natural resource concerns, and involving local communities in the decision-making process to address these concerns.

The Association and Conservation Districts Today
Today, conservation districts are involved in soil and water management, conservation education, and other conservation initiatives. AZNRCD promotes a voluntary approach to natural resource conservation, led by landowners in the local community. This approach is often focused on key geographic priority areas such as watersheds. To date, AZNRCD represents 40 conservation districts in Arizona; 31 are organized under State Law and 9 are organized under Tribal law. Through strong conservation leadership, AZNRCD works closely with conservation districts to strengthen program delivery in the completion of conservation projects and conservation education programs and activities. An Executive Committee that is made up of members of conservation district boards from across Arizona governs AZNRCD. The Executive Committee has positions for five officers from within the state. We are nonprofit corporation.
Conservation districts also have a key role in the implementation of USDA Farm Bill Programs. They are empowered by the State of Arizona to conduct research and investigations, demonstrate conservation practices and projects, enter into governmental and private agreements, acquire property, conduct planning, employee staff, and establish education centers. Twenty-five of Arizona's conservation districts sponsor education centers, which promote a balanced environmental education program to local communities. Much is accomplished by the education centers with limited funding. As an example, education centers provided information and training to over 60,000 students in 2008. Currently, the top five natural resources concerns that have been identified to us by local people are:
Water resources, Land use and management, Grazing lands, Farm and Ranch Sustainability & Air quality

The below pictures show some of the devastation of the "Dust Bowl era."
Photos by Arthur Rothstein (Library of Congress)