History

In the 1930s, as the Dust Bowl swept across the nation relocating an estimated 300 million tons of soil, Americans realized the devastating effects of soil erosion. Legislation began to take shape to better manage and conserve the nation’s soil. Despite these actions, Missouri was still plagued with high erosion rates.

Missouri Soil and Water Conservation Districts

The State Soil and Water Districts Commission was created in 1943 to administer the soil and water conservation districts and formulate policies and general programs for the saving of Missouri soil and water through the county soil and water conservation districts. Missouri joined the movement to localize soil and water efforts when Harrison County formed the first soil and water conservation district in 1944. In 1996, Washington County became the last of Missouri's 114 counties to organize as a district.

The Soil and Water Conservation Program carries out the policies of the Soil and Water Districts Commission following the Soil and Water Districts Law (Chapter 278, RSMo). The program promotes good farming techniques that help keep soil on the fields, our waters clean and conserves the productivity of Missouri’s working lands.

Each soil and water conservation district is governed by a board of five supervisors, responsible for all district actions and employees. Four supervisors on each board are resident county agricultural landowners or their legal representative elected to serve four-year terms. The fifth is a representative from University of Missouri Extension.

In 1982, Missouri was losing soil at a rate of 10.9 tons per acre each year on cropland, one of the highest rates of erosion in the nation. In order to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality as well as support Missouri state parks, Missouri voters passed a one-tenth-of-one-percent sales tax in 1984, now called the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax.  The tax funds are divided equally between the Department of Natural Resources Soil and Water Conservation Program and Missouri State Parks. Slightly more than two-thirds of Missouri voters renewed the tax in 1988 and 1996, and 70.8 percent voted in favor in 2006. In 2016, all 114 counties approved the sales tax renewal resulting in the highest approval to date at 80.1 percent.

Missouri’s soil and water program is a role model for the nation. Other states envy Missouri for its dedicated tax and support of soil and water conservation. Since 1982, Missouri’s soil erosion rate dropped more than any other state with more than 10 million acres of cropland. It is estimated that more than 179 million tons of soil have been saved since passage of the sales tax.

The sales tax provides financial incentives that share the cost between the farmer and the state of implementing the installation of soil and water conservation practices that prevent or control excessive soil erosion and protect water quality.

Missouri has come a long way since the sales tax was first approved in 1984; however, there is still work to be completed. Issues affecting soil health, soil erosion, water quality can have detrimental effects on Missouri’s natural resources and agricultural productivity. Research and water quality monitoring can help verify that soil and water conservation practices are working as intended. With your continued support, we can help make Missouri an even better place to live, work and enjoy the outdoors.

A Little Bit o' History - CLARK COUNTY

The first meeting to organize a Clark County Soil and Water Conservation District was held on April 2, 1944. Those elected to the board were Simon Jesberg, Chairman; D.C. Thompson, Vice Chairman; James Hicks, Member; and Lloyd Redd, Secretary. Thus an effort was started to control soil and water erosion in Clark County.

On May 10, 1944, Mr. Kyle Peterson was appointed as temporary District Conservationist. At that time, 13 farmers had requested Cooperator or Balanced Farming Agreements. The first plans accepted were:  Herbert Dinger, Snider Sister, Joe Kirchner, Simon Jesberg, Virgil Kearns, Harry Kearns and R.G. Suter. 

The first Annual Plan of Action for the Soil and Water Conservation District was approved by the State Commission on October 30, 1944. 

In April 1946, the first discussion of building terraces and terrace outlets was discussed. The first contractors were: Myron Baker, Vernon Holdren and Glen Brewer. At a January 1947 meeting, it was reported that 12 miles of terraces, 9.5 miles of outlets and 1.5 miles of diversions were completed.

Here are a few interesting facts:

  • an essay contest was sponsored by the district in 1951 for schools in the county
  • the estimated office budget for the district in 1953 was $150
  • the idea of having a poster contest for local schools was discussed in 1953
  • the first contractor's meeting was held in February of 1963
  • the late 50's and early 60's paved way for discussion concerning watershed planning needed in the county
  • first attempt to hire a full-time clerk for the district was discussed October 17, 1967, with the condition that the district would have to match a $500 state allocation - this wasn't accomplished until October of 1971

The Clark County Soil and Water Conservation District celebrated its "50 Years of Conservation" in 1994. The board of supervisors at that time were: Henry Heinze, Chairman; Lee Suter, Vice Chairman; Wesley Parrish, Treasurer; Ed Riney, Member; and Bill Casey, Secretary. The staff included: Elaine Brotherton, Clerk; Kim Young, District Aide; Tim Daw, Technician; and Kevin Elliott, WAE/Technician. The Soil Conservation Service District Conservationist was Dwight Snead.

Since its meek beginning in 1944, the Clark County Soil and Water Conservation District has made a profound impact on reducing soil and water erosion within the county. Its continued efforts to provide office and technical service, as well as cost-share funding to its landowners, can only add to its future accomplishments and success.