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.

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History of Pemiscot Soil and Water District

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Pemiscot County is the Southeastern most county in Missouri in an area commonly known as the Bootheel. The county is bordered on the west by Dunklin County, Mo.; on the north by New Madrid County, Mo.; on the east by the Mississippi River which separates it from Lake and Dyer Counties, Tenn.; and on the South by Mississippi County, Ark. Ground water is abundant in quantities and makes agricultural irrigation feasible and cost effective in all areas of the county. Around 90 percent of the county is cropland with cotton, rice, corn, soybeans, wheat and milo grown annually. Approximately 60 percent of crops are under an irrigation system.

The Pemiscot SWCD was established in 1945 and continues to address soil erosion and water quality concerns with the assistance of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The district encourages the use of conservation planning to reduce erosion and improve water quality. This service is offered by our district using survey and design of erosion control practices reduce soil erosion and improve water quality on agricultural land. Cost-share is available on these practices through the state cost-share program. The district staff assists the Natural Resources Conservation Service in administering the federal programs as well.

Cost-share applications are prepared in the office and approved by the board of supervisors. The board is locally elected officials that set policies for the district. District staff carry out the mission of the district board by ensuring the tax dollars used for the cost-share program are spent wisely.

Information/education programs are available through the district staff to promote wise use of our natural resources and educate the public on the importance of conserving our soil and water.