In The News Daily Journal - October 30, 2001 Letter to the Editor Lesson on soil and water district I would like to provide background on the mission of the Soil and Water Conservation District. The districts began in the 1930s when Congress, in response to national concern over mounting erosion, floods and the sky-blackening dust storms that swept across the country, enacted the Soil Conservation Act of 1935. It stated, for the first time, a national policy to provide a permanent program for the control and prevention of soil erosion and directed the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Soil Conservation Service (now known as the Natural Resources Conservation Service) to implement this policy. The Soil Conservation District's Law of Virginia was passed in 1938, and a tri-county Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District was established on July 30, 1945. The Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District was formed on May 25, 1971, after the separation of Loudoun, Fairfax and Prince William counties into independent districts. The Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District is governed by a five-member board of directors comprised of local citizens familiar with local problems. Three directors are elected in a general election, and two are appointed by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board. Its mission is to provide leadership in the conservation of soil, water and related resources to all Prince William County citizens, through technical assistance, information and education. Financial and administrative assistance for district programs comes from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Prince William County, Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Department, City of Manassas and occasional federal and grant funds. The district participates in broader cooperative conservation efforts through the Potomac Council, Potomac Watershed Roundtable and various regional events and meetings. I hope this review is of benefit to you and your readers. JEFF GUIDE Vice Chairman Prince William Soil and Water¶ Conservation District Return to Homepage

Authorized by the Friends of Jeff Guide