Written by Len Lichvar
The Somerset Conservation District officially came into existence 50 years ago on March 22, 1957, when the Somerset County was declared a district by the Somerset County Commissioners in accordance with the provisions of the "Soil Conservation Law" of 1945 Act 217 of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The event was marked at the Somerset County Courthouse with many agency representatives and citizens in attendance.
The Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District, as it was then known, was originated by the citizens of the county who were interested in soil and water conservation practices. The initial mission, which is still similar today, focuses on conservation of natural resources, providing technical assistance to agriculture, watershed protection, flood protection, preservation of woodlands and wildlife and to provide for the health, safety and general welfare of the public.
Although the District was chartered in 1957 its first organizational meeting occurred on January 10, 1958. A board of Directors was chosen that included, Emerson Knepper, Chairman, Joseph Johns, Vice Chairman, Alonzo Belsar, Secretary/Treasurer, Jack Shober and Walter Berkebile Director. The District set regular monthly meetings and began its business of assisting the public to meet their resource conservation goals without a paid staff.
The District also began with 466 cooperators. A cooperator, then and now, is an individual or entity that agrees to work with the District in developing and implementing a conservation plan that will assure the proper use of natural resources through implementing Best Management Practices.
The concept of Conservation Districts originated with the Dust Bowl period of the 1930's. President Franklin Roosevelt initiated the Conservation District system by introducing legislation titled, "Standard Soil Conservation Law." In 1945 the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed the Soil Conservation District Act that created the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission within the state Department of Agriculture and provided for the origination of individual county districts.
Potter County created the first conservation district in the state in 1945 and today 66 counties in the state have conservation districts. Through legislative changes the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission has evolved into the State Conservation Commission with the chairmanship rotating between the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection.
Today approximately 16,000 volunteer District Directors nationwide oversee the activities of nearly 7,000 district employees. The Somerset Conservation District, that operates as subdivision of state government, has evolved as well. The Somerset District is guided by a 9-member board of directors that set policy and direction for 6 full time employees and several seasonal part time workers, interns and Ameri-Corps members. The District staff in Somerset County are not county employees as they are in some counties. The County Commissioners provide financial support for the district although the funds do not come from tax dollars. Additional funds come from state sources such as the PA DEP for delegated and contracted programs and other money is raised through grant writing.
The initial role of the county districts in Somerset and elsewhere was to identify and prioritize the county's conservation needs. Today every conservation district is actively involved in partnership with other local, state and federal agencies and organizations actively implementing a wide range of conservation projects. The Somerset Conservation District has been recognized in recent years at the local, state and national level for not only putting projects on the ground but for the innovative nature of these endeavors.
The District's involvement in these and other conservation initiatives will be profiled each month throughout the year in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the Somerset Conservation District.
Reprinted Courtesy Somerset Daily American
