During
the 1930's, known as the Dust Bowl era, our nation felt the
results of the short-sighted use of its natural resources
of soil, water, wetlands and wildlife areas. Urban and rural
people had both forgotten the importance and meaning of the
word "conservation".
In 1936, the US Department
of Agriculture(USDA) drated a "Standard Act" for
organizing soil conservation districts and in 1937, president
Roosevelt sent a copy of the document to governors of all
states with a letter recommending that they act on it. The
Illinois legislature passed the Illinois Soil and Water Conservation
Districts Act of July 9, 1937. Local people in Macon County
petitioned the State to form a Conservation District and the
District was formed according to State law on May 17, 1943.
Citizens who walk into
Conservation District office get a sense that they are dealing
with a unque beast ; an entity that is part local, part state,
part federal, part volunteer, part paid. That has sometimes
lent to a bit of confusion. But it is also part of the real
strength of the district movement. The idea of involving private
landowners in a unique partnership with the federal and state
governments has endured.
Our District, in particular, has built its
reputation and successes on the partnerships we have formed
with others. We are located on Richland community College
Campus; We have a state and nationally recognized watershed
project through a partnership with the City of Decatur; We
have a successful working relationship between the USDA Natural
Resource Conservation Service (NRCS); We work with state and
private conservation agencies and groups. We are most appreciative
of the rural and urban private landowners, who are the main
resons we are here. Government for, by and of local people.
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