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Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board Celebrating 75 Years of Soil and Water Conservation in Texas

TEMPLE - As the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board marks the end of its Diamond Jubilee celebration on May 29, 2015, it seems appropriate and fitting to say "Thank You" to all Texans. We especially want to thank the Texas Legislature, a broad network of businesses, organizations and political entities for the support and trust that has been granted to our agency and the 216 soil and water conservation districts in Texas as we administer and implement the state’s soil and water conservation laws and programs.

We do not take our responsibilities lightly. The mission of the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, working in conjunction with local soil and water conservation districts, is to encourage and promote the wise and productive use of natural resources through voluntary incentive conservation programs developed and carried out at the local level; in other words, local needs met by local people.

Brought on by the effects that the Dust Bowl had on our nation, there was a dire need to introduce innovative conservation programs across the nation. Out of this adversity came some hope, in the form of V.C. Marshall, a dedicated conservationist enlisted by his peers to lead the effort in working to develop a sustainable state conservation law for Texas.

Through Mr. Marshall’s commitment, leadership, and foresight, he was able to pull together agricultural producers from across the state to work cooperatively to develop a program for Texans with a goal of preserving and sustaining our agricultural lands into the distant future. It took some time, but all were committed and ultimately developed a working program that is still administered at the local level by local agricultural producers, through the formation of local soil and water conservation districts. All soil and water conservation programs are voluntary and focus on helping producers conserve their soil and water resources for the betterment of the state.

Due to Mr. Marshall’s excellent leadership, today there are 216 active soil and water conservation districts in Texas that provide for the soil and water conservation needs of their producers. Currently, most of the state’s farm, ranch, and timberlands are enrolled in some type of conservation plan that was developed by their local soil and water conservation district. Conservation plans are voluntarily developed by landowners in cooperation with their local soil and water conservation district. All individual conservation plans are developed based on science for the purpose of treating each acre according to its specific needs. In addition, through local conservation planning and programs, all Texans can be assured that the quality and quantity of the state’s water resources are being cared for by the primary stewards of the land, who as we know, are the agricultural producers. It is they that provide the food, fiber, and other renewable natural resources for the welfare of all.

As we look to the future, we must never forget the only reason the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board exists is because of the great work of Texas’s 216 soil and water conservation districts. And the only reason the soil and water conservation districts exist is because of local farmers and ranchers who formed them for the purpose of receiving assistance to develop and apply conservation programs on individual farms and ranches. With our rich 75 year heritage in mind, we look forward to the future in providing programs and services through local soil and water conservation districts. A tried and true delivery system which is so necessary to protecting the state’s soil, water, and related natural resources to insure a vibrant and stable economy, as well as a healthy environment for all Texans.

Rex Isom
Executive Director
Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board

"Protecting and Enhancing Natural Resources since 1939."

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