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Arizona NRCS History

The heart of our conservation delivery system is found in Arizona’s 41 conservation districts. At the time they were first organized in 1942, conservation districts reflected a completely new national concept in the role of representing the interests of the individual land owner and land user in the cause of soil and water conservation in cooperation with local, state, state and federal levels of government.

Arizona’s 41 conservation districts are legal subdivisions of state or tribal government. They link 1) private landowners, 2) local units of government, 3) state or tribal agencies and the federal government in a unique cooperative relationship. Districts are established and governed by local landowners.

 

Milestones in the evolution of Arizona’s Conservation Districts:

  • 1937 - Franklin D. Roosevelt sends pattern law to all states. Recognized soil conservation was responsibility of state and local governments.
  • 1941 - Arizona legislature passed Soil Conservation District enabling act which limited districts to cropland.
  • 1942 - 8 districts certified by Secretary of State.
  • 1944 - Arizona Association of Conservation Districts formed
  • 1952 - Arizona has 46 districts
  • 1954 - Enabling act amended to include all lands.
  • 1967 - Legislature allocates money to districts
  • 1970 - Consolidation reduces number of districts to 32.
  • 1980 - Navajo Nation passes district enabling act and forms 5 districts.
  • 1986 - Tohono O’odham Nation passes district enabling act; one district formed.
  • 1996 - 38 conservation districts cover 96% of the state plus lands in California, New Mexico and Utah. 260 supervisors lead these units of local government.

  • 2003- 41 conservation districts serve Arizona.

 

Legal Authority for Natural Resource Conservation Districts

Nine of the 41 conservation districts were formed under tribal law, and 32 conservation districts are established as Natural Resource Conservation Districts (NRCD) under A.R.S. Title 37, chapter 6 "... to provide for the restoration and conservation of lands and soil resources of the state, the preservation of water rights and the control and prevention of soil erosion, and thereby to conserve natural resources, conserve wildlife, protect the tax base, protect public lands and protect and restore this state’s rivers and streams and associated riparian habitats, including fish and wildlife resources that are dependent on those habitats, and in such a manner as to protect and promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the people."

 

More NRCS History:

National Information on NRCS History