History

ACCD's commitment to clean water and soil has stood the test of time. 

Since the first conservation district was formed in 1937, this national network of organizations has worked locally on the ground to improve communities across the country. For more than 75 years, ACCD has had a unified goal: an educated and engaged public, clean water and a sustainable future. 

---

1935

Conservation District Origins
Modern conservation districts trace their history to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's administration. FDR and soil scientist Hugh Hammond Bennett encouraged the Soil Conservation Service to create programs to alleviate the disastrous effects of the dust bowl. 
 

---

 

1937

FDR Pushes for Soil Conservation Districts
FDR recommended that each state adopt legislation and form local Conservation Districts. Eventually, every state passed the legislation. The first district formed was the Brown Creek Soil & Water Conservation District in North Carolina. 
 

---

1945

Pennsylvania's First Conservation District 
PA's first conservation districts were formed under the State Conservation District Law - Act 217 to provide for the conservation of the soil, water, and related resources of the Commonwealth. Potter County was the first district formed in the state. 

 

---

 

1946

Creation of the Allegheny County Conservation District 
The Allegheny County Soil Conservation District was formed on March 5, 1946, via a county resolution. The first meeting of the newly formed district was held on July 9th. 

 

---

 

1979

Modernizing Conservation Districts 
The state recognized districts’ abilities to deliver conservation programs locally and delegated responsibility for certain programs, such as: Erosion & Sediment Pollution Control, Dam Safety & Waterway Management, Watershed Specialist support, Nutrient Management and Dirt and Gravel Roads Program. 

 

---

 

2021

Celebrating 75 years 
ACCD celebrates 75 years with a new strategic plan and countywide accomplishments including: Preserving more than 4,000 acres of farmland, planting thousands of native trees and shrubs to stabilize streambanks and developing a library of digital resources