Conservation Districts had their beginning in the 1930's when congress, in response to national concern over mounting erosion, floods and the sky-blackening dust storms that swept across the country, enacted the Soil Conservation Act of 1935. The act provided the first time a national policy to provide a permanent program for the control and preventon of sol erosion, and directed the secretary of agriculture to establish the soil conservation service (now known as the Natural Resources Conservation Service) to implement this policy. The conservation district concept was developed to enlist the cooperation of landowners and occupiers in carrying out the programs authorized by the act in their local areas. To encourage participation in the program, President Roosevelt sent all state governors, a STANDARD STATE SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS LAW, with a recommendation for enactment of legislation along its lines.