Conservation districts are local governmental subdivisions of the State established under state law to carry out a program for the conservaton use and development of soil water and related resources. Local conservation districts were established by a majority vote of approval by the farmers in the proposed boundaries of the districe. In Tennessee, districts are organized in accordance with the purposes provisions powers and restrictions set forth within the Tennessee Soil Conservation District Law and its amendments. Most district boundaries are the county boundaries. As separate legal entities each district is unique and operates independent of other districts. The function of the district is to take available technical financial and educational resources, whatever their source and focus or coordinate them so that they meet the needs of the local land user for conservation of soil water and related resources. Districts work with our partners Natural Resources Conservation Service and the TN Department of Agriculture to assist farmers with installing agricultural best management practices (BMP'S) in the county. Best Management Practices are things that farmers can do on their land to help reduce soil erosion and improve water quality. 

The SWCD Mission: SWCD's were formed in response to the Dust Bowl of the 1930's. Farmers were not managing threir soils and lands in the sustainabe way and this in large part why the Dust bowl occurred. Soil scientist in the 30's discovered that by implementing conservation-based practices on farms we could avoid another Dust Bowl in the future. This in part is why we are here-to help reduce soil erosion and improve water quality. Soil is so important!!!

"We truly owe our existence to six inches of topsoil and the fact that it rains" !