United States. Soil Conservation Service. Region Eight.

The Soil Conservation Service was first know as the Soil Erosion Service under the Secretary of Interior by an allotment made August 24, 1933. By the authority of the Soil Conservation Act of 1935 the Service was established under the Department of Agriculture. In 1994 the Service was abolished and its functions assumed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Soil Conservation Service had the responsibility for developing and carrying out a national soil and water conservation program in cooperation with landowners, land operators, and other land users and developers, with community planning agencies, regional resource groups, and with other federal, state, and local government agencies. The Soil Conservation Service provided technical assistance to locally organized and operated conservation districts and consulting assistance to individuals and groups. The Soil Conservation Service was also responsible for flood prevention and watershed operations in cooperation with local, state, and other public agencies.

From the guide to the United States Soil Conservation Service Photograph Collection, 1935-1940, (Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico.)

The Soil Conservation Service was first known as the Soil Erosion Service under the Secretary of Interior by an allotment made August 25, 1933. By the authority of the Soil Conservation Act of 1935 (49 U.S. Stat 163) the Service was established under the Department of Agriculture. The Soil Conservation Service was abolished October 13,1994 (108 U.S. Stat 3225) and its functions assumed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

During its lifetime the Soil Conservation Service had the responsibility for developing and carrying out a national soil and water conservation program in cooperation with landowners, land operators, and other land users and developers, with community planning agencies, regional resource groups, and with other federal, state, and local government agencies.

The Soil Conservation Service provided technical assistance to locally organized and operated conservation districts and consulting assistance to individuals and groups. Approximately 3000 conservation districts covered more than 2 billion acres in the 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.

Through these districts the Service assisted local owners and operators in carrying out locally adapted soil and water conservation programs. Assistance included the provision of soil maps and surveys, and other resource data, such as botanical and wild life surveys, information about treating the land, developing plans for installing dams, fencing, and other barriers.

The Soil Conservation Service was also responsible for flood prevention and watershed operations in cooperation with local, state, and other public agencies. Dams were constructed to prevent flood and soil erosion.

From the guide to the United States Soil Conservation Service Region Eight Records, 1919-1953, (University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research.)