HISTORY OF
CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
The 1930s brought an ecological disaster known as
the Dust Bowl. Huge black dust storms blotted out the sun and swallowed the
countryside. While testifying on Capitol Hill on April 2, 1935, soil scientist Hugh Bennett threw
back the room's curtains to reveal a sky blackened by dust. Congress
immediately declared soil and water conservation a national policy and
priority. Since about three-fourths of the land in the U.S. is
privately owned, Congress realized that only active support from landowners
would guarantee the success of conservation on private land. The idea for soil
and water conservation districts was born.
Today there are nearly 3000 conservation districts, all political subdivisions
of state government, created by the legislature--one in almost every county.
Now expanded to serve all the conservation needs of our nation, districts
educate and help local citizens conserve land, water, forests, wildlife and
other natural resources.
The Gallatin Conservation District was organized on June 8, 1949 and is one of 58
conservation districts in Montana.
A non-paid elected and appointed board of supervisors governs district
activities. The Gallatin Conservation District covers all portions of the
county except the Shields River drainage and major portions of the cities of Belgrade and Bozeman.