The Lackawanna County Conservation District (District) is a legal subdivision of State government responsible for conservation work within the County. Established in 1958, the District administers a wide variety of programs whose common goal is the improvement and conservation of the Counties’ soil and water resources. The District serves as a principal source of technical knowledge on topics which include, but are not limited to: land development regulations, erosion control, agriculture, soil health, proper maintenance of dirt & gravel roads, farmland preservation, water quality/watershed health, environmental education & public outreach.
Our History
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 conservation districts was born. Although Districts have evolved to handle all kinds of environmental issues, soil & erosion control remains at the heart and is a bulk of our work.
