Lawrence Conservation District
What is a Conservation District?
Conservation districts are unique units of government.
They are local organizations with local ties to conservation
efforts,
but they are also legal subdivisions of state government.
Conservation District’s were created to promote the protection,
maintenance, improvement, and wise use of land, water, and other
related natural resources.
Today’s conservation districts participate in programs of:
How do Conservation District’s operate?
A conservation district is a locally organized and locally
operated unit of government functioning under Pennsylvania law
with the assistance of the State Conservation Commission (SCC).
Conservation Districts function in accordance with Act 217, the
Conservation District Law. The law defines a conservation
district as a “public body, corporate and politic, exercising
public powers”, meaning that members of the community who have
different ideas and feelings but form a unified body to develop
conservation programs for their county. The Conservation
District Law states that each conservation district board of
directors shall consist of one member of the county governing
board, not more that four or less than two farmers, and not less
than two or more than four public members. The
farmer-public director ratio is determined by the county
governing body and the SCC. Pennsylvania has sixty-six
(66) conservation districts managed by over 475 directors who
volunteer their time and talent to their communities’
conservation efforts.
What are the responsibilities of a District Director?
The guiding philosophy held by all conservation districts about
conservation issues is that decisions about conservation
issues should be made at the local level by citizens who
understand the local environment. It is the district
directors’ responsibility to plan and direct the district
program, guide the district’s professional staff, coordinate the
help of governing agencies, and serve as a community
clearinghouse for information services and environmental program
assistance. District directors are volunteers from all
walks of life who understand their county’s unique natural
features and concerns. They are leaders, decision makers,
spokespersons, salespersons, and fellow district board members
rely on them to be an active member of the team to represent
people from the county as board decisions are made.
History of Lawrence County's Conservation District
The Lawrence Conservation District was organized at the request
of individual citizens and groups interested in various aspects
of soil and water conservation. The county was initially
declared a soil conservation district on November 28, 1961 by
the County Commissioners George Bolinger, Joseph Gilmore, and
Ray Bailey in accordance with provisions of the “Soil
Conservation Law” of 1945, Act 217, of the Pennsylvania General
Assembly. It began operations on April 18, 1962.
The District was organized to provide for the conservation of soil and water resources, assist in watershed protection and flood prevention, prevent damage to dams and reservoirs, help in maintaining navigability of rivers, preserve woodland and wildlife, protect public lands, preserve the tax base and protect and promote the health, safety and general welfare of the people.
The first board of Directors included C.A. Dickinson, John O. Benson, George F. Bolinger, Reed Miller, and Arthur Wilson. The first cooperator with the Lawrence Conservation District was John O. Benson who signed a cooperator’s agreement on October 11, 1962. Mr. Benson operated a farm in North Beaver Township with a mainly corn/hay rotation. Since that time, the number of cooperators with the Lawrence County Conservation District has grown to over six hundred.