Mission

The mission of the Wayne Soil and Water Conservation District is to protect, restore, enhance, and promote the wise use of natural resources. This will be achieved through the development of projects, technical assistance, education of the public, the cooperation of landowners/users, and through coordination with our partner agencies.

Vision

The Wayne Soil and Water Conservation District goal is to be recognized as a leader in promoting responsible stewardship and conservation of natural resources by providing education, technical assistance and the implementation of best management practices with friendly public service and a strong healthy working partnership with USDA/NRCS and our local agencies.

History

The Dust Bowl of the 1930's

It was the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s, a time when drought choked the Great Plains stretching across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado. Soil from America's breadbasket filled the skies. Sometimes a single dust storm lingered for days.

The storms were the result of drought and poor agricultural practices. Grasslands, which held soil in place, had been plowed and replanted with wheat. With rain, the crop was abundant. But when drought struck in the 1930s, farmers continued to plow and plant. With no ground cover remaining, the winds whipped the soil skyward.

In 1941, the 94th Ohio General Assembly passed House Bill 646, authorizing the formation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts to develop and implement programs to conserve soil, water and related programs. Between 1942 and 1963, soil conservation districts were formed in all 88 counties in Ohio. Wayne Soil & Water Conservation District was established by local election of the populace in 1947.

How We Are Governed

The Wayne SWCD (Soil and Water Conservation District) is a political subdivision of the State of Ohio, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Division of Soil and Water Conservation. 

The Wayne SWCD is governed by five board members that are elected from the populous of Wayne County. Each board member serves a three year term as public officials and serve without pay. They are protected from liability by laws which indemnify all SWCD supervisors from personal liability in any civil actions arising from involvement with the SWCD. Board members provide locally led input and guidance to the programs and services provided by the Wayne SWCD. Staff provide the daily services and programs on behalf of the Board of Supervisors.