The Gaston Soil and Water Conservation District has evolved from primarily providing technical assistance and funding for conservation projects to also enforcing environmental regulations. Originally formed in 1940 to help farmers, the district now has two branches - one that provides funding and assistance, and one that enforces erosion control and stormwater ordinances. This balance of "carrots and sticks" has helped build relationships with developers and resolve complaints while financially supporting the district's work in conservation.

1. Danon Lawson
MEA, CPESC, CESSWI, CFM
Programs Administrator
Gaston Soil and Water Conservation District
The Evolution of a Local Soil and
Water Conservation District:
From Traditional Technical Assistance and Program Funding
to Environmental Regulatory Enforcement

2. Early History
The Father of Soil Conservation, Hugh
Hammond Bennett, successfully
promoted the passage of the Soil
Conservation Act in April of 1935. This
act formed the Soil Conservation
Service under the USDA (today’s NRCS).
Seeing the magnitude of the job at hand,
3000 locally lead Conservation Districts
were formed to help farmers with regional
soil conservation efforts in varied
watersheds based on the complex soil
types, diverse vegetation, varying
topography and local weather patterns.
The first of these local Conservation
Districts was established in 1937 in
Bennett’s native North Carolina, in Anson
and Union Counties. (Anson county was
where Hugh Hammond Bennett grew up)

3. Where are Soil and Water Districts?
Soil and Water Districts come in all shapes and sizes based on a variety
of components (eg. history, resource needs, staffing, etc.) Often a
district simply follows the county lines.

4. The Breakdown of North Carolina
In North Carolina we have 96 districts in the 100
counties. Since our state is really divided into 3
main areas, there are different resource
challenges each district faces.
To illustrate these regions another way…

5. Current Programs Offered By NC Soil
and Water Districts
• NC Agricultural Cost Share Program – Eligible
for up to 90% cost share funding
• Community Conservation Assistance Program
– Eligible for up to 75% cost share Funding
• Agricultural Water Resource Assistance
Program (AgWRAP) – Our primary Water
QUANTITY program

6. NC Districts
Like many districts we have different resource
concerns throughout the state. This
presentation will focus on only one of the
districts (the one I am most familiar with)…
Gaston Soil and Water Conservation District

7. Early History of Gaston’s District
In response to Hugh Hammond Bennet’s call for
locally lead soil and water conservation
programs, Gaston County became a district
along with Lincoln and Mecklenburg Counties on
April 25, 1940 forming the Lower Catawba
District

8. Early History of Gaston’s District
Moving forward to the early 1960’s, the Lower
Catawba (and most other consolidated districts)
had formed individual districts with the county
boundary as the district boundary.

9. A Bit About Gaston County
• Gaston County receives about 45 inches of rain per
year. [Average for the US is 37 inches]
• Gaston County is primarily Cecil complex (or for those
soil scientists in the room:
CECIL FINE , KAOLINITIC, THERMIC TYPIC KANHAPLUDULTS
[Basically with this complex, the B layer extends to about
50 inches past the first 8 inches and is erosive clay]

10. A Bit About Gaston County
Note: These Ultisols are VERY erosive. Cecil soil
is the most common soil type in the piedmont of
NC, and is so common in the state that it is
recognized as the state soil.
Reconnaissance Erosion Survey of NC – 1934; from Soil Conservation Service

11. Conservation History
While agriculture has not been the primary
industry in Gaston county during the existence
of soil and water conservation districts, it has
been an important influence to the local
economy. [Even today it remains as a viable
economic factor ]
TOTAL
LAND AREA
IN 1988 IN 2012 IN 1988 IN 2012 IN 1988 IN 2012 IN 1988 IN 2012
AC OF FARMLAND AC OF CROP PRODUCTION NUMBER OF ANIMALS IN
PRODUCTION
ECONOMIC DATA IN
MILLIONS
227,856
103,000
37,561
15,600
11,216
14,000
2,212,000
$8.1
$22.01
GASTON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS COMPARISON BY YEAR

12. Evolution Requirements
There are 3 general requirements that are needed for evolution to occur
1. Time
2. Adaptability
3. Opportunity / Conditions

13. A Bit About Gaston County
• In 2003 our office adopted a local erosion
control ordinance/program enforcing erosion
and sedimentation rules under the direct
authority of the State.
• In 2006 our office adopted a locally enforced a
Phase II Stormwater program dealing directly
with the post construction BMPs within the
county

14. Conservation in Gaston County
(Present Day)
Currently the Gaston Soil and Water Conservation District has 8
Employees and 2 branches within one office.
1.) The Soil and Water Conservation District branch: this group is
dedicated to providing funding to farmers, urban landowner and
various community projects [ie. grant funded projects] and
technical assistance to the general public. We also provide public
education and outreach to each school and various community
groups. Commonly called the “Carrot” End
2.) The Stormwater and Erosion Control Branch: This group is
administered by Joseph Alm and is responsible for regulation of
the local ordinances for erosion control and stormwater. This is
more commonly called the “Stick” end

15. A Quick Rundown of The Benefits of
Enforcing The Local Ordinance
• Becoming involved with and building
relationships with builders, engineers and
developers illustrating the importance of
conservation
• Helping citizens resolve complaints with
neighboring landowners
• Financial implications for the SWCD office,
resulting in greater opportunities

16. What Does this mean for Our District?
There is a consistent balance between enforcement and technical
assistance. Often times those that we enforce come back and ask for
technical assistance. In the end, while this balance can be challenging,
we feel that we are providing service that is at the core of why soil and
water districts were originally founded.
.

17. Why is This Important to Me?
Each district was founded with the idea that soil
and water are precious commodities that, if not
properly managed, can be lost.
.If you are not already, consider becoming more
involved with your local Soil and Water Districts, as
the local programs and technical services provided
at a local level are invaluable

18. Why is This Important to Me?
What services does your local Soil and Water
District provide?
Does your Soil and Water District have the
support of it’s local government and the public?
Are there currently opportunities for local
districts to branch out?

19. Final Thought
In the realm of soil conservation and water
quality, the Soil and Water Conservation
District’s origins were based on working at a
local level to make a difference. This is just one
example of one district adapting to the needs of
the local community.

20. Questions?