History of
Conservation Districts
- In the early 1930s, along with the Great Depression, came an equally unparalleled ecological disaster known as the Dust Bowl. Huge black dust storms that stretched across the nation blotted out the sun and swallowed the countryside.
- 1933
– Hugh Hammond Bennett helped establish the Soil Erosion Service in the Department of the Interior and became its Director.
- 1935
– Soil Conservation Act – H.H. Bennett became the First Chief of the Soil Conservation Service.
- Roosevelt and Congress realized that only active, voluntary support from landowners would guarantee the success of conservation work on private land.
- The idea of soil and water conservation districts was born.
- 1937
– President Roosevelt wrote the governors of all the States recommending legislation that would allow local landowners to form soil conservation districts.
- 1937
– FDR sent model district legislation to governors.
- 1937
– South Carolina passed the SC Conservation Districts Law, enabling each county to form their own Conservation District.
- 1943
– Berkeley District was founded.
- 2017
– Conservation Districts purpose to develop and implement programs to protect and conserve soil, water, farmland, woodland, wildlife, energy and riparian and wetland resources, meeting the unique needs of their individual counties.
Our Mission
- To be responsible to the citizens of the District in matters involving resource conservation.
- To promote the wise and responsible use of natural resources.
- To develop and implement programs to protect and conserve soil, water, farmland, woodland, wildlife, energy and riparian and wetland resources.
Meeting Schedule
The Berkeley Soil and Water Conservation District meets monthly, the fourth Tuesday at 11:00 a.m.
Meetings are open to the PUBLIC, and we welcome all!
Please call our office a week before scheduled meeting to
confirm place and time.
UPCOMING MEETING DATES:
January 28, 2025 - Old Santee Canal Park, 900 Stony Landing Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461 - Interpretive Center
February 25, 2025 - Old Santee Canal Park, 900 Stony Landing Rd., Moncks Corner, SC 29461 - Learning Center
March 25, 2025 - Old Santee Canal Park, 900 Stony Landing Rd., Moncks Corner, SC 29461 - Learning Center
April 22, 2025 - Old Santee Canal Park, 900 Stony Landing Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461 - Learning Center
May 27, 2025 - Old Santee Canal Park, 900 Stony Landing Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461 - Learning Center
June 24, 2025 - Old Santee Canal Park, 900 Stony Landing Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461 - Interpretive Center
July 22, 2025 - Old Santee Canal Park, 900 Stony Landing Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461 - Interpretive Center
August 26, 2025 - Old Santee Canal Park, 900 Stony Landing Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461 – To Be Determined
September 23, 2025 - Old Santee Canal Park, 900 Stony Landing Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461 - Learning Center
October 28, 2025 - Old Santee Canal Park, 900 Stony Landing Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461 - To Be Determined
November 25, 2025 - To Be Determined
December 16, 2025 - To Be Determined
Naturescope
- April 23, 2025; 8:30am - 1:00pm
Commissioners
Diane Edwins
Chairman
Barry Jurs
Vice Chairman
Keith Gourdin
Treasurer
Troy Diel
Commissioner
Who are our District Commissioners?
The District is governed by a Board of Commissioners which consists of 5 members who serve a nonpartisan term.
These Commissioners serve 4 year terms. Three of them are elected by the citizens of Berkeley County in a general election while the other 2 are appointed by the SC Department of Natural Resources Board.
