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District History and Awards

The Idea is Born

    The 1930's 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 major national priority and policy.  Since about three fourths of the land in the U.S. is privately owned, Congress realized that the only way to secure the conservation of private land was to initiate active support for landowners.  Thus the idea for soil and water conservation districts was born!

Cambria County Joins the Cause

    In June of 1948, the State Secretary of Agriculture, Miles Horst, and Deputy Secretary W. S. Hager explained the state soil conservation law to the Cambria County Young Farmers.  The benefits of forming a conservation district were discussed.  In January of 1949, the Cambria County American Legion went on record supporting attempts to create a Soil and Water Conservation District.  In November of the same year, the Young Farmers met with the County Commissioners to convince them of the need for a County Conservation District.  On March 31, 1950, Cambria County became the 26th Soil and Water Conservation District in Pennsylvania.

    The District's initial focus was on major land use problems of the area.  Because of heavy mining done in Cambria County, the land suffers from severe erosion and water quality issues.  Lack of vegetation on strip mines and deep mine refuse piles causes erosion, sedimentation and pollution problems in area streams.  The sedimentation of stream channels also causes flooding in many areas.  From the beginning, the district has encouraged the formation of watershed protection groups.

    Another initial, and continuing problem in the County is the erosion of farmland.  The rolling topography of the county is conducive to erosion when tilled.  Due to the large number of cash crops grown in the county, much of the farmland is farmed too intensively and the erosion problem is intensified.  The application of conservation practices on area farmland was an initial concern of the District Board, and continues to be a major goal of the District today.

The Work Continues

    The District has grown immensely in size and scope since its inception.   Today, the Conservation District is responsible for programs that continue to reduce erosion of farmland, water quality projects relating to acid mine drainage remediation, permitting for stream crossings, Chesapeake Bay protection programs, nutrient management planning, wetland protection and restoration, and environmental education, including the administrationof the Disaster's Edge Environmental Education Center.  The District is also responsible for the administration and management of Duman Lake County Park.  Eleven full time team members manager over 20 conservation programs.  New programs continue to be added each year!

    Throughout its fifty years, the District has recieved many awards, beginning in 1970 with the Goodyear Award as the Best Conservation District program in PA. Other state and national awards have been numerous:

1975    Honor Conservation District in PA - Goodyear Award
1975    Outstanding Environmental Conservation Education - NACD Allis Chalmers Award
1976    2nd place Best Conservation District Pprogram in PA - Goodyear Award
1978    National Arbor Day Award - National Arbor Day Society, Nebraska
1979    Best Conservation Education Program in PA - State Association of Conservation Districts
1982   Best Conservation Education Program in PA - State Association of Conservation Districts
1983    Best Conservation Program in PA - State Association of Conservation Districts
1983    Best Conservation Education Program, NE Region - National Association of Conservation Districts
1985    Best Conservation Program in PA and NE Region - National Association of Conservation Districts
1985    Best Conservation Program in America - National Association of Conservation Districts
1986    Honor Conservation District in PA - Goodyear Award
1987    Honor Conservation District in PA - Goodyear Award
1989    1st Place PA Environmental Education Award - PA Alliance for Environmental Education
1991    Best Conservation District program in PA - Goodyear Award
1992    Honor Conservation District in PA - Goodyear Award
1993    Honor Conservation District in PA - Goodyear Award
1998    Best Conservation District program in PA - Goodyear Award
 
 

More Information on the Environment and Laws Contact the Cambria County Conservation District by: email at cccd@co.cambria.pa.us phone (814) 472-2120, or fax (814) 472-7425