About us

Check out what we've been up to for the last 50 years! SWCD Video
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​Mission Statement
The Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District provides our community with conservation leadership and quality service dedicated to improving and sustaining our natural resources.  
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SWCD Purpose
The purpose of a Soil and Water Conservation District, or SWCD, is to provide information about soil, water, and related natural resource conservation; identify and prioritize local soil and water resource concerns; and connect land users to sources of education, technical, and financial assistance to implement conservation practices and technologies.

SWCD History
As the Dust Bowl raged in the early 1930s, soil scientist Hugh Hammond Bennett brought the serious issue of soil erosion to Congress' attention.  The Soil Erosion Service was created in response; however, as seventy-five percent of US land was privately owned, Congress soon realized that buy-in to the program would result from local-level programming.

In 1937, the Indiana SWCD Act, IC 14-32, was created to provide local leadership in carrying out soil conservation programs.  As county SWCD's were created all over the state, the practices they promoted shifted from improving production capacity, crop rotations, liming, and drainage improvements to runoff reduction, off-site impacts of sediments, and nutrients and pesticides effects on water quality in the 70's and 80's, to federally funded Farm Bill conservation programs, no-till, and cover crop practices.

SWCD Structure
SWCD's are subdivisions of the state government.  Each district is governed by a board of five supervisors. Three supervisors are elected at an annual meeting of land occupiers and two are appointed by the State Soil Conservation Board. All supervisors serve staggered three-year terms.  As public officials, they subscribe to a standard public oath of office.  Supervisors are assisted by local professional staff who are usually county employees.
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Meet our staff and supervisors

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Honors and Recognition
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2025 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence

• The state's top environmental honor. Recognized for the Hamilton County Invasives Partnership. Learn more here.

2024 District Showcase Award

• Awarded by the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts for our Hamilton County Invasives Partnership Project

2020 Weed Wrangler Award

• Awarded to the Hamilton County Invasives Partnership by the State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM)

2016 District Showcase Award

• Awarded by the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts for our Urban Conservation Program

2016 Exceptional Commitment to Conservation

• Awarded by the White River Alliance

2009 Outstanding Government Entity

• Awarded by the Indiana Urban Forest Council for the Backyard Conservation Program