Federal

In April 1935, the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 74-46, in which it recognized that “the wastage of soil and moisture resources on farm, grazing, and forest lands . . . is a menace to the national welfare,” and it directed the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Soil Conservation Service as a permanent agency in the USDA. In 1994, Congress changed the “Soil Conservation Service” name to the “Natural Resources Conservation Service” (NRCS) to better reflect the broadened scope of the agency’s concerns. The NRCS has been a pioneer in conservation, working with landowners, local and state governments, and other federal agencies to maintain healthy and productive working landscapes. Additional information is available on the NRCS website.

Colorado

In May 1937, the Colorado State legislature passed an act that established Conservation Districts in Colorado to represent private and public landowners’ interests in conservation planning and practices. Conservation Districts are considered “local governments” which operate under statutory guidance of the State through the Colorado State Conservation Board and in concert with the Colorado Association of Conservation Districts. Please visit the Colorado State Conservation Board website for more information.

El Paso County

In July 1980, the Black Squirrel Conservation District (Established August 4, 1945 | Dissolved July 14, 1980) and the Fountain Valley Conservation District (Established June 7, 1943 | Dissolved June 14, 1980) merged to become the El Paso County Conservation District. We have developed as a not-for-profit organization serving much of the Pikes Peak Region to provide leadership and guidance to farmers and ranchers, both rural and urban, as well as other land users, and our partners, to achieve sustainable conservation and management of natural resources through educational, financial, and on-the-ground technical assistance. The Central Colorado Conservation District (yellow on the following map), Double El Conservation District (pink on the following map), and Kiowa Conservation District (purple on the following map) also operate partially within El Paso County boundaries.

Our Service Area

It can be… complicated. Boundaries of conservation districts in Colorado can be complicated. Where some districts are bounded by the same lines as a county (or multiple counties), others appear like a collection of scattered puzzle pieces across a region. There are four conservation districts within El Paso County.

• Central Colorado Conservation District (yellow)
• El Paso County Conservation District (green)
• Double El Conservation District (pink)
• Kiowa Conservation District (purple)

Did You Know?

Historically, excluding already-established municipalities from soil or water conservation district boundaries was done so the districts could concentrate their efforts on rural and agricultural lands where conservation practices were most needed (especially within the context of the U.S. Dust Bowl). And, in Colorado, while municipalities and soil or water conservation districts are typically separate entities, they often collaborate on specific projects or initiatives, especially when conservation efforts intersect with municipal interests or when there are opportunities for partnerships.

As of 2023, land owners in the El Paso County Conservation District have mailing addresses in all 50 US States and the District of Columbia, and Australia, Canada, China, Cook Islands, England, France, Germany, Guam, Italy, Japan, Palau, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, UAE, and Vietnam, and Air, Army, Diplomatic, and Fleet Post Offices!