Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) were established in the 1930s to develop comprehensive programs and plans to conserve soil resources, control and prevent soil erosion and sedimentation, prevent floods, and conserve, develop, use, and safely dispose of floodwater.

A SWCD is an independent jurisdiction of state government and is a means for exercising local conservation leadership. The guiding philosophy behind all SWCDs is that decisions on conservation issues should be made at the local level, by local people.

The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) is governed by a five-member board of directors. Three directors are elected in the general election every four years; and two, including a Virginia Cooperative Extension agent serving Fairfax County, are appointed by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board. Its boundaries are the same as those of Fairfax County.

The NVSWCD has a long history of responding to Fairfax County’s changing rural-to-urban landscape, transitioning programs based on identified needs. Its outstanding staff of technical specialists uses new and emerging techniques to address natural resource problems.

The NVSWCD is not a regulatory agency. Instead, it collaborates with Fairfax County and other partners to provide conservation information, technical assistance, educational programs and volunteer opportunities to residents on many aspects of erosion and sediment control, improving water quality, preventing non-point source pollution, and improving stream health. It encourages voluntary compliance with environmental laws.

The NVSWCD’s contribution is its expert natural resource technical assistance in areas such as soils science, engineering, agronomy, equine management, watershed management, hydrology, etc.

Our three Fairfax GOP-endorsed candidates for NVSWD are Chris Bowen, Jane Dudik, and Ed McGovern — click here to learn more.