Swain Soil & Water Conservation District
SOIL AND WATER – YOUR’S FOR LIFE

About the Swain County Voluntary Agricultural District Program

The Swain Soil & Water Conservation District’s mission is to provide for a quality environment and a higher standard of living while protecting our natural resources.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts were formed across the country as a method of addressing soil erosion on cropland during the Dust Bowl Era of the 1930’s. Swain County is one of 96 Soil and Water Conservation Districts in North Carolina. The country’s very first Soil and Water Conservation District, the Brown Creek SWCD in Anson County, was formed in North Carolina in 1937. In 1957 the Tuckaseigee Soil and Water Conservation District was formed in Swain County. However, 1982 the Tuckaseigee Soil and Water Conservation District transformed into the Swain SWCD.

Soil and Water Districts encourage the sound use and management of our natural resources: soil, water, air, plants and animals. The Swain Soil and Water Conservation District’s objectives are secured largely through voluntary cooperation of landowners. This cooperation enables the District to offer technical assistance and resources to landowners and operators by planning, executing, and promoting sound conservation practices offered through the North Carolina Agriculture Cost Share Program and other grant opportunities to assist landowners with conservation practices and their land.

The District works closely with the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA, NRCS) and the Division of the Soil and Water Conservation Department, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

While the Soil and Water Conservation Districts main role is reducing soil erosion great priority is given to educational activities promoting natural resource conservation. The District provides education services for schools, civic groups and many other organizations.

The Swain Soil and Water Conservation District is governed by a five member district board. The board consists of two members appointed by the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission and three members which are elected by the Citizens of Swain County, to a four year staggered term on a non-partisan basis. Board meetings are open to the public and are held on the second Wednesday of every month at 9:00 a.m. in Conference Room 213 of the Bryson City Federal Building.

The Swain Soil and Water Conservation District office is located in Bryson City in Room 231 of the Federal Building. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. There are times when staff is in the field, calling ahead is advised.