Mountain SWCD
65 Courthouse Hill Rd.
P.O. Box 310
Warm Springs, Virginia 24484
(540) 839-4616
Our Story
Founded on January 25, 1944, the Mountain Soil & Water Conservation District was tasked to to carry out soil conservation work in Bath, Highland, and Allegheny counties, it was expanded in 1985 to include the City of Covington. The district contains 900,540 acres and is a legal subdivision within the state of Virginia, it is charged with conserving the soil and water resources of Highland, Bath, and Allegheny Counties, and the City of Covington. The district works closely with partner agencies in order to help farmers, other landowners and land managers, businesses, and local units of government in the wise management and protection of their natural resources.
The Commonwealth of Virginia supports the Mountain Soil & Water Conservation District through financial and administrative assistance provided by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR.)
With the help of state and local funds, and self-generated funds from the equipment program, the District employs Chris Swecker, Conservation Specialist; Lorie Baldwin, Office Administrator; Sue Ailstock, part-time BMP Coordinator; Wes White, part-time Conservation Technician.
What is a Soil and Water Conservation District?
In response to the environmental catastrophe of the Dust Bowl, Congress passed Public Law 74-46 in 1935, declaring that the degradation of soil and water resources posed a direct threat to the nation’s welfare. This law led to the creation of the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to lead a national effort in restoring and protecting America’s farmlands, grazing areas, and forests. In 1994, the agency was renamed the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to reflect its broader mission in safeguarding natural resources beyond soil alone.
To bring conservation efforts closer to the communities they serve, the federal government also introduced the Standard State Soil Conservation Districts Law. This allowed states to form local districts—now commonly known as Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs)—to implement conservation programs tailored to local needs. President Franklin D. Roosevelt championed the idea, urging every governor to establish such districts to fight erosion and restore productivity to the land.
In Virginia, Soil and Water Conservation Districts operate under the Code of Virginia (§10.1, Chapter 5) as independent, self-governed subdivisions of the Commonwealth. Each district encompasses one or more counties or cities and is governed by a board of locally elected and appointed directors. This structure ensures that conservation priorities are shaped by the very communities they serve. Virginia’s SWCDs partner with landowners, farmers, schools, and local governments to implement best management practices that conserve soil, protect water quality, and promote sustainable land use.
Today, more than 3,000 SWCDs operate across the United States, covering nearly 98% of the nation’s land area—an enduring legacy of grassroots conservation leadership.