Soil and Water Conservation District

Department Description

The Genesee County Board of Supervisors created the district in 1944 to "conserve soil resources and control and prevent soil erosion." This was done according to state law known as the Soil Conservation Districts Law. A 1964 amendment to the state law added "water" and the title became the Soil and Water Conservation Districts Law. Another amendment in 1989 added language regarding water quality improvement and abatement of non-point sources of water pollution. In 1989 the Genesee County Legislature designated the district as "the local planning, management, and implementing agency responsible for 1) erosion and sediment control on potential non-point sources such as streambanks, construction sites, forestry, mined land, road banks, urban sources and agriculture; 2) stormwater runoff; 3) fertilizer and pesticide management; 4) agricultural waste."

Mission

It is the mission of the Genesee County Soil and Water Conservation District to work directly with county landowners to provide for the conservation of soil and water resources, improvement of water quality, and prevention of floodwater and sediment damages, thereby protecting the natural resource base and promoting health, safety, and general welfare of the county residents.