The Bedford County Conservation District encourages stewardship and conservation of natural resources for this and future generations.
Over 50 years ago, recognizing the need to support grassroots conservation efforts, state legislators passed the "Soil Conservation Law" of 1945 Act 217 of the Pennsylvania General Assembly . Today there is a conservation district established in every Pennsylvania county, except Philadelphia. A Board of Directors made up of local people from all walks of life leads each conservation district. These volunteers study county natural resource issues and make decisions that enhance and protect their community. Conservation Districts employ managers and staff personnel to implement programs and activities.
The Bedford County Commissioners declared the county a Conservation District in 1956. Original board members were Paul Stein, Randolph Hite. Paul Clarke, Elmer Foor Sr., Howard Burkett, and Glenn Clouse. The following year the first Soil Conservation Field Day was held in the county. In 1968, the district conducted its first land-judging contest and, in 1971, its first tree sale. The first staff person was hired in 1974. A poster contest was initiated in 1975 and in 1976, authority for conducting a Erosion and Sedimentation Control Program was transferred to the District. The progenitor of today's Envirothon, the Environmental Olympics, got its start in 1981. The District began its no-till program with purchase of a no-till corn planter in 1984. That year, twenty-five farmers used this equipment to plant 630 acres. In 2006, the no-till equipment rental program was used by 171 county farmers who planted 6500 acres.
Today, the Bedford County Conservation District coordinates a broad range of programs in pursuit of its mission to foster stewardship of the natural resources of Bedford County. The Bedford County Conservation District is delegated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to administer the Chapter 102 Erosion and Sedimentation Program and NPDES (National Pollution Discharge and Elimination System) Program. Other programs that are provided by the Conservation District include: nutrient management, no-till and cover crops technical assistance and equipment rental, environmental education, West Nile Virus Control Program, Gypsy Moth Suppression Program, recycling, assitance to watershed groups, and the Dirt and Gravel Road Program. To begin exporing the site and learning about these and other programs, click the link at the upper left.