Government Involvement

Government involvement as well as involvement from other planning agency in preventing the effects of soil erosion is not only important, but essential. In 1935 the Soil Conservation Service was established. It administers a broad program of assistance in soil and water conservation on the land in cooperation with Conservation Districts. SCS is now know as the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and no longer designs irrigation or drainage systems. This service provides these kinds of assistance at the request of farmers, ranchers, and other landowners:
  1. Determining soil suitability guidelines based on the soil surveys for agriculture, housing, recreation, waste disposal, and road construction.
  2. Recommending Best Management Practices for erosion control and water protection.
  3. Designing sediment interception systems.
  4. Designing water facilities such as farm ponds.
  5. Planning recreational facilities.
  6. Designing terrace, irrigation, and drainage systems.
  7. Developing cropping systems to reduce erosion.
  8. Recommending pasture plantings.
  9. Developing range management guidelines.
  10. Promoting wildlife and woodland conservation.
  11. Supplying adapted planting materials for conservation planting.
  12. Promoting surface mine reclamation guidelines.
  13. Providing expertise on land use planning.

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