History - Langell Valley Soil Conservation District
Congress started the Soil Conservation Service in 1929 for studying soil erosion through experiment stations. Startling information was gathered at these stations, such as the problem of presenting this information to farmers, and offering recommendations and examples of erosion control demonstrations areas. These areas were proving grounds for erosion control practices in 45 states. The Soil Conservation Service provided aid to the farms by supplying:
- physical surveys
- equipment
- uncommon grass and seed grown in Soil Conservation greenhouses
- CCC labor
- main or spike camp
- personnel
The need for drainage and land leveling became
apparent in Langell Valley and created an interest in the formation of a
Soil Conservation District.
Klamath Land Use Committee approved formation.
On January 17, 1940, a meeting was held to inform the farmers
about the Soil Conservation Service activities and their present
application and possible future work in
A Certification of Organization was issued May 8, 1941 and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed October 7, 1941. The Work Program and Plan was adopted by the Supervisors on September 12, 1941.
The original Langell Valley Soil Conservation District included 32,772 acres of land. It was mainly that area under irrigation within the boundaries of Langell Valley with some adjacent hill land above the irrigated ditches. The land varied considerably from sandy loam to adobe, to quite shallow in places to hardpan which occasionally reached the surface. A portion of this land was sloped, with active soil erosion. Water for irrigation in the valley came from three storage reservoirs – Clear Lake, Gerber Reservoir and Willow Valley Reservoir.
About one-half of the original District was sold for taxes during the 1930 Depression. Most of this land was unleveled land subject to flooding and poor drainage.
The farmers outside the District were so impressed with the work of the District that they wanted to see about including their land in the District. A petition was drawn up and a hearing was held on October 16, 1942. Farmers cooperated whole-heartedly with the supervisors in their efforts to further the District program. Interest was indicated by the addition to the District of 43,000 acres and by the attendance of interested farmers.
An addition of 69,000 acres was added to the District in the year 1944. This addition extended east to the present boundaries. It included about 14,696 acres of private land.
In 1951, the Bonanza and Bly areas, consisting of 788,762 acres, were added to the District.
An additional 34,519 acres were added in 1954,
bringing the total acreage up to 823,281 acres.
This addition included most of
In 1957 the Langell Valley Soil Conservation District was one of 2,775 locally managed Districts in operation nationwide, covering more than 1 ½ billion acres of land. The Langell Valley District included 849,755 of those acres.
In 1958 the three Districts pooled their resources
to optimize their education programs.
In 1960 the Soil Conservation Service provided technical help to District cooperators through an agreement between the Districts and the federal government. These services were:
- free of charge
- advice and assistance in preparing a conservation plan for the individual farm or ranch
- soils information
- mapping and engineering services on conservation work
The engineering services were available whether or not the farmer signed up for cost sharing through the Agricultural Conservation Program.
In 1962 the Districts pooled resources to hire a
secretary to be shared by all three Districts.
They sent a petition to the
During 1964, the Langell Valley Soil Conservation District joined with the other Districts in the area in forming the Klamath Basin Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The purpose of the Association was to review the resource conservation and development potential of the Basin and to develop plans for resource development in the Klamath Basin.
The Soil Conservation Office in Bonanza closed and the District was served by one office in Klamath Falls.
During the summer of 1969 the Oregon Soil and Water Conservation Commission hired a college student to work for the three Districts.
In 1970 the three Boards held joint dinner meetings at the Kingfalls Restaurant every other month. The Boards were discussing the pros and cons of consolidating the three Districts.
In February 1973 a discussion on consolidation was begun between the Klamath and Langell Valley Soil and Water Conservation Districts. In September a formal proposal for a merger was voted in unanimously and in December the resolution was signed. It was agreed that there would be Directors selected from each of the three former Soil and Water Conservation Districts in the following manner: Klamath Soil and Water Conservation District – 2 Directors, Langell Valley – 2 Directors and Poe Valley – 2 Directors. The seventh Director would serve as a Director at large and was to be selected by the Langell Valley Soil and Water Conservation District Board.
The above was compiled from historical documents and files. It is true and correct to the best of our knowledge. Any errors or omissions are unintentional, and will gladly be corrected if you can document corrections. Contact the webmaster if you are aware of any incorrect information or additional information which should be included.
Poe Valley SCD history
Klamath SCD history
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