​After the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s and the Soil Conservation Act of 1935, realizing the need for conservation in Clark County a group of local landowners got together in an effort to form a group to see what could be done about the erosion in the county. Farmers outside of municipal areas were eligible to vote. 60% participation was required with at least 60% voting in favor of forming a Conservation District.

75% of Farmers in Clark County voted
2,035 Ballots were cast
1,937 in Favor 98 opposed
With 95.2% in favor of forming a Conservation District.

​On April 18, 1944 the Clark County Soil Conservation District was organized and on June 20, 1944 a Memorandum of Understanding with the Soil Conservation Service was signed. The original board of supervisors included Norman Dreyer, J.L. Coots and John Hogue. At that time there were 67 “cooperators” in Clark County.
Clark County was the 16th county in Indiana to form a conservation district. Most of Indiana’s Soil Conservation Districts were established between 1945 and 1960; however, it wasn’t until 1974, when Tipton County officially joined the ranks, that districts had been established in all 92 counties – an exciting time in Indiana history.

1945 was the first full year of operation for the District 
During that time the following practices were completed:
75 Farm plans
636 acres of contour planting
57 ponds installed
78,348 feet of diversions
1000 feet of tile installed
522 acres of cropland limed
114 acres of cover crops
200 acres of pastures seeded
625 acres of preventative grazing damage
42 Farm ponds stocked

​In 1947 an office staff was formed of part time assistance from Scottsburg Work Group Headquarters consisting of a forester, agriculture engineer, engineering aid, soil surveyor, stenographer and district conservationist. In 1953 the District Board members got involved with the State Association of Conservation Districts and state meetings and area meetings. That was the same year the District Board purchased some equipment for use in the county.  They had a scraper, tiller and tank form, valued at $450.

Many of the resources provided to the District were gifts or loans from the Soil Conservation Service.  Purdue Extension provided assistance with field days, speakers and educational assistance. Other resources were loaned to the District by cooperators. The total operating budget for 1954 was $31.00.

In October, 1960 the name of the District was changed from the Clark County Soil Conservation District to the Clark County Soil and Water Conservation District.