How Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Districts Work
Alabama's soil and water conservation districts are local units of government that help private landowners protect soil, water and other natural resources. If you farm, raise cattle, manage timber or own acreage, your county district is usually the first office to call about erosion, pasture, fencing, water for livestock and federal conservation programs. The facts below come from the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee (ALSWCC) and its published reports. Programs and payment rates change, so confirm current details with your district office.
67 Districts, One in Every County
Per the committee's Who We Are page, Alabama has 67 districts, one in each county. Each is governed by a five-member board of supervisors. The page says districts promote cover cropping, reduced tillage, erosion control and herd health, help landowners reach USDA conservation programs (often alongside NRCS), and act as a local voice so federal and state programs fit local needs. The committee's district list and district map help you find your county office.
Board sizes are not identical everywhere. The committee's supervisors page lists most counties with five supervisors, a handful with four, Calhoun with three and Cleburne with six. The committee's 2024 annual report describes each board as made up of appointed public officials.
Where the System Came From
The committee's history page traces the idea to soil scientist Hugh Hammond Bennett, who warned about erosion in 1928. Congress created the Soil Conservation Service, now NRCS, in 1935, with Bennett as its first director. In 1937 President Franklin Roosevelt sent model legislation to each governor encouraging local conservation districts, and in 1939 the Alabama Legislature created the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee and a framework for local districts.
The State Committee
The committee page explains how the state body is built:
- Appointed members: six district supervisors named by the Governor, one for each of the state's six geographic areas, chosen from regional nominations.
- Terms: staggered three-year terms, so two seats come up each year.
- Ex officio members: seats held by position, including the Alabama Cooperative Extension System director and representatives of the Agricultural Experiment Station and agricultural science education.
- Contact: P.O. Box 304800, Montgomery, AL 36130-4800, phone 334-242-2620.
The committee supports the districts, coordinates programs, secures federal cooperation and funding, and educates the public about conservation.
Conservation Incentive Program Rebates
The committee's 2024 annual report describes the Conservation Incentive Program (CIP), a state-funded rebate program for voluntary practices, administered through the 67 districts. It covers 35 practices across water quality, forestry, erosion control and wildlife, and eligible applicants receive a 75 percent rebate on installation costs. Practice groups include:
- Soil health: forage and biomass planting, nutrient management, lime and soil tests
- Herd health: corral systems, squeeze chutes and feed troughs
- Fencing: cross fencing and exclusion fencing
- Watering facilities: livestock pipelines, heavy-use protection, watering facilities and water wells
In 2024, the herd health practices alone brought producers $206,275 in rebates, including 23 corral systems and 54 feeding troughs. Ask your district whether funds are open before you buy materials.
Other Programs Run Through the Districts
- Alabama Irrigation Initiative: launched in 2019 with NRCS, Auburn University and UAH. The report says only 7 percent of Alabama's harvested cropland is irrigated, and the program offers up to $250,000 per producer for systems, wells and power.
- Feral swine control: a program with an education module of training videos for landowners and an online test, listed on the committee site.
- Black Belt Prairie Initiative: prairie restoration work in the Black Belt, also listed on the committee site.
- Erosion and sediment control: the committee maintains the Alabama Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, trains contractors and hosts the Clear Water Alabama seminar and field day, held September 24 to 25 in 2025.
- Professional soil classifiers: the committee oversees the application process for soil scientists who must be certified by the state board.
How Districts Are Funded
For fiscal year 2024, the annual report lists $2.5 million from the Alabama Education Trust Fund, $3.6 million from the General Fund and $3.1 million in federal dollars. Each district received $63,000 in state money. The report says districts used about $4.2 million in state funds to leverage $153 million in federal funds, which led to 29,000 applied practices.
Youth and Community Education
Districts run school programs and events. The report says districts reached more than 100,000 students through programs like Ag in the Classroom, Farm-City Week and Progressive Agriculture Safety Days, and that 22 districts hosted groundwater festivals reaching over 15,000 students in 2024. The Alabama Envirothon in February 2024 drew 26 teams, and the 2025 event ran February 27 to March 1. The committee site also lists land judging, forestry field days and in-school activities. Alabama FFA also holds land evaluation and Envirothon contests.
Practical Tips
- Call your county district office before starting a fencing, watering or erosion project, and ask what CIP or federal funding is open.
- Bring a map or aerial photo of your property and a short list of problem spots.
- Ask the district about USDA programs through NRCS, since district staff help with applications and field visits.
- If you teach or have school-age children, ask about Envirothon and groundwater festivals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many conservation districts does Alabama have?
67, one in each county.
Who sits on a district board?
A board of supervisors, usually five, described by the committee as appointed public officials.
When was the state committee created?
The Alabama Legislature established it in 1939.
How much does the state rebate through CIP?
The 2024 annual report says eligible applicants receive a 75 percent rebate on installation costs. Confirm current rates and open funding with your district.
How do I reach the state committee?
Call 334-242-2620 or write P.O. Box 304800, Montgomery, AL 36130-4800.
Alabama Listings Covered by This Guide
- Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee
State committee in Montgomery that supports Alabama's 67 soil and water conservation districts, one in every county, and their conservation programs.
P.O. Box 304800, Montgomery, AL 36130 | 334-242-2620 Website - Barbour County Soil & Water Conservation District
The Barbour County Soil & Water Conservation District, one of Alabama's 67 county districts, has its office at 18 Nern St., Clayton, AL 36016; phone 334-775-3266.
18 Nern St., Clayton, AL 36016 | 334-775-3266 - Etowah County Soil & Water Conservation District
The Etowah County Soil & Water Conservation District, one of Alabama's 67 county districts, has its office at 312-B So. Third St., Gadsden, AL 35901; phone 256-546-4841.
312-B So. Third St., Gadsden, AL 35901 | 256-546-4841 - Hale County Soil & Water Conservation District
The Hale County Soil & Water Conservation District, one of Alabama's 67 county districts, has its office at 200 First Street, Greensboro, AL 36744; phone 334-624-3265.
200 First Street, Greensboro, AL 36744 | 334-624-3265 - Winston County Natural Resources Council
Council that meets monthly at the U.S. Forest Service office in Double Springs and posts minutes and notices on conservation programs, landowner field days and NRCS deadlines; entries run through September 2026.
Double Springs, AL Website
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.