What Virginia's Soil and Water Conservation Districts Do
Virginia has 47 soil and water conservation districts, or SWCDs, serving nearly all of the state's localities, per the Department of Conservation and Recreation's SWCD page. They are political subdivisions of the state, run by volunteer boards, with more than 150 full-time and part-time staff, and they deliver their services free of charge. They were set up to conserve soil, control erosion, prevent floods and conserve water, and DCR notes they have worked on erosion and pollution prevention since the mid-1930s.
For a farmer, the district is the local door into state cost-share money, conservation planning and technical design help. For a homeowner or builder, it may be the office that helps with erosion and sediment control.
What Districts Do Day to Day
DCR lists these roles for districts:
- Carrying out the Virginia Agricultural BMP Cost-Share Program
- Helping deliver erosion and sediment control ordinances for urban construction
- Providing conservation planning help and approving farm plans
- Supporting county ordinances, including Virginia's Agricultural Stewardship Act
- Giving technical design help for farm conservation practices
- Educating residents through field days, public meetings and classroom programs
DCR also helps 12 districts maintain 104 dams that the U.S. Department of Agriculture originally built for flood control, according to its soil and water overview. The General Assembly created the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board to guide these services, with DCR staff supporting it.
Why the Work Matters
DCR frames district work as a fight against nonpoint source pollution, the diffuse runoff that comes from fields, pastures and construction sites rather than a single pipe. Its soil and water overview notes that excess nutrients in runoff can cause harmful algal blooms and low dissolved oxygen, which harm underwater plants and aquatic life. DCR funds this work from state budgets and federal grants, including Section 319 of the Clean Water Act and the Chesapeake Bay Program, and it targets effort by watershed. That is why a district may steer you toward a stream fence or a cover crop plan: the goal is cleaner water downstream, and the cost-share exists to make the change affordable for the landowner.
Cost-Share Through VACS
The main program farmers use is the Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share program, known as VACS. Per DCR's VACS overview, the program covers more than 60 voluntary best management practices that reduce nutrient, sediment and waste runoff, and farmers can receive up to $300,000 in state cost-share reimbursement. DCR reported a record $207 million for fiscal year 2025. The program is administered with the districts, which distribute funds and provide technical assistance.
A DCR article on record cost-share funding gave these examples of eligible practices:
- Nutrient management planning, required for more than 30 VACS and tax-credit practices
- Cover crops, reimbursed at $40 an acre for traditional small grain cover crops that year, with extra payments for early planting, rye cultivars and late kill-down
- Livestock stream exclusion, reimbursed at up to 100 percent of eligible component costs depending on buffer width and practice lifespan
Rates and funding change by year, so ask your district what applies now.
The Small Herd Initiative
If you run a small cattle operation, the Small Herd Initiative may fit. DCR's article on small cattle farmers says the initiative launched in 2022, began in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and is now statewide. Key points:
- It is for owners of 20 to 49 bovines in total.
- It offers up to 100 percent reimbursement, capped at $50,000.
- Eligible practices include stream exclusion with buffer and grazing land management, stream protection fencing with buffer and portable fencing.
- Applicants must meet VACS eligibility, described as three or more years of at least $1,000 in agricultural income on five or more acres.
- Each participant may receive this funding once.
How to Get Started
- Find your district using the map on the DCR SWCD page, which also links the district directory and the "SWCDs by Locality" listing.
- Call before you build anything, and ask how cost-share signup works in your area.
- Bring a farm map, your acreage and a short description of the problem, such as an eroding bank, cattle in a creek or a muddy heavy-use area.
- Ask what planning help the district offers and whether a nutrient management plan will be needed.
- For general DCR questions, the SWCD page lists 804-786-6124.
Director Elections
District boards are chosen by voters. A Virginia elections calendar says a 2002 law set uniform four-year terms, with elections every four years starting in November 2007, and it lists elections in 2027, 2031, 2035 and 2039. Each locality has a set number of seats, usually two or three, tied to a named district. Some localities, such as Arlington and Alexandria, do not elect directors. In Harrisonburg in November 2023, for example, two directors were chosen from a write-in field, per Augusta Free Press. If you care about conservation in your county, these low-profile races are one place a few votes carry real weight.
Before You Call
District names often do not match county names. Examples include Peanut, Peaks of Otter, Lord Fairfax and Big Walker, so use the map rather than guessing. Funding, rates and signup periods change, so treat the figures here as examples and confirm them with your district.
Virginia Listings Covered by This Guide
- Appomattox River Soil and Water Conservation District
Conservation district that serves Dinwiddie County, with its office mailing address in Dinwiddie.
PO Box 277, Dinwiddie, VA 23841 | 804-469-7297 - Big Sandy Soil and Water Conservation District
Soil and water conservation district office in Grundy serving the coalfield counties of far Southwest Virginia.
1236 Almarine Drive, Grundy, VA 24614 | 276-935-7750 - Big Walker Soil and Water Conservation District
Conservation district office in the Wytheville USDA service center helping landowners with cost-share and erosion programs.
100 USDA Drive, Suite A, Wytheville, VA 24382 | 276-484-9365 - Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District
Blue Ridge SWCD works from State Street in Rocky Mount on conservation practices for farms and rural landowners.
1297 State Street, Rocky Mount, VA 24151 | 540-352-3312 - Chowan Basin Soil and Water Conservation District
Emporia conservation district serving Greensville County and the Chowan River basin.
706 South Main Street, Emporia, VA 23847 | 434-634-2115 - Clinch Valley Soil and Water Conservation District
Southwest Virginia district office in Lebanon assisting producers with pasture, water quality and stream protection.
131 Highland Drive, Suite B, Lebanon, VA 24266 | 276-883-5997 - Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District
Peninsula-area conservation district office on Bulifants Boulevard in Williamsburg.
205 Bulifants Blvd., Suite C, Williamsburg, VA 23188 | 757-645-4895 - Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District
Williamsburg conservation district serving James City County and its farms and waterways.
205 Bulifants Blvd., Suite C, Williamsburg, VA 23188 | 757-645-4895 - Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District
Conservation district helping landowners with cost-share and stewardship; serves Culpeper, Greene, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock counties from its Culpeper office.
351 Lakeside Drive, Culpeper, VA 22701 | 540-825-8591 Website - Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District
Culpeper-based conservation district that is the assigned district for Greene County.
351 Lakeside Drive, Culpeper, VA 22701 | 540-825-8591 - Daniel Boone Soil and Water Conservation District
Conservation district based on Main Street in Jonesville, in the westernmost part of Virginia.
32637 Main Street, Jonesville, VA 24263 | 276-346-1531 - Eastern Shore Soil and Water Conservation District
Delmarva peninsula conservation district office at Accomac that works with farmers on nutrient and cover crop practices.
22545 Center Parkway, Accomac, VA 23301 | 757-302-4431 - Evergreen Soil and Water Conservation District
Evergreen district office on North Main Street in Marion, supporting Smyth County farms with conservation and water-quality programs.
340 N. Main Street, Suite 102, Marion, VA 24354 | 276-706-3064 - Halifax Soil and Water Conservation District
Halifax County conservation district working with tobacco, cattle and hay farmers on water quality practices.
PO Box 247, Halifax, VA 24558 | 434-476-7923 - Hanover-Caroline Soil and Water Conservation District
Joint conservation district serving Hanover County and neighboring Caroline County.
PO Box 446, Hanover, VA 23069 | 804-537-3009 - Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District
Verona-based conservation district covering Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro with farm conservation practices and water quality cost-share.
70 Dick Huff Lane, Verona, VA 24482 | 540-248-0148 Website - Henricopolis Soil and Water Conservation District
Henrico County conservation district office on Dixon Powers Drive.
8600 Dixon Powers Drive, Henrico, VA 23273 | 804-501-5175 Website - Holston River Soil and Water Conservation District
Abingdon-based Holston River district serving Washington County cattle and crop producers with conservation assistance.
448 Commerce Drive, Abingdon, VA 24211 | 276-628-8187 Website - James River Soil and Water Conservation District
Conservation district serving Prince George County from a post office box, working with local farmers on soil and water practices.
PO Box 129, Prince George, VA 23875 | 804-732-6550 - John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District
Warrenton conservation district serving Fauquier County farmers with cost-share and stewardship help.
98 Alexandria Pike, Suite 33, Warrenton, VA 20186 | 540-422-8490 - Lake Country Soil and Water Conservation District
Southside Virginia conservation district mailing from Boydton.
PO Box 428, Boydton, VA 23917 | 434-265-3246 - Lonesome Pine Soil and Water Conservation District
Conservation district office on Clintwood Main Street serving the Cumberland Plateau area.
130 Clintwood Main Street, Clintwood, VA 24228 | 276-926-6621 - Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District
Conservation district operating from the Strasburg Service Center, serving Frederick County.
722-B East Queen Street (Strasburg Service Center), Strasburg, VA 22657 | 540-465-2424 - Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District
Lord Fairfax district runs from the Strasburg Service Center and covers Shenandoah and Warren counties and Winchester with conservation cost-share help.
Strasburg Service Center, 722-B East Queen Street, Strasburg, VA 22657 | 540-465-2424 Website - Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District
Conservation district office in Leesburg that helps Loudoun landowners with cost-share for stream fencing, cover crops and erosion control.
30 Catoctin Circle, S.E., Suite 218, Leesburg, VA 20175 | 571-918-4530 - Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District
Conservation district with a Goochland mailing address, serving Goochland County landowners.
PO Box 66, Goochland, VA 23063 | 804-556-4936 - Mountain Soil and Water Conservation District
Highland-area conservation district mailing from Warm Springs in Bath County.
PO Box 310, Warm Springs, VA 24484 | 540-839-4616 - Mountain Soil and Water Conservation District
Mountain-area conservation district listed for Highland County, with a Warm Springs mailing address.
PO Box 310, Warm Springs, VA 24484 | 540-839-4616 - Natural Bridge Soil and Water Conservation District
Conservation district office in Lexington helping Rockbridge-area farmers with cost-share and soil conservation practices.
40 Magnolia Square Way, Suite 5, Lexington, VA 24450 | 540-463-7124 - Natural Bridge Soil and Water Conservation District
Natural Bridge district office in Lexington helping Rockbridge County landowners with livestock exclusion, pasture and erosion practices.
40 Magnolia Square Way, Suite 5, Lexington, VA 24450 | 540-463-7124 Website - New River Soil and Water Conservation District
Galax conservation district office assigned to Grayson County in the state directory.
200 Jacks Orchard Road, Galax, VA 24333 | 276-601-2105 - Northern Neck Soil and Water Conservation District
Northern Neck district based in Warsaw, serving Richmond County and Westmoreland County farmers with conservation and nutrient programs.
5585 Richmond Road, Warsaw, VA 22572 | 804-313-9102 Website - Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District
Conservation district housed at the Fairfax County government center, serving landowners in Fairfax County.
12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 905, Fairfax, VA 22035 | 703-324-1460 - Patrick Soil and Water Conservation District
Conservation district office on Via Avenue in Stuart, in the Blue Ridge foothills.
104 Via Avenue, Stuart, VA 24171 | 276-694-2911 - Peaks of Otter Soil and Water Conservation District
Conservation district for Bedford County offering farmers cost-share for stream fencing and other best management practices from its Turnpike Road office.
1071 A Turnpike Road, Bedford, VA 24523 | 540-587-7645 Website - Peanut Soil and Water Conservation District
Smithfield conservation district serving Isle of Wight County.
208A Gumwood Dr, Smithfield, VA 23430 | 757-960-5595 - Peter Francisco Soil and Water Conservation District
Buckingham-based conservation district covering Buckingham and Cumberland counties, assisting landowners with erosion control and cost-share programs.
16842 W. James Anderson Highway, Buckingham, VA 23921 | 434-983-7923 Website - Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District
Farmville conservation district office serving Prince Edward and Nottoway counties with farm cost-share and nutrient management help.
100-B Dominion Drive, Farmville, VA 23901 | 434-392-7071 - Pittsylvania Soil and Water Conservation District
Chatham conservation district office next to the Extension office, helping Pittsylvania County farmers with erosion control and cost-share.
19783 US Highway 29, Suite F, Chatham, VA 24531 | 434-432-9455 - Robert E. Lee Soil and Water Conservation District
Appomattox office of the district that serves Amherst, Appomattox and Campbell counties and Lynchburg with conservation planning and cost-share.
7631-A Richmond Highway, Appomattox, VA 24522 | 434-352-2819 Website
Plus 12 more. Find yours on your county's page in the Virginia directory.
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.