As a result of the economic and agricultural devastation of the dust storms of the 1920’s, Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett, a North Carolina native, urged President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Congress to pass legislation in 1937 that led to 土壤 Conservation and locally led conservation programs. 同年, the North Carolina General Assembly passed Chapter 139 of the NC General Statutes which allowed for 土壤 and 节水区s to be formed.

The 杜伦大学土壤 and 节水区 was initially part of the Neuse River 土壤 Conservation District, 3月22日成立, 1939. Districts in NC at that time were established by watershed rather than jurisdicional boundaries and the District area incompassed Durham, 威尔逊, 橙色, 约翰斯顿和威克县. But in the 1960’s Districts in NC began splintering off into smaller “county-based” districts due to the diversity of program needs within the watersheds.

So on February 2, 1965 the 杜伦大学土壤 & 节水区 was formed. The first 5 member Board of Supervisors were; C.M. Ladd H.G. 麦克法兰J.Q. 肖,R.F. 库克和J.L. 帕里什. In those early days supervisors were elected to serve through a “shoe box election” held at country stores. 但是在1974年, the Durham SWCD Board Supervisors began running on the general election ballots at the same time as other county officials.

From 1965 until the mid 1980’s the main focus of the District was providing technical assistance to the agriculture community. Numerous Best Management Practices (BMP’s) were installed, mainly in the Little River and Lake Michie watersheds. As a result of these efforts both reservoirs provide drinking water to Durham citizens that are not impaired from a state standard point of view. 另一方面, with the arrival of Research Triangle Park (RTP) and the increase in urbanization, the District began to notice new environmental problems on the horizon. Sediment deposits into the watercourses from urbanization, 大气沉积, rise in downtown temperature, litter as a result of humans all have contributed to negative effects downstream. By the late 80’s the District began to see the need for programs that address areas outside of traditional agriculture.

Today the District has diversified its programs to meet the ever changing needs of 达勒姆郡, while still serving as the primary agency and voice for agriculture in Durham. This diversification has gained the District and its employees recognition through various awards in recent years. Stream/Stormwater Restoration Program, Community Conservation Assistance Program, 自愿减少营养 Program, 流域管理, Agricultural Cost 分享 Assistance Program, Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program, 农田保护计划, Agricultural 业务 Development, 环境教育 Program and more.