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WCSWCD History
Soil Conservation in Winnebago County began with the 1933
proposal of a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the Village of Durand.
The US Army and the US Soil Erosion Service were exploring this possibility with
then farm advisor Charles Keltner, Winnebago County Farm Bureau President George
Tullock, and farmers Roy Wise and Everett Derwent.
In 1935 a lease was signed with Mrs. Mertie Bonne, owner of seven acres on the northeast edge of Durand, where the camp as to be located. Tents were erected as the first camp buildings in 1935, these were later replaced by wooden barrack in 1936. Soil Conservation work became a reality in Winnebago County on August 5, 1935.
The Durand CCC camp operated by the US Army, with technical staff furnished by the US Soil Conservation Service. Their office was located on East Howard Street in Durand.
The first conservation project took place on Mr. Wises' 240 acres of slightly rolling farmland, two miles west of Durand. At this location the first terracing, strip cropping, contour farming and grassed waterways were applied. Farmers came from miles around to see these practices.
Area farmers recall watching CCC crews install conservation practices "by hand", without motorized equipment.
These happenings spurred the establishment of the Pecatonica-Durand Soil Conservation District in 1940. The first Board of Directors included Don Flynn, Everett Derwent, Raymond Meissen, Roy Morris, and A.R. Fritz. The District was bounded roughly by the Sugar and Pecatonica Rivers and the state line. Part of Stephenson County was included to the west.
In 1942, the first addition of land into the District was made. This was the Harlem area, roughly bounded by the Rock River, Kinnikinnick Creek, Boone County and Windsor Road. Ken Ralston and Ed Greenlee were very involved in this expansion from the northwest corner of the county.
In 1963, the Pecatonica-Durand Soil Conservation District changed it's name to the Winnebago County Soil Conservation District.
In 1980, both the City of Rockford and the Village of Durand were included into the District and in 1998 the Villages of South Beloit, Machesney Park, Loves Park, Winnebago and Pecatonica were included into the District.
Since May 20, 1940, great strides have been made in soil and water conservation in Winnebago County. With funding increases from various sources Winnebago County has been able to establish many timely programs to aid in our soil and waster conservation goals.
Though programs and people have changed over the years the main goal of the District remains to protect and conserve our natural resources.