About The District

As our New Jersey communities continue to grow, we are faced with the challenge of conserving our natural resources at the same time that we consume them.

The first Soil Conservation Districts were formed in the 1930s in response to the devastating effects of the Dust Bowl. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt recommended that all states establish soil and water conservation districts – thus an era of soil conservation began in New Jersey.

The Mercer County Soil Conservation District (MCSCD) was officially incorporated in April 1959. Today, the MCSCD is one of 14 Soil Conservation Districts in New Jersey, operating under the State Soil Conservation Committee of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. The MCSCD is staffed by Resource Specialists and a licensed Professional Engineer. Policies and performance guidelines are set by a Board of five supervisors.

In the beginning, the MCSCD provided technical assistance primarily to the agricultural community. Today, our focus has expanded to also address the impacts of urbanization and development in New Jersey. In 1976 the Districts were mandated to administer the Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act as a means to prevent soil erosion on construction sites, reduce nonpoint source pollution and enhance water quality.

As a member of the New Jersey Conservation Partnership, our mission is to provide leadership in the planning and implementation of natural resource management programs for the agricultural and development communities and the general public through a locally based delivery system in coordination with local, state and federal partners.