Soil Conservation District
Crystal Hart,
District Secretary133 East Main Street
Henderson, TN 38340
(731) 989-2783
Office Hours
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
About Chester County Soil Conservation
We work in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts (TACD) to assist farmers with installing Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Chester County. BMPs are things that farmers can do on their land to help reduce soil erosion and improve water quality.
NRCS and Soil Conservation Districts were formed in response to the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Farmers were not managing their soils and lands in a sustainable way, and this is a large part of why the Dust Bowl occurred. Soil scientists back in the '30s discovered that by implementing conservation-based practices on farms, we could avoid another Dust Bowl in the future. Agricultural BMPs also help to improve water quality.
The number one pollutant in our nation's waterways is sediment (soil). When rain falls on exposed soil, the runoff carries small particles of soil into local streams and waterways. When there is too much sediment in waterways, it destroys fish habitat and makes it difficult for fish to find food. Although a farmer may have a stream running through his or her farm, the State of Tennessee considers that water public and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is still required to protect these surface waters from potential pollutants. Because of this, the state and federal government are willing to help pay for Ag BMPs to be installed on local farms.
Please come by or call the office to learn how we can help you.