Our Mission: To protect the land and water of Defiance County by being an innovative leader, assisting and educating the public to make the best choices for conserving and preserving our natural resources.
2024 Board meetings
The Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors conduct their Board meetings the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7:30am at the Evergreen Lane office complex. Any changes will be announced.
For additional information, please contact the office at 419-782-1794.
For additional information, please contact the office at 419-782-1794.
now accepting online orders
We are happy to present online ordering/pay with credit/debit card or e-check. There is a service fee associated with using online pay.
The link below can be used to order trees, fish, hockey tickets and 75th anniversary clothing. Sales tax is automatically charged with this link. The office will need to process your order if you are tax exempt. Check this out and call our office with any issues.
Pay Your Defiance County Soil & Water Conservation District, OH Bill Online - Defiance County Soil & Water Conservation District, OH Online Payments (municipay.com)
The link below can be used to order trees, fish, hockey tickets and 75th anniversary clothing. Sales tax is automatically charged with this link. The office will need to process your order if you are tax exempt. Check this out and call our office with any issues.
Pay Your Defiance County Soil & Water Conservation District, OH Bill Online - Defiance County Soil & Water Conservation District, OH Online Payments (municipay.com)
We have some exciting news to share...
the defiance swcd is turning 75!
The Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District will be celebrating 75 years of existence in 2024. We would like to share some of our history and what we do at our office as a service to our community.
Soil Conservation began as a response to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. The Dust Bowl was named as a result of years of drought and farmers exposing bare, over-plowed farmland in the West. Without deep-rooted prairie grass to hold the soil in place, it began to blow away. Eroding soil led to massive dust storms and economic devastation. This series of events prompted Congress to create the Soil Conservation Service. The first recognized Soil Conservation District was created by Hugh Hammond Bennett, father of soil conservation.
On November 22, 1948 a petition was filed to create the Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District. On December 21, 1948 a public hearing was held where a delegation of 8 approved to hold a referendum in the county to create the Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District in all townships including all cities, towns or villages incorporated as shown by county maps and plat books in Defiance County. The Defiance SWCD was established on March 10, 1949 after a final vote with 207 in-favor and 44 against. A supervisor election took place on June 8, 1949 that elected Elmer Koerner-President, Ray Benner-Vice President, Ira Beerbower-Secretary and Treasurer, Christ Elser and Pierre Case.
1971 - District started to provide soil evaluations for on-site sewage disposal systems at the request of the Department of Health.
1980 - Grant from USEPA was accepted in order to place the county in the forefront of conservation tillage and water quality issues.
1983 - Low cost windbreak plantings with District personnel doing the planting was offered to the county residents at 8 cents per foot.
1983 - No-till wheat was planted using the District’s no-till drill. A rainulator research project was completed studying the effects of residue on erosion on heavy clay soils.
1986 - The tree packet program began and offered 18 different packets with 16 different varieties with over 20,000 trees sold.
1989 - The Defiance County Commissioners and the Defiance County Engineer entered into an agreement with the Board of Supervisors to manage and operate the Defiance County Ditch Maintenance Program as required by Ohio Revised Code.
1999 - The SWCD office relocated to its current location
1999 - Defiance-Williams Joint Ditch project received $1 million from the ODNR for the joint flood control watershed project.
2001 - 78 acres was donated from Nancy Jo Penney for educational purposes
2005 - All 11 zoned townships requested assistance from the SWCD for site reviews and comprehensive plans. Each township paid $1,000 annually to the SWCD for this service.
2008 - The SWCD Board and Staff members, Ditch Maintenance staff members and NRCS staff members were awarded the OFSWCD President’s Award at the Winter Supervisor’s meeting in Columbus proclaiming them an outstanding conservation team.
2009 - The Penney Nature Center was opened to the public in mid June. Walking trails, picnic tables, shelter house and portable toilets are available for anyone wanting to spend some time outdoors enjoying nature.
2016 - Hosted first annual Penney Nature Center Kids Summer Camp.
2020 - A new water quality initiative began called H2Ohio for the Western Lake Erie Basin with 49,613 acres signed up in Defiance County.
2022 - Defiance County Commissioners receive an ODNR Grant for enhancement to the Penney Nature Center.
2024 - The District celebrates 75 years!
Soil Conservation began as a response to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. The Dust Bowl was named as a result of years of drought and farmers exposing bare, over-plowed farmland in the West. Without deep-rooted prairie grass to hold the soil in place, it began to blow away. Eroding soil led to massive dust storms and economic devastation. This series of events prompted Congress to create the Soil Conservation Service. The first recognized Soil Conservation District was created by Hugh Hammond Bennett, father of soil conservation.
On November 22, 1948 a petition was filed to create the Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District. On December 21, 1948 a public hearing was held where a delegation of 8 approved to hold a referendum in the county to create the Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District in all townships including all cities, towns or villages incorporated as shown by county maps and plat books in Defiance County. The Defiance SWCD was established on March 10, 1949 after a final vote with 207 in-favor and 44 against. A supervisor election took place on June 8, 1949 that elected Elmer Koerner-President, Ray Benner-Vice President, Ira Beerbower-Secretary and Treasurer, Christ Elser and Pierre Case.
1971 - District started to provide soil evaluations for on-site sewage disposal systems at the request of the Department of Health.
1980 - Grant from USEPA was accepted in order to place the county in the forefront of conservation tillage and water quality issues.
1983 - Low cost windbreak plantings with District personnel doing the planting was offered to the county residents at 8 cents per foot.
1983 - No-till wheat was planted using the District’s no-till drill. A rainulator research project was completed studying the effects of residue on erosion on heavy clay soils.
1986 - The tree packet program began and offered 18 different packets with 16 different varieties with over 20,000 trees sold.
1989 - The Defiance County Commissioners and the Defiance County Engineer entered into an agreement with the Board of Supervisors to manage and operate the Defiance County Ditch Maintenance Program as required by Ohio Revised Code.
1999 - The SWCD office relocated to its current location
1999 - Defiance-Williams Joint Ditch project received $1 million from the ODNR for the joint flood control watershed project.
2001 - 78 acres was donated from Nancy Jo Penney for educational purposes
2005 - All 11 zoned townships requested assistance from the SWCD for site reviews and comprehensive plans. Each township paid $1,000 annually to the SWCD for this service.
2008 - The SWCD Board and Staff members, Ditch Maintenance staff members and NRCS staff members were awarded the OFSWCD President’s Award at the Winter Supervisor’s meeting in Columbus proclaiming them an outstanding conservation team.
2009 - The Penney Nature Center was opened to the public in mid June. Walking trails, picnic tables, shelter house and portable toilets are available for anyone wanting to spend some time outdoors enjoying nature.
2016 - Hosted first annual Penney Nature Center Kids Summer Camp.
2020 - A new water quality initiative began called H2Ohio for the Western Lake Erie Basin with 49,613 acres signed up in Defiance County.
2022 - Defiance County Commissioners receive an ODNR Grant for enhancement to the Penney Nature Center.
2024 - The District celebrates 75 years!
