Title: State Soil Conservation Committee
Dates: 1950-1962
Collection Number: 00382
Quantity: 18 items
Abstract: The images of soil and water conservation projects were primarily taken by W. P. Sebens. Some are stamped Greater North Dakota Association, State Water Conservation Commission, and State Soil Conservation Committee. Many of the images are also found in Series 30878 Soil Conservation Committee, State. Photographs and Negatives.
Provenance: Unknown
Copyright: Public records are not subject to copyright restrictions, although record series may contain copyrighted material. Consideration of such copyrights is the responsibility of the author and publisher.
Access: These records are available for public inspection under provision of the North Dakota Century Code, 55-02.l-08.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the record group, series name and number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Related Collections:
MSS 10514 North Dakota Water Users Association Records
MSS 10435 Greater North Dakota Association Records
30878 Soil Conservation Committee
31496 North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission
31737 Soil Conservation Committee
00399 State Water Conservation Commission
AGENCY SKETCH
Soil Conservation Committee
[Authorized: NDCC Section 4-22-03]
Created in 1937 the State Soil Conservation Committee was established to serve as a state agency and to provide for conservation, protection, improvement, and profitability of agricultural land in North Dakota. Originally the committee consisted of the Governor, the State Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor, the Director of the State Extension Service, and one member appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The committee formed four soil conservation districts which could be organized when twenty five occupiers of land within a district requested that a soil conservation district be formed. Each soil conservation district elected three supervisors. The supervisors directed the programs and activities and served as the link between the district and the State Soil Conservation Committee. One of the members was delegated as chairman, and the committee could appoint an administrative officer and other employees as needed (S. L. 1937, Ch.9). The Attorney General provided legal opinions at the request of the commission.
The membership on the State Soil Conservation Committee has changed substantially over the years. In 1951 legislation began to shift the management of the committee to the districts. Four regular or land owner members, one from each district, were appointed along with ex officio members who were the Governor, Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor, Director of the North Dakota Cooperative Extension Service, and one member appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The four regular members were district supervisors, in the district they represented, and were appointed by the State Soil Conservation Committee. Names of eight district supervisors were submitted to the State Association of Soil Conservation District Supervisors with four being selected from the eight.
In 1961 the four members were elected instead of being appointed by the district they supervised. They served a two year term. The ex officio member who had been appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture was replaced by the President of the Soil Conservation District Association (S. L. 1961, Ch.105).
In 1971 the legislature made several major changes including committee membership. Legislation divided the state into five geographical districts which were grouped along county lines. The State Soil Conservation Committee changed to five members, one district supervisor from each district being elected by the district land owners or occupiers, and two members appointed by the Governor. The gubernatorial appointees represented the interests of farmers and ranchers, rural areas and small towns, cities, industry, and business for those not already represented (S. L. 1971, Ch. 94). Members served two year terms and no member served more than two successive terms.
In 1981 the terms of membership increased to three years. The Governor appointed members to fill the unexpected vacancies. Annually the committee selected a chairman who served only one term (S. L. 1981, Ch. 95). Representatives from the following agencies served in an advisory capacity to the committee: State Association of Soil Conservation Districts, North Dakota Cooperative Extension Service, Soil Conservation Service, State Water Commission, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Game and Fish Department.
Legislation in 1983 added a new subsection to the North Dakota Century Code relating to a tax to be levied by the Soil Conservation Districts. The district supervisors put a one mill tax levy on all real property lying within a conservation district. The tax levy is paid by the owner of the land and is used for administrative and operating expenses of the districts. Supervisors could choose to raise the levy, but the increase had to be authorized by three fourths of the voters in the district (S. L. 1983, Ch. 97), however, the number of qualified voters needed to approve an ordinance was reduced to two thirds in 1985 (S. L. 1985, Ch. 95).
The purpose of the State Soil Conservation Committee was to promote soil conservation through programs and activities conducted under the auspices of the State Soil Conservation Districts; direct organization of State Soil Conservation Districts; provide operating guidelines for State Soil Conservation Districts; administer small watershed projects in the state; and develop water quality management plans for controlling non point sources of pollution. Additional goals of the committee included securing cooperation and assistance of state, federal, regional, local, and private agencies with districts; representing the state in matters affecting soil conservation; establishing uniform accounting methods that must be used in all districts; requiring annual reports from all districts; receiving from other state and local agencies for review and comment suitable descriptions of their plans and programs activities affecting the conservation of natural resources; and arranging for and participating in conferences to avoid conflict with other plans and programs (S. L. 1997, Ch. 50).
Since 1997, the North Dakota State University Extension Service has assisted the director with the administrative duties of the committee within the limits of legislative appropriation to deliver information and services to the districts (S. L. 1997, Ch. 50). The committee meets annually but the chairman may call special meetings as needed, or four committee members may request in writing that a special meeting be called (S. L. 1997, Ch. 50). The committee encourages conservation of soil and soil resources by disseminating information regarding the activities and programs of the soil conservation districts. All surface mining operators file an annual detailed report of their activities with the committee which, in turn, transmits the information to the district. The committee also administers the soil conservation technician grants program with the objective of reducing wind and water erosion damage on cropland.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH, WILLIAM P. SEBENS
from the Bismarck Tribune, May 13, 1978
William Peter Sebens was born April 30, 1896 at Hamlet, Indiana where he grew up and attended school. In 1918 he married Mildred Bunnell there. They moved to North Dakota and settled at Milnor (ND) where he farmed and was a seed salesman. In 1934 they moved to Fargo where he was a field representative for the Greater North Dakota Association from 1934-1955, living in Gwinner from 1914-1939 and Fargo from 1939-1955. From 1955 to 1971 he was executive secretary for the North Dakota State Soil Conservation Committee in Bismarck (ND). Mr. Sebens photographed the state for the Greater North Dakota Association and took aerial photographs of farmsteads for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Sebens raised seven children. He died in Bismarck May 12, 1978. Mrs. Sebens died May 19, 1995.
Photographs Inventory
00382-00001 SEE - 10435-P-00074 x
00382-00002 SEE - 10435-P-00012 x
00382-00003 SEE - 10435-P-00013 x
00382-00004 SEE - 10435-P-00011 x
00382-00005 SEE - 30878-A-85-55 x
00382-00006 SEE - 30878-A-3765-E-61 x
00382-00007 SEE - 10435-P-00059 x
00382-00008 SEE - 30878-A-84-55 x
00382-00009 SEE - 10435-P-00084 x
00382-00010 SEE - 10435-P-00077 x
00382-00011 SEE - 10435-P-00081 x
00382-00012 SEE - 10435-P-00080 x
00382-00013 Earthen dam and flood control work on Dickinson Dam, Stark County (N.D.) 1950
00382-00014 SEE - 10435-P-00097 x
00382-00015 SEE - 30878-A-2979-C-59x
00382-00016 SEE - 30878-A-2193-E-57x
00382-00017 SEE - 30878-A-1462-A-56x
00382-00018 SEE - 10435-P-00105 x
00382-00019 SEE - 10435-P-00106 x
00382-00020 SEE - 10435-P-00092 x
00382-00021 SEE - 10435-P-00107 x
00382-00022 SEE - 10435-P-00108 x
00382-00023 SEE - 10435-P-00045 x
00382-00024 SEE - 10435-P-00030 x
00382-00025 SEE - 10435-P-00060 x
00382-00026 SEE - 10435-P-00061 x
00382-00027 SEE - 10435-P-00062 x
00382-00028 SEE - 10435-P-00063 x
00382-00029 SEE - 00399-00427
00382-00030 Distant view of Chateau de Mores on hill Medora (N.D.) 1952
00382-00031 Young boys looking at Sakakawea Statue North Dakota State Capitol grounds Bismarck (N.D.) 1958
00382-00032 SEE - 10435-P-00109 x
00382-00033 SEE - 10435-P-00089 x
00382-00034 SEE - 30878-A-317-55x
00382-00035 SEE - 10435-P-00090 x
00382-00036 Junction of north and south forks of the Pembina River west of Walhalla (N.D.) 1957
00382-00037 SEE - 10435-P-00083 x
00382-00038 SEE - 10435-P-00024 x
00382-00039 SEE - 30878-A-2869-B-59x
00382-00040 SEE - 30878-A-3387-G-60x
00382-00041 SEE - A-2174-E-60 x
00382-00042 SEE - 30878-A-3387-C-60x
00382-00043 SEE - 10435-P-00064 x
00382-00044 Hanks Corner floodwater retarding dam on the Tongue River Watershed Project T-3-2 8/11/1956
00382-00045 Pembina River Valley showing the north and south forks of Pembina River west of Walhalla (N.D.) 1957
00382-00046 SEE - 30878-A-2839-C-59x
00382-00047 SEE - 10435-P-00086 x
00382-00048 SEE - 10435-P-00007 x
00382-00049 SEE - 10435-P-00065 x
00382-00050 SEE - 30878-A-2174-B-57x
00382-00052 SEE - 10435-P-00025 x
00382-00054 SEE - 30878-A-4073-B-62x
00382-00055 SEE - 30878-A-4031-A-62x
00382-00056 SEE - 30878-A-4030-A-62x
00382-00057 SEE - 30878-A-4033-E-62x
00382-00058 SEE - 30878-A-1736-C-56x
00382-00059 Wheat variety trial plots at Great Plains Experiment Station left to right: North Dakota 81, Corley, and North Dakota 16 Mandan (N.D.) 1958
00382-00060 Aerial view of stockwater hole constructed by Ramsey Brothers near Park River (N.D.) 6/1955
00382-00061 SEE - 30878-A-2833-B-59x
00382-00062 SEE - 10435-P-00110 x
00382-00063 SEE - 10435-P-00111 x
00382-00064 SEE - 00399-00429
00382-00065 SEE - 10435-P-00091
00382-00066 SEE - 10435-P-00112 x
00382-00067 SEE - 10435-P-00113 x
00382-00068 SEE - 10435-P-00068 x
00382-00069 SEE - 00399-00430
00382-00070 Group on irrigation tour finds a shady spot at Clayton Leroy Worst farm on the Lower Yellowstone in McKenzie County (N.D.) 1955
00382-00071 Most of the members of the irrigation tour after lunch at the Axel Danielson farm on the Lower Yellowstone in McKenzie County (N.D.) 7/19/1955
00382-00072 Group of water users on Lower Yellowstone Project stop at the Axel Valdimar Danielson farm in Yellowstone, McKenzie County (N.D.) 7/19/1955
00382-00073 SEE - 30878-A-108-55x
00382-00074 SEE - 10435-00088 x
00382-00075 SEE - 10435-P-00079 x
00382-00076 SEE - 30878-A-3699-D-61x
00382-00077 SEE - 10435-P-00069 x
00382-00078 SEE - 30878-A-112-55x
00382-00079 SEE - 30878-A-3900-A-61x
00382-00080 SEE - 10435-P-00070 x
00382-00081 SEE - 30878-A-3836-B-61x
00382-00082 SEE - 30878-A-3900-B-61x
00382-00083 SEE - 30878-A-105-55x
00382-00084 Group on irrigation tour finds a shady spot at Clayton Leroy Worst farm on the Lower Yellowstone, McKenzie County (N.D.) 7/19/1955
00382-00085 SEE - 30878-A-3834-E-61x
00382-00086 SEE - 30878-A-3742-D-61x
00382-00087 SEE - 30878-A-3699-A-61x
00382-00088 SEE - 10435-P-00075 x
00382-00089 SEE - 30878-A-4081-C-62x
00382-00090 SEE - 10435-P-00071 x
00382-00091 SEE - 30878-A-3699-B-61x
00382-00092 SEE - 10435-P-00072 x
00382-00093 SEE - 30878-A3883-F-61 x
00382-00094 Aerial view looking northeast toward Edmore showing natural channel of Edmore Coulee and flooded farmlands southwest of Edmore (N.D.) 1956
00382-00095 SEE - 30878-A-3699-C-61x
00382-00096 SEE - 10435-P-00073 x
00382-00097 SEE - 10435-P-00078 x
00382-00098 SEE - 10435-P-00076 x
00382-00099 SEE - 10435-P-00082 x
00382-00100 SEE - 10435-P-00087 x
00382-00101 Aerial overview of Francis W. "Fritz" Fischer farm, Rhame (N.D.) 1963
00382-00102 Aerial view of Jamestown Dam and Reservoir, Jamestown (N.D.) 1962
00382-00103 William P. Sebens 1957
00382-00104 William P. Sebens 1957
00382-00105 Angus D. McKinnon 1957
00382-00106 Completed spillway, Garrison Dam 04/13/1956
00382-00107 Garrison Dam power plant 1956
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