Conservation districts in West Virginia were organized in the 1930s and '40s in response to devastating soil erosion conditions, which existed in the United States during the late 1920s and '30s.

Since about three-fourths of the continental United States was privately owned, Congress realized that only active, voluntary support from landowners would guarantee the success of conservation work on private land. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a letter to all state governors recommending enactment of soil conservation district legislation. The proposed act suggested establishing districts as local units of government, established by the people, and governed by the people through elected supervisors.

West Virginia’s enabling act, the Soil Conservation Districts Act (West Virginia Code §19-21A), was passed in 1939. Today, West Virginia has 14 conservation districts, each consisting of one to six counties. As set forth in Chapter 19-21A-8(8) of the West Virginia Code, West Virginia’s 14 soil conservation districts are to preserve natural resources, control floods, prevent impairment of dams and reservoirs, protect the tax base, protect public lands and protect and promote the health, safety and general welfare of the people of the State.

Conservation districts operate under the guidance of the West Virginia State Conservation Committee. With support from the West Virginia Conservation Agency, the conservation districts develop and implement local conservation programs based upon established resource priorities. Conservation district supervisors are elected by the voters and serve on local boards that develop and implement programs to protect and conserve soil, water, woodland and other renewable natural resources.

Conservation District Mission

The mission of the Conservation Districts is to provide local self-government leadership and initiative in the development and conservation of soil, water and related resources. A balanced planning, education and management program that protects, restores and improves those resources will be accomplished in cooperation with landowners, government agencies and private organizations.

Capitol Conservation District
	T. Wilson Hudson (Kanawha) Chairperson 418 New Goff Mountain Rd Ste 102 Cross Lanes, WV 25313 Telephone: 304-965-6887 Valerie Thaxton (Kanawha) Treasurer 418 New Goff Mountain Rd Ste 102 Cross Lanes, WV 25313 Telephone: 304-549-5317 Sally Shepherd (Kanawha) Supervisor 1273 Haines Branch Sissonville, WV 25320 Telephone: 304-988-1717	Clyde Bailey (Kanawha) Vice-Chair 479 Cedar Cliff Lane Charleston, WV 25312-5663 Telephone: 304-543-8913 Richard Sams () Secretary 843 Canterbury Drive Elkview, WV 25071 Telephone: 304-965-1559
Eastern Panhandle Conservation District
	Nancy Lutz (Jefferson) Chairperson 297 Elder Lane Kearneysville, WV 25430 Telephone: 304-725-7187 Robert Boarman (Berkeley) Secretary 2690 Vineyard Rd. Falling Waters, WV 25419 Telephone: (304) 274-3575 Robert Dunham (Morgan) Supervisor 69 Wisteria Lane Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 Telephone: (304) 258-4068 Daniel Lutz (Jefferson) Supervisor 175 Wheatland Rd. Charles Town, WV 25414 Telephone: 304-725-0966	James Michael (Morgan) Vice-Chair 4594 Winchester Grade Rd. Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 Telephone: (304) 258-5277 Floyd Kursey (Berkeley) Treasurer 499 Kurseys Ford Lane Hedgesville, WV 25427 Telephone: (304) 754-8002 Robert Cloud (Berkeley) Supervisor , WV Telephone:
		Associates Mary Brosnan-Sell Kory Harmison David Tabb
Elk Conservation District
	John Pitsenbarger (Nicholas) Chairperson 5051 Wilderness Highway Nallen, WV 26680 Telephone: 304-651-4622 Larry Greynolds (Nicholas) Treasurer 607 Forest Lane Summersville, WV 26651 Telephone: 304-619-3332 Michael Smalley (Webster) Supervisor 64 Excelsior Rd Webster Springs, WV 26288 Telephone: 304-847-5889 Linda Brown (Braxton) Supervisor 1353 Stone Run Rd. Flatwoods, WV 26621 Telephone: 304-765-2735	Donald Burroughs (Braxton) Vice-Chair 2424 Pickles Fork Heaters, WV 26627 Telephone: 304-765-7030 Clark Mollohan (Webster) Supervisor 1060 Poling Road Hacker Valley, WV 26222 Telephone: 304-493-6644 Jeremy Cantrell (Clay) Supervisor 326 Cantrell Lane Duck, WV 25063 Telephone: 304-395-1343 Keyota Jarvis (Clay) Supervisor P. O. Box 153 Maysel, WV 25133 Telephone: 304-651-4150
		Associates Shirley Hyre Randy Tucker
Greenbrier Valley Conservation District
	Gary Sawyers (Greenbrier) Chairperson 1535 Grassy Meadows Rd Smoot, WV 24977 Telephone: 304-392-5746 Gary Truex (Greenbrier) Treasurer 241 Maple Hill Lane Ronceverte, WV 24970 Telephone: 304-647-4787 Avery Atkins (Monroe) Supervisor 3556 Seneca Trail, North Pickaway, WV 24976 Telephone: 304-646-8110	Timothy VanReenen (Pocahontas) Vice-Chair 758 Denmar Rd Hillsboro, WV 24946 Telephone: 304-659-4897 Jerry Clifton (Pocahontas) Supervisor 221 Quarry Rd Marlinton, WV 24954 Telephone: 304-799-4673 Carolyn Miller (Monroe) Supervisor Rt 2 Box 116 Sinks Grove, WV 24976 Telephone: 304-772-5189
Guyan Conservation District
	Bill Stewart (Wayne) Chairperson 1168 Greenbrier Creek Rd. Ft. Gay, WV 25514 Telephone: 304-272-6422 Ken Brown (Cabell) Treasurer 3791 Mt. Union Road Huntington, WV 25701 Telephone: 304-523-4874 Zackary Winters (Cabell) Supervisor RR 1, Box 340 Lesage, WV 25537 Telephone: 304-208-0997 John Kovach (Logan) Supervisor P.O. Box 4522 Chapmanville, WV 25508 Telephone: 304-855-9594 John McDowell (Lincoln) Supervisor P.O. Box 665 Hamlin, WV 25523 Telephone: 304-546-3500 Harry Keith White (Mingo) Supervisor P.O. Box 1985 Gilbert, WV 25621 Telephone: 304-784-3535	Helen Stanley (Mingo) Vice-Chair P.O. Box 1175 Williamson, WV 25561 Telephone: 615-397-6651 Jason Ekers (Wayne) Supervisor 783 Upper Gragston Creek Road Prichard, WV 25555 Telephone: 304-486-5355 George Mathis (Logan) Supervisor PO Box 550 Whitman, WV 25652 Telephone: 304-239-0022 Ronnie Hager (Lincoln) Supervisor 218 Camp Branch Road Hamlin, WV 25523 Telephone: 304-552-8989 Linda Browning (Boone) Supervisor 359 Cooper Street Danville, WV 25053 Telephone: 304-369-6928
Little Kanawha Conservation District
	Bob Buchanan (Wood) Chairperson 2091 Oak Grove Rd Walker, WV 26180 Telephone: 304-210-5206 Rose Ann Adams (Wirt) Secretary 1350 Somerville Fork Palestine, WV 26160 Telephone: (304)275-3932 David Cain (Calhoun) Supervisor 6358 WLK HWY Big Bend, WV 26136 Telephone: 304-462-7747 Sam Sheets (Roane) Supervisor 93 Crescent Drive Spencer, WV 25276 Telephone: (304)927-3658 Roger Shaver (Wirt) Supervisor PO Box 251 Elizabeth, WV 26143 Telephone: (304) 275-4313	Mike Nichols (Ritchie) Vice-Chair 227 Mountain Drive Pennsboro, WV 26415 Telephone: (304) 659-2399 Dale Cunningham (Calhoun) Treasurer 101 Backfork Rd Big Springs, WV 26137 Telephone: 304-354-6916 Ed Martin (Ritchie) Supervisor 85 Backache Acres Rd Harrisville, WV 26362 Telephone: 304-869-3448 Russell Wade (Roane) Supervisor 26 Washington St Reedy, WV 25270 Telephone: 304-927-0844 Jeff McElfresh (Wood) Supervisor 519 Wolfe Run Rd Belleville, WV 26133 Telephone: 304-482-8114
		Associates Thanh Ashman Delmas Carr Dexter Graham Jim Woods
Monongahela Conservation District
	Mark Myers (Monongalia) Chairperson 115 LamplighterDrive Morgantown, WV 26508 Telephone: 304-290-4013 Robert White (Marion) Supervisor 56 Shumans Run Rd Rivesville, WV 26588 Telephone: 701-215-8342 Mark Teets (Preston) Supervisor 4147 Aurora Pike Aurora, WV 26705 Telephone:	Edward Utterback (Preston) Vice-Chair 274 Cathedral Park Dr. Aurora, WV 26705 Telephone: 304-735-3931 Chuck Cienawski (Marion) Treasurer 221 Sweeps Run Road Fairmont, WV 26554 Telephone: 304-534-3196 H.R. Scott (Preston) Supervisor 422 Oakmount Ct. Maidsville, WV 26541 Telephone: 304-708-00034
		Associates Jean Conley James McDonald Art Mouser Andrew Price
Northern Panhandle Conservation District
	Mark Fitzsimmons (Marshall) Chairperson 2127 Irish Ridge Rd. Cameron, WV 26033 Telephone: (304) 845-5324 Amy Wade (Ohio) Secretary 277 Rock Valley Farm Road Triadelphia, WV 26059 Telephone: 304-547-0419 David McCardle (Marshall) Supervisor 153 Black Angus Lane Moundsville, WV 26041 Telephone: (304) 845-1189 Robert Luchetti, Jr. (Ohio) Supervisor 3950 Chapel Hill Road Triadelphia, WV 26059 Telephone: 304-559-2957	Jim Anderson (Hancock) Vice-Chair 122 Lazy A Drive New Cumberland, WV 26047 Telephone: 330-708-4089 Chuck Glenn (Hancock) Treasurer 500 Locust Hill Road Chester, WV 26034 Telephone: 304-387-1640 Steve Paull (Brooke) Supervisor 1064 LaBelle Farm Lane Wellsburg, WV 26070 Telephone: 304-829-4249
		Associates Eric Blend H. Louis Winters
Potomac Valley Conservation District
	Charlotte Hoover (Pendleton) Chairperson 124 Black Thorn Road Sugar Grove, WV 26815 Telephone: (304) 358-3024 James See III (Hampshire) Treasurer 236 Auction Time Drive Purgitsville, WV 26852 Telephone: (301) 268-9872 Brian Dayton (Mineral) Supervisor 1555 Fairview Valley Rd. Ridgeley, WV 26753 Telephone: (304) 813-6858 Gerald Sites (Grant) Supervisor 229 Sites Lane Petersburg, WV 26847 Telephone: (304) 257-4397 Lois Carr (Pendleton) Supervisor 365 carr Farm Rd. Seneca Rocks, WV 26884 Telephone: 304-567-3552	Ronald Miller (Hardy) Vice-Chair 1930 Big Ridge Rd. Baker, WV 26801 Telephone: (304) 897-5063 Kent Spencer (Mineral) Secretary 1721 Headsville Rd. Keyser, WV 26726 Telephone: (304) 788-2974 George Leatherman (Hardy) Supervisor P.O. Box 22 Old Fields, WV 26845 Telephone: (304) 538-2788 Frank Weese (Grant) Supervisor 1831 Brick School Rd Maysville, WV 26833 Telephone: 304-749-8110 David Parker (Hampshire) Supervisor PO Box 901 Romney, WV 26757 Telephone: 304-822-5896
Southern Conservation District
	Randall Patton (McDowell) Chairperson PO Box 343 Roderfield, WV 24881 Telephone: 304-436-5301 Curtis Murphy (Mercer) Treasurer 3158 Wright Mtn. Rd. Rock, WV 24747 Telephone: (304) 467-7048 Randy Prince (Fayette) Supervisor PO Box 237 Danese , WV 25831 Telephone: 304-640-3486 Alvin Marchant (Mercer) Supervisor Bluefield, WV Telephone: (304) 324-3389 Bill Cook (Wyoming) Supervisor Oceana, WV Telephone:	Bill Harris (Raleigh) Vice-Chair PO Box 643 Beaver, WV 25813 Telephone: 304-573-9457 Fred Halsey (Wyoming) Secretary PO Box 541 Oceana, WV 24870 Telephone: (304) 673-9601 John Farrell (Summers) Supervisor 12 Ferrells Eddy Fort Hinton, WV 25951 Telephone: 304-466-0290 Edgar Hendrick (Raleigh) Supervisor Cool Ridge, WV Telephone:
Tygarts Valley Conservation District
	James Dean (Randolph) Chairperson Route 1 Box 35B Beverly, WV 26253 Telephone: (304)-338-2233 Teresa Gerard (Taylor) Treasurer Grafton, WV Telephone: Delbert Vandevander (Barbour) Supervisor , WV Telephone: Joseph Shaffer (Taylor) Supervisor 620 Hill St. Grafton, WV 26354 Telephone: (304) 265-4730 Kalyn Roberts (Upshur) Supervisor , WV Telephone:	Donnie Tenney (Upshur) Vice-Chair PO Box 112 Tallmansville, WV 26237 Telephone: 304-472-4693 James Nester (Tucker) Supervisor 102 Ram Rd. Parsons, WV 26287 Telephone: (304) 478-4111 Donald Adams (Tucker) Supervisor , WV Telephone: Tom Short (Barbour) Supervisor Philippi, WV Telephone: Tim Cunningham (Randolph) Supervisor , WV Telephone:
Upper Ohio Conservation District
	Allen Rush (Wetzel) Chairperson 897 Friendship Ridge Rd New Martinsville, WV 26155 Telephone: (304) 455-4465 Holly Morgan (Wetzel) Secretary 622 Morgan Lane New Martinsville, WV 26155 Telephone: 304.771.8482 Audra Cunningham (Pleasants) Supervisor 12309 Hebron Rd St. Marys, WV 26170 Telephone: 304.684.3077	Bill Gellner (Pleasants) Vice-Chair 483 Abby Ridge Rd. St. Marys, WV 26170 Telephone: (304) 684-2600 Wayne McKeever (Tyler) Supervisor 391 Baker Lane Sistersville, WV 26175 Telephone: 304.771.3174 Patricia Thomas (Tyler) Supervisor 4884 Sellers Rd Middlebourne, WV 26149 Telephone: 304.771.9284
West Fork Conservation District
	William Coffindaffer (Lewis) Chairperson Roanoke, WV 26447 Telephone: 304-452-8587 Randy Plaugher (Doddridge) Treasurer Salem, WV Telephone: 304-782-4108 William McClain (Lewis) Supervisor 7455 Georgetown Rd Roanoke, WV 26447 Telephone: (304) 452-8587 Larry Sponaugle (Gilmer) Supervisor 9497 Cedar Creek Rd. Cedarville, WV 26611 Telephone: 304-462-5224	James Foster (Doddridge) Vice-Chair 2798 Grove Summers Rd New Milton, WV 26411-9728 Telephone: (304) 349-4985 Jane Cain (Gilmer) Secretary 63 Tanner Hill Rd Tanner, WV 26137 Telephone: (304) 462-7747 Bob Suan (Harrison) Supervisor Lost Creek, WV 26385 Telephone: 304-6246202 Steve Cronin (Harrison) Supervisor Jane Lew, WV Telephone: 304-657-7029
		Associates Rodney Dye Dinah Hannah Belva Junkins
Western Conservation District
	Charles Lipscomb (Mason) Chairperson 2754 Plain Valley Road Letart, WV 25253 Telephone: (304) 675-8656 Cell 304-593-9978 James Withrow (Putnam) Secretary 22878 Charleston Road Leon, WV 25123 Telephone: (304) 415-2079 Cell 304-415-2079 Joe Casto (Jackson) Supervisor 2664 Tug Fork Rd Ripley, WV 25271 Telephone: 304-532-5369	Jeremy Grant (Mason) Vice-Chair 1269 Southside Lane Southside, WV 25187 Telephone: 304-939-3901 Donald Stephens (Jackson) Treasurer 220 Wolfpen Hollow Road Ravenswood, WV 26164 Telephone: 304-532-2276 Mary King (Putnam) Supervisor 8116 Manilla Creek Rd. Red House, WV 25168 Telephone: 304-586-0843