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State Natural Resource Conservation Districts Board

Revision Date

Authority

In 2024, the Legislature enacted legislation to transfer oversight of the Natural Resource Conservation Districts (NRCDs) from the Arizona State Land Commissioner to the newly created State Natural Resource Conservation Districts Board (NRCD Board). Effective January 1, 2025, the State Natural Resource Conservation Board will manage state resource conservation programs.

Statutory provisions governing the Board will be found at A.R.S. §§41-6001 through 41-6057. See Laws 2024, Chapter 258.

Statutory provisions

Prior to creation of the stand-alone NRCD Board, statutory provisions governing NRCDs were found in A.R.S. §§37-1001 through 37-1057. Laws 2024, Chapter 258 transferred and renumbered Title 37, Chapter 6, Articles 1, 2, 3 and 4, Arizona Revised Statutes, placing those provisions in Title 41 as a new Chapter 58. NRCD Board statutes are currently numbered as A.R.S. §§41-6001 through 41-6057.

Function

Until December 31, 2024, the State Land Department managed and supported resource conservation district programs for the well-being of the public and the State’s natural environment. Natural Resource Conservation Districts (NRCDs) partnered with the State Land Department to obtain grant funding for conservation projects on State Land, provided technical assistance to Department staff, assisted with land management planning, initiated educational outreach, and consulted with Department staff on a variety of natural resource management issues. The Department included a division of natural resource conservation, under the authority and direction of the Commissioner (A.R.S. §37-1011).

The state recognized the special expertise of NRCDs in the fields of land, soil, water and natural resources management as reflected in its authority to:

  • conduct surveys, investigations and research relating to the character of soil, soil erosion prevention, and other measures to aid farm and range operations;
  • disseminate information;
  • conduct research programs in cooperation with the state, its agencies, or the United States or its agencies;
  • create and administer a soil health program to promote soil health practices, research projects, demonstration projects, educational projects and methods to promote the capacity for soil to sustain plants, animals and humans;
  • cooperate with landowners and operators to carry on watershed improvement, methods of cultivation, cropping practices, land leveling, range use, and eradicating noxious or invasive growth on grazing lands; and
  • organize and establish an education center to increase knowledge of natural resources.

(See A.R.S. §37-1054; renumbered as A.R.S. §41-6054)

Effective January 1, 2025, the Arizona State Natural Resource Conservation District Board will manage resource conservation programs. The NRCD Board consists of eleven members who serve three-year terms. The NRCD Board is authorized to adopt Administrative Rules as deemed necessary. See A.R.S. §41-6011.

History

The State Land Code, adopted in 1915, established the Arizona State Land Department and created the office of the Commissioner of State Lands to manage the trust lands and resources for the beneficiaries according to the mandates of the federal Enabling Act and the Arizona Constitution. Initial duties of the Commissioner included selecting trust lands and securing title to those lands.

In 1941, the Legislature established the State Soil Conservation Committee as an agency of the state and placed it under the authority and direction of the State Land Commissioner. Committee members included the Governor, State Land Commissioner, State Water Commissioner and Director of the State Agricultural Extension Service.

The Division of Soil Conservation was part of the State Land Department, directed by the State Land Commissioner (ARS §37-1011). Laws 1941, Chapter 43, included a Declaration of Policy which stated:
“…the policy of the legislature is to provide for the restoration and conservation of lands and soil resources of the state, the preservation of water rights and the control and prevention of soil erosion, and thereby to conserve natural resources, conserve wildlife, protect the tax base, protect public lands and protect and restore this state’s rivers and streams and associated riparian habitats, including fish and wildlife resources that are dependent on those habitats, and in such manner to protect and promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the people.” A.R.S. §37-1001.

Provisions relating to Soil Conservation Districts, including general provisions, formation, boundaries, dissolution and administration, originally enacted by Laws 1941, Chapter 43, were amended in 1968, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1994, 1995, 2014 and 2024. Statutory language was first placed in A.R.S. Title 45 but has been transferred and renumbered twice (Title 37 and Title 41).

Session Laws
Laws 1941, Chapter 43 established the State Soil Conservation Committee as an agency of the state. Its members included the Governor, State Land Commissioner, State Water Commissioner and Director of the State Agricultural Extension Service. The measure provided for creation of soil conservation districts and defined their purpose, powers and duties. Only agricultural lands could be included within the boundaries of the districts.

Laws 1968, Chapter 74 modified existing provisions and added a section relating to changing district boundaries, combining or dividing districts or changing the name of a district.

Soil Conservation Districts were renamed Natural Resource Conservation Districts by Laws 1972, Chapter 28 and a conforming change was made to the heading for Title 45, Chapter 8, Article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.

Laws 1980, 4th Special Session, Chapter 1, Section 105 transferred and renumbered Title 45, Chapter 8 for placement in Title 37, ARS as Chapter 5, Articles 1, 2, 3 and 4 with the heading “Natural Resource Conservation Districts.” The measure included conforming changes in related statutory provisions to update cross references and reflect the renumbering.

Laws 2014, Chapter 243 modified the lead-in to natural resource district powers, adding a provision to recognize the special expertise of NRCDs in the field of land, soil, water and natural resources management.

Laws 2024, Chapter 258 transferred oversight of the Natural Resource Conservation Districts (NRCD) from the Arizona State Land Commissioner to the newly created State NRCD Board (Board). The measure establishes an 11-member Board to assist the supervisors of the natural resource conservation districts; outlines Board membership, powers, duties and reporting requirements; establishes the NRCD Fund; outlines the Fund purpose and administration; prescribes district organization and election of supervisors; outlines powers of a district and its supervisors; and provides for transition of responsibilities from the State Land Commissioner to the Board. The measure also transfers and renumbers A.R.S. sections pertaining to NRCDs from Title 37 to Title 41 (See Section 4, Transfer and renumber derivation table).

Sources

  • Arizona Revised Statutes §§41-6001 through 41-6057
  • Session Laws
    • Laws 1941, Chapter 43
    • Laws 1968, Chapter 74
    • Laws 1972, Chapter 28
    • Laws 1980, 4th Special Session, Chapter 1, Section 105
    • Laws 2014, Chapter 243
    • Laws 2024, Chapter 258

Arizona State Land Department website

Related Collections at Arizona State Archives

  • Record Group 006 – Secretary of the Territory, 1863-1922
  • Record Group 059 – Land Department
  • Record Group 195 – State Forestry Division