ForeverGreen 2024 Special Edition - KDSWCD 80 year Anniversary

2024 Special Edition

Upcoming Board Meetings

Second Thursday every Month

Check website for times and agendas

It's Our 80th Anniversary!

Octogentennial

80 years rooted in strength and resilience!

The Oak Anniversary stands tall

as a testament to enduring commitment.

Like the mighty oak tree,

we have weathered the seasons,

grown in wisdom

and flourished with each passing year.

A legacy that will stand the test of time!

A Soil Conservation District is Born!

The 1944 news article to the right describes the confidence of county constituents that a local District would be "an important step towards improving the productivity of the resources of the soil, the prevention of erosion and other critical losses, and the reclamation of marginal lands."

The Illinois Soil and Water Conservation District Act outlines an SWCD's responsibility to provide technical information to individuals and groups on methods of soil and water conservation. Our mission is to support residents’ quality of life by leading efforts to ensure healthy soil, clean water, sustainable land development and regenerative agriculture.

Our first office was located with the Kane County Farm Bureau at 324 E. State Street in Geneva. We moved within Geneva twice, in 1970 to 720 E State Street and in 1974 to the Kane County Government Center at 719 S Batavia Avenue.

We then joined the University of Illinois Extension at 545 Randall Road, St Charles in 1977. In 2005, we moved to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office at our present location, 2315 Dean St, St. Charles.

1961 Expansion:

As DuPage County Townships joined the District, the name was changed:

Kane-DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District

"Water" was also added in response to a new resolution of the State Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

July 1972: NRI

The Section 22.02a amendment to the Illinois Soil and Water Conservation District Law became effective in 1972, making District activities even more significant: any individual petitioning a Unit of Government for a change in land use must file for a Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) from the District. Thus, the District Board must review each proposed land use change within its boundaries.

Learn more about KDSWCD programs and events on our website!

Logos thru the Years

Your KDSWCD Team 2024

4-H Green Communities Oak Planting

Commemorates KDSWCD 80 years

How to Plant an Oak Tree

Gary Swick, President of Friends of the Fox River, and Olivia Winters, Conservation Planner, demonstrate planting for success

Going Digging!

Conservation Planners Aidan Woltman and Collin Nye head out into the field

Digging in!

Olivia Winters, IDOA Conservation Planner

The Game Plan

Dan Soliz, KDSWCD Vice-Chairman Maggie Soliz's husband, Isa Borzeka, KDSWCD Resource Assistant, Olivia Winters, Conservation Planner and Mickey Harney, son of KDSWCD Associate Director Sue Harney

One White Oak in the Soil!

The first of 25 new saplings planted at the Jelke Bird Sanctuary, Dundee

Learning about Restoration!

Kat Gerdts, KDSWCD Administrative Coordinator shares Earth Day activities to 4-H volunteers Fabian Rivas, 7, of Elgin and Mrunmayi Mudgal, 8, of Dundee

Mighty Titans 4-H

Claudio and Arcadia Rivas, of Elgin, plant an oak tree with their children Fabian, 7, and Daniella, 11. Covering the root ball with soil to the crown, stomping out air holes and watering thoroughly is key!