Celebrating Our 75th Anniversary with A Look Back To 1967
The following is a report provided by Roland Sanborn, a former Board Chair, to the National Association of Conservation Districts on April 20, 1967. Roland was a founding member of the Board of Supervisors and served 51 years from 1946 to 1997.
Cumberland County Soil Conservation District Supervisors, (left to right) Winfield L. Prout of Scarborough, Alley Hawkes of Windham, and Roland Sanborn of Gorham (circa 1950).
“The Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District was organized in 1946 under the Maine District Act of 1941 as a legal Sub-division of the state to assist land owners with conservation problems and good land use.
The Conservation District is governed by five Supervisors, three of whom are elected by land owners, and two appointed by the State Soil Conservation Committee [now they are appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry]. In addition to the five voting members the local board has appointed three additional assistant Supervisors to help with work of the district. The Supervisors receive no pay except actual travel expenses. The District is financially supported only by Cumberland County and by the State of Maine, receiving no Federal Funds.
In 1963 and 1965 the district responsibilities were broadened to enable it to sponsor or co-sponsor flood prevention with Towns, groups, as well as individual land owners, and to help them plan good use of land and water resources within the District. The name of the District was changed to Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Cumberland County is rapidly developing its wide resources of Coastal areas, lakes and ponds. Open land around the Portland area for industry and suburban homes is being developed, as well. The broader services of the District are offering sound guidance for developing the resources of the county.
Eighty five percent of the soils of the county have been typed. Soil Suitability Guides have been developed that help land owners, including towns, determine the suitability of land from agricultural uses through, suburban house and cottage building, pipe and septic tank location, pond and lake building, recreation, camping and tent sites, bird and wildlife areas, access road building, and most other normal uses.
Considerable of the land information is being provided town and cities in the county as they plan new development. The District has made three exploratory studies with towns on flood prevention and one of these towns have been proven feasible, so that the necessary prevention measures have been planned.
A typical years District Services are:
• 1214 Technical services to Individual land owners, making major conservation improvements.
• 107 Consultive services to land owners with minor conservation problems.
• 15 Towns and Cities in the county furnished land information.
• Conservation information, programs and books were furnished to Scouts, Schools, and Clubs.
• Two ½ Scholarships furnished county teachers at the Bryant Pond Conservation School.”
Looking back at where we’ve been is always interesting, but rest assured the District will continue to adapt and update our services as we look forward to the next 75 years. The Supervisors and Staff are here to help you with your soil and water conservation needs, because we love what we do and we have fun educating and assisting the public to promote stewardship of soil and water resources here in Cumberland County!
