These days, stories of the New Deal are relegated to the history books to describe the herculean efforts aimed at lifting American out of the worst of hard times during the Great Depression. But one idea lives on in every corner of Montana and across most of the country: The conservation district.

These local government entities are charged with conserving soil and water. They are funded with local, state, and federal tax dollars, but the main source of funding is from the mining of coal in Montana. Revenue from the coal severance tax declined in recent years and is projected to continue dropping. The Environmental Quality Council is examining how Conservation Districts are funded. To learn more, visit, “Eroding Funds: Financing Soil and Water Conservation.”

The topic is on the EQC agenda September 14.