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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>346013</law_id><section_number>10.1-512</section_number><catch_line>Determination of need for district</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="38" identifier="10.1">Conservation</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">Activities Administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="7" identifier="5">Soil and Water Conservation</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="3" identifier="3">Soil and Water Conservation Districts</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>After a public <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>, if the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> determines that there is need, in the interest of the public health, safety, and welfare, for the proposed <span class="dictionary">district</span> to function in the territory considered at the <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>, it shall record its determination, and shall define, by metes and bounds or by legal subdivisions the boundaries of the <span class="dictionary">district</span>. In so doing, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall consider (i) the topography of the area considered and of the Commonwealth, (ii) the composition of soils in the area, (iii) the distribution of erosion, (iv) the prevailing land-use practices, (v) the desirability and necessity of including within the boundaries the particular lands under consideration and the benefits the lands may receive from being included within such boundaries, (vi) the relation of the proposed area to existing watersheds and to other <span class="dictionary">soil and water conservation districts</span> already organized or proposed for organization, (vii) the existing political subdivisions, and (viii) other relevant physical, geographical, economic, and funding factors. The territory to be included within such boundaries need not be contiguous.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 21-17; 1964, c. 512; 1970, c. 480; 1988, c. 891; 2002, c. 192.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
