# Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge Requirements

- Eagle-required: No
- Category: Conservation
- Official requirements: https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/soil-and-water-conservation/
- Pamphlet: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/Merit_Badge_ReqandRes/Pamphlets/Soil%20and%20Water%20Conservation.pdf
- Last synced from scouting.org: 2026-03-29
- Overview: https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/soil-and-water-conservation/index.md
- Digital Resource Guide: https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/soil-and-water-conservation/guide/index.md

Learn soil formation, erosion control, watersheds, the water cycle, pollution prevention, and complete hands-on conservation projects to earn this merit badge.

## Requirements

- **1** *Soil Fundamentals* (Do all) Do the following:
  - **1.a** Tell what soil is. Tell how it is formed.
  - **1.b** Describe three kinds of soil. Tell how they are different.
  - **1.c** Name the three main plant nutrients in fertile soil. Tell how they can be put back when used up.
- **2** *Understanding Soil Erosion* (Do all) Do the following:
  - **2.a** Define soil erosion.
  - **2.b** Tell why soil erosion is important and how it affects you.
  - **2.c** Name three kinds of soil erosion. Describe each.
  - **2.d** Take pictures of or draw two kinds of soil erosion.
- **3** *Erosion-Control Practices* (Do all) Do the following:
  - **3.a** Tell what is meant by conservation practices.
  - **3.b** Describe the effect of three kinds of erosion-control practices.
  - **3.c** Take pictures of or draw three kinds of erosion-control practices.
- **4** *Watersheds, Basins & Aquifers* (Do all) Do the following:
  - **4.a** Explain what a watershed is.
  - **4.b** Outline the smallest watershed that you can find on a contour map.
  - **4.c** Outline, as far as the map will allow, the next larger watershed that also has the smallest one in it.
  - **4.d** Explain what a river basin is. Tell why all people living in a river basin should be concerned about land and water use in the basin.
  - **4.e** Explain what an aquifer is and why it can be important to communities.
- **5** *The Water Cycle & Runoff* (Do all) Do the following:
  - **5.a** Make a drawing to show the hydrologic cycle.
  - **5.b** Demonstrate at least two of the following actions of water in relation to soil: percolation, capillary action, precipitation, evaporation, and transpiration.
  - **5.c** Explain how removal of vegetation will affect the way water runs off a watershed.
  - **5.d** Tell how uses of forest, range, and farmland affect usable water supply.
  - **5.e** Explain how industrial use affects water supply.
- **6** *Water Pollution & Waste Treatment* (Do all) Do the following:
  - **6.a** Tell what is meant by water pollution.
  - **6.b** Describe common sources of water pollution and explain the effects of each.
  - **6.c** Explain the terms: primary water treatment, secondary waste treatment, and biochemical oxygen demand.
  - **6.d** Make a drawing showing the principles of complete waste treatment.
- **7** *Choose Two Conservation Projects* (Choose 2) Do TWO of the following:
  - **7.a** *Visit Two Conservation Sites* (Choose 2) Make a trip to TWO of the following places. Write a report of more than 500 words about the soil and water and energy conservation practices you saw.
    - **7.a.1** *Agricultural Experiment* An agricultural experiment
    - **7.a.2** *Managed Forest, Range, or Pasture* A managed forest or woodlot, range, or pasture
    - **7.a.3** *Wildlife Refuge or Game Area* A wildlife refuge or a fish or game management area
    - **7.a.4** *Conservation-Managed Farm or Ranch* A conservation-managed farm or ranch
    - **7.a.5** *Managed Watershed* A managed watershed
    - **7.a.6** *Waste-Treatment Plant* A waste-treatment plant
    - **7.a.7** *Drinking Water Treatment Plant* A public drinking water treatment plant
    - **7.a.8** *Industry Water Use Installation* An industry water use installation
    - **7.a.9** *Desalination Plant* A desalinization plant
  - **7.b** *Plant for a Purpose* Plant 100 trees, bushes, and/or vines for a good purpose.
  - **7.c** *Seed a Conservation Plot* Seed an area of at least one-fifth acre for some worthwhile conservation purposes, using suitable grasses or legumes alone or in a mixture.
  - **7.d** *Map Soils with a Survey Report* Study a soil survey report. Describe the things in it. Using tracing paper and a pen, trace over any of the soil maps, and outline an area with three or more different kinds of soil. List each kind of soil by full name and map symbol.
  - **7.e** *Find and Fix Local Problems* Make a list of places in your neighborhood, camps, school ground, or park that have erosion, sedimentation, or pollution problems. Describe how these could be corrected through individual or group action.
  - **7.f** *Design Your Own Conservation Project* Carry out any other soil and water conservation project approved by your counselor.