In 1939, in response to both the Dust Bowl and a perceived threat to farming and grazing lands, the Montana Legislative Assembly passed legislation creating the State Soil Conservation Committee, whose responsibilities included conserving soil resources as well as controlling and preventing soil erosion. The Committee was composed of seven members, including the Director of the State Agricultural Experiment Station, the Director of the State Extension Service, one member of the State Grazing Commission, one member of the Water Conservation Board, and the Commissioner of the State Department of Agriculture. Two additional seats went to Montanan farmers, selected by the Governor. The primary duty of the Committee was to supervise and offer assistance to the soil conservation districts established around the state. Soil conservation districts could be established by any ten occupiers of land within a given area where there was a need and interest in soil conservation. Conservation districts were considered a government office and were tasked with studying soil erosion, educating the public, and taking active measures to correct erosion.

By 1971, the State Soil Conservation Committee (later named the State Conservation Commission) was also responsible for conservation of water resources, watershed planning, flood control, dam construction, dam impairment prevention, wildlife protection, and more. Following the reorganization of state government in 1971-1972, oversight of conservation districts was moved from the Commission to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

As of 2026, the Conservation District Bureau oversees Montana's 58 conservation districts in addition to state grazing districts and provides organizational, technical, legal, and financial assistance. The Bureau operates within the Conservation and Resource Development Division of DNRC.