History
In 1937, Minnesota legislature passed an Enabling Act to give citizens the power to form Soil Conservation Districts. Chapter 44A Soil Conservation in the 1938 Supplement to Mason’s Minnesota Statutes (pdf), outlines the criteria and process for creating soil conservation districts.
Purpose
The purpose of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) is to conserve soil, water, and related natural resources on private land.
Authority
Soil and Water Conservation Districts are political subdivisions of the state with certain powers and duties. SWCDs are also subject to other state statutes and rules, which govern the conduct and operation of public bodies. SWCDs:
- Conduct resource surveys and demonstration projects;
- Carry out soil and water conservation measures on any lands in the district with the consent of the landowner;
- Cooperate or enter into agreements with any governmental agency or individual landowner for the purpose of carrying on a program of erosion prevention and control;
- Purchase or accept property and income and provide equipment and supplies that will help to bring about conservation practices;
- Construct, install, improve, maintain, and operate such structures and works as may be necessary for proper performance of the district;
- Develop a comprehensive and annual plan for the conservation of soil and water resources. These plans are required for the district to receive state grant funds;
- Assume land by purchase, lease, or otherwise to improve, maintain, operate, and administer any soil and water conservation project undertaken by federal or state government;
- Sue or be sued;
- Require compensation or contributions for goods and services provided;
- Make application or enter into an agreement with a designated authority for federal assistance;
- Perform any other acts necessary to secure and use federal aid;
- Acquire land, easements, or rights-of-way needed in connection with works of improvement installed with federal assistance.
- Use necessary funds to provide membership in state and national associations that pertain to district operations and is authorized to participate and appropriate necessary funds to defray expenses of district representatives for meetings of such groups;
- Procure insurance directly or through the county in which the district is located;
- Publish any information relating to the activities of the district;
- Provide advice to or consult with county or municipal representatives; and
- Present an annual budget to the board of county commissioners.
Organizational Structure
Board
Each SWCD is governed by a five-member board of supervisors elected by the citizens of the county. There is an exception, where there are four elected supervisors and one supervisor appointed by a tribal band. The SWCD board is responsible for policy development, annual plans, long-range plans and budgets.
Staff
Most SWCDs have full-time and/or part-time staff. BWSR maintains a SWCD directory that contains the contact information for board and staff member, as well as, the SWCD address and telephone number(s).
Map
The Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts website maintains a list of SWCD websites and an interactive map.
- SWCD Establishment Dates
District Established Aitkin SWCD 1957 Anoka SWCD 1946 Becker SWCD 1948 Beltrami SWCD 1950 Benton SWCD 1948 Big Stone SWCD 1954 Blue Earth SWCD 1959 Brown SWCD 1958 Carlton SWCD 1961 Carver SWCD 1946 Cass SWCD 1963 Chippewa SWCD 1954 Chisago SWCD 1950 Clay SWCD 1945 Clearwater SWCD 1954 Cook SWCD 1969 Cottonwood SWCD 1945 Crow Wing SWCD 1956 Dakota SWCD 1944 Dodge SWCD 1947 Douglas SWCD 1954 Faribault SWCD 1963 Fillmore SWCD 1942 Freeborn SWCD 1948 Goodhue SWCD 1961 Grant SWCD 1957 Hennepin County 1949 Hubbard SWCD 1969 Isanti SWCD 1963 Itasca SWCD 1964 Jackson SWCD 1954 Kanabec SWCD 1951 Kandiyohi SWCD 1954 Kittson SWCD 1953 Koochiching SWCD 1953 Lac qui Parle SWCD 1950 Lake of the Woods SWCD 1952 Lake SWCD 1965 LeSueur SWCD 1946 Lincoln SWCD 1944 Lyon SWCD 1945 Mahnomen SWCD 1949 Marshall SWCD 1957 Martin SWCD 1947 McLeod SWCD 1962 Meeker SWCD 1949 Mille Lacs SWCD 1954 Morrison SWCD 1960 Mower SWCD 1953 Murray SWCD 1954 Nicollet SWCD 1961 Nobles SWCD 1953 Norman SWCD 1941 Olmsted SWCD 1947 Ottertail East SWCD 1958 Ottertail West SWCD 1944 Pennington SWCD 1948 Pine SWCD 1958 Pipestone SWCD 1952 Polk East SWCD 1944 Polk West SWCD 1957 Pope SWCD 1949 Ramsey SWCD 1973 Red Lake SWCD 1949 Redwood SWCD 1953 Renville SWCD 1955 Rice SWCD 1942 Rock SWCD 1945 Root River SWCD 1939 Roseau SWCD 1956 Scott SWCD 1941 Sherburne SWCD 1944 Sibley SWCD 1952 St. Louis North SWCD 1959 St. Louis South SWCD 1963 Stearns SWCD 1949 Steele SWCD 1946 Stevens SWCD 1956 Swift SWCD 1950 Todd SWCD 1965 Traverse SWCD 1957 Wabasha SWCD 1960 Wadena SWCD 1958 Waseca SWCD 1948 Washington SWCD 1941 Watonwan SWCD 1954 Wilkin SWCD 1944 Winona SWCD 1938 Wright SWCD 1943 Yellow Medicine SWCD 1950