Minnesota SWCDs
88 SWCDs serving Minnesota
Currently, there are eight areas in the state of Minnesota and within those areas there are 88 SWCDs.
SWCD Management​
SWCDs are local units of government that manage and direct natural resource management programs in their respective counties.
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Local landowners are elected to SWCD open board positions and help govern the SWCDs and its projects in cooperation with state and federal conservation agencies.
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Districts work in both urban and rural settings with landowners and other units of government, to carry programs for the conservation, use and development of soil, water and related resources. Funding is provided by county, state and local sources.
SWCD Governance​
SWCDs are local units of government that manage and direct natural resource management programs at the local level. SWCDs work in both urban and rural settings, with landowners and other units of government, to carry out programs for the conservation, use, and development of soil, water, and related resources.
There are 88 SWCDs in Minnesota. There is at least one SWCD in each of the 87 counties, with exception of the two most populated counties - Hennepin and Ramsey Counties - while a few of the larger counties have more than one SWCD:
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Otter Tail County - East Otter Tail SWCD and West Otter Tail SWCD
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Polk County - East Polk SWCD and West Polk SWCD
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St. Louis County - North St. Louis SWCD and South St. Louis SWCD
Each SWCD is governed by a board that consists of five locally elected supervisors. Supervisors serve four-year staggered terms; generally, every two years, two or three of a district's five supervisors are up for election.
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The elections are at-large within the district and in 1974 “supervisor nomination districts” were mandated. The rationale for this is that the SWCD programs deal with land and water issues of geographic scope; thus, it was seen as good government to ensure geographic distribution of elected officials across the SWCD.
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SWCD boards set overall policy and long-term objectives for their district and work with SWCD staff to see that policies and plans are implemented. They are not paid a salary; however, they do receive compensation for attending meetings and are reimbursed for expenses.
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Authority
Many SWCD authorities are established under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 103C - Soil and Water Conservation District Law. See Minn. Stat. § 103C.331 - Powers of District Boards.
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Funding
SWCDs are funded through a variety of sources. Many program administration dollars and funding for landowner projects are state dollars allocated by the legislature and passed through the State Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). General operating funds are obtained from BWSR, counties, fees for service and grants, or partnership agreements with the federal government or other conservation organizations.