both on the farm and in the city. SWCD's provide voluntary, incentive driven
approaches, to land owners for better soil and cleaner water in the state of MInnesota.
History
Voluntary Conservation
Private landowners with financial and technical assistance from local soil and water conservation districts (SWCD’s) are implementing a wide variety of conservation practices, including restoring wetlands, planting shelterbelts and buffers and preventing soil erosion.
History
Legislation authorizing the formation of soil and water conservation districts as special purpose subdivisions of state government was approved in response to the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. The Burns-Homer-Pleasant Soil and Water Conservation District, later consolidated into Winona Soil and Water Conservation District, became Minnesota’s first soil and water conservation district.
1930’s Dust Bowl historic photo
Meeting Local Needs
Today, districts work with landowners in both rural and urban settings to manage and conserve natural resources. Because Minnesota has a wide variety of landscapes and conservation needs, each district operates at the direction of five locally elected supervisors or board members. These local work plans allow SWCDs to specifically manage the resources and serve the needs of users in their district. Because they are locally focused, resource management and protection occurs in good times and bad.
Private Lands Focus SWCD’s
Private Land Focus SWCD’s fill the crucial niche of providing soil and water conservation services to owners of private lands. Privately owned lands make up 78 percent of the land surface in Minnesota. Managing private lands, whether agricultural, forest, lakes or urban, in a way that promotes a sound economy and enhances natural resources is key to Minnesota’s environmental health.
Effective Program Delivery
Another way SWCDs address local needs is by serving as an efficient and effective delivery provider of state programs. These programs include Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Reserve, Wetland Conservation Act, Local Water Planning, Clean Water Partnership grants and Feedlot Water Quality Cost-Share, among others. Private landowners trust districts to provide needed technology, funding, and educational services because SWCDs are established in each community, are governed by local leaders, and are focused on conservation of local soil and water resources.
Governance & Funding
Minnesota’s 91 SWCDs are political subdivisions of the state established under Minnesota Statute, Chapter 103C. Each SWCD is governed by a board of five elected supervisors. State funding appropriations for SWCDs and their programs are administered through the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). In 2008, allocations to Soil & Water Conservation Districts from county governments totaled approximately $9.7 million. The average SWCD county allocation was $106,843, excluding passthrough funds. Pass-through state grants from counties totaled just over $4 million or an average of $44,008 per district. Total SWCD revenues received from counties (including pass-through funds) were $13.7 million or an average of $150,852 per district.Revenue sources for districts in 2008 were as follows: county (37 percent); state (35 percent); federal (2 percent); local (5 percent); fees for services (17 percent); and other sources (3 percent).
Maintaining Accountability SWCD’s
Maintainng Accountability SWCDs must report annually to BWSR about the state funds provided to districts. BWSR staff members maintain a close working relationship with all districts to ensure that state grants are spent properly. Districts are subject to audits under the oversight of the Office of the State Auditor. Most districts are audited every one to two years; the districts with smaller budgets are usually audited every four years.
For more than 50 years, SWCDs have been working to meet the needs of Minnesota’s landowners and landscapes. Please help support soil and water conservation districts so they can continue to provide these services throughout the 21st century.