Steele County Soil and Water Conservation DistrictWhat is an SWCD ?
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Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) are political subdivisions of the State established under Minnesota Statute 103C. Each SWCD is governed by a board of elected supervisors.
There are 91 SWCDs in Minnesota, providing 100% coverage of the state. There is at least one SWCD in each of the 87 counties, and a few of the larger counties have more than one.
The first SWCD in Minnesota was created in 1938 to encourage landowners to conserve soil and water resources. Statewide, 75% of Minnesota lands are in private ownership. In agricultural regions, the number is quite often 95%.
SWCDs fill the crucial niche of providing land and water conservation services to owners of private lands. Managing private lands in a way that promotes a sound economy and sustains and enhances natural resources is key to Minnesota’s environmental health. Private landowners trust SWCDs to provide needed technology, funding and educational services because they are established in each community, governed by local leaders and focused on conservation of local soil and water resources.
SWCDs work to reduce non-point source pollution to make Minnesota's lakes and rivers fishable and swimmable. Non-point source (NPS) pollution is a term for polluted runoff. Water washing over the land, whether from rain, car washing, or the watering of crops or lawns, picks up an array of contaminants, including oil and sand from roadways, agricultural chemicals from farmland, and nutrients and toxic materials from urban and suburban areas. This runoff finds its way into our waterways, either directly or through storm drain collection systems. The term non-point is used to distinguish this type of diffuse pollution from point source pollution, which comes from specific sources, such as sewage treatment plants or industrial facilities.
Landowners across Minnesota count on
SWCD technical assistance with conservation practices that
protect the quality of Minnesota's greatest treasure - our
natural resources.
Steele County SWCD
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The Steele County Soil and Water Conservation District
About our District
Since 1946, the Steele County Soil and Water Conservation District
has served the community by coordinating technical and financial
assistance for local landowners.
The Prime Responsibility of the District is
to coordinate assistance on private lands to control erosion,
prevent flooding, enhance wildlife, develop recreation, build the
economic base, and to manage our soil and water resources.
Our
board
Our five-member, locally elected Board of Supervisors set policies,
provide local input and insure oversight and accountability for the
district. The SWCD Board meets the 2nd Wednesday of each
month.
Our SWCD works closely with various organizations and agencies to
meet the conservation needs of the local landowners. Our primary
partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service,
Farm Service Agency, Steele County and the Minnesota Board of Water
and Soil Resources.
Together we are able to leverage local, state and federal resources
to put conservation practices on the landscape.
Education is a key to our programs.
Many of the private landowners who invest their own money in
conservation practices appreciate being able to put a face to the
people helping them care for their land and water.
The Steele County SWCD office is the place to ask questions
about all phases of conservation, from improving water quality to
forestry assistance to establishing wildlife habitat.
Among other things, our district helps:
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provide technical expertise to landowners to identify, apply for,
and participate in local, state and federal
conservation programs;
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implement farm, urban, lake and forestland conservation practices to
protect water quality, soil
productivity, and wildlife habitat;
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restore and protect wetlands, which purify water and provide
wildlife habitat;
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assist homeowners and communities to plant trees and other
vegetation to hold soil in place, clean the
air, provide cover for wildlife and beautify
neighborhoods;
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guide developers in controlling soil erosion and protecting water
resources during construction; and
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reach out to communities and schools to teach the value of natural
resources and encourage
conservation efforts.
Our office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., except for Fridays when the hours are 7:30 to 4:00. The office is closed on holidays. We are located at 235 Cedardale Drive, Owatonna, MN. You can reach us by phone at (507) 451-6730 Ext. 3 or visit our website www.steeleswcd.org.