About Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Your local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is your connection to conservation assistance. Each county in Iowa is home to a SWCD (Pottawattamie county has 2 districts, an East and a West) that were established in response to the “Dust Bowl” period of the 1930s. The great dust storms of this period demonstrated the need for an organized effort to implement soil and water conservation to protect the land.
Soil & Water Conservation Districts are legal subdivisions of state government. Governed by a Board of Commissioners, such districts are responsible for carrying out state laws and programs within district boundaries. These include:
- Sediment Control Law
- Conservation Cost Share
- Conservation Revolving Loan Funds
- Water Quality Protection Projects
- Resource Enhancement And Protection (REAP)
- Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
- Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)
- Conservation Compliance
- Wetland Reserve Program
- Conservation Planning
SWCD Commissioners
Conservation districts in Iowa are governed by five commissioners who are elected at the general elections on a non-partisan basis for four-year terms. Only one commissioner may reside in any single township. Commissioners may come from all walks of life with the common interest of protecting our natural resources.
Commissioners help guide soil and water conservation programs in the county and have the opportunity to influence state and national conservation programs. They are expected to take part in monthly meetings, become knowledgeable of soil and water conservation laws and programs, develop and carry out soil and water resource conservation plans, and help direct financial incentive programs.
Assistant commissioners may be appointed by the Soil & Water Conservation District board on a calendar year basis to serve the district. Assistant commissioners must be eligible electors residing in the district to which they are appointed. Assistant commissioners act only in an advisory capacity and cannot make motions or vote on official district business at commissioners’ meetings.
Reports & Plans
View or download WSCWD Five Year Plan - 2021
Current Commissioners
Chairperson
