Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) are political subdivisions of the State of Minnesota established to carry out a program for the conservation, use and development of soil, water and related resources.

Leadership and governance is provided by boards of five (5) locally elected Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors. The role of the elected supervisor is to develop policy, long range plans and budgets.

SWCD’s emphasize cooperation between federal, state and local resource management agencies and local land managers.

Kandiyohi SWCD was established April 23, 1954. Since then it has been our mission to encourage the wise use of land and water and to treat these resources in accordance with their needs for protection and improvement.

The Kandiyohi SWCD staff assists landowners with a variety of natural resource concerns.  The SWCD is co-located with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The SWCD and NRCS staffs work cooperatively on Federal Farm Bill Programs.

 
QUICK LINKS

Where can I get my Soil tested?

Where can I get my WATER tested?  (Test Kits Available in our office from RMB Labs)
 
Kandiyohi SWCD Monitoring Plan for Buffer Compliance Tracking

Buffer Complaint Form

Tree Order Form 2022

2022 Seed Brochere

Scholarship Form 2022



April 2022

It is a busy time of year for the Kandiyohi SWCD. Here is a list of upcoming events in April 2022.

April 21st: Kandiyohi SWCD Spring Open House @ the Community Center from 1:00 pm-4:00 pm 

April 22nd and April 25th: Tree Pick up dates at the Kandiyohi SWCD shed

April 23rd: Earth Day Celebration @ Praire Woods Enviromental Learning Center 1:00pm-4:30 pm

April 26th: Nitrate Testing Clinic @ Lake Lillian Community Center 9am-Noon

April 26th:  Nitrate Testing Clinic @ Raymond Community Center 1-4 pm

April 27th:  Nitrate Testing Clinic @ New London Senior Center 9am-Noon

April 27th: Nitrate Testing Clinic @ Atwater Community Center 1pm-4pm

NEWS RELEASE:

 Chippewa River Watershed Partners Announce Public Kick Off Meeting
The Chippewa River Watershed partners have worked together for many years, going as far back as 1998. A group called the Chippewa River Watershed Project (CRWP) has worked since that time to improve water quality in the watershed. This group completed watershed monitoring and worked to secure funding to do Best Management Practices (BMPs) and conduct education and outreach across the watershed. This group recently reorganized and is now called the Chippewa River Watershed Association (CRWA).

I have heard from some constituents that are wondering about the status of this group. About three years ago the partnership worked to reorganize its Joint Powers Agreement. The partnership previously only included the Counties and the group worked to revise the agreement to include Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). This group also began efforts to prepare for an application to the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) for the “One Watershed One Plan” program. The CRWA was successful in attaining a planning grant from BWSR.

This program allows counties to transition from county-based water plans to watershed-based planning. The planning area for the Chippewa River One Watershed One Plan includes portions of Otter Tail, Grant, Douglas, Stevens, Pope, Swift, Chippewa, and Kandiyohi counties. County and SWCD Boards in each of these counties have entered into a Joint Powers Agreement for the purpose of developing a watershed plan and to restore and protect the water and soil resources in the Chippewa River Watershed planning area. Pope Soil and Water Conservation District staff are acting on behalf of the partnership to coordinate this effort and to manage the fiscal duties.

The group has planned a public kick off and annual meeting on Tuesday, April 5th at 5:30 p.m. at the Minnewaska House in Glenwood, Minnesota. Please RSVP by March 28. This meeting is an opportunity for citizens that reside in the watershed to provide feedback and learn more about monitoring, funding opportunities, and status of work of the Chippewa River Watershed Association and partners. This meeting will include a meal.  For more information give Holly Kovarik a call at 320-634-5327 or email holly.kovarik@mn.nacdnet.net. Register here at: https://bit.ly/3HfBymN

This planning effort will take approximately two years to complete and at its conclusion will provide state funding for conservation projects that are considered a priority for improving and protecting our resources as identified and agreed upon by the CRWA members.