Soil & Water Conservation Districts
In 1937, Indiana joined states across the nation in forming soil conservation districts. Today, there are over 3,000 conservation districts in the United States. The Act that created the Indiana Conservation Act (IC 14-32) also established Indiana's Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), which are chartered, legal subdivisions of State Government.
Locally operating conservation units, the SWCDs develop and implement conservation programs based on a set of resource priorities, and channel resources from all levels of government into action at the local level. Indiana's 92 SWCDs are each governed by a board of supervisors, consisting of three elected supervisors, who own or rent more than 10 acres of land in the district, and two appointed supervisors who maintain their permanent residence in the district.
Tools to Assist Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Commonly Used Acronyms
Commonly Used AcronymsDirectory of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
On-line DirectoryDistrict Operations
District Operations Manual
Dual Office Holding
Dual Office Holding Reference Guide
Election Tools
Form Checklist for SWCDs - Due Date: October 1
Legal Requirements - Due Date: October 1
Election Committee Appointment - Due Date: November 1
Recommendation for Appointment - Due Date: November 1
Nominees for Election - Due Date: December 1
District Annual Meeting Info - Due Date: December 1
Notice of Annual Meeting - Due Date: Prior to meeting
Recommendation Vacant Positions - Due Date: 30 days after vacancy occurs
Ballot - Due Date: Prior to meeting
Oath of Office - Due Date: After annual meeting
Script for Oath of Office
Certification of Election - Due Date: After annual meeting
Recommendation for Temporary Elected Position
Ethics
State Ethics Commission
IASWCD District Visits Program
The District Visits Program - An Excellent Evaluation Tool
Indiana Conservation Act
Indiana SWCD Act in the Indiana Code
Indiana Public Access
HandbookIndiana State Board of Accounts
Approved Depositories
Revised 2006 Accounting and Uniform Compliance Guidelines Manual for Special DistrictsISDA Regional Executive Summary
Pilot ProjectJob Description
District Manager Job Description - Sample
Leveraging Local Funds
Instructions for Leveraging Local Funds (doc)
SWCD Spreadsheet for Leveraging Local Funds (Excel)Marketing Tools
Marketing Guide
Participant Database (Excel Spreadsheet)
Contact Sheet (doc)
Supervisor Recruitment Tools
Measures of Excellence
Supervisors Handbook
Supervisor Recruitment Introduction
Supervisor Recruitment Tools and Templates
Supervisor Recruitment Evaluation Form
Vision Card and Supervisor Job Description
SWCD Foundation Newsletter
2006 Third Quarterly Report
Training for Supervisors
New Supervisor Orientation (PowerPoint)
Soil Conservation Growth and Development (PowerPoint)
Business Plan Module (PowerPoint)
Working with Goverment Officials (PowerPoint)
Related Links
Features
- Disaster Relief Information
- Governor Daniels' Property Tax Plan and Agriculture
- Indiana's Vision for Conservation
- Indiana Land Resources Council Model Ordinances
- We All Live Downstream Event Schedule
- Conservation Photo Contest
