Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) are political subdivisions of the State. The Stearns County SWCD is governed by an elected Board of five Supervisors. Each Supervisor represents their area of residence, but is elected countywide for a four-year term. The Board of Supervisors is responsible for setting goals, policies, and priorities for the District to work towards.

In 1974, “supervisor nomination districts” were mandated for the purpose of ensuring some measure of geographic distribution of elected supervisors across each SWCD. The rationale for this is that the SWCD programs deal with land and water issues of geographic scope; thus, it was seen as good government to ensure geographic distribution of elected officials across the SWCD.

The Board meets monthly to review projects and direct staff based on their own knowledge and background. Stearns County has been fortunate to continually elect Supervisors with a deep conservation ethic and motivation for public service. Their contribution to the success of the SWCD is invaluable!

The Stearns County SWCD Board meeting is typically the 2nd Tuesday of each month. The meetings begin at 9:00AM in the USDA Conference Room (suite 126), Marketplace, 110 Second Street South, Waite Park, MN 56387. You can verify meeting dates on the Events Calendar. In the event that the meeting time/date change due to unforeseen circumstances such as severe weather, 72 hour notice will be made for updated meeting information. Please see the Events Calendar or call the Stearns County SWCD @ 320-251-7800 Ext. 3 for meeting time confirmation.