Organizational History of the District
Soil Conservation Districts are legal subdivisions of the State of Minnesota. They are established under the Soil Conservation Law of 1937, Chapter 40. (Recodify to Chapter 103). The West Polk Soil and Water Conservation District was organized under these statues in 1957.
West Polk SWCD was organized in 1957 by landowners to provide a local organization through which they could work cooperatively with any local, state, or federal units of government to conserve soil and water resources. The District defines its cooperators as individuals or agencies, which reside within or manage land within the District boundaries, and who are involved in planning and applying proper land use treatment. It encourages people to work together as small groups or larger watershed organizations to solve problems, which require community action. The District has and will continue to plan, develop, and supply technical materials to units of government that will be useful for land use, zoning, roadside erosion, water management problems, and watersheds. The District will continue to emphasize to cities and the county a greater need for information on soils, water, drainage, parks, recreation, and land use development.
Authorization and Jurisdiction of the SWCD
Polk County was created in 1858. Polk County consists of 1,226,560 acres, divided into 56 townships and 19 cities and villages. West Polk County consists of 37 townships and approximately 793,800 acres located in the heart of the "Red River Valley of the North", in Northwestern Minnesota with Crookston as the county seat.
Click to hear for more history on Polk County.
The West Polk SWCD includes all the land in West Polk County, both rural and urban. The District has 38 townships, 10 cities and villages. (The remaining townships, cities, and villages within Polk County comprise the area known as East Polk.) The District is governed by a board of five elected supervisors who serve 4-year terms, with elections held in conjunction with the State's general elections. It has no power of taxation or eminent domain. Polk County, at the discretion of the County Board of Commissioners, allocates funding to assist the District with operational expenses.
West Polk County has about 685,500 tillable acres with about 1150 farm operating units. Agriculture and Ag-related businesses are the main industries. The main agricultural crops are small grains, sugar beets, edible beans, soybeans, and sunflowers.
For over 70 years, Conservation Districts have worked with landowners and agencies with the conservation of our natural resources in order to protect, improve and better manage our environment. In 1957, the West Polk Soil and Water Conservation District, in developing its work plan, stated the following: "The purpose of the district is to conserve, maintain and improve the soil and water resources on all farms within the district." Today, the District’s goals primarily are the same; however, we recognize that changes in agriculture, rural development, local economics and assistance to municipalities have expanded these responsibilities.
Soil Conservation Districts are legal subdivisions of the State of Minnesota. They are established under the Soil Conservation Law of 1937, Chapter 40. (Recodify to Chapter 103). The West Polk Soil and Water Conservation District was organized under these statues in 1957.
West Polk SWCD was organized in 1957 by landowners to provide a local organization through which they could work cooperatively with any local, state, or federal units of government to conserve soil and water resources. The District defines its cooperators as individuals or agencies, which reside within or manage land within the District boundaries, and who are involved in planning and applying proper land use treatment. It encourages people to work together as small groups or larger watershed organizations to solve problems, which require community action. The District has and will continue to plan, develop, and supply technical materials to units of government that will be useful for land use, zoning, roadside erosion, water management problems, and watersheds. The District will continue to emphasize to cities and the county a greater need for information on soils, water, drainage, parks, recreation, and land use development.
Authorization and Jurisdiction of the SWCD
Polk County was created in 1858. Polk County consists of 1,226,560 acres, divided into 56 townships and 19 cities and villages. West Polk County consists of 37 townships and approximately 793,800 acres located in the heart of the "Red River Valley of the North", in Northwestern Minnesota with Crookston as the county seat.
Click to hear for more history on Polk County.
The West Polk SWCD includes all the land in West Polk County, both rural and urban. The District has 38 townships, 10 cities and villages. (The remaining townships, cities, and villages within Polk County comprise the area known as East Polk.) The District is governed by a board of five elected supervisors who serve 4-year terms, with elections held in conjunction with the State's general elections. It has no power of taxation or eminent domain. Polk County, at the discretion of the County Board of Commissioners, allocates funding to assist the District with operational expenses.
West Polk County has about 685,500 tillable acres with about 1150 farm operating units. Agriculture and Ag-related businesses are the main industries. The main agricultural crops are small grains, sugar beets, edible beans, soybeans, and sunflowers.
For over 70 years, Conservation Districts have worked with landowners and agencies with the conservation of our natural resources in order to protect, improve and better manage our environment. In 1957, the West Polk Soil and Water Conservation District, in developing its work plan, stated the following: "The purpose of the district is to conserve, maintain and improve the soil and water resources on all farms within the district." Today, the District’s goals primarily are the same; however, we recognize that changes in agriculture, rural development, local economics and assistance to municipalities have expanded these responsibilities.