The Soil Conservation District is considered a political subdivision, organized under the North Dakota Soil Conservation Districts Law enacted in 1937 and as later amended. They are organized by vote of the people within the district and are managed by a board of supervisors, also elected by the people.

Soil Conservation Districts are responsible for carrying out a program of soil and water conservation with all cooperating residents within the district boundaries, both rural and urban.

District Supervisors Shall Have the Power To (N.D.C.C. 4.1-20):

• Appoint two additional supervisors (4.1-20-18).
• Employ temporary and permanent employees (4.1-20-20).
• Seek legal services from the County's State's Attorney or Attorney General (4.1-20-20).
• Conduct surveys, investigations, and research (4.1-20-24).
• Conduct demonstration projects (4.1-20-24).
• Carry out preventive and control measures within the district (4.1-20-24).
• Cooperate or enter into agreements (4.1-20-24).
• Obtain options upon or acquire real or personal property (4.1-20-24).
• Make available machinery, equipment, seeds, and seedlings (4.1-20-24).
• Construct, improve, and maintain structures (4.1-20-24).
• Develop comprehensive plans for the conservation of soil resources (4.1-20-24).
• Administer and act as agent for the United States in any soil erosion, erosion control, or erosion prevention project; accept donations, gifts and contributions in money, services, and materials (4.1-20-24).
• Sue and be sued in the name of the district (4.1-20-24).
• Have a seal (4.1-20-24).
• Have perpetual succession (4.1-20-24).
• Make and execute contracts (4.1-20-24).
• Make, amend, and repeal rules and regulations (4.1-20-24).
• Require contributions from beneficial operations performed by a district on lands not controlled by this state (4.1-20-24).
• Expend moneys for education, promotion, and recognition activities (4.1-20-24).
• To levy taxes (4.1-20-24).
• Formulate land use regulations (4.1-20-25 through 4.1-20-37).
• District Supervisor Compensation (4.1-20-18).

• Furnish to the State Soil Conservation Committee (SSCC), upon request, copies of any ordinances, rules, regulations, orders, contracts, or other documents they shall adopt or employ, and such other information concerning their activities as the SSCC may require.
• Provide for the execution of surety bonds for all employees and officers (4.1-20-22).
• Provide for keeping of a full and accurate record of all proceedings, resolutions, regulations, and orders issued or adopted by them (4.1-20-22).
• Maintain complete and accurate records of receipts and disbursements of the district and provide for an annual audit, as required (4.1-20-22 and 54-10-14).
• Prepare an annual financial statement at the close of the business year and forward a coy to the SSCC.
• Attend and participate in regular monthly meetings and attend district functions.
• Keep the long-range planning current to meet total resource development needs of your district. The long-range plan should be reviewed annually.
• Develop a District Planning Process which provides for carrying out action projects of highest priority that seek to accomplish the goals and objectives of the long-range plan. Refer regularly to the District Plan to see that activities are carried out.
• Be informed on the North Dakota Soil Conservation Districts Law, the administrative functions of the SSCC, your State Association, NACD, and the North Dakota Conservation District Employees Association. Keep abreast of changes in the law, operational policies and program concepts of importance to the district.
• Develop district conservation needs and set district priorities in providing technical assistance to landowners and operators for a complete coordinated soil conservation program for all residents, both urban and rural.
• Invite agencies assisting in carrying out the district program to meet with the District Board to consider mutual problems. Keep these organizations and the general public informed of progress, objectives, and district needs.
• Develop a realistic annual budget and manage the funds of the district by anticipating project activities and board expenditures for the coming year.
• Approve bills to be paid by the District.
• Carry out a dynamic information and education program to include the general public, students, producers, and others focusing on resource conservation, programs and services, district activities and other pertinent information. This can be accomplished in part by printing and distributing annual reports, district newsletters, and by utilizing other social and news media outlets.
• Conduct conservation tours, demonstrations, and support educational meetings.
• Cooperate with fellow board members in establishing district policies.
• Know the functions of other agricultural agencies that operate in your district.

A large portion of the board's responsibility lies with their employees. The board is responsible for not only hiring district staff, but also supporting them and ensuring they have the means, equipment and knowlege to perform their jobs. Providing guidance, support, and reviewing performance is a key component of the Board/Employee relationship. District staff at the customer-facing link between the board and their consituents, ensuring they are properly trained and have the resources available to perform their duties, including on-going professional development, is vital.

Dealing with employees is not an easy task and one where a lot of consideration must be given to the well-being of the employee, which is part of the well-being of the district as a whole. Board members have to decide on the wages, benefits and requirements of their employees. This is an area where state and federal laws must be taken into consideration.

The board does rely on their managers and employees to keep them informed on the current events affecting the district, but this by no means releases them from their obligation of being involved and informed by other sources. Communication between the board members, the employees and the landowners is critical in all areas.

Remember the conservation district supervisor's obligations are as a public official. Any supervisor who finds it impossible to fulfill these obligations because of poor health, lack of time, or any other reason, should resign from office and make way for an individual who can perform effectively.

Upon a majority vote of the supervisors, while performing duties as a member, the soil conservation district board shall provide to each member:

1. Compensation of at least seventy-five dollars per day but not more than the rate set for a member of the legislative assembly under section 54-03-20;
2. An allowance for meals and lodging at the rate set in section 44-08-04; and
3. Mileage and travel expenses at the rate set in section 54-06-09.

All compensation and expenses under this subsection must be paid from district funds.

Any land occupier physically living in the soil conservation district and a qualified elector is eligible to run for the office of a soil conservation district supervisor. A “land occupier” as defined in the Soil Conservation Districts Law, includes any person that holds title to or is in possession of any lands lying within a district whether living or located in a rural or urban area within the district. 

“Qualified elector” means an individual who is at least eighteen years old, a citizen of the United States, and has resided in the precinct thirty days preceding any election, whether or not the individual is living in a rural or urban area.

Any person can become a candidate upon filing a petition and statement of interests with the county auditor of the county or counties in which their district lies. The final filing date for petitions and statement of interests is no later than sixty days before the day of the election and not later than four p.m. of such day. The candidates’ petition must contain signatures of not less than twenty-five, nor more than three hundred qualified electors of the district (N.D.C.C. Chapter 4.1-20-15 & 16).

In the event a soil conservation district lies in two counties, an original petition and statement of interests with original signatures must be filed with both county auditors concerned.   Any land occupier living in the district who has failed to file a nominating petition and statement of interests may furnish stickers to be attached to the ballot.  The ballot shall have blank spaces below the names of candidates nominated by petition for writing in other names.

The regular election of Soil Conservation District supervisors shall be held at the same time, and at the same place, as the general election is held. Supervisors are elected for a term of six years. Candidates shall be elected on a nonpartisan ballot. 

Nominating Petitions and Statement of interest forms are available through the local County Auditor Office. Contact County Auditor to confirm General Election ballot includes SCD Supervisor. 

Newly elected soil conservation district supervisors officially take office on the first day of January and upon completing and filing an Oath of Office. 

Oath of Office forms are official documents and must be executed prior to the time elected and appointed officers are designated to officially take office. Only those elected and appointed soil conservation district supervisors who have completed and filed an Oath of Office shall qualify for their elective and appointive positions.

All newly elected and appointed or reappointed soil conservation district supervisors must complete and file an Oath of Office which will cover the duration of their term of office to which they have been elected/appointed. The Oath must be signed in the presence of a Notary Public. The original Oath of Office forms must be completed and returned to the Secretary of State’s office with a copy provided to the State Soil Conservation Committee prior to the first day of January.

In accordance with the opinion secured from the Attorney General's office, any soil conservation district, upon resolution of the three elected supervisors, may appoint two additional supervisors who shall serve for a term of one year from and after the date of their appointment. (N.D.C.C. Chapter 4.1-20-18) 

Such supervisors shall be appointed by a majority of the three elected supervisors and shall have all the powers, voting privileges, duties, and responsibilities of elected supervisors. As far as possible, the appointed supervisors shall represent interests within the district which are not represented by the elected supervisors.  Try to have equal representation from all parts of the district on the board of supervisors. Such appointments must be made at a district meeting and recorded in the district minutes. 

Only those appointed soil conservation district supervisors who have completed and filed an Oath of Office would qualify for their appointive position. It is recommended that there be two appointees and not just one.

During the board's January meeting, the board of supervisors should hold an election for the various district board's officers: chair, vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer. The secretary and treasurer roles may be combined into one role (secretary/treasurer).

• An active district chair is the key to a successful board of supervisors meeting. It is the responsibility of the chair to accept the leadership roles, involving each member in the discussion of issues and programs of the district, starting meetings promptly and closing meetings after all business has been completed.
• The State Soil Conservation Committee recommends that no one elected or appointed soil conservation district supervisor should serve as Chair of their district board for more than two consecutive years.
• Your district reorganization meeting should be held as soon as possible after the first of the year. Please complete the District Reorganization Form in full and provide it to the State Soil Conservation Committee by March 1st each year.
• The soil conservation district board may set a minimum value on equipment that gets logged on the inventory list. The inventory list should be reviewed annually and a walk through done with a supervisor to make sure inventory is accountable. Inventory information should be provided to the State Soil Conservation Committee by March 1st each year.
• Each meeting month, the Chair should meet with the District Staff and District Conservationist prior to the scheduled meeting to work out a tentative agenda, which is then sent to each board member and other individuals invited with their notification of the meeting. A notice of meeting needs to also be posted as required by law (N.D.C.C. 44-04-17.1).
• The North Dakota Attorney General's website has guidelines on open meetings and open records.

After notice given and hearing held in accordance with N.D.C.C Chapter 28-32, a supervisor of a Soil Conservation District may be removed from office by the State Soil Conservation Committee (4.1-20-18). Supervisors may also be removed by a vote of district residents, in the same manner as other locally-elected officials.

In case the office of any elected supervisor shall, for any reason, become vacant, the remaining members of the board of supervisors shall, with the advice and consent of the State Soil Conservation Committee, fill the vacancy by appointment.  In the event that vacancies shall occur in the office of two elected supervisors, the remaining supervisor and the State Soil Conservation Committee shall fill the vacancy; if the offices of all elected supervisors of a district shall become vacant, the State Soil Conservation Committee shall fill the vacancies by appointment. A supervisor appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next general election. A supervisor elected to fill a vacancy shall serve the balance of the unexpired term in which the vacancy occurred N.D.C.C. Chapter 4.1-20-18. 

To fill a vacant elected supervisor position, submit the name of the district's chosen appointee to the Soil and Water Conservation Program Director. The Director will notify the appropriate SSCC board member of the appointment and upon approval, the Director will contact the district. If approved, proceed with getting a signed Oath of Office for the appointee and submit the original Oath to the Secretary of State. Provide a copy of the Oath to the State Soil Conservation Committee.

If the soil conservation district board needs broader coverage than can be obtained with the elected and appointed supervisors, advisors can be appointed. These advisors:

• Can offer advice and counsel.      

• Cannot vote or take official action at board meetings.

• Cannot hold an office on the board of supervisors.  

• Cannot receive supervisor compensation.  

• Can be reimbursed for their expenses.  

The success or failure of a Soil Conservation District depends largely upon its Board of Supervisors. Recognizing this, the North Dakota State Soil Conservation Committee and the NDSU Extension developed this yearly training to clarify the purposes and functions of a Soil Conservation District and the duties of a Supervisor. 

NDCC statute 4.1-20-19

As soon as practicable after an individual is elected or appointed to the position of a soil conservation district supervisor, the individual shall attend a training session delivered by the state soil conservation committee, and  the individual shall attend or participate in annual training as determined by the state soil conservation committee.

Yearly Training Requirements: 

• A new supervisor (elected or appointed) must attend an initial training session (for example, Leadership Academy Training) and participate in an annual training event determined by the SSCC.
• A current/returning elected supervisor is required to participate in at least one annual training event determined by the SSCC.
• A current/returning appointed supervisor is required to participate in at least one annual training event determined by the SSCC.

The District Manager shall keep track of all supervisor training and provide it to the State Soil Conservation Committee no later than January 31st each year. Please use the Supervisor Training Report to submit your information.

Current Training Options:

• Attend the Leadership Academy Training.
• Attend the ND State Soil Conservation Association Annual Meeting.
• Attend your Area (I, II, III, IV, or V) Soil Conservation District Annual Meeting.
• District/Area Conservation event or activity.
• Attend and receive Pesticide Certification Training (once every three years).
• Online webinar and/or podcast episode.
• Complete four microlessons together as a board prior to, during, or after monthly meetings.

Your conservation district board is charged by state law with specific responsibilities that no other agency is charged with and gives your district the necessary authority to carry them out.

The SSCC and NDSU Extension have developed training that can be used to teach supervisors and staff the basic operations of conservation districts. The intent of these educational materials is to provide readily available content for districts to conduct "in-house" training.

These materials are especially useful when new supervisors are elected or new staff members are hired and state sponsored training is not immediately available. Please see the links below for information regarding the history of soil conservation districts, the State Soil Conservation Committee, mill levy, audit and annual report information, the election process, and soil conservation district planning.

• History of Soil Conservation Districts
• State Soil Conservation Committee
• Soil Conservation Districts Mill Levy
• Soil Conservation District Audit and Annual Reports
• Soil Conservation Districts Election
• Soil Conservation District Planning

SCD Micro Lessons

The Fall 2023 Playlist on YouTube includes: Supervisor Roles and Responsibilities; Ethics and Open Records/Open Meetings; Annual Plan of Work; and HR Part One - Employee Job Description, Ins and Outs of Interviewing and Employee Onboarding.

The Spring 2024 Playlist on YouTube includes: HR Part Two - Employee Performance Reviews and Employee Exit Interviews; Meaningful Meetings; District Outreach - Branding; and Watershed Planning and Management.

The handout that accompanies the micro lesson is linked below each YouTube video and also can be found on our Google Drive in the Micro Lessons Folder.

Other Resources

Soil Conservation Google Drive