Soil & Water Conservation Districts are legal subdivisions of state government. Governed by a Board of Commissioners, such districts are responsible for carrying out state laws and programs within district boundaries. These include:
Sediment Control Law
Conservation Cost Share
Conservation Revolving Loan Funds
Water Quality Protection Projects
Resource Enhancement And Protection (REAP)
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)
Conservation Compliance
Wetland Reserve Program
Conservation Planning
Conservation districts in Iowa are governed by five commissioners who are elected at the general elections on a non-partisan basis for four-year terms. Only one commissioner may reside in any single township. Commissioners may come from all walks of life with the common interest of protecting our natural resources.
As a commissioner, you’ll help guide soil and water conservation programs in the county and will have the opportunity to influence state and national conservation programs. You’ll be expected to take part in monthly meetings, become knowledgeable of soil and water conservation laws and programs, develop and carry out soil and water resource conservation plans, and help direct financial incentive programs. You will be reimbursed for expenses and be protected from personal liability.
Assistant commissioners may be appointed by the Soil &Water Conservation District board on a calendar year basis to serve the district. Assistant commissioners must be eligible electors residing in the district to which they are appointed.
NOTE: The Soil and Water Conservation Laws, as they appear in the Iowa Code, do not permit the members of a soil and water conservation district governing body to delegate their responsibilities and authorities regarding official district business; therefore, they cannot appoint an assistant commissioner to act for them on official district business. Assistant commissioners cannot make motions or vote on official district business at commissioners’ meetings. They should act in an advisory capacity and offer any suggestions or comments appropriate but may not assume the full authority of a regular commissioner.
Jonny Ball
Chair
Scott Heater
Vice Chair
Kathy Dice
Co-Treasurer
Drew Yotter
Co-Treasurer
Tim Knutson
Commissioner
Asst. Commissioner
We, the commissioners, want to thank the many organizations that assisted us during the year. We appreciate the support given by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Division of Soil Conservation, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, Louisa County Conservation, Louisa County DNR, and the Louisa County Extension Service. We hope our cooperative working relations continue as we work to protect our natural resources.
A special thank you to the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine for their continued financial support of the Louisa SWCD’s educational programs, and thank you to all the local newspapers for carrying our conservation news and notices.
When you sign up as an Earth Team Volunteer, you are on your way to becoming a caretaker of natural resources in your community. When you volunteer you may assist with improving wildlife habitat, providing conservation education to adults and students, community outreach and many more interesting opportunities.
Whatever your talents or interests might be, there is a volunteer opportunity for you with the Earth Team.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
Resource Team Lead
Resource Conservationist
Wyatt Westfall
Soil Conservationist
Shelly Stewart
Soil Conservationist
Chris Bradley
Civil Engineering Tech.
District Conservationist
Raven Harriott
Conservation Assistant
Benjamin Mulick
Program Support Assistant
Samuel Vogt
Natural Resource Specialist