Mission and Goals

Our mission is to provide comprehensive soil and water conservation services to private landowners in Beltrami County, Minnesota.

Our goals include providing:
(1) accurate and unbiased educational information and materials appropriate to local needs and concerns
(2) high quality products to enhance conservation practices
(3) timely and effective technical consultation and design services.
(4) prompt and customer friendly access to cost share programs

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Who we are and what we do...

The Beltrami Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is a locally organized, self-governing body chartered by the State of Minnesota. We are statutorily charged with the protection of Beltrami County's soil and water resources and have been active since 1950 when our initial certificate of organization was issued by the Secretary of State. We deliver a wide variety programs and services in response to the agricultural, environmental, and recreational needs of private landowners.

Beltrami SWCD is accountable for all its activities, being independently audited annually with a review by the State Auditor's Office. We receive very little direct state funding and generate the majority of our operating budget from special project grants, sale of trees and platbooks, and contracts for services. We depend largely on performance based funding and have received grants and contracts-for-services from numerous agencies and other funding entities.

We are not a county, state, or federal agency although we work closely with partners at each of these levels. We are not part of the DNR. We are sanctioned by the State of Minnesota but do not receive our payroll from the state as do other state agencies. SWCD staff are not considered to be state employees. Because of our unique status, we are ideally positioned to foster cooperative collaborations between private land owners and governmental agencies from the local to the national level.

As we look to the future, we see the continued need to assist landowners with their concerns while protecting the natural resources of Beltrami County. Stop in to say hello and talk about your conservation needs!

ADDRESS CHANGE - EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2010

Beltrami Soil and Water Conservation District

701 Minnesota Ave NW, Suite 113

Bemidji MN 56601

218-333-4158

2010 Fall Tree Order Form

Board of Supervisors

SWCD Areas

We are governed by a Board of four publicly elected Superviors and one Supervisor appointed by the Red Lake Band. The Board meets monthly to provide policy governance. Board members are elected by nomination district on the general ballot. Terms are staggered to assure continuity. Individuals interested in being on the ballot must file with the Beltrami County Auditor. [See BWSR SCWD Operational Handbook section on Supervisor Elections and BWSR Supervisor's Handbook; see also Agency Data for Economic Interest Statements].

  • Jay Frenzel, Secretary 218-647-8929 (SWCD Area 1, 2010)
  • Jerome Geerdes, Vice Chairman 218-835-4508 (SWCD Area 2, 2010)
  • Ruth Trask, Treasurer 218-243-2749 (SWCD Area 3, 2011)
  • Jay Backstrom, Chairman 218-444-8737 (SWCD Area 4, 2011)
  • Shane Bowe, Legislative & Public Relations 218-444-9710 (Red Lake Band, 2012)

SWCD Board

SWCD Staff

Day to day operations are conducted by a District Manager and three paid staff members. We share our office with one full time engineer involved in a Joint Powers Board agreement for technical engineering assistance, and two full time and one part time NRCS employee. We have developed excellent working relationships with Beltrami County and many other natural resource agencies.

JPB Conservation Engineering Staff

Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Staff

Annual Plans

Annual Reports

Annual Audits

Annual Budgets

Meeting Notices

  • Regularly scheduled monthly Board Meetings are held at 9:00 am on the last Thursday of each month in the SWCD office (see address and map below). All Board Meetings are open to the public.
  • Sept 2010 meeting changed to the 30th, October 2010 meeting changed to the 21st
  • For additional meeting notices see our calendar page.

Meeting Minutes

Forest and Lands

Lakes, Streams, Wetlands, and Waters

Other Programs

This page highlights special current projects and activities funded for a limited time. For past projects, click the 'History' tab above. Look for additional links here as we continue to revamp our web content and structure.

Forests and Lands

  • Minnesota Biomes Project (with ISD #31 at site adjacent to J.W. Smith Elementary)
    • Original Tree Plan for Biomes Project Site
    • Note: Minnesota Biomes Project links point to web-based Powerpoint presentations; depending on your computer's security settings, you may need to allow scripts temporarily to view. They are rather large files that may take a minute or so to load so please be patient! Thanks for your interest!

Waters: Lakes, Streams,Wetlands, Groundwater

SWCD News and Calendar

Current & Past Newsletters (in Adobe pdf format)

BELTRAMI COUNTY AND OTHER LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT

STATE OF MINNESOTA

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT OFFICES

MISCELLANEOUS LINKS

Interactive Map of Beltrami SWCD Service Area

In addition to the location of our office (indicated by red pin), this map shows locations of various projects and activities as well as links to other relevant materials. Use the hand icon that appears when you cursor is over the map to pan (push and pull the image). You can also toggle on satellite imagery. Click the "View Larger Map" link below the image to expand coverage; click map bubbles for an overview of additional content.


View Larger Map

Early History

The organization of the Beltrami County Soil Conservation District (changed to Soil and Water Conservation District in 1958) was motivated by conservation issues such as drainage, low soil fertility, water erosion, poor pastures, forest management, and wildlife and recreation needs. In March of 1950, a certificate of organization was issued by the State, the result of the efforts of county farmers, the Veteran's agricultural classes and instructors, businessmen, and the Agricultural Extension Service. Twenty-one townships in central north-east part of the county comprised the District in 1950, and the office with two part-time employees was located in Kelliher. The remaining southern townships were included in 1954 as was the Red Lake Indian Reservation in 1969. The townships north of Upper Red Lake were included in 1972 but the northwest twelve townships are part of the Marshall-Beltrami SWCD.

Past Projects

Website Content and Posting Policy

Information included in the Beltrami SWCD website is believed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed. Beltrami SWCD is not liable for any potential errors, omissions or outdated information. If any errors are noted, please email paula.lowe@mn.nacdnet.net. . Some of the information posted on the Beltrami SWCD website is required under Minnesota Laws 2007, Chapter 57 Section 5. Much of the site content is not officially required but is made available as a convenience.

The Beltrami SWCD website provides numerous external website links so that users can find reference material on related subjects; these links will automatically open a new browser window. In some combinations of platforms and browsers, links to external site appear as maroon text. Beltrami SWCD does not own nor control linked sites and therefore is not responsible for changes in content. Please email paula.lowe@mn.nacdnet.net if you find any broken or questionable links. Beltrami SWCD does not officially endorse externally linked websites although we make a good faith effort to select sites with accurate and accessible content.

This web site is a public resource for general information.  The Beltrami SWCD makes no warranty, representation or guarantee as to the content, sequence, accuracy, timeliness or completeness of any of the information provided herein.  The reader should not rely on data provided herein for any reason.  The Beltrami SWCD explicitly disclaims any representations and warranties, including, without limitation, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.  The Beltrami SWCD shall assume no liability for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the information provided regardless of how caused; or any decision made or action taken or not taken by reader in reliance upon any information or data furnished hereunder.