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The Beltrami Soil and Water Conservation District 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..
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.
A multitude of programs have come through the SWCD to respond to agricultural, environmental, and recreational needs. 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 tell about your conservation needs!
Note: We are currently in the midst of updating our webpages so please bear with us as we transition to what will be a more user friendly and effective site (temporary access to old Beltrami SWCD Site).
We are governed by a Board of four publicly elected Superviors and one Supervisor appointed by the Red Lake Band of Chippewa. The Board meets monthly to provide policy governance while 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 NRCS employees. We have developed excellent working relationships with Beltrami County and many other natural resource agencies.
BOARD OF DISTRICT SUPERVISORS
Wes Frenzel, Shane Bowe, Ruth Trask, Jerome Geerdes and John Persell
SWCD STAFF
Chris Parthun, District Manager, chris.parthun@mn.nacdnet.net
Jerry Stensing, Stewardship Forester, jerry.stensing@mn.nacdnet.net
Dann Siems, Aquatic Biologist, dann.siems@mn.nacdnet.net
Paula Lowe, Administrative Assistant, paula.lowe@mn.nacdnet.net
JPB ENGINEERING STAFF
Jon Hodgson, Conservation Engineer, 218-755-4341, jon.hodgson@mn.nacdnet.net
NRCS STAFF
Larry Voltz, District Conservationist, larry.voltz@mn.usda.gov
Krystal Story, Soil Conservation Technician, krystal.story@mn.usda.gov
218-751-1942, ext. 3
Forest and Lands
Forest Stewardship Plans:
Lakes, Streams, Wetlands, and Waters
Beltrami County Comprehensive Local Water Management Plan:
Citizen Lake Monitoring Program: Overview and resources for volunteer lake monitoring programs
Ob Wells: We monitor ground water levels in
Note: We are currently in the midst of updating our webpages so please bear with us as we transition to what will be a more user friendly and effective site.
Special activities funded for a limited time
Forests and Lands
- Firewise
Waters: Lakes, Streams,Wetlands, Groundwater
- Cleanwater Legacy Surface Waters Assessment Program
- 100 Lake Database Project
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). Board Meetings are open to the public.
Meeting Minutes
Beltrami SWCD NewsBlog: timely updates about current activities and opportunities
Current & Past Newsletters (in Adobe pdf format)
Navigation Note: Maroon links exit to external sites and open in a new window.
BELTRAMI SWCD RESOURCES
- Limnology Primer Concept Maps: Interactive overview of limnology
- WaterBlog: Dann Siems blog on aquatic biology and related regional topics
BELTRAMI COUNTY AND OTHER LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT
STATE OF MINNESOTA
- Board of Water and Soil Resources
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Natural Resources: Data Deli | LakeFinder | News Releases
- Pollution Control Agency: Citizen Lake Monitoring
- Minnesota Historical Society: True North LMIC Mapping
- Governor's Office | House of Representatives (2B, 4A) | Senate (2, 4)
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT OFFICES
- USDA-NRCS: Interactive Web Soil Survey Tool
- Chippewa National Forest
- US Geological Survey: Interactive Watersheds Tool
- Reservations: Leech Lake | Red Lake | White Earth
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.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
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 Session Laws 2007 Chapter 57. Much of the site content is not official and is made available solely 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. Beltrami SWCD does not own nor control linked sites and therefore is not responsible for the content included in them. Additionally, Beltrami SWCD does not officially endorse externally linked websites although we try to select sites with accurate and accessible content.
This web site is a public resource of 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.