1. Legal Responsibilities of a Conservation District
Conservation Districts are unique units of local
government, established under state law to carry
out a program for the conservation, protection, and
sustainable use of soil, water and related natural
resources.

2. What Is a Conservation District?
● It’s a subdivision of
state government.
● Governed by a 5 or 7
member board of
supervisors who are
elected by the registered
voters within the district.
● Idaho has 50
Conservation Districts

3. Powers and Authorities of Conservation Districts and Board Members
A Soil Conservation District organized under Idaho Code shall have the following power:
● To cooperate, enter into agreements with, any agency,
or private landowner.
● To furnish financial or other aid to any agency, or
private landowner within the district boundaries.
● To carry on erosion control and prevention operations,
improvements for flood prevention, and the conserva-
tion of water.

4. Powers To: research relating to: and sediment damages.
→ Conduct surveys, investigations, and
research relating to:
→ The character of soil erosion, floodwater,
and sediment damages.
→ Conservation, development, utilization,
and disposal of water.
→ Prevention/control measures, and
improvements needed to publish results
and disseminate information.

5. Powers To: → Conduct demonstrational projects within the
district boundaries:
→ Owned or controlled by the State of Idaho.
→ On private land with consent of the owner.

6. Powers To: ● Carry out preventive/control measures and works of
improvement for flood prevention, or the conserva-
tion, development, utilization, and disposal of water
within the district boundaries.
Including:
→ Engineering operations
→ Methods of cultivation
→ Growing of vegetation
→ Changes in use of land
→ Appropriate BMP’s

7. Powers To: Cooperate, enter into agree-
ments with, to furnish financial
or other aid to any agency,
private land owner within the
district to carry on erosion
control and prevention
operations, improvements for
flood prevention, and the
conservation of water.

8. Powers To: Conservation Districts have the power to maintain,
administer, and improve any properties acquired, to
receive income from them, and to spend income to
carry out district activities.
All such property
shall be exempt from
taxation for state,
county and municipal
purposes.

9. Powers To: Make agricultural and operations on their land to
engineering machinery
or equipment available
to landowners within
the district to help the
landowner carry out
operations on their land to
conserve water and soil
resources.

10. Powers To: Develop comprehensive plans for the conservation
of soil resources and for the
prevention of soil erosion
and for flood prevention or
the conservation, develop-
ment, utilization, and
Disposal of water within the
district.

11. Powers To: Sue and be sued in the name of the District.
Have a seal, which seal shall be judicially noticed.
Make and execute contracts.
Amend and repeal rules
not consistent with Idaho
Code:

12. Legal Responsibilities of a
Public Official
To know, understand and practice the following:
→ Open Meeting Law
→ Public Records/Freedom of Information Act
→ Americans With Disabilities Act
→ Liability
→ Sexual Harassment
→ Equal Employment Opportunity

13. Assessing Resource Needs
A Conservation District is responsible for sound conservation programs of
soil, water and other natural resource problems through:
Identifying problems
Prioritizing
Planning
Developing
Administering
Implementation

14. Developing Long-Range & Annual Plans
Conservation Districts meet together to identify the resource needs and/or problems within the district boundaries.
● They develop those needs into a five year/long-range plan
● And a working annual plan

15. Policy Development and
Recommended Policies
● Become acquainted with all
Conservation District Law.
● Establishes policies.
● Stay informed on the local, State
and National level.
● Review mutual agreements with
cooperating agencies.

16. Comply with Local, State & Federal Laws, Rules, and Regulations
Soil Conservation Districts are not exempt from
Local, State, and Federal Laws. When creating
a new project or forming District policy, all Local
State and Federal Laws must be followed.

17. THE END