Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District

What Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District does

Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District (KSWCD) is a public conservation district organized under Alaska state law, established in 1964 and operating across the Kodiak Archipelago. It coordinates natural resource conservation programs for a constituency spanning private landowners, farmers and ranchers, tribal entities, federal/state/local government agencies, schools, and community residents. The organization serves as the coordinating backbone for soil health, water resources, invasive species control, native plant restoration, fish passage, and agricultural support on the archipelago.

KSWCD operates five core programs: an Invasive Species Program (active since 2004) that includes the community reporting system integrated with the iNaturalist citizen-science platform and a comprehensive AKEPIC-rated invasive species database; an Agriculture Program partnering with USDA NRCS, UAF Cooperative Extension, and 4-H; a Native Plants Program that launched a nursery in 2022 to produce locally-adapted native plants; a Fish Passages program that has removed or replaced 22 fish passage barriers and brought millions of dollars in grant funding to Kodiak; and Community Gardens with 24 raised beds available for $25/year rentals. The technology stack is built around GIS systems for spatial mapping, an online reporting system for invasive species sightings with iNaturalist integration for crowd-sourced species identification, and a domain-specialized AKEPIC invasiveness rating database specific to the Kodiak Archipelago.

KSWCD operates as a grant-funded government entity with no traditional for-profit revenue mechanics. Funding flows from federal grants (USDA NRCS, US Fish and Wildlife Service), state contracts (Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation), private foundation grants (Copper River Watershed Project), and donations channeled through the Alaska Association of Conservation Districts. The only direct fee revenue is community garden bed rentals at $25 per bed per year. Most services — invasive species identification, fish passage project delivery, technical assistance, and educational materials — are provided free to the public. Go-to-market is community-led through a Cooperator membership program, partner networks, a Facebook feed, quarterly newsletters, soil science videos, and the 'Talks Around the Farm Table' podcast.

Name

Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District

Legal name

Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District

Website

https://kodiaksoilandwater.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KSWCD is a public Alaska conservation district established in 1964, coordinating invasive species management, agriculture support, native plant restoration, fish passage projects, and community gardens for Kodiak Archipelago residents, farmers, tribal entities, and government partners through grant-funded programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (113210)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Invasive Species Control & Site Restoration (Pre/Post Planting) (AFAMACAN), Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF)

Keywords

• Natural resource conservation
• Invasive species management
• Soil and water conservation
• Fish passage restoration
• Community agriculture support

Headquarters

HQ city

Akuse

HQ country

Ghana

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: KSWCD is a grant-funded office. Multiple grants from federal, state, and private sources fund operations and specific programs such as invasive species management, native plants, natural resources education, and soil health projects. Some grants have restrictions on eligible expenditures.
2. Community Garden Bed Fees: Garden beds available for $25 per bed per year, covering use of the bed, water access, and compost heap access.
3. Donations: Accepts monetary donations to general fund. Donations can be made through Alaska Association of Conservation Districts with non-profit deduction designation.
4. NRCS Cost-Share Program Referrals: Partners with USDA NRCS to connect landowners with cost-share programs for conservation practices, providing technical assistance and information about available programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District facilitates natural resource conservation across the Kodiak Archipelago through five core programs: Agriculture (NRCS partnership, 4-H, Kodiak State Fair), Invasive Species (surveys, mapping, control, KA-CISMA coordination since 2004), Native Plants (nursery development since 2022), Fish Passages (culvert replacement and debris clearance for salmon habitat), and Community Gardens (24 beds at $25/year). It also coordinates the KA-CISMA archipelago-wide invasive species partnership and produces educational content including soil science videos, a podcast, and free digital publications.

Product overview

Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District operates as a community-focused conservation organization offering multiple interconnected programs and resources. The core offerings include the Invasive Species Program (with KA-CISMA coordination and iNaturalist integration for community reporting), Agriculture Program (with NRCS partnership), Native Plants Program (developing a nursery), Fish Passages restoration work, and Community Gardens with 24 beds. Supporting resources include Soil Science Videos, the 'Talks Around the Farm Table' podcast, and digital publications including invasive species ID guides and the 'Plant This Not That' gardening resource. All products serve the mission of natural resource conservation through community involvement, education, and technical expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Invasive Species Program Comprehensive invasive species management program including surveys, mapping, outreach, education, and control of invasive species throughout the Kodiak Archipelago. Includes an online reporting system for community members to report suspected invasive species sightings and integrates with iNaturalist for crowd-sourced identification. Targets threats to agriculture, subsistence, and wildlife habitat on the archipelago.
• Agriculture Program Technical agricultural assistance including NRCS program consultations, community learning opportunities, and support for agriculture on the Kodiak Archipelago. Engages with 4-H, Kodiak State Fair, and conducts NRCS hoop house inspections in partnership with USDA NRCS. Serves local farmers, ranchers, and the tribal/community-owned farm collective Alutiiq Grown.
• Native Plants Program Native plant nursery program producing locally-adapted native plants for gardeners, land managers, growers, landscapers, and revegetation projects. Includes education, outreach, and native plant sales. Aims to maintain Kodiak's ecological integrity through the provision of native plants for restoration projects.
• Fish Passages Program Salmon habitat restoration program that replaces or removes culverts and clears debris to restore access to spawning and rearing habitat for coho, chum, pink, and sockeye salmon in anadromous waterways on the Kodiak Archipelago. Delivered in collaboration with U.S. Coast Guard Base Kodiak and other partners.
• Community Gardens Operates 24 raised garden beds at the Larch Street Community Gardens, available to any person or group in the community for $25 per bed per year. Each rental includes onsite water access and use of the compost heap at the gardens. The primary paid direct-to-consumer offering from KSWCD.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 acres of wildlife habitat restored at Camp Island through orange hawkweed eradication
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Alaska Association of Conservation DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization formed in 1965 to help all Alaska's local soil and water districts function efficiently. KSWCD is one of the 12 member districts. Headquarters at 1508 #1 E Bogard Road, Wasilla, Alaska 99654.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides grant funding and in-kind support for numerous projects. KSWCD partners with Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge (under FWS) to manage invasive species threatening refuge lands.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffers cost-share programs providing financial assistance to private landowners for conservation practices. Supported by NRCS Kenai Field Office. KSWCD offices housed in NRCS-donated space and staff provide NRCS information when agents are unavailable.
• Copper River Watershed ProjectsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHas provided grant funding to KSWCD for managing terrestrial invasive plant species on non-federal lands for several years. Located in Cordova, Alaska.
• Alutiiq GrownsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective of tribal and community owned farms in Larsen Bay, Old Harbor, Ouzinkie, Port Lions, and Kodiak. Mission to increase regional food security. KSWCD collaborates on food security and agricultural programs.
• Kodiak Archipelago Leadership Institute (KALI)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based non-profit supporting long-term sustainability of coastal communities of Alutiiq heritage. KSWCD produced a series of videos on soil health for KALI.
• Sun'aq Tribe of KodiakcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSWCD assists Sun'aq Tribe with crayfish capture events and outreach, and eDNA sampling and surveys. The tribe serves as best contact point for crayfish questions and reports. Collaborates on invasive species management.
• KA-CISMA (Kodiak Archipelago Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSWCD coordinates this partnership of federal, state, and local government agencies, tribes, individuals, and interested groups that manage invasive species across the Kodiak Archipelago.
• University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension ServicesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerUAF Extension interprets research-based knowledge for the public. KSWCD houses print copies of many UAF publications which are available to the public. Collaborates on 4-H and agricultural programs.
• Alaska 4-HsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth development program. KSWCD is involved with 4-H, the Kodiak State Fair, and NRCS hoop house inspections.
• U.S. Coast Guard Base KodiaksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on fish passage projects. USCG Spouses' Association has provided donations to support community gardens and invasive species prevention efforts.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• SalmonState: An Alaska-based advocacy and conservation organization focused on protecting wild salmon habitat and the rivers that sustain them. Overlaps with KSWCD's fish passage and habitat restoration work.
• Great Land Trust: An Alaska-based land trust focused on conserving natural resources, fish and wildlife habitat, and working lands. Operates in the same geography as KSWCD with overlapping priorities around habitat protection and conservation easements.
• Trout Unlimited Alaska: A regional program of Trout Unlimited focused on coldwater fisheries conservation, salmon habitat restoration, and fish passage work — directly overlapping with KSWCD's Fish Passages program for coho, chum, pink, and sockeye salmon.

Emerging players

• Native Plant Trust: A New England-based plant conservation non-profit that operates native plant nurseries, seed production, and conservation programs. Comparable to KSWCD's newly launched native plant nursery in mission and product mix, though operating in a much larger and more mature market.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy — Alaska: The Alaska chapter of a major international conservation organization with overlapping priorities around invasive species management, habitat restoration, and climate adaptation. Operates at much larger scale but works on similar conservation challenges in Alaska.

Direct peers

• Copper River Watershed Project: A fellow Alaskan non-profit conservation organization that, like KSWCD, focuses on watershed conservation, terrestrial invasive species management, and provides grant funding to support conservation projects across its region. CRWP has directly funded KSWCD's invasive plant work for several years, making it both a peer and a funder.
• Sitka Conservation Society: A Southeast Alaska-based community conservation organization that combines natural resource conservation, sustainable community development, and education — structurally very similar to KSWCD's model in another Alaska coastal community.
• Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge: A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge that KSWCD directly partners with for invasive species management on Kodiak Archipelago. Comparable scope of conservation work on overlapping geography; KSWCD operates as a community-facing extension of the refuge's conservation mission.
• Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies: A Homer, Alaska-based non-profit focused on coastal ecosystem education, stewardship, and conservation. Similar small-team, community-led model with comparable programming in environmental education and habitat restoration.
• Alaska Association of Conservation Districts: The statewide umbrella organization of which KSWCD is one of 12 member districts. Comparable in mission (soil and water conservation) and serves as KSWCD's coordination body for state-level advocacy, training, and funding distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KodiakSWCD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kodiak-soil-and-water-conservation-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District