Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District

What Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District does

Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District (CSWCD) is a special district organized under Oregon state law in 1974 to provide land management and natural resource conservation assistance to private landowners across Clackamas County, Oregon. The organization operates as a public-sector service provider rather than a technology company: it offers free, consultative advisory services delivered by Conservation and WeedWise Specialists through in-person visits, on-site planning, and a walk-in Conservation Resource Center. Core programmatic offerings include the Streamside Habitat, Urban Conservation (with Backyard Habitat Certification), Rural Conservation, Oregon White Oak Habitat, WeedWise invasive species control, Erosion Control, Pesticide Stewardship Partnership, Horses & Livestock Property Management, and Estate/Succession Planning. Supporting services comprise an Equipment Rental Program (no-till drills, manure spreaders) and a no-interest Septic System Repair & Replacement loan program.

CSWCD does not develop or sell proprietary technology. The underlying 'platform' is human expertise, federal/state co-location, and the physical Beavercreek Demonstration Farm — an 11,000 sq ft Conservation Resource Center built in 2019 on a 15-acre property with demonstration gardens, native plant areas, and equipment for rent. The district funds operations through property taxes collected within Clackamas County; core services are free to landowners, while equipment rentals and septic loans carry modest fees or zero-interest financing. Marketing and outreach operate through the district's website (conservationdistrict.org), email newsletter, Facebook and X/Twitter accounts, a Vimeo-hosted video library, and partnerships that channel referrals (Oregon State Extension, NRCS, watershed councils, Oregon Agricultural Trust). The district also co-stewards the Eagle Creek Community Forest, acquired in 2019 with the Trust for Public Land.

The organization is governed by an elected Board of Directors plus at-large representatives and is led operationally by District Manager Christopher Lapp and WeedWise Manager Samuel Leininger. With roughly 15 staff, CSWCD is small but institutionally durable, having reached its 50-year milestone in 2024. Its competitive position is anchored in statutory authority, property tax funding, and an embedded network of federal and state agency partners, rather than technology or scale advantages.

Name

Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District

Legal name

Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District

Website

https://conservationdistrict.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District is an Oregon special district that provides free, voluntary conservation advisory services — including invasive weed control, streamside restoration, equipment rentals, and no-interest septic loans — to private landowners across Clackamas County, funded by property taxes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Resource Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Landscaping Services (56173)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Forestry (800), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Erosion Control & Stormwater BMP Maintenance (IMAIAIAG), Wetland, Riparian & Buffer Services (within forest landscapes) (AFAMAMAI), Riparian & Watershed Reforestation (Streambank Stabilization) (AFAMACAK), Landscape Grading, Drainage & Site Preparation (HSAIABAD)

Keywords

• Soil conservation services
• Watershed protection programs
• Invasive weed control
• Farm conservation planning
• Habitat restoration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Beavercreek

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Funding: Primary funding source for district operations. Services are voluntary for landowners and funded through property taxes collected within Clackamas County.
2. Equipment Rental Program: The district offers farm equipment rentals to landowners for conservation work. Equipment includes no-till drills, manure spreaders, and other conservation tools that may be hard to find or too expensive to purchase for occasional use.
3. Septic System Loans: The district offers no-interest loans to help Clackamas County residents fix or replace failing septic systems. Repayment terms apply to these financial assistance loans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District is a state-authorized special district that delivers free conservation advisory services and programs to private landowners across Clackamas County, Oregon. Offerings span streamside habitat restoration, urban and rural conservation, Oregon white oak habitat protection, horses and livestock property management, erosion control, pesticide stewardship, and invasive weed control via the WeedWise program, with supplemental paid offerings that include a farm equipment rental program and no-interest septic system repair/replacement loans. The 11,000 sq ft Conservation Resource Center on a 15-acre Beavercreek demonstration farm serves as the in-person hub for consultations, workshops, equipment rentals, and educational demonstrations.

Product overview

Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District offers a comprehensive suite of conservation programs and services for private landowners in Clackamas County, Oregon. The organization operates as a collection of interconnected programs rather than a single unified product. Core offerings include the Streamside Habitat Program, Urban Conservation (with Backyard Habitat Certification), Rural Conservation, and the WeedWise invasive species control program. Supporting services include an Equipment Rental Program providing farm equipment for occasional use, a Septic System Repair & Replacement Program offering no-interest loans, the Pesticide Stewardship Partnership, Erosion Control Services, and Estate/Succession Planning assistance. The District operates the Conservation Resource Center at Beavercreek Demonstration Farm (11,000 sq ft facility on 15 acres, built 2019), which serves as the hub for educational workshops, equipment rentals, and conservation demonstrations. Additional resources include a Video Library, Document Library, and Contractor Directory connecting landowners with qualified service providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Streamside Habitat Program Provides free assistance to landowners for creating streamside restoration plans and restoring riparian areas along waterways in Clackamas County.
• Urban Conservation Program (including Backyard Habitat Certification) Helps urban and suburban landowners apply conservation practices on smaller properties, and certifies residential properties that provide wildlife habitat using native plants and sustainable landscaping practices.
• Oregon White Oak Habitat Program Focuses on restoration and preservation of Oregon white oak habitats in Clackamas County.
• Rural Conservation Program Provides free conservation assistance to rural landowners for land management and natural resource protection.
• Equipment Rental Program Provides farm equipment for rent that may be hard to find, unavailable, or too expensive to buy for occasional use, including a no-till drill and manure spreaders.
• Horses & Livestock Property Management Program Provides free guidance for managing horse and livestock properties, including pasture, mud, and manure management.
• Septic System Repair & Replacement Program Offers no-interest loans and grants to help Clackamas County residents fix or replace failing septic systems in coordination with Oregon DEQ guidelines.
• Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Works on pesticide reduction and proper pesticide management to protect water quality in local watersheds.
• Erosion Control Services Provides education and assistance on erosion prevention and sediment control practices for growers and landowners, including wet-season practices.
• Estate / Succession Planning Helps farmers, ranchers, and forest owners plan for the future transition of their land to the next generation, delivered through workshops and a video series.
• WeedWise Program Controls harmful invasive weeds in Clackamas County through chemical, manual, and mechanical weed-control methods.
• Conservation Resource Center An 11,000 sq ft facility at the 15-acre Beavercreek Demonstration Farm, built in 2019, serving as a hub for conservation demonstrations, equipment rental, staff offices, and educational workshops.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 66 tons of pesticides removed from watersheds through partnership programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Trust for Public LandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership resulting in permanent protection of Eagle Creek Community Forest. Trust for Public Land helped acquire and protect the community forest near Estacada.
• Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on agricultural water quality standards and enforcement. ODA works with farmers and ranchers to ensure water quality standards are met, including Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) set by DEQ.
• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSets water quality standards (TMDLs) and partners on septic system repair and replacement programs. District offers interest-free loans for septic systems in coordination with DEQ guidelines.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal conservation partnership providing technical and financial assistance. District staff work alongside NRCS at the Conservation Resource Center.
• Oregon State Extension ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on agricultural education, farm succession planning resources, and conservation workshops. Extension provides research-based information to support district programs.
• Oregon Agricultural TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for farm succession and transition planning. Oregon Agricultural Trust provides resources to help farmers plan for future land stewardship.
• Oregon Small Business Development CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides farm and ranch succession planning resources through their small business management program for agricultural operations.
• Clackamas County Water Education Team (CCWET)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative water education programs for schools and community groups in Clackamas County.
• Clackamas Watershed CouncilscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for local watershed councils working on conservation projects. District provides funding through Watershed Council Support Grants and collaborative restoration efforts.
• Oregon Association of Conservation Districts (OACD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization representing soil and water conservation districts. Board member Jan Lee Weinberg serves as executive director of OACD.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Oregon Department of Agriculture: State agency partner on agricultural water-quality standards and TMDL enforcement; broader regulatory remit that intersects with the District's conservation advisory work.
• Trust for Public Land — Oregon: National land-conservation organization that partnered with the District to permanently protect Eagle Creek Community Forest in 2019; comparable conservation-mission profile at a larger geographic and capital scale.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) — Oregon: Federal conservation agency co-located with the District at the Conservation Resource Center; delivers overlapping technical and financial assistance at a larger, nationwide scale.

Direct peers

• Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District: Neighboring Oregon special district providing nearly identical soil, water, and conservation services to landowners in Washington County; structurally and operationally comparable, serving an adjacent geography.
• East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District: Oregon special district with overlapping urban and rural conservation programs, urban habitat certification, and landowner advisory services; directly comparable mandate and service mix.
• Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District: Oregon SWCD delivering soil health, water quality, and habitat programs to landowners in Washington County; directly comparable statutory structure and program design.
• West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District: Oregon SWCD offering streamside restoration, invasive-species, and soil/water conservation services to private landowners in western Multnomah County — a directly comparable peer in service portfolio and statutory structure.
• Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District: Oregon SWCD where board member Jan Lee Weinberg previously served; delivers analogous conservation planning, WeedWise-style invasive species work, and farm/ranch advisory services in central Oregon.

Regional players

• Clackamas River Basin Council: Local watershed council partnering with the District on riparian restoration and water-quality projects; comparable mission around watershed stewardship within the same geography.

Others

• Oregon Association of Conservation Districts (OACD): Statewide association representing Oregon's 50+ SWCDs, with District board member Jan Lee Weinberg serving as executive director; functions as a peer network and policy umbrella rather than a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ClackamasSWCD
• YouTubevimeo.com/ccswcd
• Facebookfacebook.com/ClackamasSWCD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clackamas-county-soil-&-water-conservation-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District