Crow Wing Soil And Water Conservation District

What Crow Wing Soil And Water Conservation District does

Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District (Crow Wing SWCD) is a county-level government conservation agency organized as a political subdivision of the State of Minnesota under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 103C. It is headquartered at 322 Laurel Street, Suite 22, Brainerd, Minnesota, and operates with a five-person staff serving landowners, farmers, lake associations, and local governments within Crow Wing County. Its mission centers on clean water, productive lands, and vibrant communities, delivered through technical assistance, conservation project implementation, educational programming, and equipment/resource access.

The organization's product and service portfolio spans six core service lines: agriculture (soil health, cover crops, no-till farming, grazing management), conservation easements, forestry (private forest management), shoreline/lakeshore protection, stormwater management, and well water nitrate testing. It also operates a recurring e-commerce shop selling native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, seed mixes, planting accessories, and a county plat book; rents specialized equipment including a Truax OTG 7516 no-till seed drill and tree planter; and runs educational programs such as soil health field days, Lakeshore Lunch and Learn events, an annual photo contest, and a new soil health event attendance reimbursement program. Distribution is direct and local, combining on-site consultations, an online shop, and event-based community outreach across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and email newsletters.

Revenue is sourced from a mix of state and federal conservation grants (Clean Water Fund, Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Minnesota NRCS, University of Minnesota Office for Soil Health), modest fee-based sales (native plants, equipment rental, plat books), and local appropriations. The entity is governed by a board of supervisors and operates without parent company or subsidiary structure. Recent completed capital projects include a 13-acre stormwater wetland complex in Baxter, gully stabilization on Little Buffalo Creek benefiting 13 properties, and the Pine River Fish Passage project, indicating active multi-year capital delivery alongside ongoing programmatic work.

Name

Crow Wing Soil And Water Conservation District

Legal name

Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District

Website

https://cwswcd.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District is a county-level government agency in Brainerd, Minnesota that delivers soil, water, and natural resource conservation services, equipment rentals, native plant sales, and educational programs to landowners, farmers, lake associations, and local governments across Crow Wing County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Erosion Control & Stormwater BMP Maintenance (IMAIAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wetlands & Waters of the U.S. Delineation / Riparian Assessments (EUAHAHAC), Agroforestry & Shelterbelt/Windbreak Establishment (AFAMACAJ)

Keywords

• Soil and water conservation
• Watershed management services
• Agricultural conservation assistance
• Shoreline and forestry protection
• Native plant restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Brainerd

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Tree and Plant Sales: Sells native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and seed mixes to landowners for conservation planting, shoreline restoration, and habitat creation.
2. Equipment Rental: Provides equipment rental services including No Till Seed Drill and Tree Planter to landowners for conservation implementation.
3. Government Grants and Funding: Receives funding through Clean Water Fund, Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Minnesota NRCS, and University of Minnesota Office for Soil Health for conservation projects and educational programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Crow Wing SWCD is a government conservation district that delivers soil and water conservation services to Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Core offerings include native plant and tree sales through an online shop, conservation equipment rental (no-till seed drill and tree planter), publication of county plat books, well water nitrate testing, and on-site technical assistance for shoreline protection, agricultural land management, forestry, stormwater management, and conservation easements.

Product overview

Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District operates as a government conservation agency offering a diverse portfolio of products and services focused on environmental protection and conservation. The product portfolio includes a native plants and trees e-commerce shop selling bare-root trees, shrubs, and native flowers; equipment rentals including no-till seed drills and tree planters; and county plat books. Services span agriculture, forestry, shoreline protection, stormwater management, conservation easements, and well water nitrate testing. The district also runs educational programs including an annual photo contest and soil health field days. The organization serves landowners, farmers, and residents across Crow Wing County, Minnesota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Native Plants and Trees Shop E-commerce shop selling native flowers, trees, shrubs, seed mixes, and planting accessories for conservation and landscaping purposes, serving landowners in Crow Wing County and surrounding areas.
• No Till Seed Drill Rental Rental of a Truax OTG 7516 no-till seed drill for planting cover crops, native prairie, or pasture mixes into wheat stubble, corn or soybean residue, or existing pasture, available to landowners in the region.
• Tree Planter Rental Equipment rental service providing tree planters to landowners in Crow Wing County for conservation tree planting projects.
• Plat Book / Wall Map Crow Wing County plat books and wall maps available for purchase, providing parcel-level land ownership reference data for the county.
• Agriculture Services Agricultural land conservation services including soil health support, cover crop guidance, no-till farming assistance, grazing management, and conservation easement programs for Crow Wing County farmers and agricultural landowners.
• Conservation Easements Programs helping landowners protect and preserve natural resources through conservation easement agreements that restrict development and conserve working lands.
• Forestry Services Private forest management resources and support including timber stand improvement and invasive species control for woodland owners in Crow Wing County.
• Shoreline Services Lakeshore property management assistance including riprap alternatives and shoreline protection strategies for lakeshore property owners in Crow Wing County.
• Stormwater Management Stormwater management services including design and implementation of regional wetland complexes that protect water quality, delivered in partnership with municipalities in Crow Wing County.
• Well Water Nitrate Testing Testing services for well water nitrate levels to ensure safe drinking water for residents with private wells in Crow Wing County.
• Soil Health Events and Field Days Educational soil health events and farm field days offering free workshops on soil health improvement techniques for farmers and land managers in Crow Wing County.

Quantifiable outcome

• 13 acres of former golf course transformed into stormwater wetland complex protecting Mississippi River
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of BrainerdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partnership for conservation projects including gully stabilization in Buffalo Hills neighborhood and general water quality improvement initiatives.
• Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association (MNGLCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState association promoting sustainable grazing practices. Crow Wing SWCD promotes their Grazing Mentorship Program connecting livestock producers with experienced grazers.
• Minnesota Soil Health CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of organizations and producers working to advance soil health. Crow Wing SWCD promotes their Soil Health School event and supports attendance through reimbursement programs.
• Pine River One Watershed One Plan Policy CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatershed planning committee developing comprehensive watershed management plans. Crow Wing SWCD participates in public hearings and plan development for the Pine River Watershed.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR): State-level agency that oversees and funds all 47 Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Minnesota, including Crow Wing SWCD. Provides grant administration, program coordination, and policy oversight across the same conservation domains.
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: State agency with overlapping jurisdiction in forestry, fisheries, wildlife, and water resources management. Frequently partners with SWCDs on habitat and fish passage projects such as the Pine River work completed by Crow Wing SWCD.
• Minnesota NRCS (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service): Federal conservation agency providing technical and financial assistance for soil and water conservation. Direct funding partner of Crow Wing SWCD and overlapping service offerings for agricultural landowners.

Direct peers

• Morrison County Soil and Water Conservation District: Neighboring Minnesota SWCD operating under the same Chapter 103C statutory framework with overlapping service categories (agriculture, forestry, shoreline, stormwater). Most directly comparable in scale and mandate to Crow Wing SWCD.
• Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District: Larger Minnesota SWCD with similar service portfolio covering agriculture, shoreland, forestry, and stormwater management. Comparable in statutory role, funding model, and customer segments.

Others

• Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates: Statewide nonprofit advocating for lake and river protection. Works with lake associations and SWCDs on shoreline and water quality issues similar to those addressed in Crow Wing SWCD's lakeshore services.
• The Trust for Public Land (Minnesota): National nonprofit active in Minnesota on conservation easements and land protection. Operates in adjacent space to Crow Wing SWCD's Conservation Easements program and shares common landowner relationships.

Regional players

• Mississippi River Headwaters Board: Multi-county joint powers board protecting the upper Mississippi River watershed in north-central Minnesota. Overlaps with Crow Wing SWCD on water quality and stormwater projects feeding into the Mississippi River system.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5RYE8QHngWrIxIJpa1fMSg
• Facebookfacebook.com/cwswcd
• Instagraminstagram.com/cwswcd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crow-wing-soil-and-water-conservation-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Crow Wing Soil And Water Conservation District