Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District

What Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District does

Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District (Dakota County SWCD) is a political subdivision of the State of Minnesota, operating under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 103C, with its office at 4100 220th Street West, Suite 102, Farmington, MN. The district delivers conservation programs and technical assistance to private landowners, schools, watershed management organizations, and municipalities across Dakota County, which contains seven watershed management organizations and is dominated by the 335-square-mile Vermillion River Watershed covering 21 communities. Core offerings include the Landscaping for Clean Water grant program, the Lawns Re-Imagined lawn conversion pilot, an annual Tree Sale of bare-root native seedlings, equipment rental, K-12 and adult education services, the MnDNR Walk-In Access Program, and a public Conservation Projects Map built on ArcGIS Experience Builder integrated with the Dakota County Interactive GIS Map.

The organization is funded primarily through state appropriations (Minnesota Clean Water Fund grants administered by the Board of Water and Soil Resources), federal cost-share programs, and local property tax revenues; notable awards include a $585,000 Clean Water Fund grant for the Interstate Valley Creek Streambank Stabilization and Stormwater BMP Project and a $50,000 Clean Water Fund grant for the Two Rivers High School bioretention basin. It maintains a small staff of approximately 9 employees and pursues formal Joint Powers Agreements with the Minnesota DNR, partnerships with the NRCS, EPA, the University of Minnesota Extension, Pheasants Forever, and Great River Greening, and active coordination with the Cannon River and Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organizations.

Operationally, Dakota County SWCD runs a multi-channel engagement model combining a website and blog, social media on Facebook/X/Instagram/YouTube, an email newsletter, and in-person events including Soil Health Bus Tours, Women Landowner Workshops, and the Land to Lake Lectures series. Its technology footprint is light and GIS-centric rather than software-product-oriented: real-time data feeds from USGS river gages, Minnesota DNR Cooperative Stream Gaging, NDAWN weather stations, the ACRE dashboard, and CoCoRaHS citizen-science precipitation data are surfaced through its Real-Time Data Portal. Distribution is conducted directly from its Farmington office, online through dakotaswcd.org, and at the annual tree sale pickup at the Dakota County Fairgrounds.

Name

Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District

Legal name

Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District

Website

https://dakotaswcd.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District is a Minnesota political subdivision that delivers conservation technical assistance, grants, education, and tree-sale programs to private landowners, schools, watershed organizations, and municipalities throughout Dakota County, Minnesota.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Conservation Programs (924120), Landscaping Services (56173)

SIC

Forestry (800), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Watershed Protection & Water Quality Services (AFAMAMAB), Erosion Control & Land Stabilization (BPABADAH)

Keywords

• Conservation services
• Soil health programs
• Watershed management
• Water quality monitoring
• Conservation education

Headquarters

HQ city

Farmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. State and Federal Grants: Primary funding source from Minnesota Clean Water Fund grants, state appropriations, and federal programs. Examples include $585,000 Clean Water Fund Grant for Interstate Valley Creek project and $50,000 Clean Water Fund for Two Rivers HS stormwater project.
2. Conservation Programs and Services: Provides technical assistance and incentives for landowners implementing conservation practices. Operates tree sales program offering bare root seedlings at low cost for conservation purposes.
3. Tree and Seedling Sales: Annual tree sale program provides opportunity for landowners to purchase high quality bare root seedlings at low cost. Trees are native to Minnesota including conifers, hardwoods, small trees, and shrubs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District is a government conservation district providing technical assistance, financial incentives, and educational programs to landowners, municipalities, schools, and watershed management organizations in Dakota County, Minnesota. Core offerings include grant programs such as Landscaping for Clean Water, the Lawns Re-Imagined pilot, an annual Tree Sale of native Minnesota seedlings, equipment rental, K-12 education, soil health programs, and the Walk-In Access Program. The SWCD also maintains water quality monitoring, technical reports, and an interactive Conservation Projects Map.

Product overview

Dakota County SWCD offers a portfolio of conservation programs and services focused on land and water protection. The core offerings include Landscaping for Clean Water (a grant program for raingardens and native plantings), Lawns Re-Imagined (lawn conversion pilot program), and an annual Tree Sale providing bare root seedlings. The organization provides technical assistance through its Conservation Projects Map (ArcGIS-based), Real-Time Data Portal (weather and water monitoring), and comprehensive Water Monitoring and Technical Reports. Additional services include Equipment Rental, K-12 Education programs, Soil Health initiatives with bus tours and field days, and the MnDNR Walk-In Access Program enabling public recreation on private conservation lands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Soil organic matter decline of 50-70% in many farm fields since agriculture began - SWCD provides strategies to rebuild organic matter
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Two Rivers High School (ISD 197)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026School district partner for stormwater improvement project. Contributed $20,000+ of their own funds to the bioretention basin project and agreed to 10-year stewardship.
• Minnesota Pheasants ForeverminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Co-hosting Prescribed Burn Association landowner interest meeting on March 4th, 2026 at Dakota County Extension Building. Jason Andersen serves as Minnesota Prescribed Fire Coordinator.
• The Prairie Enthusiasts - Minnesota Oak Savanna ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Co-hosting Prescribed Burn Association landowner interest meeting. Organization focused on prairie and oak savanna restoration in Minnesota.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner providing technical and financial assistance for conservation programs. NRCS works with SWCDs to deliver conservation services to landowners through programs like EQIP and CSP.
• Minnesota Board of Water and Soil ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency that provides oversight and funding for SWCDs. BWSR distributes state funds and coordinates water and soil conservation efforts statewide.
• Cannon River Watershed Joint Powers OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint powers organization covering land within and beyond Dakota County boundaries. Dakota SWCD implements projects through this organization and provides support for project tracking.
• Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDominant watershed in Dakota County encompassing 335 square miles and 21 communities. SWCD works closely on water quality improvement projects throughout the watershed.
• Pheasants ForeverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit conservation organization focused on wildlife habitat. Co-hosting Prescribed Burn Association landowner interest meetings with SWCD.
• University of Minnesota ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing research-based information and collaboration on conservation education programs including Land to Lake Lectures series.
• Great River GreeningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit focused on ecological restoration. Partnered with Two Rivers HS and SWCD on community planting events for bioretention basin vegetation.
• Dakota CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partner providing financial and administrative support. Collaborates on multiple conservation and greenway projects with SWCD.
• Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMO partner for stormwater and water quality projects. Collaborated on $585,000 Clean Water Fund Grant for Interstate Valley Creek project.
• Environmental Protection AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner providing regulatory guidance and potential funding for water quality initiatives.
• Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner. SWCD has Joint Powers Agreement with MN DNR for Walk-In Access Program enabling public recreation on private conservation lands.
• Black Dog WMOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatershed management organization covering 28 square miles with concerns including stormwater flow, lake water quality, and drainage facilities.
• Eagan-Inver Grove Heights WMOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMO covering 30.6 square miles with majority of stormwater draining to Minnesota River. Major concern is lake water quality.
• North Cannon River WMOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMO that has sponsored water quality monitoring stations to document baseline watershed conditions and provide data to state agencies.
• Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization representing all 88 SWCDs in Minnesota. Provides networking, training, and advocacy for conservation districts.
• National Association of Conservation DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization representing 3,000 conservation districts. Provides resources and advocacy at the federal level.
• Metropolitan CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional planning agency for the Twin Cities metro area. Coordinates water resources management planning for the region.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Pheasants Forever: National habitat-focused nonprofit co-hosting landowner events (e.g., Prescribed Burn Association meetings) with Dakota SWCD. Comparable in delivering habitat and land management programs to landowners, but with a wildlife-habitat rather than water-quality focus.
• Great River Greening: Minnesota-based nonprofit focused on ecological restoration and community planting events. Partnered with Dakota SWCD on Two Rivers HS bioretention — a comparable on-the-ground conservation delivery organization that overlaps in landowner and community engagement.

Broad incumbents

• University of Minnesota Extension: Educational partner providing research-based conservation content and co-delivering the Land to Lake Lectures series. Comparable in delivering agricultural and conservation education to landowners across Minnesota at greater scale.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Federal partner that delivers conservation technical and financial assistance (EQIP, CSP) to landowners. Overlaps with Dakota SWCD on landowner-facing conservation programs and is a core partner in the SWCD's service model.
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR): State agency partner with Joint Powers Agreement with Dakota SWCD (Walk-In Access Program). Comparable in landowner-facing conservation, forestry, and water quality programs but operating at a much larger statewide scale.
• Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR): State-level agency that oversees and funds all 88 Minnesota SWCDs. While not a direct competitor, it sets program priorities and funding direction that Dakota SWCD executes against — a structural peer in the broader conservation-delivery ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Scott County Soil and Water Conservation District: Adjacent Minnesota county SWCD operating under the same Chapter 103C statutory framework with comparable conservation, education, and grant programs in Scott County. Direct structural peer with overlapping watersheds (e.g., Vermillion River).
• Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization: Dominant watershed JPO in Dakota County (335 sq mi, 21 communities). Collaborates with Dakota SWCD on water quality projects and partially overlaps in mission around watershed planning and stormwater management.
• Washington Conservation District: Twin Cities metro-area conservation district providing similar soil and water conservation services, landowner technical assistance, tree sales, and watershed planning. Comparable in scale and program mix to Dakota SWCD.
• Cannon River Watershed Joint Powers Organization: Joint powers organization covering land within and beyond Dakota County with which Dakota SWCD implements projects. Operates comparable water quality monitoring and watershed planning programs as a regional peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dakota_swcd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DakotaCountySWCD
• Facebookfacebook.com/DakotaSWCD
• Instagraminstagram.com/dakotacounty.soilandwater/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dakota-county-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 Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District