Madison Soil and Water Conservation District

What Madison Soil and Water Conservation District does

Madison Soil and Water Conservation District is a political subdivision of the State of Ohio, established in 1947 and headquartered in London, Ohio, operating under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1511. The district delivers soil and water conservation services to Madison County landowners, farmers, and residents, with a staff complement of approximately 6 paid employees plus 5 elected board supervisors and a co-located USDA NRCS field representative. Its functional mandate encompasses conservation planning, technical assistance, administration of federal and state financial programs (including EQIP, CSP, WPCLF, and LAEPP), education and outreach, equipment rental, and community engagement initiatives such as the multi-county Be The Change for Clean Water program.

The district's service portfolio is built on conventional program administration rather than proprietary technology. Conservation planning and financial program delivery are conducted through standard NRCS and Ohio Department of Agriculture frameworks, with the website hosted on Firespring's nonprofit platform. Operational products include soil test kits, yard flags, tree sales, and equipment rentals, complemented by educational programming (Cyanotype Workshop, Cover Your Assets, Rain Is Your Resource) and regulatory stewardship functions such as Spotted Lanternfly quarantine compliance. No AI, machine learning, or advanced analytics capabilities are deployed.

The business model is that of a publicly funded local government unit. Revenue derives from county appropriations through the Madison County Commissioners, pass-through state and federal conservation grants, modest product sales, equipment rental fees, and easement stewardship income. The district functions as an administrative conduit for larger federal and state conservation funding pools, with the 2026 LAEPP award of $198,951 illustrative of typical grant capture. Because it is a political subdivision rather than a commercial entity, traditional commercial revenue, pricing, and go-to-market mechanics do not apply; financial sustainability is governed by annual appropriations and competitive grant capture rather than market-driven demand.

Name

Madison Soil and Water Conservation District

Legal name

Madison Soil and Water Conservation District

Website

https://madisonsoilandwater.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Soil and Water Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Conservation Programs (924120), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Sanitary Services (4950), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation Agriculture (Erosion Control, Contour/Strip Cropping, Mulching) (AFAGAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land Clearing & Field Reclamation Services (Brush, Stump Removal) (AFACAAAJ), Soil Testing, pH Adjustment & Soil Amendments (Lime/Gypsum/Organic Matter) (HSAIAGAC), Urban Renewal, Brownfield Redevelopment & Land Reuse (BPAIANAI)

Keywords

• Soil conservation services
• Water quality management
• Agricultural easement programs
• Conservation technical assistance
• Natural resource management

Headquarters

HQ city

London

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, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Funding from Madison County Commissioners and state government through Ohio Department of Agriculture. Core operational funding for the political subdivision.
2. Grant Administration: Administration of Ohio EPA grants through Water Pollution Control Loan Fund for septic system repairs - covers 50%, 85%, or 100% of costs based on income
3. Product Sales: Sale of soil test kits ($12), marking flags ($0.20 each), affiliate memberships ($25+)
4. Equipment Rental Deposits: Rental of dibble bars, honeysuckle poppers, and soil probes with $20 refundable deposits
5. Agricultural Easement Program: Coordinates Clean Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program - 1% stewardship fee on easement purchase price for long-term monitoring

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Madison Soil and Water Conservation District is a State of Ohio political subdivision that provides free conservation planning, technical assistance, financial programs, and educational resources to Madison County landowners, farmers, and residents. Its services include soil testing, drainage mapping, pond assessments, septic-system repair loans (WPCLF), farmland preservation through agricultural easements, native seed and tree seedling distribution, and community environmental education.

Product overview

Madison Soil and Water Conservation District offers a portfolio of conservation service programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include Landowner Technical Services (conservation planning, grazing plans, invasive species management), Financial Opportunities (grants through Agricultural Easement Purchase Program, Conservation Reserve Program, H2Ohio, WPCLF), and Educational Resources (workshops, educator materials, field guides). The organization also operates a retail program for conservation supplies (soil test kits, marking flags) and equipment rentals (dibble bars, soil probes, honeysuckle poppers). Community engagement is facilitated through the Be the Change for Clean Water initiative and educational programs like Prairie Appreciation Rides, Cover Your Assets (cover crops), and Rain is Your Resource. All services connect Madison County residents with USDA NRCS programs and Ohio state conservation initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Madison Conservation Foundation: A 501 C 3 nonprofit established by Madison SWCD for volunteers and the public to become involved with conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the natural and cultural heritage of Madison County, Ohio.
• Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF)

Products and services

• Landowner Technical Services Free in-office and in-field conservation technical assistance provided to Madison County landowners and producers, covering soil testing, GPS-grade tile mapping, drone field scouting, and pond assessments. Services are delivered by Madison SWCD staff at the Madison County USDA Service Center.
• Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) Septic System Program Low-interest loans and grants for repair or replacement of failing residential septic systems in Madison County, available to qualifying low- and moderate-income homeowners. Madison SWCD assists with applications and administers the program in partnership with the Ohio EPA.
• Farmland Preservation Program Agricultural conservation easement purchase program that compensates landowners for permanently protecting farmland from development. Operated by Madison SWCD under the Clean Ohio LAEPP framework with the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
• Financial Opportunities and Grant Assistance Assistance to Madison County residents in identifying and applying for state and federal financial assistance programs for conservation practices, including cost-share and grant opportunities beyond WPCLF.
• Educational Resources and Outreach Conservation education programming for Madison County residents, schools, and community groups, including workshops, printed materials, campaigns such as Be the Change for Clean Water, Rain is Your Resource, and Cover Your Assets, and community events including Prairie Appreciation Rides.
• Conservation Items for Sale or Rent Sale and rental of conservation-related products and equipment to Madison County residents and landowners, including soil test kits, marking flags, native seed mixes (some free), rain barrels, and tree seedlings distributed through the annual Tree Seedling Sale.

Quantifiable outcome

• 38 farms and 8,270 acres preserved through Agricultural Easement Purchase Program since 2002
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1947Long-standing partnership since the district's founding in 1947. NRCS staff work alongside SWCD staff at the co-located USDA Service Center. NRCS provides technical expertise and administers federal conservation programs including EQIP and CSP.
• Ohio EPAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhio EPA provides grant funding through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) to help Madison County homeowners repair or replace failing septic systems. MSWCD administers the local program.
• Ohio Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides funding for the Clean Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program. Co-holds easements with Madison County Commissioners and may include NRCS.
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Scenic RiverscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerODNR recognizes Madison SWCD as an irreplaceable partner in protecting the Little Darby Creek, a State and National Scenic River. SWCD helps reduce invasive species and ensure biodiversity in the Little Darby Prairie Preserve.
• Friends of Madison County Parks & Trails (FMCPT)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner since the beginning of the Ohio to Erie Trail. SWCD supervised creation and maintenance of rain gardens. Co-host the annual Prairie Appreciation Ride.
• Madison County Master GardenersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual tree sapling giveaway collaboration for Arbor Day celebrations. Provides educational programming for community members on tree planting and gardening.
• Logan County SWCD and Union County Pheasants ForeverminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Habitat Restoration events. Logan County SWCD provides breakfast snacks, Union County Pheasants Forever provides lunch for workshop participants.
• Ohio State University ExtensionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for soil testing services, educational programs, and resources. OSU Extension provides testing for soil kits sold by the district. Also collaborates on workshops and the Ecological Education Initiative.
• Plain City Parks and RecreationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative tree planting events including the Arbor Day event at Sugar Run to plant 75 trees across 22 acres for native oak prairie creation.
• Madison County CommissionerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary local funding source for the conservation district. Co-hold agricultural easements with Ohio Department of Agriculture. Governed through county-level oversight.
• Madison County Public HealthmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborates with local contractors to find the best septic system design for each home. Ensures proper design and installation of systems meeting health standards.
• Ohio State University Mansfield Department of ArtminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered to offer Cyanotype Workshop combining art and nature. Workshop led by Professor Kate Shannon and Gabe Karns from OSU.
• Madison Conservation FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)(3) nonprofit established by Madison SWCD to provide another avenue for volunteers and public involvement. Supports agricultural community, wildlife habitat, wetlands, prairies and woodlands preservation.
• Camp CanopyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSummer forestry and wildlife camp for youth. Broc Sehen promotes the camp to Madison County students. Camp runs June 7-12, 2026.
• Prairie Grass TrailminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWCD maintains rain gardens at the Prairie Grass Trailhead in London, OH. Site of annual Prairie Appreciation Ride.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District: Franklin County (Columbus, OH) conservation district providing identical landowner technical services, financial program administration, and education. Direct operational peer within the same Ohio SWCD network and partner in the Be The Change for Clean Water initiative.
• Champaign Soil and Water Conservation District: Ohio SWCD in a comparable agricultural county (Urbana, OH). Provides the same landowner technical services, financial program navigation, and youth education programs under the Ohio SWCD framework.
• Pickaway Soil and Water Conservation District: Neighboring central Ohio SWCD with comparable agricultural landowner base, farmland preservation program participation, and NRCS co-location model. Directly comparable mandate and revenue structure.
• Delaware Soil and Water Conservation District: Ohio SWCD experiencing the same urban-growth pressure as Madison County. Comparable mix of agricultural and urban conservation programming, including WPCLF administration and prairie/pollinator initiatives.
• Fayette Soil and Water Conservation District: Ohio SWCD serving an adjacent rural, agriculture-dominant county with the same suite of services (conservation planning, WPCLF administration, AEPP). Strong functional equivalent at similar scale.
• Licking Soil and Water Conservation District: East-central Ohio SWCD with parallel structure - NRCS co-location, AEPP participation, WPCLF grant administration, and conservation education programming serving a similar mix of farmland and rural residential landowners.
• Union Soil and Water Conservation District: Adjacent Ohio SWCD offering the same conservation planning, easement administration, and WPCLF services. Shares Madison County's watershed context (Mill Creek / Big Darby) and co-hosts Habitat Restoration events with Madison.

Emerging players

• The Nature Conservancy - Ohio: Conservation nonprofit with comparable landowner engagement, habitat restoration, and water quality focus in Ohio. Operates at a larger geographic scale with private fundraising capacity, complementing rather than directly competing with county-level SWCD services.

Broad incumbents

• Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR): State-level natural resource agency that Madison SWCD partners with on scenic river protection (Little Darby Creek). Broader mandate covering forests, wildlife, parks, and waterways across Ohio, with overlapping conservation and education activities.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - Ohio: Federal agency partner co-located with Madison SWCD. NRCS administers federal conservation programs (EQIP, CSP) and provides technical assistance at the state and national level; functionally overlapping capability but national rather than county-specific.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/madisonswcdohio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/madison-soil-and-water-conservation-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Madison Soil and Water Conservation District