Idaho Soil & Water Conservation Commission

What Idaho Soil & Water Conservation Commission does

The Idaho Soil & Water Conservation Commission (ISWCC) is a state government agency of Idaho, established by the Idaho Legislature in March 1939 in response to a 1934 soil erosion survey that found more than 27 million acres of Idaho land with serious erosion problems. Headquartered in Boise with 18 staff members, the Commission coordinates voluntary, locally-led conservation across Idaho's 50 Conservation Districts through a four-way partnership model involving landowners, local districts, the state Commission, and the federal USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Commission was granted operational autonomy by the Legislature in 2010 and operates under the statutory enabling statute of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.

The Commission's core product portfolio consists of four interconnected conservation programs: the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), which pays landowners to retire groundwater-irrigated cropland on 10-year contracts and has generated 622,585 acre-feet of cumulative groundwater savings over 20 years across 121 active contracts in 11 counties; the Resource Conservation & Rangeland Development Program (RCRDP), a low-interest loan program created in 1985 offering up to $600,000 per loan at 3-6% interest rates from an approximately $10 million revolving fund; the Water Quality Program for Agriculture (WQPA), which provides technical assistance and grants for nutrient management, precision agriculture, and irrigation management in designated nitrate priority areas; and TMDL Implementation Plans addressing over 900 water bodies on Idaho's 303(d) list representing 4,933 miles of streams. Supporting these programs are District Support Services and outreach tools including the monthly "Conservation the Idaho Way" newsletter and a map-based Project Tracker documenting projects since 1985.

The Commission's business model is entirely non-commercial and government-funded. Revenue consists of state appropriations, federal grants channeled through USDA-FSA and USDA-NRCS, and modest interest income from RCRDP loans. The agency serves as a pass-through coordinator and technical assistance provider rather than a vendor of goods or services, with customer segments consisting of Idaho farmers and ranchers (SMB agricultural producers), the 50 local Conservation Districts, and private landowners. The Commission is governed by seven Governor-appointed commissioners serving staggered five-year terms, with Mat Weaver currently serving as Acting Administrator following the June 2025 retirement of Delwyne Trefz.

Name

Idaho Soil & Water Conservation Commission

Legal name

Idaho Soil & Water Conservation Commission

Website

https://swc.idaho.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Idaho Soil & Water Conservation Commission is a state government agency that administers voluntary conservation programs, low-interest loans, and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, and 50 local Conservation Districts across Idaho. Founded in 1939, it coordinates CREP, RCRDP, WQPA, and TMDL programs through a federal-state-local partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration (BPAIABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Erosion Control & Land Stabilization (BPABADAH), Soil Carbon & Regenerative Agriculture Removal (Soil Organic Carbon Credits) (EUABAFAG)

Keywords

• Soil conservation programs
• Water quality management
• Agricultural conservation loans
• Conservation district support
• Watershed restoration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Boise

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Conservation Loan Interest: The Resource Conservation & Rangeland Development Program (RCRDP) provides low-interest loans to farmers and ranchers for conservation projects. The loan program has a dedicated revolving fund of approximately $10 million and generates interest income from loans at rates ranging from 3% to 6%.
2. State Appropriations and Grants: The Commission receives state funding and administers grant programs including Water Quality Program for Agriculture (WQPA) grants. State general funds support conservation district operations in exchange for required reporting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Idaho Soil & Water Conservation Commission is a state government agency that administers voluntary, non-regulatory conservation programs to Idaho farmers, ranchers, and landowners. Core offerings include the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) for groundwater-irrigated land retirement, the Resource Conservation & Rangeland Development Program (RCRDP) providing low-interest conservation loans up to $600,000, the Water Quality Program for Agriculture (WQPA) offering technical assistance and grants, and TMDL Implementation Plans addressing agricultural impacts on water quality. The Commission channels funding and technical assistance to 50 local Conservation Districts and partners with USDA NRCS and other state agencies to deliver conservation outcomes on private lands.

Product overview

The Idaho Soil & Water Conservation Commission operates as a state government agency managing a portfolio of voluntary, non-regulatory conservation programs. The core offerings consist of four interconnected programs: the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) for groundwater-irrigated land retirement; the Resource Conservation & Rangeland Development Program (RCRDP) providing low-interest conservation loans; the Water Quality Program for Agriculture (WQPA) offering technical assistance and grants for BMP implementation; and TMDL Implementation Planning addressing water quality on degraded waters. Supporting these programs are District Support Services providing financial and technical assistance to 50 local Conservation Districts, supplemented by communication tools including the monthly 'Conservation the Idaho Way' newsletter and a map-based Project Tracker documenting historical project data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) A voluntary program offering financial incentives to Idaho farmers and ranchers to remove marginal groundwater-irrigated farm ground from production for 10-year contract periods, addressing water shortages in the Eastern Snake River Plain. Has produced cumulative groundwater savings of 622,585 acre-feet over 20 years.
• Resource Conservation & Rangeland Development Program (RCRDP) Low-Interest Conservation Loans Low-interest loan program providing up to $600,000 per loan for landowners to install conservation measures on private property, including irrigation equipment, no-till drills, animal feeding operation improvements, livestock fencing, and stream bank protection. Rates range from 3% to 6% depending on term and collateral type, backed by a revolving fund of approximately $10 million.
• Water Quality Program for Agriculture (WQPA) Provides technical assistance and grants to districts and landowners for implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) to address groundwater pollution from agricultural lands, including nutrient management, precision agriculture, and irrigation water management in designated nitrate priority areas.
• Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plans The Commission takes a lead role in developing TMDL Implementation Plans to reduce sediment, nutrients, bacteria, and other pollutants from agricultural and grazing activities entering streams, lakes, or rivers on Idaho's 303(d) list of degraded waters, addressing over 900 water bodies representing 4,933 miles of streams.
• District Support Services Financial and technical assistance provided to Idaho's 50 local Conservation Districts, supporting their voluntary conservation efforts on private lands through funding allocation, staff support, and capacity building.

Quantifiable outcome

• 622,585 acre-feet of cumulative groundwater savings over 20 years through CREP
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• USDA-Farm Service AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Federal partner in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), providing annual rental payments and sign-up incentive payments to landowners who remove groundwater-irrigated cropland from production. FSA pays cost-share payments up to 50% of eligible installation costs.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1939Federal partner providing technical and financial assistance under the Farm Bill conservation programs. NRCS works with Conservation Districts and the Commission to deliver conservation programs to landowners. The three-way partnership (Districts, Commission, NRCS) has operated since 1939.
• Idaho Department of Water ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState partner in CREP program, working with the Commission to address water shortages in the Eastern Snake River Plain. Contributes to the State of Idaho annual payment of up to 13% of the federal per-acre annual rental payment.
• Idaho Department of Fish & GamemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState partner in CREP, contributing to the partnership that addresses water conservation and wildlife habitat enhancement through the program.
• Idaho Ground Water AppropriatorsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner entity representing groundwater users, involved in the CREP partnership to address groundwater consumption issues in the Eastern Snake River Plain.
• Local Irrigation DistrictsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal irrigation districts participate in CREP partnership, working with landowners and the Commission on water conservation projects.
• Idaho Association of Conservation Districts (IASCD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level nonprofit organization representing Idaho's 50 Conservation Districts. Seeks to serve as a unified voice for districts and supports Commission programs.
• National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit representing nearly 3,000 Conservation Districts across the United States. Provides guidance and support for state conservation efforts.
• National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit coalition of state conservation agencies that provides guidance, technical assistance, and capacity building support to local Conservation Districts.
• Idaho Department of Environmental QualitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState partner providing coordination on water quality issues. The Commission assists IDEQ in administering a nonpoint source water quality loan under the State Revolving Fund Program.
• University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life SciencessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research support and collaboration on conservation topics including soil health, water quality, and agricultural best management practices.
• The Nature ConservancysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit conservation organization working on conservation projects in Idaho, particularly related to soil health and water quality initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: Oregon's state agency funding voluntary watershed and conservation projects on private lands through grants and technical assistance. Highly comparable as a state-level conservation program administrator with a partnership-driven, non-regulatory model.
• Washington State Conservation Commission: Washington's state agency partnering with 45 local Conservation Districts to deliver voluntary conservation programs on agricultural lands. Direct structural parallel to Idaho's Commission with the same locally-led model.
• Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation: Montana's state agency administering conservation and natural resource programs including soil and water conservation district oversight. Comparable in scope to Idaho's Commission given shared regional agricultural conservation priorities.
• Wyoming Conservation Commission: Wyoming's state agency administering conservation districts and related programs in coordination with NRCS. Comparable as a small western-state conservation program administrator with district-based delivery model.
• Colorado Department of Agriculture - Conservation Services Division: Colorado's conservation services division within the state Department of Agriculture administering conservation districts and programs. Direct parallel given Idaho's Commission operates under the ISDA enabling statute.

Broad incumbents

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Federal agency delivering Farm Bill conservation programs to agricultural landowners nationally. Idaho SWCC partners with NRCS but NRCS is also a competitor for the same landowner pool and a much larger funding source.
• National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD): National nonprofit representing nearly 3,000 conservation districts across the U.S. Provides guidance and capacity support to state conservation agencies including Idaho SWCC, operating at the national scale the Commission does not.
• National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA): National coalition of state conservation agencies providing technical assistance and capacity building to state-level conservation entities including Idaho SWCC. Operates as the umbrella peer organization.

Regional players

• Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR): State agency managing Idaho's water resources and now providing the Commission's interim Administrator. Adjacent in mission (water conservation) and operationally intertwined with SWCC through CREP.
• Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ): State agency overseeing water quality and environmental protection in Idaho. Partners with SWCC on TMDL implementation and administers nonpoint source water quality loans through the State Revolving Fund that SWCC helps deliver.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/UC_41oTRjRXn9j3rK4ls_Ngw
• Facebookfacebook.com/IdahoSWCC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Idaho Soil & Water Conservation Commission