Tillamook County Soil and Water Conservation District

About Us

Tillamook County SWCD plans and implements programs to conserve renewable resources on private lands within Tillamook county. These resources include soil, water, air, plants, animals, and important farm lands.  While implementing this voluntary conservation program, human and social concerns are taken into consideration.

Watch this video interview “Let’s Talk with Van Moe” about Tillamook County SWCD and who we are! Filmed October 25, 2012 by Jane Scott Video Productions.

The District is composed of a seven person Board of Directors.  The Directors are elected at the Oregon general election.  We operate under Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 568.21 through 568.890.  The District also may appoint Associate Directors to help carry out our mission.

Federal, state, and local resource agencies serve as advisors to the SWCD to assist with identifying resource concerns, recommendations for solving resource-related problems, and providing input into the District’s Long Range Plan and Annual Work Plans.

In 1940 Tillamook County SWCD was the first district formed in Oregon under the legislation that was passed in 1939.  The Soil Conservation District was organized by south county landowners to provide technical assistance in controlling stream bank erosion, shifting sands, and improving pasture drainage and production.

Tillamook County SWCD has identified the following resource concerns:

  • Adequate SWCD Technical Staff
  • Stream Bank Erosion
  • Flood Mitigation
  • Agricultural Surface Runoff and Potential Ground Water Degredation
  • Air Quality
  • Aquatic Habitat Degradation (Riparian Zone)
  • Agricultural Land Preservation
  • Forage Producing Lands Plant Condition and Productivity
  • Noxious Weed Control
  • Energy Sustainability
  • Storm Water Runoff

Please contact us for more information or assistance if you have any of these concerns.  You can also view a list of the conservation incentive programs we currently offer.

Oregon conservation districts are political subdivisions of state government, but are not state agencies.  Conservation districts are considered municipal corporations, a form of local government that is required to follow many of the same laws that govern state agencies.  As defined in Oregon Revised Statute 174.116 local government specifically includes soil and water conservation districts.