What We Do

The Louisiana State Soil and Water Conservation Commission (SWCC), established in 1938 under Act 370, develops and oversees the state’s conservation district program. It sets operational policy, provides regulatory oversight, and supports districts through guidance on state policy, assistance with programs and elections, legal processes, coordination, funding, and information sharing. The SWCC also facilitates collaboration with federal and state agencies, including serving as the official state partner with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Despite legislative changes in 1956 and 1985, its core functions and relationship with districts have remained consistent. Learn More at LDAF.

The Office of Soil and Water Conservation (OSWC) provides technical and financial support to Louisiana’s 44 Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Working with local landowners, community stakeholders, and state and federal partners, OSWC helps identify natural resource concerns, set conservation goals, and implement voluntary programs to protect and manage local resources. Key initiatives include agricultural waste management, nonpoint source pollution abatement, prescribed burning certifications, coastal wetlands restoration, conservation education, Farm Bill program assistance, and invasive species control such as feral hog trapping and giant salvinia management. Learn More at LDAF.

The Office of Soil & Water Conservation (OSWC) provides financial, administrative, and coordination support to Louisiana’s 44 Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). SWCDs are local units of state government that deliver conservation planning services directly to landowners and are uniquely authorized to work on private property at the landowner’s request. Each district is governed by a five-member board of supervisors, with three elected locally and two appointed by the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission, and typically employs staff to manage planning, administration, and education programs. SWCDs are funded by the state and district revenue, with additional assistance from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Learn More at LDAF.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Louisiana supports landowners and communities in conserving the state’s diverse landscapes—from coastal marshes to upland forests. NRCS provides technical and financial assistance through five core areas: conservation planning and consultation, conservation implementation, natural resource inventory and assessment, technology transfer, and financial assistance. By offering cost-share programs, easements, grants, and stewardship payments, NRCS helps landowners make informed decisions, adopt beneficial conservation practices, and protect Louisiana’s natural resources. Simply put, NRCS helps you help the land. Learn More at USDA.