The Kanabec Soil and Water Conservation District is a special district, also known as a political subdivision, of the State of Minnesota organized under the 1937 Minnesota Soil Conservation Districts Law. Our responsibilities as outlined in Chapter 44A Soil Conservation in the 1938 Supplement to Mason's Minnesota Statutes (pp. 905) include, but are not limited to:

• control and prevention of soil erosion;
• preservation of natural resources;
• prevention of impairment of dams and reservoirs;
• assistance in maintaining the navigability of rivers and harbors;
• by the application of these measures, providing for flood control, preserving wildlife, protecting the tax base, and protecting public lands.

The Kanabec Soil Conservation District was established by a majority vote of the people in the district on August 11, 1950. The Board of Supervisors first met on January 6, 1951. The name of the District was changed to the Kanabec Soil and Water Conservation District on March 10, 1959. The Kanabec Soil and Water Conservation District is a subdivision of state government, operating under a charter issued by the Secretary of  State in 1950.