CONSERVATION DISTRICTS RESTRICTED ONLY

This page has been created for use by the state's conservation districts for information that pertains to the districts. Information placed here may change from time to time, so please check back often.

Click on the section headings below to expand or collapse each section.


Conservation District Employee Handbook 2018

View details of Conservation District Employee Handbook 2018

2019 Contour Lines

View details of 2019 Contour Lines

Event Agenda

View details of event agenda.

2019 Contour Lines

View details of digital event program

South Dakota Association of Conservation District Employees' By-Laws

View details of SDACDE By-Laws

South Dakota Conservation Districts & SDACD Areas

View details of SD Conservation Districts and SDACD Areas

Commission Grant Training Material

Reimbursement Request Example

View details of Reimbursement Request Example

RCF Commission Grant Application Example

View details of RCF Commission Grant Application Example

Reimbursement Check-List

View details of Reimbursement Check-List

Commission Grant 101 PowerPoint

A guide to walk through the process of applying, to closing Conservation Commission Grants

View details of Commission Grant 101 PowerPoint

Area Surveys

Coteau Area

View details of Coteau Area Survey

Hills Area

View details of Hills Area Survey

Northwest Area

View details of Northwest Area Survey

North Missouri

View details of North Missouri Area Survey


Prairie Area

View details of Prairie Area Survey

South James Area

View details of South James Area Survey

Vermillion - Big Sioux Area

View details of Vermillion - Big Sioux Area Survey

Supervisor Elections

Supervisor Elections Training

A training on Conservation District supervisor elections. The training covers the process of filing a petition, how supervisor terms are oriented, and requirements of Conservation Districts to provide public notices regarding supervisor vacancies.

View details of Session Design Form Example

Soil Erosion Control

2026 May Erosion Control Presentation

A presentation outlining South Dakota law on soil erosion, handling soil erosion complaints, and developing soil erosion standards.

View details of Session Design Form Example

Quickbooks Webinar Session 1:

Zoom Link for Session 1

  • When to use an Invoice vs. a Sales Receipt
  • What is ‘Undeposited Funds’ and how to record a deposit with multiple checks
  • How to deposit grant funds & county appropriations
  • Applying income from the coop agreements
  • How to adjust a deposit that has already been reconciled
  • Discuss what is subject to sales tax and what is not

View details – Zoom recording for Quickbooks Session 1

Session 1: Cash Overpayment

View details of Session 1 Cash Overpayment

Session 1: Reconciled Deposit Correction

View details of Session 1 Reconciled Deposit Correction

Conservation Districts Sales Tax

View details of Conservation Districts Sales Tax

Conservation Districts Tax Facts

View details of Conservation Districts Tax Facts

Quickbooks Proposed Schedule

View details of Quickbooks Proposed Schedule


Quickbooks Webinar Session 2:

Zoom Link for Session 2

  • Handling down payments made the year prior
  • Issuing a refund to a customer (for an overpayment or full/partial refund)
  • When to adjust an invoice vs when to use a credit memo
  • How to clean up the A/R report

View details – Video Download for Quickbooks Session 2


Quickbooks Webinar Session 3:

Video Download for Session 3

  • Adding a new fixed asset purchased with a loan or for cash
  • Depreciation
  • Recording fixed asset transaction when there is a trade value and/or accumulated depreciation
  • Removing an asset from the balance sheet (it still appears on the balance sheet even with the value of zero, and marked inactive)

View details – video download for Quickbooks Session 3

Session 3: Sale of Asset with Trade Journal Entry Example

View details of Session 3 Sale of Asset with Trade Journal Entry Example

Session 3: Sample Fixed Asset Worksheet

View details of Session 3 Sample Fixed Asset Worksheet

Quickbooks Webinar Session 4:

Session 4: Payroll

  • Employee payroll set-up, including adding employee deductions such as child support, SD Retirement, additional federal withholding
  • Payroll additions for employees – mileage, healthcare, and healthcare reimbursement plans
  • Board payroll – mileage and SD Reemployment assistance, rules for only board payrolls

View details – video for Quickbooks Session 4 Payroll

Quickbooks Webinar Session 5:

Session 5: Final Session

“Clean-up” Session. Touch back on any previous topics as needed (per group survey).

  • Discuss how to update to a newer version
  • Journal entries
  • How to email invoices
  • How to record fabric purchased in one year, but used the next
  • Using “ctrl+F”
  • Cover any new questions from group email sent out prior to final session

View details – video for Quickbooks Session 5 Final Session

Local Work Group Documents

Notes From South Dakota Conservation Districts Local Work Group Session

Notes from Local Work Group Training Sessions — a summary of outcomes, projects, and LWG proposals from local work group sessions held on March 24, 2026 and March 25, 2026.

View details – Notes from SD Conservation Districts LWG Session

South Dakota Local Work Group Responsibilities

The products of the locally led process will provide USDA and the Conservation District with community stakeholders' conservation needs, resource concerns, priorities, and recommendations regarding programs that can be used as tools to address those needs. The delivery process for USDA conservation programs is conducted at the local, State, and national levels based on the conservation needs assessment and the conservation action plans developed by community stakeholders as part of the locally led process.

View details of SD Local Work Group Responsibilities

Session Design Form Example

Local Work Group Session Design Examples — an example of a session design of a local work group meeting for CDs to use or amend to their needs.

View details of Session Design Form Example

Slides: South Dakota Local Work Group Training

A PowerPoint presentation on the South Dakota Local Work Group Session, created by Ray Ledgerwood. The presentation covers an Overview of Conservation Districts & NRCS Partnerships, Local Work Groups, Operation Procedures of LWG, and Facilitation.

View details of SD LWG Training Slides

Local Work Group Training Videos

Videos of the Local Work Group training held in Huron, SD on March 24, 2026 by Ray Ledgerwood. The training is broken into six parts:

  • Part 1: Opening Remarks & Workshop Goals
  • Part 2: Conservation District History, Powers & Authorities
  • Part 3: Local Success Stories & The Three Things Every Board Member Needs
  • Part 4: Developing Your District Project Proposal
  • Part 5: Building Alliances for Local Conservation
  • Part 6: Project Proposals, Key Takeaways & Closing Remarks

View Training Videos – Local Work Group Training Videos playlist on YouTube