Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District is located in north central Oregon’s Wheeler County. The county’s 1,715 square miles of terrain varies from deep river canyons edged in rimrock to high timbered mountains covered in pine and fir. Portions of the Ochoco and Umatilla National Forests lie within its boundaries, covering nearly one third of the county. The three units of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument are located within Wheeler County. The county has three communities - Fossil, Spray and Mitchell – and a total population of 1,417.

The Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is a political subdivision of Oregon state government, but it is not a state agency. This special district is considered a municipal corporation, a form of local government that is required to follow many of the same laws that govern state agencies. The Wheeler SWCD is led by a locally elected board of directors who voluntarily serve. The district's charge is to help conserve the land, water, plants, and wildlife resources in Wheeler County, Oregon. The Wheeler SWCD directors are joined by associate directors and staff to carry out the district activities.

Much of the district's work involves matching governmental assistance with local conservation needs and encouraging land managers to use conservation practices. As a resident of Wheeler County or the surrounding area, you have the opportunity to participate in the Wheeler SWCD and take advantage of the many services we offer.