(a) The commissioner may, on the recommendation of the board, create soil and water conservation districts in the state upon petition signed by 25 or more land users setting out the proposed boundaries of the proposed district. The commissioner shall fix a time for and give notice of a public hearing based on the petition at a convenient location or locations within the boundaries of the proposed district. The commissioner may fix the boundaries of the district created, supervise the election of, prescribe the duties of, and install a governing body of five land users to be known as district supervisors for each district created, and delegate to the district supervisors powers as the commissioner considers necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter within the district boundaries.
(b) The area of the state that is not located within a district organized under (a) of this section shall be governed by the board.