Any 25 owners of land lying within the limits of the territory proposed to be organized into a district may file a petition with the State Natural Resources Conservation Council asking that a natural resources conservation district be organized to function in the territory described in the petition. (Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 11(c), eff. March 1, 1961; 1963, No. 79, § 1(b), eff. May 7, 1963; 1967, No. 303 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 15(b), 16(b), eff. March 22, 1968.)