Washington State Conservation Commission

Last month, two of our team were able to tour a University of Washington nursery in Seattle and Fourth Corner Nurseries in Bellingham— both of which are growing plants for use in riparian habitat restoration projects under contracts through SCC's Riparian Plant Propagation Program.

Jon Bakker and Sarah Rogers gave us a tour of the UW nursery, showcasing various plants ordered through the RPPP Plant Needs Form. Among the plants they showed us were grand fir and gooseberry. Outside of the RPPP plants, we were excited to check out their rare plant program and public native plant library! 📚

At Fourth Corner Nursery in Bellingham, a 40-acre farm specializing in native plants, we were given a tour by manager Dylan Levy-Boyd, who showed us the nursery's huge bare-root plant operation. Spokane Conservation District is currently waiting on an order of more than 9,000 Red Osier Dogwood for use in habitat restoration projects, which are now in the ground and sprouting up! 🌱

Big thank you to all the folks who took time out of their busy days to give us a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the work they're doing to support our state's riparian habitat restoration plant needs. 🐟🌲

Thank you to Clark Conservation District for taking SCC commission members, staff, and partners on a wonderful tour of their district last week!

Clark CD took us to see several different projects around their district, including:

🌳 A Riparian Plant Propagation Program holding site for plants that will be used in streamside restoration projects. More than 100 high school student volunteers have helped pot these plants for distribution to restoration sites, giving students experience in restoration work.

🌱 A riparian buffer composed of edible species like salmonberries, red flower currants, and thimbleberries, along a salmon-bearing creek.

💩 A 6,000-cubic-foot waste storage facility. These waste storage facilities are expensive to build, but with cost-sharing through NRCS ($67K) and Clark Conservation District ($89K), the landowner did not pay anything. Manure collected in the facility will go to a large farm for fertilizer.

Incredible work, Clark Conservation District! Thank you so much for showing us just a few of the amazing projects happening in your region.

🌟 Sunday District Spotlight! 🌟

This week, our is shining on Benton Conservation District whose team has been working hard to mitigate the impacts of stargrass on the lower Yakima River. Stargrass grows so densely that it chokes waterways and raises water levels. It also sucks oxygen and nutrients that are vital for salmon out of the water. Last year, Benton CD removed over half a million lbs of stargrass to improve fish habitat, water quality, recreation areas, and more.

In collaboration with partners, Benton CD recently commissioned a video highlighting the challenges facing the lower Yakima River. To learn more about their ongoing work, watch the video here: https://bit.ly/3SxRhq7.

Thank you for your hard work, Benton Conservation District!

📸: "Harvesting" by Thomas Sexton, Benton CD

🌄 Disability Pride Month Spotlight: Outdoors for All Foundation 🌄

For our second Disability Pride Month feature, we're celebrating the incredible work of the Outdoors for All Foundation!

Based in our very own home state, Washington, Outdoors for All has been transforming lives through outdoor recreation since 1979. With the help of more than 850 dedicated volunteers, Outdoors for All enriches the lives of 3,000+ children and adults with disabilities each year through adaptive and therapeutic recreation.

From snowboarding and skiing to kayaking and rock climbing, their diverse programs ensure everyone can enjoy the beauty and adventure of the great outdoors. 🌄🏂🚴‍♀️🚣‍♂️

Thank you, Outdoors for All, for working to make nature accessible to everyone! To learn more, visit https://outdoorsforall.org/.

📸: Outdoors for All

We've seen so many great articles recognizing Washington's conservation districts in the news in recent days! Earlier this month, KXRO Newsradio published a piece about Grays Harbor Conservation District and its Stream Team Water Quality Outreach and Education project.

Grays Harbor CD recently received over $355K in grant funding for the project from the Washington Department of Ecology, which will support improving water quality in Grays Harbor County by expanding successful outreach and education programs.

Key focuses include:
🌱 Riparian stewardship
🐞 Macroinvertebrate monitoring
🌧️ Stormwater education
🔬 Water quality educational events

By increasing community knowledge and interest in stewarding water quality, we can significantly impact our environment. Great work, Grays Harbor CD! For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3W4fFAl.

📸: Grays Harbor CD

We're excited to see Spokane Conservation District's achievements in supporting sustainable agriculture and clean water featured in the International World Times! 🌿💧

In partnership with the Washington Department of Ecology, Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association, and local farmers, Spokane CD has been a driving force in promoting innovative practices to protect waterways. Their Farmed Smart Certification & Direct Seed Loan Implementation Program recently received national recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with an Exceptional Project designation under the PISCES award.

"Our partnership with the Department of Ecology and EPA has been integral to getting thousands of acres of direct seed and no-tillage on the ground in Eastern Washington. The program is one of the best conservation adaption programs in the country," says Ty Meyer, Farmed Smart Program Manager at Spokane Conservation District.

Program achievements:
🌱 30,000 acres certified with regenerative practices.
🌱 107,000 acres with environmentally friendly tillage.
🌱 7,000 tons of sediment prevented from entering waterways.

By making direct seed technology more affordable, Spokane CD helps producers adopt conservation practices that protect water quality and enhance productivity.

Amazing work, Spokane CD! Read the full article at https://bit.ly/3W6JiRN.

📸: Spokane CD

🌟 Sunday District Spotlight 🌟

This week's is shining on Franklin Conservation District, which recently participated in the Tri-Cities STEM Career Academy. Franklin CD sponsored the second day of the conference, during which students built drones and learned about agriculture, food science, and more.

Spending a full week exploring STEM careers is important for high schoolers planning their future paths. Thank you, Franklin Conservation District, for working to get students involved in conservation!

Learn more about the academy at https://bit.ly/40kgrd6.

July is Disability Pride Month— a commemoration and celebration of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act! Tune in to SCC's social media platforms each Friday this month to learn about inspiring people and organizations within the disabled community who are making a difference in the conservation sphere.

Today, we're learning about AgrAbility, an organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers with disabilities.

AgrAbility operates in 22 states and helps individuals succeed through gainful employment, access to assistive technology, and targeted support for family caregivers. They also focus on underserved populations, including African American farmers, veteran farmers, Native Americans, and Hispanic/Latino agricultural workers.

To learn more about AgrAbility's mission to create a more inclusive and accessible agricultural community, visit www.agrability.org.

📸: National AgrAbility Project

Last month, SCC's Riparian Plant Propagation Program Manager, B'Elanna, visited Derby Canyon Natives, a specialty nursery in Peshastin, WA. They are growing over 10,000 trees and shrubs under a specific contract designed to help nurseries and restoration groups by planning plant orders ahead of time and finding hard-to-get plants for projects.

Once the plants are ready, they will go to Palouse Conservation District, Spokane Conservation District, and Cascadia Conservation District for riparian restoration projects.

Thank you, Derby Canyon, for all your hard work!

Our 2023 Biennial Report is here!

Despite significant challenges, we have achieved remarkable things over the past two years in partnership with local conservation districts and sister agencies— including distributing over $61 million to on-the-ground conservation efforts.

Looking forward, we are excited about new opportunities, new team members, and new leadership. These changes will help us continue our vital mission of conserving natural resources. We are honored to support Washington’s 45 conservation districts and look forward to our future achievements together.

📘 Read the full biennial report here: https://adobe.ly/3xRlzwI

🌟 Sunday District Spotlight! 🌟

This week's is shining on Underwood Conservation District, which hosts a summer speakers series called Crop Talks, in partnership with Gorge Grown Food Network. The Crop Talks series provides vital networking and resource-sharing opportunities for local producers and farmers.

Carbon Farm will host this month's talk in Dufur, OR. To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/3xLGVeW. Please note that these events are only open to farmers/ranchers/agriculture-focused folks!

Thank you for your work, Underwood CD!

First place 🥇 in the "Igniting Change" mini-competition goes to Jae Townsend of Thurston Conservation District for their photo, "Fire Damage." Like their other photo, "Home Assessment," which took 3rd place, Jae took this shot during the Wildfire Ready Neighbors Media Launch in the spring of 2023. It depicts Tom Fitzgerald leading a home assessment while focusing on a tree damaged during a fire in 2020. Congratulations, Jae, on taking 3rd and 1st place in this mini-competition!

CD staff— want to see your photos featured on SCC's social media channels (or even win a scholarship to WADE)? Submit your best shots to the 2024 Conservation District Photo Contest here: https://bit.ly/3LdtMyp. We can't wait to see your work!

Happy Fourth of July! Our office will be closed today in observance of the holiday. We will resume normal operations on July 5th.

Don't forget to celebrate safely! Nearly 20K fires are started by fireworks each year in the U.S., and wildfire season is in full swing.

Protect our forests, wildlife, and pets by:

🎇 Watching a local professional fireworks display rather than setting off your own.

🔥 Check fire restrictions in your area before lighting fireworks, bonfires, etc.

🐶 Bring pets indoors and keep them secure. Make sure they are wearing tags with contact info.

Taking second place 🥈 in the "Igniting Change" mini-competition is "Find the Firefighters," submitted by Robert Walters of Whatcom Conservation District! Robert took this photo one week after firefighters contained a 50-acre wildfire that ignited in late April 2024. Wildland crews are pictured putting out hot spots, including one on a large cedar stump. Thank you, Robert, for the great photo!

CD staff— want to see your photos featured on SCC's social media channels (or even win a scholarship to WADE)? Submit your best shots to the 2024 Conservation District Photo Contest here: https://bit.ly/3LdtMyp. We can't wait to see your work!

Our most recent mini-competition in the 2024 Conservation District Photo Contest, "Igniting Change," received some great submissions depicting wildfire resiliency and recovery work. 🔥 Big thanks to all the conservation district staff who submitted their shots! Follow along for the next three days as we announce the winners.

In third place🥉 is "Home Assessment," submitted by Jae Townsend of Thurston Conservation District! Jae took this photo during the Thurston Wildfire Ready Neighbors Media Launch in 2023. It shows Tom Fitzgerald, a West Thurston Regional Fire Authority battalion chief, conducting a home risk assessment in the Bordeaux community of south Thurston County. The Bordeaux community saw a grass fire spread in 2020, driven by a high wind event, making this launch even more impactful. Thank you, Jae, for this great shot!

CD staff— want to see your photos featured on SCC's social media channels (or even win a scholarship to WADE)? Submit your best shots to the 2024 Conservation District Photo Contest here: https://bit.ly/3LdtMyp. We can't wait to see your work!

🌟 Sunday District Spotlight 🌟

For this week's , we're heading to Mason Conservation District in Shelton, where their Gleaning Program is helping to provide community food banks with fresh, local produce.

Mason CD's crew of volunteers spent the first day of summer at Skokomish Valley Farms, where they were invited to harvest excess lettuce and garlic, which will be distributed to Mason County food banks.

It's so inspiring to see local businesses working together with conservation districts to support their communities. Great work, Mason Conservation District!

📸: Mason CD

🌈 Pride Month Feature! 🌈

Today is the last Friday in June, which marks the final post in our Pride Month series. Celebrate Pride Month with us by learning about the Rainbow Conservation Crew— a group run by the Northwest Youth Corps' that gives LGBTQIA+ youth a safe place to learn about wilderness exploration and environmental conservation.

Equipped with tools like McLeods, Pulaskis, and peaveys, the dedicated teen members of the Rainbow Crew work on projects like maintaining trails and constructing bridges. Under the leadership of LGBTQIA+ role models like Mel Hanby, a transgender man, these youth are finding welcoming spaces to develop outdoor skills and leadership abilities.

The Rainbow Crew highlights the importance of inclusive conservation efforts and representation in the conservation field. "Seeing a place for myself in conservation work was life-changing," says Mel.

This Pride Month, we celebrate the Rainbow Conservation Crew's commitment to stewardship and career development in the great outdoors. To learn more about their work, visit https://bit.ly/3xHCbqu.

📸: Edison Velez III / National Geographic

Exciting News for Soil Health! U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $3 million in partnerships to advance soil survey research. This funding aims to improve soil surveys at the national level, providing crucial data for community planning, environmental protection, and resource conservation. 🌍

Institutions of higher education in the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network are encouraged to submit proposals by July 8, 2024.

Key Research Areas:
🌱 Dynamic Soil Properties and Soil Change
💧 Methods of Soil Hydrology
📈 Expansion of Datasets

Proposals should aim to fill gaps in soil survey databases and address emerging issues in these priority areas. Check out the full article to learn more about this opportunity! https://bit.ly/3XBuGfi

📸: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

🌈 Pride Month Feature! 🌈

Are you familiar with OUT for Sustainability? For 10+ years, Out4S has been a leader in mobilizing the LGBTQ+ community for social and environmental action, all in pursuit of a ✨fabulous✨ planet.

Out4S provides a platform for co-creating climate resilience and environmental justice by and for LGBTQIA+ communities.
Following the leadership and principles of environmental and climate justice movements, Out4S commits to four key missions:

🏳‍🌈 Representation: Promoting equal representation, visibility, and recognition of LGBTQ2S+ folks in the climate movement and governance.

🤝🏽 Participation: Building capacity for LGBTQ2S+ grassroots organizations by providing fiscal sponsorship, connections, and resources.

🌎 Redistribution: Supporting LGBTQ2S+ communities by promoting food, energy, and water security & land access through mutual aid, micro-grants, and climate disaster risk management.

⚖Transformation: Aligning with movements for q***r and transgender liberation and ecological justice, including calls for climate reparations, land rematriation, food sovereignty, and bodily autonomy.

Join us in celebrating Out4S's incredible work and commitment to creating a sustainable, just, and inclusive future for all! To learn more about their organization, visit https://out4s.org/.

📸: Out4S

Earlier this month, Columbia Basin Conservation District welcomed Robert Bonnie, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, to Eastern Washington. He toured the North I-90 Odessa Aquifer Groundwater Replacement Project (OGWRP) with Washington State Conservationist Roylene Comes At Night and SCC's Executive Director, James Thompson.

OGWRP helps farmers switch from Odessa groundwater to Columbia Basin Project water, tackling critical water supply issues. With more than $200 million in support from various partners over the last two years, the project is making great progress.

This effort shows the impact teamwork among local, state, and federal partners can have on protecting our region's water resources!.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/4c6NU14

📸: Nate Gallahan/Washington USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

King County is updating its approach to habitat restoration to capitalize on the unique talents of recovering wildlife-- specifically beavers, whose population is making a strong comeback. The county's new Planning for Beavers Manual helps ecologists and engineers design projects incorporating beaver activities, promoting biodiversity and improving water quality.

Senior Ecologist Jennifer Vanderhoof says, “Rather than viewing beavers as a nuisance, we now understand they help create healthier, more resilient landscapes for people, salmon, and wildlife.”

Beavers naturally build complex stream habitats, store water, reduce erosion, and support diverse species. This new approach aims to increase project success and minimize impacts on nearby landowners by planning restoration with beavers in mind.

“Restoring critical salmon habitat requires ingenuity and adaptability – and our employees, like the beavers, demonstrate both,” said John Taylor, Director of King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks.

To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/4b9kspR.

📸: King County, Washington - Government

🌟 Sunday District Spotlight 🌟

This week we're highlighting Whidbey Island Conservation District and its dedication to wildfire prevention! 🌲🔥

Join their forester, Collin McAvinchey, on Sunday, June 16th, from 1-2 pm for "Firewise Gardening - Landscaping for Fire Resistance" at Greenbank Farm. This seminar is a part of the WSU Extension - Island County - Master Gardeners Summer Education Series, which will teach you how to protect your home with fire-resistant landscaping ideas.

Western wildfires can strike at any time, so it's crucial to be prepared. The event is FREE and open to everyone! Master Gardeners can also earn continuing education credits by attending. Don't miss this chance to learn valuable tips and help protect your community! 🌿🏡

Thank you, Whidbey Island CD, for your ongoing work to improve wildfire resiliency!

🌈 Pride Month Feature 🌈

Meet Dean Jackson (they/them), the visionary founder of Hilltop Urban Gardens (HUG) in Tacoma. Moving to the Hilltop neighborhood in the ancestral land of the Puyallup people in 2008, Dean discovered the deep history of a community marked by redlining, violence, and gentrification. Inspired to bring healing to the land and its people, Dean embraced gardening, transforming sidewalk strips into lush gardens and sharing the bounty with neighbors.

Dean's journey led them to the US Social Forum in Detroit, where they connected with other powerful advocates for food justice and sovereignty. This experience sparked a bold vision for a community-based agriculture, justice, and equity organization. With a grant from the Social Justice Fund NW, HUG was born— a testament to Dean's dedication and the community's resilience.

Dean's legacy of nurturing the earth and the Hilltop community continues to inspire and grow. Join us in celebrating Dean Jackson this Pride Month, honoring their contributions to food justice, equity, and healing. Learn more about Dean at https://www.hilltopurbangardens.org/about.

📸: Hilltop Urban Gardens (HUG)

🌱🏆 Nominate Your Soil Health Hero! 🏆🌱

We are excited to share that the Washington Soil Health Initiative (WaSHI) is now accepting nominations for their Producer of the Year Award! Submission window closes on July 1st.

WaSHI— a partnership between the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Washington State University, and SCC—promotes a coordinated approach to healthy soil in Washington.

The WaSHI Producer of the Year Award celebrates farmers and ranchers committed to protecting soils and improving soil health through innovative on-farm conservation practices and community leadership.

To learn more or nominate a deserving farmer/rancher, visit https://bit.ly/3VfQDOl. Let’s recognize and support those dedicated to nurturing our soils and ensuring a sustainable future for Washington agriculture! 🌾🌍

🌟 Sunday District Spotlight 🌟

This week, we’re excited to celebrate a new partnership between Spokane Conservation District and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that will help the district empower local youth to get involved in conservation work! 🎉

Using funding from an EPA environmental justice award, Spokane CD will work with students this summer to plant and care for hundreds of trees in Airway Heights and Spokane Valley— targeting underserved neighborhoods that need more tree canopy coverage. Participating students will receive stipends covering books and tuition at Spokane Community College, setting them up for future success.

This project is also supported by The Lands Council, SNAP, and the Pacific Education Institute— providing comprehensive environmental education and community involvement.

Thank you, Spokane CD, for helping inspire the next generation of natural resource conservation and forestry professionals! 🌳🌲

📸: U.S. EPA, Region 10

🌈 Pride Month Feature 🌈

Meet Pattie Gonia (she/they)— a trailblazing drag queen, environmental and LGBTQIA+ activist, and community organizer with a community of more than 1M people. She uses her platform to merge the worlds of environmentalism and LGBTQIA+ advocacy, creating a vibrant space for intersectional activism.

Pattie Gonia has captivated audiences with her unique blend of outdoor adventures and drag since 2018. They have garnered immense attention, including over 100 million views on their first video and a feature in Time magazine's Next Generation Leaders list. Her work promotes acceptance of q***r identities within the environmental community, raising awareness about climate change and advocating for a more inclusive outdoors.

In addition to their online activism, Pattie organizes in-person hikes and events and co-founded the "Outdoorist Oath," a nonprofit focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion in outdoor spaces. She has also partnered with The North Face for their "Summer of Pride" series, fostering community and engagement.

Join us in celebrating Pattie Gonia this Pride Month as we honor her contributions to both the LGBTQIA+ and environmental movements. To learn more about them, visit https://www.pattiegonia.net/. 🏳‍🌈

📸: Dayna Turnblom for TIME

Spokane residents— if you live in a forested area, you might be interested in an upcoming wildfire management workshop in your district! Roots of Resilience and Lazy R Ranch are teaming up to host a two-day "Tame the Flames" workshop on June 22 - 23.

Join experts and members of your community to learn about wildfire management strategies through grazing and forestry practices. Day 2 of the workshop includes a field trip to explore regenerating burned ground through high-intensity, short-duration grazing.

To learn more and register, visit https://bit.ly/4awkR5q.

Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) may be coming for Puget Sound residents this summer. During high-risk wildfire conditions, Puget Sound Energy may temporarily shut off power lines in specific areas to proactively prevent wildfires from starting— a last resort to help keep your families and communities safe.

Here's what you should know:

📞 PSE will communicate with impacted customers in advance of and during a PSPS.

🔥 PSPS could be used anywhere in PSE’s service area if a combination of dangerous conditions is forecast. However, customers in areas at higher risk for wildfires are more likely to experience PSPS.

💨 PSE will consider PSPS when weather and fire experts forecast dangerous conditions, including strong winds, dry vegetation, and low humidity.

💡 PSE will only restore power when it is safe— after the weather has passed and crews can inspect the impacted power lines and make needed repairs. This could take several days, so be prepared.

Want to learn more? Visit https://www.pse.com/en/outage/outage-map.

WA MEAT UP (a collaboration between the Washington State Department of Agriculture and Washington State University Extension) is offering a 2-day, hands-on, animal husbandry and butchery workshop for pork and lamb producers of all scales.

Join them on June 10 & 11 at the WSU campus in Puyallup, WA to learn about topics including selection, marketing, harvest, sensory evaluation, carcass evaluation, fabrication, further processing, and more.

Learn about the event and register at https://bit.ly/4aAUj2G.