Washington State Conservation Commission, Lacey, WA Videos

Soarin' Over WA
It's giving *Soarin' Over California* vibes. Take a quick break from scrolling with us (sound on).

Conservation Month
Conservation is everyone's business! Want to learn about conservation efforts in your community and find out how you can get involved? Your conservation district is here to help. Learn, engage, and make a difference. Together, we can protect and conserve our state's natural resources for generations to come. Visit https://bit.ly/3uIemxc to find your local district.

Everyone gets a vote! Conservation district supervisor elections are underway. Don't forget many districts hold mail-in elections that require you to request a ballot in advance. Visit https://bit.ly/3U2vLr2 to view your local conservation district's profile and see when their election is. Get out and vote!

halloween
This halloween, support your community! Buy pumpkins from local farmers or at farmers markets rather than from large grocery stores. The pumpkins will be fresher, and you'll be supporting local agriculture— the best kind of jack-o-lantern. 🎃

winnie
Fall is officially upon us! While many of our gardens are still producing late blooms, gourds, and other goodies, it's time to start thinking about winterizing things for the cold season ahead. Looking for tips on preparing for winter? The Farmers' Almanac has a great article full of good ideas on winterizing gardens. Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3rDsIOa.

winnie
Fall is officially upon us! While many of our gardens are still producing late blooms, gourds, and other goodies, it's time to start thinking about winterizing things for the cold season ahead. Looking for tips on preparing for winter? The Farmers' Almanac has a great article full of good ideas on winterizing gardens. Check it out here: https://bit.ly/3rDsIOa.

ORD
Orca Recovery Day is just two weeks away! Why does Orca Recovery Day exist? Watch this beautiful video from our friends at Better Ground to learn more. 🌊 Find upcoming Orca Recovery Day events and more information at https://betterground.org/ord/.

wilderness month
Fact: sometimes chilling on the couch IS the best choice. But often, your body and mind will thank you for getting outside. That could mean a long hike, a short nature stroll, or simply sitting near water and listening to the waves. Celebrate National Wilderness Month with us— make some time to get outside! 🌞🌄🌅

tswift
World Water Week is officially over, but like Taylor, being water-conscious never goes out of style. In the U.S., we often take water for granted— but that might not always be the case. Let's be conscious of our daily water use! Brushing your teeth? Turn the faucet off. Washing dishes? Fill the sink instead of allowing water to run. Taking a shower? Keep it timely. These actions seem small, but they add up quickly. Let's make a difference together! 💧

drip
In honor of World Water Week, here are a few tips for saving water indoors. 💧 🚿 Turn off taps while shaving or brushing your teeth in the bathroom. 🍽 If you have a dishwasher, use it! When loaded fully, dishwashers use less water than handwashing. 🍗 Thaw food in the refrigerator overnight rather than running it under cold water. 👚 Wait to run laundry until you have a full load (or use the load selection size if your machine has one). 🔧 Fix leaks! One household with minor leaks can account for up to 10K gallons of water wasted yearly— enough to run 270 loads of laundry. Any other tips and tricks? Share them in the comments!

happy accident
When you plant your native wildflower seeds haphazardly, and they take over half your garden, but the bees are so happy that you can't be mad.

farmers market
Farmers' Market Week ends tomorrow (8/12), but every day is a good day to hit your market and support local farmers and vendors. It's shopping time!

drought
On a more serious note, 4.8 million Washingtonians are in areas of drought, and nearly 20% of our state is experiencing severe drought conditions. The Washington Department of Ecology has issued a formal drought emergency declaration in parts of 12 counties across WA, including Clallam and Whatcom, where at least two water systems that rely on streamflows and reservoir releases are now trucking water in to meet their agricultural needs. The formal drought declaration allows Ecology to provide emergency drought relief support to impacted producers. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3KX86Hd

queen dany
Daenerys may be able to walk through fire unharmed, but we don't know any plants that can say the same. We've been hitting you with a lot of wildfire-related content lately, for good reason! Many areas in central WA (including Okanogan, Chelan, Kittitas, Yakima, and Klickitat counties) are currently at the highest-possible fire risk. Protect our forests, shrubsteppe habitats, and other susceptible areas-- visit https://bit.ly/2KyfRRE to find out if your area has any burn bans.

burn ban
Disclaimer: we're all for being neighborly! See someone violating a burn ban? Please talk to them first. Likely, they're not aware there's a ban in your area. But if that doesn't work, we fully support throwing friendliness out the window (a la Lucille Bluth) and reporting the illegal burn. Humans cause over 85% of wildfires. With Washington facing drought-like conditions statewide, being responsible with fire is more important than ever. To report violations, call the 24 hour hotline at 1-866-211-6284.

Limited disaster relief funding is still available through SCC and the Whatcom Conservation District for those farmers affected by the floods in Nov. 2021. If you were impacted, get your application in soon before the funds are depleted! Have questions? Call 360.526.2380 or visit https://www.scc.wa.gov/dap to learn more.

This is your reminder that Father's Day is tomorrow and that we can and should celebrate all the wonderful father figures in our lives and communities! #fathersday2022

Join our amazing team! We're hiring an Office of Farmland Preservation Specialist to manage a growing conservation easement portfolio, research factors impacting farmland loss, communicate farmland preservation issues, and provide general support for the Office of Farmland Preservation. Learn more: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3562740/office-of-farmland-preservation-ofp-specialist-program-specialist-3