"To grow grass, you need grass” was a theme we learned while the State Conservation Commission and state agency partners toured Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) projects in Columbia County. One of the jewels of the state, Columbia County offers incredible natural beauty. In partnership with the county, the Columbia Conservation District is funding large-scale riparian and floodplain restoration projects on priority salmonid rivers. During our tour, we visited side channel restoration projects on the Tucannon that improved the river for fish while providing benefits like new pivot sprinklers, livestock bridges, and water pumps to producers. We also learned about the value that livestock troughs provide for producers to support a sustainable grazing management plan. These projects exemplify the goals of VSP to protect critical areas while improving agricultural viability.

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