FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cathlamet, WA – Wahkiakum County has taken an important step toward supporting agricultural viability and environmental protection by opting into the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP), administered by the Washington State Conservation Commission. With Wahkiakum County’s decision, 28 of Washington’s 39 counties are now enrolled VSP.

VSP offers a collaborative, non-regulatory approach to meeting critical area protection goals of Washington's Growth Management Act on agricultural lands. Critical areas include wetlands, wildlife habitat, geologically hazardous areas, frequently flooded areas, and aquifer recharge areas.

Counties can meet GMA requirements in two ways:

1.   Enforcing regulations on agricultural landowners— the only option available before 2011.

2.   Participating in VSP — a voluntary approach that engages agricultural landowners in protecting critical areas while promoting viable agriculture.

As a voluntary, non-regulatory program, VSP connects local governments and technical service providers, like conservation districts, with farmers and rural landowners. Participating counties receive funding from the SCC to support coordinating a locally-led workgroup, creation of a shared county work plan, and implement on-the-ground projects. Through installing voluntary, site-specific practices tailored to a farm’s needs and landscape, land stewards can protect critical areas while remaining viable. Examples of projects that support both stewardship and farm operations include livestock fencing, heavy use areas, and watering facilities, irrigation efficiencies, and habitat restoration.

SCC’s Executive Director James Thompson said, “We welcome Wahkiakum County as our newest partner in the Voluntary Stewardship Program. This program provides counties with a unique approach to protecting and enhancing critical areas around agricultural activity, while helping promote agricultural viability. I spent some of my early years as a resident of Cathlamet and I understand Wahkiakum County’s desire to manage their lands locally and chart their own course. VSP will be a good fit for this.”

Mike Poteet, VSP’s coordinator said, “VSP helps counties meet critical areas protection and enhancement goals by developing a detailed community-led work plan for each participating watershed, typically focused on the implementation and maintenance of Best Management Practices.”

Wahkiakum County Commissioner Dan Cothren said, “I think VSP is a really good program. I’ve visited other counties where VSP is being done, and I think the county needs to help our constituents as much as we can to get some of these projects completed.”

Participating VSP counties must monitor outcomes tied to protection and enhancement benchmarks, with targets set for landowner participation and agricultural viability. To ensure critical areas are being protected, county work groups submit regular reports to SCC for review. If goals or benchmarks aren’t being met, an adaptive management process allows counties to adjust their work plans. SCC supports these efforts with both funding and staff resources.

If Wahkiakum County’s work plans are approved by SCC within three years of opting in, the county will receive ongoing biennial operating funds to help implement the plan. Funding is available for this purpose.

For questions, please reach out to VSP Coordinator, Mike Poteet.

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About the Washington State Conservation Commission

A 10-member board representing governor appointees, state agencies, and conservation districts governs the Washington State Conservation Commission (SCC). The agency supports our state’s 45 conservation districts and designs solutions that meet state and local natural resource needs. Visit our website at www.scc.wa.gov to learn more about our commission members and commission meetings.

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