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March 2022 

In this issue:

• Second VSP monitoring symposium webinar recording available
• Reminder about VSP cost share
• Comments received on the draft VSP Watershed Monitoring Project Development Guide
• JTP & SAC meeting reminders
• VSP Staff Updates
• Environmental Rep for the SAC Needed
• Open Public Meeting Act requirements
• New VSP Work Group Members?
• Newsletter schedule changes

Upcoming Events

Joint Technical Panel & SAC Meeting

Mar. 10, 2022 @ 9 a.m.

Meeting ID: 859 7490 0192

Passcode: 434300

Get more info here.

2nd Symposium Recording Available

The second monitoring symposium was held on, Jan. 26, 2022. A recording of that symposium is available on the Commission’s VSP implementation web page. 

The VSP monitoring symposia are intended to provide a shared framework for VSP monitoring themes - such as critical area functions and values, stakeholder participation, and the implementation of conservation practices - to support VSP work groups with monitoring and reporting.

If you have questions or comments, please reach out to Levi Keesecker or at 360-789-3650.

VSP Cost Share Program

If your County workgroup decides to use VSP funding to implement the County’s approved plan, here are a couple of reminders by following the link below!

Monitoring Guide Comments Closed

The comment period for the draft monitoring guide is now closed. SCC will review the comments and any suggested changes for possible inclusion. 

Adoption of the final version is anticipated at the next joint meeting of the Technical Panel and SAC.

If you have questions or comments, please reach out to Levi Keesecker.

Joint TP & SAC Meetings

Bookmark the Technical Panel meeting page and Statewide Advisory Committee meeting webpages for updates.   

SCC, after consultation with the SAC and Technical Panel, has set aside a portion of each month’s joint to have a dialogue with each of the 27 VSP counties about implementation. Each county is invited to participate however they see fit and you can learn more here.

VSP Staff Updates

There continues to be lots of staff turnover at county planning departments and conservation districts.

Please help us keep your information up-to-date by remembering to send the Commission updates when new staff take over VSP responsibilities.

This will be useful when the Commission tries to contact a county or conservation district related to VSP. Updated staff contact information should be sent to Karla Heinitz Bill Eller.

Environmental Rep for the SAC Needed

An important part of the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) is the Statewide Advisory Committee (SAC) appointed by the director of the State Conservation Commission (SCC).

The SAC is comprised of environmental, agricultural, and county members, and tribal representation is also sought. The SAC serves to advise the director of SCC on a variety of policy and programmatic aspects of VSP. 

SCC is currently seeking an environmental representative to serve on the SAC. The term is for two years. Meetings are generally held every month or every other month. Members serve as volunteers to help SCC achieve the goals of VSP, which include protecting critical areas while maintaining agricultural viability. 

More information on the SAC can be found at SCC’s VSP web page. If interested in serving please contact Ron Shultz.

Open Public Meetings Act

VSP workgroup meetings are open public meetings under the Open Public Meetings Act, RCW Chapter 42.30. 

That means all volunteer members of the workgroup will need to be familiar with the act and should undergo the attorney general’s open public meetings act training.

Don't forget that a refresher training is required for all members every four years. 

New Workgroup Members?

Do you have new members? It is important that they take the OPMA training described above.  Also, work group members should review the county VSP webpages and SCC’s VSP pages. . 

Don't forget that new members should be trained in what their role is and how their county work group operates. You can find the most information related the day-to-day operations on the VSP implementation page. 

Newsletter Schedule Changes

Starting in April, the VSP Newsletter will come out on the first Wednesday of the month instead of the last day of the month — so mark your calendar!

Also, Paige DeChambeau will be taking over the coordination of the email from Bill in the future. So please get in touch with her if you have any questions or additions to the newsletter. 

Subscribe

Not a subscriber? 

Sign up here and choose the subscription for the “Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP)” under the "Programs and Policy" tab.

If you have any programmatic VSP questions please contact Bill Eller.

Copyright 2022 - Washington State Conservation Commission