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- 2023 Joint VSP TP and SAC Meeting Schedule
- Upcoming! VSP Monitoring Symposium
- VSP Cost-Share Still Available
- Highlighted Project: Okanogan County VSP Program
- SCC Food Systems Grant for CDs
- WA State Organic & Sustainable Farming Fund
- Food Policy Forum Land Use Recommendations
- Subscribe to the VSP Calendar
 Pointing out plants on the Palouse prairie. Photo credit: Palouse CD
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Quarterly Reports Due
Don't forget! Your quarterly report is due on Jan. 10.
Joint VSP TP and SAC Meeting
Jan. 12, 2023 @ 8 a.m.
In person: Washington State Farm Bureau Building, 975 Carpenter Rd NE #101, Lacey, WA 98516 Map
Online: Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 859 7490 0192
Passcode: 434300
VSP Monitoring Symposium
Mark your calendars! March 9, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., held virtually. Details to come.
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In 2023, the Joint VSP Technical Panel (TP) and Statewide Advisory Committee (SAC) Meetings will be held in person and online.
VSP counties will be grouped by geography and held at a central location, attempting to make meetings easier to attend in person. All VSP county work groups, CDs, and interested stakeholders are welcome to attend.
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Jan. 12, 2023: Lacey & online
Counties presenting: San Juan, Skagit, Mason, Thurston, Grays Harbor, Pacific, Lewis, and Cowlitz
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May 11, 2023: Ellensburg & online
Counties presenting: Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Yakima, Adams, and Grant
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July 13, 2023: Spokane & online
Counties presenting: Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln,and Spokane
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Oct. 12, 2023: Pullman & online
Counties presenting: Benton, Franklin, Whitman, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin
The format for each meeting is:
- The meeting will focus on presentations from a specific list of counties.
- Time on the agenda for each presenting county will serve as a check-in with the TP and SAC as the county prepares for their next 5-yr report.
- A presenting county is invited to participate however they prefer. Examples of participation include, but are not limited to:
- a conversation with the TP and SAC,
- a presentation by the county (with or without PowerPoint),
- a virtual tour of county VSP projects.
Time set aside on the agenda for specific counties is not the only time that a county can attend or communicate with the TP and SAC.
Subject to availability, any county may present any issue at the Joint Meeting. Counties are welcome to inquire about time on the agenda. We hope to see you there!
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 Trees for restoration planting - Lewis CD
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Mark your calendars! The next VSP Monitoring Symposium is scheduled for March 9, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will be held virtually. (iCalendar Link)
Though the agenda is still developing, the focus of the next symposium will highlight monitoring themes important for VSP, such as nutrients, pesticides, drought, and groundwater.
Staff from WSDA’s Natural Resource Assessment Section (NRAS) will share their approaches to question-oriented monitoring as well as tools and data that may be useful for VSP stakeholders interested in learning more about effectiveness monitoring.
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Since Sept. 2022, $1.6 of the $3 million in capital funding from the legislature has been allocated to VSP programs.
Additional project proposals are welcomed and are reviewed monthly by the committee. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2023.
This opportunity provides funding for on-the-ground conservation projects that protect the five critical areas (including salmon habitat) while maintaining agricultural viability.
Examples of funded proposals have included projects such as: waste transfer, pumping plant, fencing, heavy-use areas, waste storage facility, riparian forest buffer, trails and walkways, roof runoff structure, sprinkler system, access control, irrigation system/micro irrigation, livestock pipeline, tree/shrub site preparation, wetland enhancement, livestock water facility, drainage ditch covering, etc.
Complete details are available in the VSP Guidelines and tips for successful VSP project proposals - Oct 2022.
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Okanogan Conservation District (OCD) utilized VSP funding to work with a landowner to install livestock exclusion fencing, protecting riparian and wetland habitats from grazing sheep. While OCD has conceptual plans for critical area plantings, the vegetation is rebounding naturally after grazing management.
 Livestock exclusion fencing and riparian/wetland restoration. Photo credit: Sean Williams
 Rotational grazing. Photo credit: Sean Williams
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SCC announces a limited grant opportunity for conservation districts to apply for funding to support food system-related activities. Areas of activity include: market access, infrastructure, food security, outreach, and planning. Here are some examples of past food system support grant awards.
Applications due by Jan. 18, 2023. $5,000 cap per district, $50,000 total available. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2023.
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Tilth Alliance is now accepting applications from farmers seeking financial assistance to support projects that will improve the economic viability, social impacts, or environmental sustainability of their farm businesses and/or community. The goal of these grants is to enhance the operations of farmers practicing responsible and progressive methods such as sustainable soil management, crop diversification, habitat preservation, climate change mitigation and environmentally-safe waste management practices. Applications due by Sun., Feb. 19, 2023!
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In Dec. 2022, the Washington Food Policy Forum (FPF) released its land use policy recommendations, proposing policy solutions to stem the loss of agricultural land— part of an overarching effort to make Washington-grown foods more available throughout the state and maintain the economic viability of WA food production.
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Not a newsletter subscriber?
Sign up here and choose the subscription for the “Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP)” under the Programs and Policy tab.
If you have any questions please contact Bill Eller or Sarah Wilcox.
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Copyright 2023 - Washington State Conservation Commission |
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