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Save the date:
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May 4, 2023, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. VSP 101 Training, Lacey and online
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May 11, 2023, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Joint TP and SAC Meeting, Ellensburg and online
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May 24, 2023, 9 - 11 a.m. SCC-County FY23-25 contract and budget webinar (online only)
- VSP Monitoring Guide to be adopted
- Cost-share continues to be available
- Two-year status report due Aug. 30: New submission form
- March 9 Monitoring Symposium recording available
- Subscribe to the VSP calendar
- Welcome SCC interim executive director, Kirk Robinson
Rangeland Monitoring - Okanogan CD
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VSP 101 Training
May 4, 2023, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Physical location: Washington State Farm Bureau Building, 975 Carpenter Rd NE #101, Lacey, WA 98516
Zoom link
Meeting ID: 819 3314 7055
Passcode: 220471
Joint TP and SAC Meeting
May 11, 2023, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Physical location: Washington Cattleman’s Association, 1301 N Dolarway Rd, Ellensburg, WA 98926
Zoom link
Meeting ID: 829 8162 7784
Passcode: 441579
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Are you a new VSP staff person responsible for tasks like implementation, contracts, processing expense vouchers, cost-share, monitoring, adaptive management, outreach, education, or reporting? SCC will provide two training sessions for staff and work group members.
The first session is set for May 4, 2023, at 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., in Lacey and online
Physical location: Washington State Farm Bureau Building, 975 Carpenter Rd NE #101, Lacey, WA 98516
Zoom link
Meeting ID: 819 3314 7055
Passcode: 220471
A second session will be held later in the year in eastern WA. The location has not yet been finalized.
SCC is excited to offer a $500 stipend for county volunteer work group members to attend a VSP 101 Training in-person. For eligibility details, please visit the Request for Reimbursement form and submit request by April 27, 2023.
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In 2023, Joint VSP Technical Panel (TP) and Statewide Advisory Committee (SAC) Meetings will be online and in person at a central location for presenting counties. All county work groups, CDs, and interested stakeholders are welcome to attend.
The next Joint Meeting will be held on May 11, 2023, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. in Ellensburg and online.
Physical location: Washington Cattleman’s Association, 1301 N Dolarway Rd, Ellensburg, WA 98926
Zoom link
Meeting ID: 829 8162 7784
Passcode: 441579
This meeting will focus on presentations from Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Yakima, Adams, and Grant counties.
The format for each meeting is:
- Presentations from the 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, including, but 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.
This schedule does not replace communications that are on-going between any VSP entities at the local or state level, but to provide a dedicated “check-in” opportunity for any county that wants to make use of it. Subject to availability, any county may present any issue at the Joint Meeting. Counties are welcome to inquire about time on the agenda.
Upcoming 2023 Joint Meetings:
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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
Please check the Technical Panel meeting web page and Statewide Advisory Committee meeting web pages for updates.
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The webinar will be May 24, 2023, from 9 – 11 a.m.
Zoom link
Meeting ID: 833 1871 1931
Passcode: 956150
SCC will host a webinar for those involved in VSP implementation, primarily county, conservation district, technical service providers, and consultants. The webinar will:
- Review the new FY 23-25 contract between the VSP counties and the SCC;
- Provide an example template that a VSP sub-contractor or technical service provider might use when contracting with a VSP county for implementation; and,
- Summarize the VSP budget for FY 23-25, including timelines, vouchering, deliverables, responsible parties, and other items.
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It is anticipated that the State Conservation Commission will adopt an updated "Watershed Project Monitoring Development Guide for the Voluntary Stewardship Program of Washington" at the May 18, 2023 meeting. This meeting will be held in person in Kennewick and also available online via Zoom.
This update to the guide includes the addition of a new section, Volume III: Developing a Monitoring Plan with Quality Assurance and Quality Control. The goal of this section is to provide guidance for practitioners to develop monitoring plans and data quality standards that will ensure monitoring activities are successful and informative for reporting and adaptive management.
If you missed the March 28 webinar, you may view the agenda and recording.
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Capital funds for VSP projects are still available and project proposals are welcomed and reviewed on the first Tuesday of the month by the committee. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2023.
The window for a county or conservation district to complete a project by June 30, 2023 is diminishing. Projects that are not wholly finished by then will not be reimbursed. Please keep the June 30 deadline in mind when applying for VSP capital funds.
This opportunity provides funding for on-the-ground conservation projects that protect the five critical areas (including salmon habitat) while maintaining agricultural viability. Complete details are available in the VSP Guidelines and tips for successful VSP project proposals - Oct. 2022.
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.
Notice of successful funding awards can take up to 3-5 business days to reach project applicants (committee meets first Tues. of the month). Please make sure the correct contact person and email is listed in CPDS for the project. Please also confirm that the contact person is someone at either the county or the conservation district, and not the landowner.
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 The March 9 Monitoring Symposium contained wonderful presentations from WSDA about monitoring data and methods for surface water, crops, soil health, groundwater, and dairy nutrient management. You can find the full webinar recording and the slide decks on the VSP webpage.
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SCC is excited to offer a VSP calendar tool to share meetings and events.
Add event to calendar
     
Depending on your software, you may need to "turn on calendar" or drag/copy meetings over to your calendar.
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The Conservation Commission (SCC) has appointed Kirk Robinson as SCC's new interim executive director, beginning on March 27, 2023. Robinson comes to the agency with a wealth of knowledge and experience. He will serve in this position until a new executive director is appointed.
Learn more here
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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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