Fall monitoring symposium: Assessing wetland functions and values with applications to VSP
Nov. 14, 2023 @ 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. (PST), online
Demonstrating the effects of agricultural conservation practices on wetland functions and values is an important component of many county and conservation district monitoring efforts, particularly for counties participating in the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP). This virtual session will cover a variety of approaches used to assess wetland functions and values with an emphasis on applications to watershed-scale monitoring and VSP.
Stakeholder feedback meeting with VSP joint Technical Panel and Statewide Advisory Committee
December 7, 2023, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., Lacey and online
We want to hear from you! Attendees are encouraged to attend in person, but there is also a Zoom option.
The agenda will include:
- Presentation of the results of the October 2023 VSP stakeholder survey.
- Review and discussion of the joint regional TP and SAC meetings with the VSP counties.
- Setting the 2024 schedule of regional joint TP and SAC meetings.
- A review / discussion of possible updates to the VSP capital funding guidelines.
In-person location: Washington State Farm Bureau Building, 975 Carpenter Rd NE #101, Lacey, WA 98516.
Online: Zoom link
Meeting ID: 871 2194 5796
Passcode: 242856
*Save the date* December monitoring symposium: Identifying and prioritizing erosion hot spots in the Palouse
Dec. 12, 2023 @ 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., online (possible in-person location TBD)
Join us to explore tools and approaches to identify and prioritize erosion hot spots on agricultural lands. Ryan Boylan, Research and Monitoring Coordinator at Palouse Conservation District, will share his work on this important topic. Please stay tuned for a more detailed agenda.
Remember, as per the Conservation Commission (SCC)-county VSP contract, the county is required to submit a VSP budget to SCC. That budget should be provided to Nicole Boyes at nboyes@scc.wa.gov. The budget should be designed to ensure all requirements related to VSP implementation are accounted for during this contract period, and to ensure the two-year status and five-year review and evaluation reporting requirements will be met. The county must:
- Provide the budget to SCC no later than 120 days from the date of signature of the contract by the county.
- The budget must be designed to meet all contract and statutory deliverables for VSP implementation. In addition,
- If the county uses operating funds for cost share, it must be included in a budget line item.
- If the county allows a CD operating as its VSP technical service provider to use operating funds for District Implemented Projects (DIPs), it must be included in a budget line item.
- A line item of $47,000 must be included in the budget for monitoring and reporting efforts.
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