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The Washington legislature has funded a new program at WSDA intended to generate economic valuation for on-farm soil health management. Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources (STAR) was created by Illinois farmers in 2017. It is now used in four states, with an additional seven receiving STAR funding through the USDA Climate Smart Commodities Program.
This free and voluntary program allows participants to answer simple, production-specific questions about their rotation, tillage, nutrient applications, and conservation practices. Answers are converted to a score of 1 to 5 STARs. STAR scoring relies on the expertise of local science committees made up of university researchers, conservation professionals, and farmers. STAR is intended to provide farmers:
- A clear pathway to conservation adoption and free, unbiased technical support;
- Public recognition for environmental stewardship;
- Access to branding materials that can generate a market signal with consumers and supply chain partners; and
- A consistent scale for evaluating progress across regions and systems
STAR enrollment in Washington begins in summer 2024, for producers from approximately 10 cropping systems. Stay tuned for more information about this exciting new opportunity for Washington producers!
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking input on a draft strategy to prioritize the removal of small-scale barriers that prevent salmon and steelhead from swimming upstream.
The goal of this comprehensive statewide strategy is to help "prioritize and reduce barriers to fish passage in a way that benefits depressed, threatened, and endangered stocks, and that is informed by the best available science."
View the draft policy, then provide your email and any comments in the fields below. Comments are due by Oct. 7, 2024.
The Stormwater Strategic Initiative Lead will open Requests for Proposals on October 23. They are looking for a wide variety of projects to fund that will support clean water, salmon recovery, and healthy Puget Sound communities by addressing the following priorities:
- Climate Resiliency in Stormwater Management ($2.5 million available)
- Developing Stormwater Parks and Regional Facilities ($1.6 million available)
- Mega-Toxics:
- Chemical Action Plan Implementation ($1 million available)
- Contaminants of Emerging Concern Research ($1 million available)
- Addressing Toxic Hotspot Impacts on Juvenile Chinook Salmon ($2.5 million available)
The Drinking Water Providers Partnership (DWPP) is inviting project proposals for 2025, due Jan. 6, by 5 p.m. The partnership includes USDA Forest Service, Geos Institute, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Washington State Department of Health, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, WildEarth Guardians, The Freshwater Trust, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Together, the partners present this watershed restoration funding opportunity for water providers and watershed restoration practitioners in Oregon and Washington. The goals of the DWPP are to:
- Restore and protect the health of watersheds and water quality which communities depend upon for drinking water.
- Improve aquatic and riparian ecosystems, including the native fish that inhabit them.
- Support local partnerships of drinking water providers, landowners and restoration experts that successfully implement restoration projects.
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