December 2025 VSP Newsletter

Washington State Conservation Commission sent this bulletin at 12/23/2025 02:36 PM PST

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December 2025 VSP newsletter

In this issue:

Program Updates

FINAL REMINDER:
Obligate VSP Capital Upfront Funds
By December 31, 2025
Round 3: Capital Funds - Awarded

Tools & Training Opportunities

One-on-One County Support Sessions
VSP Open Office Hours - NEW!

Funding Opportunities

Washington Organic & Sustainable Farming Fund: Farm Sustainability Funding Available

Titled: Frost on Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) Photo By: Olivia Schilling. Foster Creek CD (January 2017.)

Special Announcement

Support Statement to all Impacted by Flood and Storm Events

VSP Updates

FINAL REMINDER: Obligate VSP Capital Upfront Funds
Due by December 31, 2025

The $40,000 in VSP Capital Upfront funding has been fully or partially obligated by almost half of our counties as of mid-October.

Please notify Mike Poteet with your Participant ID and any relevant notes about the proposed project(s) that have been approved by your local work group. Our team will work to have an approval back to you within 2 business days. The deadline for submission of these requests is December 31, 2025. Any unobligated funds must be returned to SCC in Q1 2026 for use in later VSP Capital funding rounds.

Please complete these three tasks by December 31, 2025:

1. The funds need to be obligated to a project locally – meaning:

a. they have been approved by your work group, and

b. entered in CPDS.

2. Notify via email, Mike Poteet, MPoteet@scc.wa.gov that the project has been entered in CPDS.

a. Please await an approval email (provided less than two days from time of request).

3. Projects must score 20 points in eligibility criteria, as stated in the VSP Funding Guidelines.

VSP Round 3 Capital Competitive Funding

Round 3 of the Competitive Capital applications had 93 projects submitted in CPDS for review, with total funding requested at $8.4M, including Technical Assistance. Seven projects were funded across two counties, totaling approximately $610K. Of the projects awarded there will be a total of 11 Best Management Practices (BMPs) implemented across the state. We thank all VSP participants for their hard work towards critical area protection on ag lands and expect another great round of project applications for the upcoming Round 4 of funding.

Round 4 Supplemental VSP Capital funding availability will be based on the amount of unused/unobligated Upfront Capital funds that are returned to SCC. We do not yet know the exact dollar amount that will be available, but initial estimates are that it will be approximately $150K-$200K. More detailed information will be shared in January and February of 2026.

Plantings on the Pasture - By Victoria Fischella

Titled: Plantings on the Pasture.
Photo By: Victoria Fischella. SCC. (June 2025.)

Tools & Training Opportunities

One-on-One County Support Sessions

Reserve a Session Today! What are these session for?

These Support Sessions are designed to provide specific technical assistance to any participating VSP county and conservation district staff. Reserve a spot today for a one-on-one session with the VSP Technical Panel & VSP Commission Staff!

The objective is to provide tailored guidance to help your county succeed. These sessions are typically 1-2 hours, informal, and can be scheduled easily through our online reservation system. There are only a few dates still available in early 2026, as the Technical Panel shifts its focus to reviewing submitted reports.

Reserve 1:1 County Support Session Here

VSP Open Office Hours

Join VSP staff & Technical Panel on the second Tuesday of every month, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.!

What to expect and how to prepare:

Join us for virtual open office hours—an informal, virtual drop-in space where you can bring your questions, ideas, or challenges, and connect directly for personalized support and conversation (no lectures or presentations included!). These sessions are driven by your needs, so please come ready to engage, with questions prepared, or simply listen in on the discussion. It's a flexible time set aside just for VSP peers & participants.

There is no agenda, just the Technical Panel and VSP Commission staff available and ready to provide assistance as needed!

Open Office Hours Meeting Link

VSP County Participants: Ask and submit discussion questions to VSP staff and the Technical Panel for upcoming open office hours!

Ask a Question Here

Funding Opportunities

Tilth Alliance:
Washington State Organic & Sustainable Farming Fund

Application Deadline: February 9, 2026

Tilth Alliance is accepting applications from farmers who seek financial assistance in support of projects that improve the economic viability, social impact, environmental sustainability and overall resiliency of their farm business. The goal of this grant program is to support organic and regenerative agricultural practices as a means to improve soil health, increase biodiversity, conserve water, sequester carbon, reduce GHG emissions and mitigate climate change; projects that further these objectives will be considered for an award.

Details to Organic & Sustainable Farm Funding Here

Special Announcement

Statement of Support to Washingtonians Impacted by Flood & Storm Events

The SCC VSP extends its condolences to the individuals, families, and farming communities across Washington who have been displaced or otherwise impacted by the recent flooding events. We recognize the profound loss of homes, livelihoods, livestock, crops and land, and the lasting disruption these events cause to communities. Our support is with all those navigating recovery during this difficult time.

Before & After - Little Squalicum Creek Estuary

Photo Description: Before & After Storms and Flooding of December 2025
Titled: Log Jam at Little Squalicum Creek Estuary
Photos By: Victoria Fischella. SCC. (December 2025.)