Washington State Conservation Commission

✨Sunday District Spotlight!✨ This week's #SundayDistrictSpotlight is shining on Benton Conservation District, which has been inspiring young minds for 26 years (and counting!) through its annual Salmon Summit event. 🐟 Each spring, local elementary school students gather at Columbia Park in Kennewick to release salmon they've raised in their classrooms into the Columbia River. Alongside this unforgettable experience, students participate in engaging educational activities that deepen their connection to conservation and the natural world. 🌎 This year, Benton Conservation District’s dedication was nationally recognized when they received the Outstanding Stewards of America's Waters Award for Public Education from the National Hydropower Association. 🎉 This event’s success is a testament to the amazing partnership between the district, the local educational community, sponsors, and volunteers. Thank you, Benton Conservation District, for educating the next generation of conservationists!

Happy New Year! SCC is closed today, January 1st, for the New Year's Day holiday. We will resume regular business hours on January 2nd.

Join our team! SCC is hiring a Data Consultant. Are you passionate about conservation, data, and making a real impact on Washington’s natural resources? This is your chance to join our dynamic team as a Data Consultant! In this position, you’ll play a vital role in managing data quality, governance, and analysis to support SCC’s mission. You’ll collaborate with IT and conservation experts, ensure data accuracy, and help drive meaningful change for our state’s lands and resources. If you would enjoy the following duties (and more) we'd love to hear from you: 📊 Ensuring the quality and integrity of SCC’s data. 🌿 Supporting conservation programs with data-driven insights. 💡 Collaborating on innovative solutions for better resource management. The first review of applications starts on January 20, 2025. Visit https://bit.ly/3W0c6Mq to learn more and apply.

🌱 Sustainable Farms and Fields: Building a Greener Future in Washington 🌱 Now in its third year, the commission's Sustainable Farms & Fields program is making significant strides in climate-smart agriculture. With 70 projects funded through 29 conservation districts and one county government over two fiscal years, SFF is shaping a sustainable future across the state. Recent Highlights 🐮 $30 million in Climate Commitment Act funding for dairy anaerobic digesters, climate-smart livestock practices, and research. 💰 $4.5 million allocated in 2024 for 51 new projects statewide. 👩🏼🌾 Groundbreaking initiatives like Snohomish Conservation District’s carbon farm plan template and Pacific Conservation District’s aquaculture best practices research. As the program evolves, plans are underway to refine guidelines and incorporate lessons learned, ensuring continued impact for fiscal year 2026 and beyond. To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/4iLQQUo.

SCC is closed today, 12/25, in recognition of the Christmas Day holiday. We will resume our normal hours of operation tomorrow, 12/26.

SCC has gained four new staff members in the last few months! Please join us in giving a warm welcome to: 🌳 Amy Martin, Riparian Grant Program Manager 👩🏻💼 Dani Madrone, Legislative Director 👩🏻🌾 Hilary Aten, Office of Farmland Preservation Coordinator 🌱 Mike Poteet, Voluntary Stewardship Program Coordinator To learn more about our team, visit https://lnkd.in/gVrgiWAV.

✨Sunday District Spotlight!✨ This week's #SundayDistrictSpotlight highlights the amazing work of South Douglas Conservation District, whose proactive efforts are reducing wildfire risks and enhancing forest health on Badger Mountain. South Douglas CD's fuels reduction project on Badger Mountain spans 115 acres of forested land— the only area of its kind in Douglas County. The district partnered with nine landowners and the Department of Natural Resources to reduce fire hazards by thinning overgrown trees, limbing branches, and clearing dense underbrush. The results are striking: 🌲 Improved forest health and wildfire resilience. 🦌 Enhanced wildlife habitat, with cleared areas now accessible for animal movement. 🏘️ Safer neighborhoods for residents and visitors alike. Thank you, South Douglas Conservation District, for your impactful work!

🔥 Turning Fuels into Solutions: Biochar in Action 🔥 Skagit and Whatcom Conservation District are helping forested communities create biochar – one demonstration at a time! 🌱 At a recent Firewise USA® project demonstration in the Diobsud Creek community in eastern Skagit County, 16 community members processed approximately 12 cubic yards of fuels they had removed from their properties for wildfire risk reduction using a Ring of Fire Biochar kiln. The result? Improved defensible space around their properties and a sustainable, carbon-rich soil amendment product that will be used to enrich orchards within their community. Biochar offers a multitude of benefits: 🌍 Environmental: It supports ecosystem health, sequesters carbon, and reduces the overall carbon footprint compared to chipping and hauling debris. 💰 Financial: Ring of Fire biochar kilns have lower long-term costs than chippers and are easier to maintain. 🤝 Community: Events like this bring neighbors together, fostering connection and collaboration. The Skagit Conservation District Board recently approved a kiln loan program, making it more accessible for communities to adopt this innovative tool. Inspired by the demo, the Diobsud community is considering investing in a Ring of Fire biochar kiln for future fuels reduction projects. Thanks to the work of Whatcom & Skagit CDs, managing fuels by creating biochar is becoming a more accessible option for forest landowners in their efforts to address wildfire safety. Thank you for your work, Whatcom and Skagit Conservation Districts!

🎄 Celebrating the Season: SCC Holiday Staff Party Recap 🎄 Last week, our team gathered to celebrate the holidays and the incredible work we've accomplished in the past year. Some highlights from a day filled with laughter, creativity, and camaraderie included: 💡 A Slido session, where staff shared thoughts on our impactful work and building common ground for the future. ❓ A rousing game of "Would You Rather: The Water Trough Edition," which garnered lots of laughs and revealed fun facts about team members. 🚀 Rapid-fire updates from each program showcasing the incredible range of work happening across the agency. 🎁 A wonderful gift exchange full of delicious treats, beautiful artwork, and random surprises. 🎉 Service Recognitions: Congratulations to Allisa and Levi for reaching 5 years of state service and to Brian, Christina, Mike, Paige, and Shana for 10 years! 🏆 Special Awards: Karen presented Nicole with SCC's U-Rock Award, for her outstanding work and positive energy. As we wrap up the year, we’re grateful for the teamwork and shared purpose that drive our mission. Here’s to another year of conservation and connection!

✨Sunday District Spotlight!✨ This week, our #SundayDistrictSpotlight shines on San Juan Islands Conservation District, whose innovative restoration projects are preserving Garry oak ecosystems and fostering a sustainable future. In collaboration with Coast Salish tribes and local partners, San Juan Islands CD is tackling declining Garry oak habitats, overstocked forests, and depleted soil health while training a local workforce for restoration efforts. Their efforts include: 🌳 Thinning 1,700 trees across 27 acres 🪵 Creating 538 nurse logs 🔥 Producing biochar from 843 piles burned 🌱 Replanting native species. Great work, San Juan Islands Conservation District!