Voluntary Stewardship a new conservation option

Last updated Mar 11, 2016 11:58am0

The Voluntary Stewardship Program is a new approach approved and funded by the state legislature to protect critical areas on agricultural lands within the state of Washington. Lincoln County is one of the 28 counties across the state that has opted to participate in the process. Instead of enacting further critical areas regulation on agricultural lands, the program would allow Lincoln County to work closely with landowners and stakeholders to develop voluntary, site-specific stewardship plans. Lincoln County has requested that the Lincoln County Conservation District serve as the facilitator for this program in the county.

The mission of the Voluntary Stewardship Program is to create voluntary stewardship plans which protect critical areas on agricultural lands while maintaining and enhancing the viability of agriculture. The five types of critical areas that must be addressed by all counties in Washington are:

1.Wetlands, 2. Frequently flooded areas, 3. Critical aquifer recharge areas, 4. Geologically hazardous areas, 5. Fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas (emphasis on any anadromous fish).

This local work group will help develop plans to promote both the viability of agriculture and voluntary stewardship actions as an alternative to historic regulatory approaches used to protect critical areas. If you are interested in being part of the Inaugural Work Group for this countywide, watershed-based planning group, please contact Valerie Vissia, Lincoln County Conservation District, Communications Coordinator via email at v.vissia@conservewa.net or by calling 509-725-4181 ext: 100.