About Us
Next Meeting, Sept 16th, 2026 @ 8:30 AM at the Pomeroy Conservation Office. Discussion for VSP Cost Share Applications.
Garfield County Voluntary Stewardship Program
Stewardship Program Sign-Up
Garfield County received funding from the Washington State Conservation Commission to complete a plan to protect and/or restore critical areas within private lands while maintaining the viability of agriculture. The Pomeroy Conservation District (CD) was selected to lead this planning process and volunteers contacted Garfield County. 8 local volunteers worked to develop the Work Plan over 18 months with support from a statewide technical panel and local biologists. For more information on Garfield County VSP go to www.garfieldcountyvsp.com
The Garfield County Work Plan was approved June 20, 2018. The Work Plan identified critical areas within Garfield County (wetlands, frequently flooded areas, fish and wildlife habitat, critical aquifer recharge areas and geologically hazardous areas – high water erosion potential) on private lands. The Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) takes the place of the Growth Management Act in agricultural areas with stewardship strategies for maintaining or improving critical areas.
We are currently in the application phase of VSP and have identified stewardship strategies that will help protect and/or restore critical areas. The Work Group will go over funding available this upcoming Fall of 2026 and projects will need to be completed by June 1 of 2027.
Interested landowners need to contact the Pomeroy CD or visit the VSP website to get more information and sign a cost-share application. We encourage you to share your sterwardship plan with us which you can do on the home screen of this website or go to
https://garfieldcountyvsp.mapseed.org/
Applications are due no later than 4:00 pm on Nov 20, 2026. Cost-share applications will be reviewed by the Garfield County VSP Work Group and successful applicants will be funded, if an applicant is not funded there are additional funding sources that can be applied for in the future.
SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING:
There is additional supplemental funding that is available for cost share that must meet NRCS specs with the project meeting a 10 year life span. Projects must be completed by June 1, 2027. Practices may include, Land Smoothing, Heavy Use Areas, Irrigation Pipeline, Irrigation Water Wells, & Watering Facilities. Please contact the district for more information.
Garfield County VSP November Work Group Mtg.
Wednesday, Sept 16th, 2026- 8:30-9:30 AM.
Agenda
- Welcome and Introductions
2. Approve January 14th Meeting Minutes.
3. Discuss and approve the remaining monitoring funding.
4. VSP capitol cost-share.
5. VSP operating cost-share.
6. Discuss and approve the 2030 and 2035 Benchmark and Enhancement goals.
7. Adjourn.
Garfield Voluntary Stewardship Program
Work Group Meeting Notes:
Date: January 14, 2026 Location: Pomeroy Conservation District Time: 1:30 – 3:00
Attendance: Brad Johnson (VSP Coordinator), Lance Frederick (Pomeroy CD), Jim McKeirnan (Weed Board), Seth Claassen (Farmer), Sam Ledgerwood (Landowner), Justin Dixon (County Commissioner), Ernie Kimble (Wheat Grower), Sean Williams (WDFW), Garrett LaCavita (WDFW), and Jackie McCool (WDFW)
Justin called the meeting to order at 1:30 am and welcomed the Work Group.
Introduction were made, and then WDFW, led by Sean Willams talked about the Garfield County VSP 5-Year Report and their Technical Panel comments. WDFW is an advisory role to the Washington State Conservation Commission on VSP Work Plans. WDFW wanted to talk with VSP Work Groups prior to submitting their comments. Their overview included that they liked our outcomes and agreed that VSP was going well within Garfield County. Garfield VSP showed that practices are benefiting critical areas, and the monitoring data, and how it intersects with stewardship and critical areas. Garfield VSP is meeting goals and benchmarks. Some comments for future reports included: effectiveness of BMP’s by using other spatial data sets. Possibly reporting by watersheds or at the HUC-12 level, and rangeland monitoring. All in all, there were no major concerns with the Garfield VSP 5-Year Report.
Adaptive management will be needed in the Garfield VSP Work Plan to include the 2030 benchmark and enhanced objectives. Brad shared a document that had the previous 2020 and 2025 objectives and what has been documented by stewardship actions. With this document, Brad and Lance made recommendations for the 2030 benchmark and enhanced objectives. Discussion occurred with regard to the recommendations, and the Work Group will be working to come up with 2030 objectives.
VSP Capital Cost-Share and the possibility of a 4th round with returned funding might occur in the future. Justin asked if we had any projects in the Q, and Lance said the two projects that were not funded would possibly be an option. Discussion on what was funded in the 3rd round occurred, and Lance said his two projects didn’t score well, and a lot of projects out of the basin got funded.
Jim McKeirnan moved, and Sam Ledgerwood seconded to approve the November 18, 2025, meeting minutes. Motion carried.
Ernie Kimble moved and Seth Claassen seconded to have Lance work with anyone interested in applying for potential VSP Capital Cost-Share. Motion Carried.
The next meeting will be scheduled for , at 8:30 am.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:54 pm.