About Us
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 Implementation phase of VSP and have identified stewardship strategies that will help protect and/or restore critical areas. The Work Group has funding available this upcoming spring of 2023 and must be completed by June 13 of 2023
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 12:00 pm on March 7, 2023. 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,30 2023. Practices may include, Land Smoothing, Heavy Use Areas, Irrigation Pipeline, Irrigation Water Wells, & Watering Facilities. Please contact the district for more information.