County prepares to assess Voluntary Stewardship success

Landowner participation is crucial

COLUMBIA COUNTY-Columbia County is in the beginning stages of gathering the data required to determine if the Voluntary Stewardship Program has met its initial goals and benchmarks. With the five-year report due January 2020, the Columbia County VSP hopes the county deems the program a success.

The VSP is an optional, non-regulatory alternative that allows area stakeholders to develop and implement work plans to protect critical areas while promoting agriculture. This incentive-based program is permitted under the Growth Management Act as an alternative to traditional regulatory methods of protecting critical areas.

Columbia County Planning Manager Dena Martin said while this is a "great" group of people serving in the workgroup and participating in developing the work plan; ongoing landowner participation is crucial in making the program successful.

"I am hopeful that, as local landowners become more aware of VSP and the existing projects, they will be willing to participate and support the program at some level. That could be anything from serving as a workgroup member, filling out a Voluntary Stewardship Survey, or applying for a cost-share project," Martin said. "Without landowner participation, we have no program."

The State Conservation Commission approved the Columbia County work plan in July of 2018, and the workgroup finalized its Cost Share Policy in June 2020.

The VSP operates with funds administered through the State Conservation Commission. The workgroup wants to take full advantage of that funding for cost-share programs and technical assistance.

For approved/awarded projects, VSP will cover 75% of otherwise unfunded projects and 50% of the unfunded balance of projects that have received other funding.

Fulfillment benchmarks are based on landowner participation in Best Management Practices.

This is the second year of implementation. In 2019, VSP partnered with the Columbia County Weed Board dedicating $50,000 toward yellow starthistle management, significantly increasing the total acreage sprayed, Martin said.

This year the workgroup wanted to hear directly from local producers to determine what potential projects. So far, the group has received cost-share and technical assistance applications for establishing windbreaks and shelterbelts, livestock control fencing and watering stations, runoff basins, reforestation, and invasive species control, Martin said.

At its last meeting, on Sept. 15, the workgroup approved two projects that will use Kinsey Labs research to show the positive benefits of nutrient management.

Martin said once applications are reviewed and approved by the workgroup, they are passed on to the Columbia Conservation District. The CCD staff works individually with the landowners to better define the project and arrange for professional consultations and environmental reviews, if necessary.

More people are needed to serve on the workgroup.

"We meet quarterly, so the time investment is minimal, at this point. And, of course, we would love for interested producers to submit their cost-share or technical assistance projects for consideration," Martin said.

An easy way for landowners to support the VSP program is by visiting columbiacountyvsp.mapseed.org and share their stewardship practices by clicking "Get Started" to complete a short survey.

To learn more about VSP, or about how to get involved, contact Dena Martin by phone at (509) 382-4676 or online at dena_martin@co.columbia.wa.us. Additional information at columbiaco.com under Departments > Planning and Building > Voluntary Stewardship Program or https://tinyurl.com/y32kkqyx.