Washington State Conservation Commission

03/22/2026

With the help of two dozen volunteers of all ages, Grays Harbor Conservation District staff recently cleared roughly 1,500 square feet of invasive English ivy from the parking lot of a local lighthouse.

The event was part of a weeklong educational campaign on invasive species, led by the Grays Harbor Noxious W**ds Control Board. From classroom presentations to hands-on w**d walks, community turnout was strong all week.

Thanks to ongoing partnerships with groups like FOSLS - Friends of Schafer and Lake Sylvia, the areas cleared of invasive species are already being replanted with native species like salal, sword fern, and Oregon grape.

What an inspiring Invasive Species Awareness Week in Grays Harbor!

Photo Credit: Andrea Watts / The Daily World

03/04/2026

Congratulations to Kitsap Conservation District New Page— a 2026 recipient of the Friends of NACD District Grants Program! The National Association of Conservation Districts announced its award recipients during its recent Annual Meeting in San Antonio.

Kitsap Conservation District's project, "Planting Seeds, Harvesting Community," will support community and food bank gardens with sustainable growing education, provide plant starts for gardens donating to local food banks, and help build a connected network of community gardens.

Great work, Kitsap CD!

02/24/2026

Congratulations to Ray Ledgerwood on receiving the National Conservation Partnership’s Rich Duesterhaus Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting!

Ray’s impact on conservation in Washington and across the country is hard to overstate. From his roots in eastern Washington agriculture to leadership roles supporting conservation districts across the Pacific region and beyond, Ray has brought extensive knowledge, leadership, and a commitment to locally led, voluntary conservation.

During his time with the Washington State Conservation Commission, Ray played a key role in strengthening the agency through planning, training, facilitation, and program delivery. His work helped shape programs and partnerships across the conservation community.

Congratulations, Ray! Thank you for a lifetime of leadership, mentorship, and service.

02/08/2026

Happy Superb Owl Sunday! 🦉🏈

Did you know that just like Seahawks (also known as Osprey), owls have a reversible outer toe that lets them grip their catch with two toes forward and two toes back? This key trait allows both birds to better grip their slippery/squirmy prey.

To learn more about the owls of Washington, visit our friends at the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife at https://bit.ly/4kh89Ov.

Go Hawks! 💚💙

01/31/2026

Pend Oreille Conservation District is putting grant funding from SCC's Riparian Plant Propagation Program to work to support local restoration.

At the district's nursery, staff added w**d fabric and mulch to protect young plants and reduce invasive w**ds. This spring, about 500 of the 1,700 plants grown at the nursery were used at a restoration site at Sandy Shores. More plants will be used this summer for riverbank and floodplain projects.

Pend Oreille Conservation District is also testing new growing methods, including improved soil mixes, a new shade structure, and biochar, to help plants retain water and nutrients. Propagation will start again in April, with planting at project sites planned for early summer.

This work supports several restoration projects, including a partnership with the Kalispel Tribe to turn floodplain farmland into wetlands for amphibians and waterfowl. The district is also working with the County W**d Board to support nursery and field work.

Thanks to Pend Oreille Conservation District and its partners for helping build healthy, resilient habitat for the future.

01/29/2026

San Juan Islands Conservation District is offering free, hands-on biochar kiln workshops this winter on Orcas, San Juan, and Lopez Islands!

If you're in the area and would like to attend, it'll be a great way to learn how to turn small forest debris into biochar, a natural soil booster that helps hold water and nutrients while reducing fire fuels. 🔥

The workshops also share Indigenous land stewardship knowledge and modern tools that help keep forests healthier and communities safer.

Space is limited, so sign up soon! This is a great chance to gain practical skills you can use at home. Learn more at https://bit.ly/49Rm34N.

By Darell Kirk

01/24/2026

Washington Grown's latest episode features Cascadia Conservation District and the work they are doing with Campo Farm & Kitchen in Cashmere, WA.

On roughly an acre of land, Campo Farm & Kitchen is growing a wide range of produce while working to improve soil health and connect its community with the environment.

In partnership with the Cascadia Conservation District, Campo is using smart farm planning and sustainable practices to increase organic soil matter (up to >5% from 2%), create pollinator habitat, and more.

It's a great example of how conservation and local farming can work together to build healthy, resilient farms for years to come. To learn more watch a clip from the video here: https://bit.ly/45vTdWy or watch the full episode here: https://bit.ly/4qD1yjF

Visiting Campo Farm & Kitchen in Cashmere gives you a real feel for regenerative, no-till farming and truly organic, seasonal produce grown right in the hear...

01/15/2026

Great work is happening under SCC’s Riparian Plant Propagation Program (RPPP)!

Last month, program manager B’Elanna Rhodehamel visited one of Puget Sound Plants Olympia’ nurseries in Olympia, WA, and a holding site in Grays Harbor Conservation District.

At Puget Sound Plants, nursery staff gave B’Elanna a full tour of their operations, including letting them watch crew load a truck full of plants for delivery. RPPP is currently contracting with Puget Sound Plants to grow nearly 32,000 plants that will be distributed to restoration groups in the fall of 2026.

At the Grays Harbor CD holding site, which is in partnership with the Port of Grays Harbor, staff have been maintaining plants, including some gravel beds. They are waiting to hear what their partners need next spring to ramp up cultivation again. Some of their plants are also distributed through a free plant program.

Thank you to all of our RPPP partners for your hard work to raise the plants needed for habitat restoration work across our state!

01/01/2026

The Washington State Conservation Commission is closed today (Jan. 1, 2026) in recognition of the New Years Day holiday. We will resume normal business operations and hours on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.

12/25/2025

The Washington State Conservation Commission is closed today (Dec. 25, 2025), in recognition of the Christmas Day holiday. We will resume normal business operations and hours on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025.

We hope that everyone is staying safe and warm this holiday season.

12/23/2025

The Washington Department of Ecology has compiled a list of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) resources to help communities impacted by recent flooding. This includes resources for documenting damage, starting flood insurance claims, and recovering financially.

To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/4qj9SUZ

Photo Credit: David Ryder, Reuters