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Skagit
County Voluntary Stewardship Program
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The Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) provides funding and technical assistance incentives to agricultural landowners who implement best management practices and natural resource enhancement on their property. VSP is the alternative, non-regulatory approach to protecting Critical Areas in Skagit County while maintaining agricultural productivity. Instead of enacting further Critical Areas regulation for agricultural activities, the VSP allows landowners to develop management plans with the support of local experts and avoid a “one size fits all” approach.
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Potential projects could include:
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Planting native trees and shrubs adjacent to waterways |
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Installing fencing to exclude livestock from waterways |
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Installing in-stream structures to provide habitat and reinforce stream banks |
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These types of projects are generally implemented by partner organizations like Skagit Conservation District, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement, and more, and are all considered “voluntary stewardship.” Skagit County’s VSP coordinator acts as the point-person between landowner and technical support at these organizations to pair each landowner with a program tailored to their needs.
Additionally, one of the programs VSP supports is the Skagit Conservation District’s Cover Crop program, which provides grants to farmers interested in planting cover crops on their fields each fall. Cover crops are a great way to recycle nitrogen, improve soil organic matter and carbon sequestration, reduce erosion, improve water quality, and maintain living roots and the soil biotic community. If you are interested in learning more, visit the Skagit Conservation District website.
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VSP Frequently Asked Questions
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History of the Voluntary Stewardship Program |
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On December 19, 2011, Skagit County enrolled in the State's VSP for protection of critical areas in areas of agricultural activity. Statewide, 27 counties are now enrolled.
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VSP legislation, codified at RCW 36.70A.700-760, enables an enrolled county to protect and restore riparian streams and other critical areas on agricultural land through new voluntary programs and coordination of existing programs, instead of new regulation. It provides focus and direction for agricultural stewardship, measurable goals and benchmarks, and relies on local watershed groups to develop work plans for implementation.
To date, Skagit County has completed the first five-year as well as two-year reports meeting the Conservation Commission’s eligibility criteria. More information on the development of the VSP in Skagit County can be found on the Watershed Advisory Group page.
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Documents |
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While VSP is a statewide program, each county has its own work plan which serves at the primary guidance for all VSP-related work in the county.
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To date, Skagit County has completed the first five-year report as well as the subsequent two-year reports, meeting the Conservation Commission’s eligibility criteria.
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Background Documents
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For More Information |
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Watershed Advisory Group
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Click for board information and meeting details |
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The Watershed Group is made up of local producers, partner organizations, and County staff. The group is tasked with advising the VSP Coordinator on how best to implement the Voluntary Stewardship Program in Skagit County. This group meets at least quarterly to make recommendations and offer advice on how best to implement the Skagit County VSP Work Plan.
Meetings are open to the public and all interested Skagitonians are encouraged to attend. If you would like to learn how to become a member, please reach out to the VSP Coordinator.
The Board of County Commissioners adopted resolutions that declare that the County has sufficient funding to: begin coordinating the Voluntary Stewardship Program, establish the Watershed Group and appoint the Watershed Group.
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Current Watershed Group meeting information
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AGENDAS |
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