Ferry CONSERVATION DISTRICT
What is a
Conservation District?
Non Regulatory.
Voluntary.
Collaborative.
Many people are unsure of what a conservation district does and have the wrong idea about whose side we're on! A conservation district is a NON government-affiliated, NON regulatory, and education-oriented organization. Conservation districts work to engage citizens in keeping our water, soil, air, and farmland healthy through voluntary actions. CDs were customized to help meet the needs of local communities through grant funding. We are here FOR you, not AFTER you.
History of Conservation Districts
Imagine this...
It's the 1930s... the Dust Bowl is ripping through the US. After years of intensive cultivation, increased demand for wheat, and severe drought the crops began to fail. Farmlands, once rich with nutrients, are now barren and exposed. Without deep-rooted grasses to anchor it in place, the topsoil begins blowing away. Eroding soil leads to catastrophic dust storms, exacerbating the environment and rendering farmland useless.
After the devastation of the Dust Bowl, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed the problem of soil erosion and recommended the Soil Conservation Districts Act. The act listed guidelines as well as the rules and responsibilities for the creation of conservation districts. Originally, established within the United States Department of Agriculture, the Soil Conservation Service was assumed to be under government control. Within the first two years, however, it became apparent how crucial local leadership was. Collaboration between local farmers, ranchers, and landowners was the key to tying SCS programs to local conditions and priorities. Nowadays, conservation districts are considered governmental subdivisions of the state; however, they are not state agencies and do not receive an ongoing operating budget from the state general fund. They are independently governed by a five-member board of local supervisors, who must be landowners or occupiers within the conservation district.
In Washington, each county is represented by its conservation district. Each CD provides a range of services dedicated to the local community. Efforts include:
▶ Livestock and nutrient management
▶ Habitat restoration and enhancement
▶ Water quality and quantity improvement
▶ Soil, forest, and rangeland health
▶ Wildfire preparedness and recovery.
▶ Urban agriculture
▶ Irrigation water management
▶ Environmental Education
Other activities of Conservation Districts include: conducting surveys and research, conducting demonstrations and workshops, carrying out prevention and control measures, and developing/administering programs that ensure the conservation of renewable natural resources within the district.
At the Ferry Conservation District, we are here to partner with you to help heal the land both responsibly and efficiently. We encourage public input and are happy to answer any questions you may have. Monthly meetings to conduct business are generally held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 3:00 p.m. (October - March) or 5:00 p.m. (April -September) at the District office located at 84 East Delaware in Republic (above STCU). Contact us for more information.
Every employee, applicant, and customer will be treated fairly, equitably, and with dignity and respect.
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Ferry Conservation District is to safeguard the rural lifestyle and sustainable use of natural resources of Ferry County, for present and future landowners, residents, and visitors by offering technical and financial assistance, outreach, and education through partnerships.