2010-2015 / FY 2010 (July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010)
Organization of Eastern Klickitat Conservation District

A political subdivision of the State of Washington – authorities, powers and structure contained in RCW 89.08.
Established in 1940, EKCD has a positive history of conservation in Klickitat County. Our ultimate goal has always been and continues to be, cooperation with landowners to provide the most on-the-ground conservation for the dollars spent. As conservation practices progress and change, we have adopted new technology to provide the best in conservation to our cooperators.

Function of Eastern Klickitat Conservation District
To make available technical, financial and educational resources, whatever their source, and focus or coordinate them so that they meet the needs of the local land manager with conservation of soil, water and related natural resources.

We Serve & Why

• Landowners, users of natural resources, individuals & organizations interested in natural resource issues   within EKCD.
• EKCD has a legal responsibility under 89.08
• We are the most effective conduit and buffer for federal and state programs to the local level
• We are the most effective agency to help people achieve their resource conservation goals

Mission of Eastern Klickitat Conservation District
The mission of the Eastern Klickitat Conservation District is to improve, conserve, and promote the wise use of natural resources by providing technical, financial, educational, and research assistance for landowners, users of natural resources, individuals & organizations interested in natural resource issues within EKCD.

Vision of Eastern Klickitat Conservation District

• By 2014 EKCD will have added to our established source of income, including county funds generated from wind turbine projects
• By January 2014 add staff as necessary with technical expertise in forestry, range and/or agronomy
• By 2014 every land owner in the district will be able to qualify and participate in the farm program
• By 2014 EKCD will be in a building of our own along with partners
• By Jan 2014 the Eastern Klickitat CD will have made the community aware of the importance of conservation for the County
• By 2014 EKCD will be on equal footing with EPA on water quality and land use issues – Conservation districts have a better insight for local concerns than bureaucracies located somewhere else

Values of Eastern Klickitat Conservation District
We believe in:

• Grass roots conservation efforts
• Wise use of natural resources
• Cooperative, incentive based programs
• Assisting landowners in being proactive with natural resource issues
• Non-regulatory conservation efforts
• Partnership agreements with governmental agencies
• Good conservation
• Treating everyone equally
• Being frugal with funds
• Not being intrusive on private land rights
• Successful and beneficial projects
• Saying what we are going to do – and doing what we say
• Informing people so they understand what they are doing entirely
• Use of natural resources wisely for a living and income
• Locally led conservation
• Helping – not hurting landowners
• Not a being a regulatory agency – nor do we intend to be

Natural Resource Priorities and Goals:
1. Wind erosion (including CRP ground coming out)
- By 2015, land managers will have practices in place to control wind erosion on cropland to prevent transportation hazards and events exceeding air quality standards
2. Water Quality & Salmonids Recovery (stream bank restoration)
- By 2110 the Ecology grant #0800398 will have been completed and watershed data will have been compiled
- By 2015, Rock Creek will have a completed management plan in place and have implementation of the plan treatments on 10% of the watershed area
- By 2015, EKCD will evaluate and prioritize other watershed areas for watershed planning and implementation activities
3. Range & Forest Management
- By 2015, 50% of the grazing and forest lands will be managed under a conservation plan
4. Animal Feeding Operations and Confined Animal Feeding Operations
- By 2015 provide information to all livestock operations in EKCD regarding AFO/CAFO regulations leading to working with livestock organizations and individual cattlemen in the county for implementation strategies
5. Noxious Weeds Management
- By 2015, reduce noxious weeds in CRP lands by 90% and management plans implemented to maintain noxious weeds reduction
- Monitor noxious weed growth in windmill project sites and work with County noxious weed control board to help prevent infestations
6. Information – Education
- By 2015 reach continue EKCD efforts to reach the population with information about services available through EKCD
7. District Operations
- By 2015, have reached a decision on district consolidation with CKCD, have our own building, full quorums at every meeting, stable funding, fully staffed for workload.

Supervisors have approved a wildlife habitat cost share policy to provide cost share funding for projects that improve wildlife habitat in the district.
Currently in Eastern Klickitat CD we are doing several things to promote conservation. We have a few streams on the 303(d) list for which we are seeking improvement projects. The conversion to no-till and direct seed farming is rapidly expanding in the district. EKCD cost shares for the planting of permanent cover (native grasses) after a crop/fallow rotation. Rock Creek has a CRMP (coordinated resource management plan) group working toward a management plan for the Rock Creek watershed. We anticipate active participation once the WRIA 31 management plan is finalized. EKCD will play a major role in implementing projects on Rock Creek at that time.
District Supervisors have also approved a cost share policy for Precision Ag equipment use.  This policy has been well received and district producers are actively using the cost shares available from this policy.

Critical Geographic Areas:
1. Eastern edge of EKCD – low rainfall 8” and under area
2. Rock Creek watershed

Information – Education Priorities and Goals:
1. Goal: By 2015 continue efforts by EKCD to reach their population with information about services available through EKCD cost share policies
2. Goal: By 2012 have found other funding sources to help defray the cost of the Precision Ag Cost Share Policy.

District Operations Priorities, Goals:
Goal: By 2015, have reached a decision on district consolidation with CKCD, have our own building, full quorums at every meeting, stable funding, fully staffed for workload.

Strategies: meet regularly with CKCD Supervisors to discuss consolidation plan, talk with agency partners to see who can move with us, identify potential location, research funding options, get creative with space usage

Trends Impacting Conservation in Eastern Klickitat Conservation District

• More landowners moving toward federal funding rather than conservation district programs -not wanting to lose our relevancy
• Change to no-till from summer fallow
• Smaller tracts of land – people moving to rural areas
• Fewer active farmers (full time)
• Change in attitudes from commodity payments to conservation payments
• Shift towards sub-basin planning, outside forces that the conservation districts have no control over
• Lack of understanding of what the conservation district can do for Eastern landowners
• Legislation proposed in state to reduce the penalties on open-space removal causing larger tracts to be broken into smaller tracts
• Increased competition for funding sources
• Increasing trend toward livestock issues and regulations – AFO/CAFO
• CRP contracts completed – less acreage in CRP, need to make sure land is treated with conservation practices in mind

Strategies to Address Trends

• By 2015 both districts have established a reliable, stable source of income, have made a decision on consolidation
• By January 2015 livestock grazing in Lower Rock Creek Basin will be improved
• By 2015 the districts will be in a building of their own along with partners
• By Jan 2015 the Eastern Klickitat CD will have provided the opportunity for land owners, visitors, and operators to visit our office and learn more of what we do
• By 2015 the CDs will be on equal footing with EPA on water quality and land use issues – districts have a better insight than bureaucracies somewhere else
• Continuation of CRP program or land coming out will be able to remain in grass for wildlife or grazing – develop grazing plans

Staffing Needs

• District Manager
• Administrative Assistant – also does some technician work
• Technical Position #1 – water quality technician
• Engineer
• Engineer Assistant
• Technical Position #2 – water specialist
• Information – Education (part time or include in Admin Ass’t)
• AFO/CAFO specialist (if writing plans)

Annual Budget Needs
Salary & Benefits – $ 60,000
Equipment ———— $25,000
Office Supplies —— $60,000
Programs & Cost Share ——– $175,000
Building and/or Rent & Utilities – $25,000
Transportation ———————- $10,000
Training ——————————– $5,000
Other – insurance – dues——- $ 13,000
Other _____________________
Total Annual Budget Need—- $373,000

Key Decision Makers

• Governor
• President
• Each Supervisor
• Committees of state legislature
• WSCC
• County Commissioners
• Each state and federal legislator
• Agencies we work with – local, state, federal
• WACD
• Presidents and Executive Directors of commodity organizations

Priority Actions – 12 Months

Wind erosion (including CRP ground coming out)
Goal: By 2015, land managers will have practices in place to control wind erosion on cropland to prevent transportation hazards and events exceeding air quality standards
1. Contact Ecology and Benton CD for air quality data
2. Identify land owners in the effected area
3. Institute cost share policies to help implement reduced tillage practices

Water Quality & Salmonids Recovery (stream bank restoration)
Goal: By 2015, Use data compiled from DOE Grant #0800398 to identify possible BMP project implementation sites
1. Ask DOE for assistance (financial or technical) to help identify possible BMP sites
2. Assist Rock Creek group in locating funding for planning and implementation
3. Assist landowners in identifying projects in the Squaw Creek watershed

Water Quality & Salmonids Recovery (stream bank restoration)
Goal: By 2015, EKCD will evaluate and prioritize other watershed areas for
watershed planning and implementation activities
1. Collect existing watershed data
2. Prioritize sub-watersheds
3. Select priority watershed

Range & Forest Management
Goal: By 2010, 50% of the grazing and forest lands will be managed under a
conservation plan
1. Speakers at Annual meetings that address grazing and forest practices
2. Identify and target relevant land managers
3. Hold workshops that focus individually on grazing and forestry management

Animal Feeding Operations and Confined Animal Feeding Operations
Goal: By 2010 provide information to all livestock operations in EKCD regarding AFO/CAFO regulations leading to working with livestock organizations in the county for implementation strategies, CD staff gear up to assist livestock operators with their nutrient management plan

Goal: By January 2007 100% of livestock operators (in place with permit requirements) will comply with AFO/CAFO regulations
1. Educate CD personnel in AFO/CAFO program activities
2. Do on-site visits as requested by the land managers
3. Participate in livestock organizations field days, meetings, events – share information as we learn
4. Hold educational event at annual meeting

Noxious Weeds Management
Goal: By 2015, reduce noxious weeds in CRP lands by 90% and management plans implemented to maintain noxious weeds reduction
1. Invite County Weed Supervisor to board meetings
2. County Weed Supervisor speak at Annual meeting on weed control measure
3. Reminders of noxious weeds, with measures for control in district newsletter

Information Education
Goal: By 2015 reach 80% of EKCD population with information about services available through EKCD
1. Identify land managers
2. Send mailings, informational brochures about district cost share policies

District Operations
Goal: By 2015, have reached a decision on district consolidation with CKCD, have our own building, full quorums at every meeting, stable funding, fully staffed for workload.
1. Talk with partners about potential of moving offices
2. Locate potential real estate
3. Investigate funding sources through economic development, County resources
4. Meet with CKCD Board 6 times/year to follow WCC Consolidation Procedures