2015 - 07
Conservation Commission Rolls Out New Policy on Cultural Resource Reviews
--Larry Brewer, Special Projects Manager
Many districts have already been addressing cultural resources with their projects, but we now have a procedure to document this, in the form of the new WSCC policy that takes affect for projects completed after July 1, 2015.
The policy is straightforward. Along with the other requirements for WSCC’s reimbursement for a project, your district is responsible to notify WSCC that a cultural resources review was completed, when needed.
To help you understand the new cultural resources policy and procedures for projects using any of the state funds that are managed by WSCC, we will hold a cultural resources review webinar to provide some explanations and guidance. The webinar is scheduled for July 9, 2015 at 1:00 pm. Knowing that it is sometimes difficult for folks to attend webinars, this one will be recorded and posted to the “Cultural Resources for Districts” website for viewing at your convenience.
You can go directly to the new “Cultural Resources for Districts” website for guidance and the materials needed to help your district to document your cultural resources reviews. I do not have the final Cultural Resources website address at this time, but it will located within the WSCC website http://scc.wa.gov/ fairly soon.
Obviously, this is a new process and your suggestions to improve it will be appreciated. Please email any suggestions to: commission@scc.wa.gov so that next year a review committee can consider your suggestions as they develop changes to the process.
In future TPDWG newsletters, we will provide additional cultural resources info to help keep you informed.
If you have questions, you can email them to: commission@scc.wa.gov and someone will get back to you, or you can contact your Regional Manager.
Click the link below to register now for the CRR webinar:
Cultural Resources Reviews by Conservation Districts
Join us for a webinar on Jul 09, 2015 at 1:00 PM PDT.
Register now!:https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4301262367481712130
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Fun at WADE 2015
Wow, another WADE conference is over! Thank you to all who came and enjoyed track sessions, lawn games, and networking at the beautiful Sleeping Lady venue. Many of you found a TPDW representative and expressed interest in participating in the workgroup, and we are excited to bring you in.
If you haven’t already, please fill out the WADE 2015 Conference Survey by Wednesday, July 8 to help the coordinators make next year the best year yet!
And if you missed WADE, please tune into the upcoming Recruitment Webinar to learn more about the TPDW. You can also find links to presentations, handouts, and other references from WADE presentations HERE .
Planning Tools and Resources
Conservation Districts are creating great resources across the state for planners and landowners. We are trying to capture those links and publications for you to use and share under our Links and Resources page. Check in often for new resources and links.
Do you have a website, tool, publication, or other resource that you have created for planning or outreach that you would like to share with other CDs? Please send the link or document to: planning@tpdw.org and we will post it on our website under Links and Resources or Planning Tools and Templates.
Upcoming Events
The TPDW is hosting a “New Member Recruitment Webinar” on Thursday, July 16 from 10:00-11:00. This is a great opportunity to learn more about what we do and how you can get involved at any level.
Click Here for webinar log-in details
Why you should get involved:
Opportunity to meet new people and network with folks from other CDs and agencies from around the state
Get involved in programs and development at a higher level
Strengthen your leadership skills
Learn how CDs work and support them at multiple levels
Shape the future of Conservation Districts locally and nationally
Be a part of a program that is leading the US in CD employee development
Join from your computer, tablet, or smartphone: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/226481525
You can also dial in using your phone: (571) 317-3122 | Access Code: 226-481-525
Ask an Expert
We have added new categories to our Ask an Expert page! Be sure to check it out and start getting your questions answered today!
If you are an expert in an area and want to share your expertise, please email us, let us know what it is, and we’ll add you to the list: planning@tpdw.org.
Training Events
Livestock and Water Quality Fall Training Event
This one-day event will help natural resource professionals in Washington State understand how livestock grazing practices and grazing land conditions affect water quality directly (proximate factors) and indirectly through long-term changes in riparian condition, which is the ultimate driving factor. It will teach them how to select and communicate management practices to livestock farmers to reduce risk of noncompliance and pollutant discharge, and how to measure improvements in riparian condition, an accurate leading indicator of water quality and heart of corrective management practices. The training will combine expert presentations on current research & principles for water quality evaluation and improvement with case study discussions of a variety of scenarios. Part of the difficulty in individuals addressing a water quality problem is that the issue involves so many areas of expertise: animal behavior, plant physiology, riparian ecology, microbiology, soil science, silviculture, environmental chemistry, physics, etc., etc., etc. The training will highlight the need for an interdisciplinary approach to water quality solutions. CD personnel have numerous technical resources to draw on. This event will synthesize published research and management tools, regulatory agency guidance documents, and technical assistance programs usually built on the previous two sources.
Where: Ellensburg, WA
When: Fall, exact date TBA
Contact: Tip Hudson, Rangeland & Livestock Specialist
Washington State University Extension
509-962-7507 | hudsont@wsu.edu
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
For the most recent information on training events, check out the Training Calendar.
Grants and Funding Opportunities
Applications for the next round of RCPP funding are due July 8, 2015. Find the full announcement HERE .
Getting to Know You: District Highlight
District Name: Snohomish Conservation District
FAQs & Fun Facts
Washington has several different climate zones allowing the state to produce a wide variety
of crops – about 230 different commodities! The mountainous eastern Washington has hot
summers and cold winters with an average rainfall of only 10 to 20 inches per year. In the
state’s Olympic Mountains, more than 140 inches of precipitation falls annually. While central
Washington is a desert, it is considered the most productive agriculture land in the state
because it is so well irrigated.