Useful Links

Federal Agencies

Farm Service Agency (FSA) www.fsa.usda.gov/fsa The FSA administers cost-sharing programs to farmers implementing conservation.

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) www.bpa.gov/corporate The BPA markets hydroelectric power in the Pacific Northwest.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) www.fws.gov

Forest Service (USFS) www.fs.fed.us The USFS has federal responsibility for forestry.

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) www.nmfs.noaa.gov
Northwest division - www.nwr.noaa.gov The NMFS is responsible for providing programs to try to save the marine endangered species of the United States.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) www.nrcs.usda.gov
Washington State: www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov The NRCS has a long extensive tradition of work with conservation districts. They provides free technical assistance with soils, conservation practices, and planning to land users and others.

State Agencies

Washington conservation Commission (WCC) www.scc.wa.gov The Washington State Conservation Commission has ten members. The Commission and its staff provide administrative and program assistance and guidance to districts, disseminate information, and seek sources of funding to aid in district operation.

Department of Agriculture (WSDA) http://agr.wa.gov The Washington State Department of Agriculture administers state laws protecting agricultural producers from diseases, insects, predators, and weeds. The WSDA regulates fruit, seed, and other agricultural product grading.

Department of Ecology (ECOLOGY) www.ecy.wa.gov The Department of Ecology protects and enhances Washington's environment. ECOLOGY programs address air pollution, water pollution, solid waste, hazardous waste, noise pollution, litter and resource recovery, water resources, and shoreline and coastal zone management. ECOLOGY is both an administrative and a regulatory agency with authority to enforce the state's environmental laws.

Office of Financial Management (OFM) www.ofm.wa.gov The OFM provides budget planning and fiscal administration for state agencies.

Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) http://wdfw.wa.gov In 1994, the departments of Fisheries and Wildlife were combined to more effectively protect and enhance the fish and wildlife of our state.

Department of Natural Resource (DNR)
Washington State site - www.dnr.wa.gov The DNR manages and protects state-owned lands. DNR foresters also assist private landowners with the Agriculture Conservation Program (ACP) and the Forestry Incentive Program (FIP) and provide other limited free technical forestry assistance. The DNR administers the Forest Practices Act, a Washington state law regulating practices such as timber harvest.

Washington State University Cooperative Extension (WSU) http://ext.wsu.edu Assistance from WSU is commonly found through the WSU Cooperative Extension. Extension agents (“county agents”) and specialists are available to counsel, educate and train conservation districts in economics, engineering, agronomy and soils, animal sciences, entomology, food science and technology, forestry and range management, home economics, horticulture, plant pathology, sociology, veterinary science, and many other areas.

Conservation District Associations

Washington Association of Conservation Districts (WACD) www.wacd.org The WACD is a non-profit, nongovernmental organization of the 48 conservation districts in Washington State. The WACD is made up of six area associations of conservation districts and serves as a state voice for conservation districts on state policy, legislation, communication, and funding for conservation activities. The WACD also provides forums to inform, train and educate supervisors and recognize outstanding district individuals and programs. The WACD has standing committees on research, district operations, education, finance, forestry, land-use planning, legislation, public and private rangelands, pollution, recreation, water resources, resolutions, soil stewardship.

National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) www.nacdnet.org The NACD is a non-profit, nongovernmental organization representing over three thousand districts and their state associations in the fifty states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The NACD lobbies for federal conservation legislation and funding in Congress. It also provides brochures, reports, conservation films, training, and education.

Washington Association of District Employees (WADE) http://wade.scc.wa.gov The WADE was formed in 1986 to develop conservation district employees' abilities through continuing education, recognition and a network of professional support. Consult the Commission Directory for more information about WADE area directors and officers.

National Conservation District Employees Association (NCDEA) www.nacdnet.org/2004/awards/NCDEA.htm The NCDEA was formed in 1992 to strengthen Conservation District programs, provide assistance, information and support to Conservation District boards and their employees. The association also promotes the professional development of Conservation District employees and will assist any agency, association, organization, municipality, group, or individual who supports Conservation Districts in the spirit of cooperation, sound conservation practices, and proper land use.