Announcements
Draft KCCD Annual Plan of Work for Fiscal Year 2026 For Review
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (May 16, 2025) – The Kittitas County Conservation District has drafted their annual plan of work for Fiscal Year 2026 and is requesting public comment and input. The plan (available here) is required by RCW 89.08.220 (7). The plan covers the state fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It outlines how the priorities identified in the long-range plan will be implemented for the upcoming year. This includes allocating available resources in line with the goals and priorities developed under the long-range plan. The Annual Plan of Work is submitted to the Washington State Conservation Commission for their review and comment.
Please submit comments on the Annual Plan of Work to KCCD through this form or by email Anna Lael by 4:30PM May 28, 2025.
March 2025 Cost Share Programs for Farmers and Ranchers
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (March 18, 2025) – The Kittitas County Conservation District is offering cost share assistance to farmers and ranchers for drought resiliency/water conservation activities and cover crops. See these fliers below for more information. Follow this link to apply for funding. Applications are accepted beginning immediately and will be considered on a first come, first served basis. UPDATE- Applications now closed effective 4PM 5/15/2025.
Notice of Mid-Term Vacancy
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (January 6, 2025) – The Kittitas County Conservation District (KCCD) announces an opportunity to contribute to conservation and your community by serving on the KCCD Board of Supervisors. This opening is in addition to the 2025 expiring positions on the Board of Supervisors. One of the appointed Board positions has a mid-term vacancy due to the passing of that Board member.
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Individuals interested in the mid-term appointed position must apply to the Washington State Conservation Commission no later than February 20, 2025. More information and application instruction are available here.
The successful applicant for the remainder of this position would begin serving immediately after selection by the Washington State Conservation Commission in March 2025 through May 2026, expiration date for the three-year term.
Supervisors are public officials who direct the activities of the conservation district and serve without compensation. The Board is made up of five members, three of which are elected locally while the other two are appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission. Two of the three elected positions and one of the two appointment positions must be landowners/operators.
The KCCD is a political sub-division of the state with an 80-year history of serving the landowners, land managers and the general public in Kittitas County. The Board of Supervisors completes long range and annual plans that direct natural resource priorities and activities. The Board meets at least monthly, to implement both plans and direct a staff of eight.
Interested candidates may contact KCCD for assistance in applying for the position. Please contact Anna Lael, District Manager, at anna.lael@kccd.net or 509-925-3352 ext. 7.
To be printed in Daily Record’s January 7 and the January 21, 2025 editions and Northern Kittitas County Tribune’s January 9, 2025 edition.
November 22, 2024, Application Due Date Announced for RCPP Cost Share Program
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (October 18, 2024) – The Kittitas County Conservation District will accept applications starting October 21, 2024, until November 22, 2024 for the “Upper Yakima River Water Supply and Fish Habitat Improvements” Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project. This RCPP project includes lands in Kittitas County and prioritizes farm and ranch operators on-farm and delivery irrigation practices and habitat practices to improve water use efficiency, water quality and fish habitat availability.
The project can provide financial and technical assistance with on-farm irrigation system improvements, and riparian and instream habitat. The RCPP funding is provided by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through land management contracts with farmers and ranchers. The contract payment rate pays for a portion of the cost of the contracted conservation practices implemented by the farmer or rancher.
The District is accepting applications immediately. Interested farmers, ranchers or landowners should contact the District at 509-925-3352 or 2211 W Dolarway Road, Ellensburg. Interested parties must meet all requirements of the USDA NRCS. Each applicant must establish themselves as a USDA customer and complete all Farm Service Agency (FSA) eligibility requirements to participate in the program. For more information about those requirements, contact the local USDA Service Center field office at 2211 W Dolarway Road, Suite 6, Ellensburg or 509-925-8585 ext. 115.
RCPP funding is limited, and applications will be subject to a ranking system. This is the first annual sign-up in Kittitas County occurring as part of the Upper Yakima River Water Supply and Fish Habitat Improvements project. The project was one of 81 high priority projects across the country that was approved for more than $1 billion in funding through the NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program solicitation for fiscal year 2023. For more information, visit the project webpage.
Lynn Brown
1940-2024
Long time KCCD Board member, Lynn Brown, passed December 2, 2024. He was a highly valued member of the Board of Supervisors who brought to us his decades of experience in conservation and his drive to get things done. We were fortunate to be the District where Lynn and his wife Linda retired after his many years as the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s State Conservationist for Washington. He joined the KCCD in 2002 as an appointed Board member and was a strong influence through a period of tremendous growth. We are grateful for his technical knowledge of conservation practices and programs, his wisdom, and most of all, his friendship. His presence will be greatly missed.
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Business Opportunities
Personal and Professional Services Request for Proposals
Swauk Prairie Farms Agricultural Easement Appraisal Services RFP
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (March 10, 2025) – The Kittitas County Conservation District is soliciting proposals for Agricultural Conservation Easement Appraisals for the “Swauk Prairie Farms” agricultural conservation easement (parcel information included) in Kittitas County, Washington.
The KCCD and Washington State Conservation Commission (WSCC) are co-clients in this bid solicitation and will require that all appraisals be valued in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and the Recreation and Conservation Office Manual 3 Acquisition Projects, Section 5 Appraisal Requirements. The funding for this solicitation is made available from the Washington State Conservation Commission through a Recreation and Conservation Office Farmland Preservation Program Grant. The Washington State Conservation Commission, Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, and the Kittitas County Conservation District will be the intended users of the appraisal. See more details here.
Employment Opportunities
None at this time.
The Kittitas County Conservation District publishes newsletters with information about projects and programs.
Newsletters
Archive Announcements
Applications now accepted for KCCD's Small Project Cost Share Program
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (May 9, 2024) – The Kittitas County Conservation District is once again accepting applications for the Small Projects Cost Share Program until 4:30 p.m. May 31, 2024. Applicants will be contacted to schedule a site visit after the application date and before Wednesday, June12th. The KCCD Board of Supervisors will consider all applications and decide on funding at their Thursday June13th meeting.
Landowners may receive 50%-75% reimbursement for the project costs up to $10,000. The landowner's share of the project may be provided in cash or in-kind. More program information is available here.
November 17, 2023 Application Due Date Announced for RCPP Cost Share Program
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (October 16, 2023) – The Kittitas County Conservation District will accept applications starting immediately until November 17, 2023 for the “Middle Columbia Steelhead Partnership” Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project. This RCPP project includes lands in Kittitas County and prioritizes farm and ranch operators who’s property contains streams, wetland or floodplain habitat impacting mid Columbia summer steelhead.
Applications now accepted for KCCD's Small Project Cost Share Program
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (July 21, 2023) – The Kittitas County Conservation District is once again accepting applications for the Small Projects Cost Share Program until 4:30 p.m. August 25, 2023. Applicants will be contacted to schedule a site visit after the application date and before Wednesday, September 13th. The KCCD Board of Supervisors will consider all applications and decide on funding at their Thursday September 14th meeting.
Landowners may receive 50% reimbursement for the project costs up to $6,000. The landowners share of the project may be provided in cash or in-kind. More program information is available here.
KCCD's 2024 Annual Plan of Work Released
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (June 7, 2023) – The Kittitas County Conservation District's Annual Plan of Work contains all proposed work for July 2023 to June 2024 time period. More than $4 million in revenue from a variety of grants is expected to be received, based on the list of priority projects and actions included. Questions about the Annual Plan of Work may be directed to Anna Lael at anna.lael@kccd.net or in person at 2211 W Dolarway Road, Suite 4, Ellensburg. The Annual Plan of Work and Long Range Plan are available here.
KCCD's 2024 Annual Plan of Work Available for Review
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (May 22, 2023) – The Kittitas County Conservation District's draft Annual Plan of Work is available for review here through May 29th, 2023. The Annual Plan of Work is for fiscal year 2024 (July 2023 through June 2024). Comments on the draft may be submitted to Anna Lael at anna.lael@kccd.net or in person at 2211 W Dolarway Road, Suite 4, Ellensburg.
Conservation Districts are required to submit annual plans to the Washington State Conservation Commission at the end May each year. Combined with the conservation districts Long Range Plan, the documents set the direction and priorities of the district and have official status as the authorized program of the conservation district. The KCCD Long Range Plan may be viewed here.