The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON—On Feb. 24, watershed stakeholders in Columbia County heard about an optional incentive-based program for protecting and enhancing critical areas, while promoting agriculture in the county.

Bill Ehler, from the Washington State Conservation Commission, presented information about the Voluntary Stewardship Program, to roughly thirty people in attendance at the meeting, which was held at the county fairgrounds.

VSP is a program that is allowed under the state Growth Management Act, and whose goal is to reduce tension between competing GMA goals related to agricultural viability and...