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 protection of critical areas.

According to Ehler, critical areas are wetland areas, aquifer recharge areas, areas for fish and wildlife, frequently flooded areas, geologically hazardous areas, and areas with a critical recharging effect on potable water.

Up to 3% of agricultural land in Columbia County overlaps with critical areas, according to Kim Lyonnais, County Planning Director.

The goals of the VSP are:

To focus and maximize voluntary incentive programs to encourage good environmental stewardship as an alternative to historic approaches

To leverage existing resources by relying on existing work plans in counties and local watersheds as well as existing state and federal programs

To foster a spirit of cooperation with other stakeholders

To improve compliance with other laws designed to protect water quality and fish habitat

According to Lyonnais, the Columbia County Commissioners agreed to opt in to the VSP in 2011. Funding was made available in 2015 through the Washington State Conservation Commission. Phase I of the project began in January 2016 and will last until June 2017, which is half of a three-year program, he said.

Lyonnais said flexibility is an important benefit for opting into the VSP. The State Conservation Commission is responsible for adopting and “tweaking” the plan and for any challenges made to it, he said.

“This is an opportunity to take local control, rather than involve the GMA,” said Lyonnais.

“We have a shelf full of regulations in the planning department. We need a strong emphasis on standards that are already in place,” Lyonnaise told the crowd.

Twenty-seven counties in Washington State have opted in to the VSP, according to Ehler.

Columbia County stakeholders have thirty days in which to form a Watershed Work Group for participation in the VSP, and eighteen stakeholders have volunteered to be on the Group, Lyonnaise said.

For more information, contact the Columbia County Planning Department at 382-4674.