Community Services     Newsletters: Our newsletters go out three times a year. Each newsletter keeps you up to date with new grants, projects we're working on, educational events, the "Wildlife Corner", and many other informative articles. The issue you don't want to miss is our "Tree Sale" issue. This comes out around November, and has a list of mostly native trees and shrubs for sale at very affordable prices. To get on our mailing list, contact us. (We do Annual Tree Sale: click here For the order form Since 1995, POCD has offered many species of trees and shrubs to local landowners during their Annual Tree Sale; part of POCD's goal to practice good land stewardship. Shortly after the POCD developed their tree program, the Washington Association of Conservation Districts (WACD) in cooperation with the Washington Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) purchased and began operation of the WACD Plant Materials Center (PMC) in Bow, Washington. This created an awesome opportunity for Washington Conservation Districts to support their organization while putting trees in the ground. One of the biggest advantages in dealing with the PMC is the ability to have our trees custom grown, or left at the nursery an extra year to develop larger plants. In our county, natural regeneration of tree seedlings takes place satisfying the Forest Practice Act, but does not meet the goals of most landowners. Supplying high quality reforestation tree seedlings grown from a local seed source of is a service not duplicated in this county. Annually, reforestation conifers are grown specifically for our area; other plants and shrubs offered are either native or hardy enough for the unpredictable Pend Oreille County climate. Over 65,000 trees are purchased and planted each year. Since the beginning, over 560,000 trees have been planted. Our "Tree Sale" newsletter comes out in November and includes an order form. Orders received, are date stamped as they arrive and filled according to this date (first in, first served). Orders are taken until the end of March. Billing starts in January and runs through March with payment due 15 days after invoice date. Trees ordered and not paid for, will be offered to the next landowner in line. ALL trees and shrubs must be picked up in person; absolutely NO shipping will be done. Arrangements can be made to hold trees for large orders of 1000 or more with prior notice. Every year many volunteers gather to sort and package trees for the sale. We can always use help with this process. To view descriptions and pictures of the available trees, click here. Schools classes: Yes! We have many educational events, but sometimes, we are asked by county teachers to conduct special classes for their students. These classes can be either inside or outside. A few examples are: "Bugs in the Water" - This is where we take kids into local creeks and collect water bugs, not only to identify them, but to do a count of the different types, which will tell us the quality of the water. Gathering "Pond Bugs" is another great activity. You would be surprised how many different bugs kids can find in a small pond. Have you ever built a watershed out of plastic and had it rain popcorn to show how the water collects? If you are a teacher, or a Home School family or group in Pend Oreille County and would like us to come teach about conservation, please contact us Technical Assistance:       "Site Visits": POCD "is not a regulatory agency", we can not force you to do something, but the activities you have planned for your property may affect water quality. We'll come out to your property, at your request, to provide technical assistance and ideas to address livestock management, erosion control, fish and wildlife habitat, tree and shrub plantings, and many other issues of concern in our county. We may even be able to provide cost-share money for you to implement some of your projects.       "Conservation, Farm, and Forestry Plans": We are finding it harder to acquire money for landowners for  implementation type projects without some sort of overall land management plan. We are working in conjunction with our Soil Conservationist, to help landowners develop these plans.  These plans are non-binding, and are written with the landowner's wishes and insight on what they want to do as the focus. By working as a team, we can help landowners avoid problems with current laws, help with filling out permits needed, provide maps, and achieve their overall management goals.       "Other Resources" The POCD also works with other entities to provide technical assistance to landowners (See link page): Kalispel Tribe's Natural Resource Department (KNRD). They continually provide us with valuable information on fisheries and have constructed an erosion control demonstration site along the Pend Oreille River showing in detail, a vast variety of bank stabilization solutions. POCD appreciates the Kalispel Tribe's willingness to assist landowners in management of their natural resources. POCD and KNRD have partnered on many successful projects. We look forward to working together for the wise conservation of our natural resources. If you are thinking about shoreline projects your first stop should be the Pend Oreille County Planning Department. They will have the permit application you need.  WSU Cooperative Extension, located next to the old courthouse in Newport, has many bulletins on land management, gardening, composting, recycling, soil testing, etc. They also offer many classes and workshops of interest to rural landowners. WA Dept. of Natural Resources has a traveling Stewardship Forester who will do a "Walk in the Woods" with you on your property. They will be aware of possible costshare programs to address forest health. WA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife will assist in erosion control projects and fish habitat concerns. Pend Oreille County Weed Board can assist in site assessment for noxious weed control. The Pend Oreille Watershed Coordinating Committee: Want to know what's going on in our watershed? Attend one of these "bi-monthly" meetings held at the Cusick Community Center at 1:00 p.m. starting in January. This committee is made up of local citizens, county, state, and federal agencies, the Kalispel Tribe, and industry professionals. This committee was established in 1994 to develop and implement sustainable educational communication processes to increase awareness and understanding of watershed issues and enhance commitment to watershed health in Pend Oreille County. It provides county landowners with a forum to present complaints and get answers on issues concerning our watershed.   Home Page || About POCD || Grant Programs Cost Share Programs || Education Programs Community Services || Special Links || Contact Us Copyright © 2001 The Pend Oreille Conservation District, All Rights Reserved.