Current District Programs and Grants include: Watershed Planning Cusick Education Site SRFB grant TITLE II National Fire Plan AFO-CAFO POWR Grant Native Salmonid Habitat Improvement ALEA grant Watershed Planning Grant for Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 62 (2514) For detailed information about this program, click here. POCD is the lead agency in our local WRIA 62, coordinating efforts for the Watershed Planning Unit. The Unit (committee) is made up of a diverse group of about 20 dedicated individulas including farmers, the Kalispel Tribe, PUD, Seattle City Light, Pend Oreille Environmental Team, Teckcominco, Ponderay Newsprint, real estate and development, private timber companies, foresters, county and city representatives, and state agencies--all with an interest in grassroots watershed planning. They are tasked with the development of a comprehensive, four-year watershed assessment plan. The creeks in each of the sub-basins are being evaluated under four different parameters including water quantity, water quality, habitat and instream flows. The Planning Unit's goal is to develop strategies, address problems identified and to make recommendations for corrective action. They have passed the half-way point and are currently interviewing prospective environmental consulting firms. The Unit meets monthly on the third Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon in the Cusick Community Center.The public is welcome.  HB2496 Native Salmonid Habitat Improvement , a Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife grant For details about the background and activities involved in this grant, click here. POCD sends the ranked projects to the Salmon Recovery Board for consideration. We can help you in requesting possible funding for projects meeting the above requirements. For more information, please CONTACT US. Cusick Public Education and Wetland Restoration Site (a Dept. of Natural Resources Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account grant)  Funds to implement the site plan at Cusick were successfully obtained through the Dept. of Natural Resources Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA). The area was of particular interest to POCD because it was an old mill site degraded with weeds after years of abandonment. So far, funds have been used to clear and level the three acre area adjacent to the boat launch parking lot, install a sprinkler system, reconstruct a picnic shelter (donated by Newport Woodshop class), plant native plants and complete the two Boy Scout Eagle projects by Scouts from Troop 696. (To view photos of this project, click here.)The area has been seeded with grass and provide a picnic and group area once it is completed. A conservation easement was obtained for the remaining area. This area adjacent to the Pend Oreille River will include a self-guided, interpretive trail with interpretive signs discussing history and cultural uses of the area, a water control structure and a demonstration of an erosion control site on the river bank. After all projects are completed, the plan is to integrate monitoring into the restoration and into the K-12 Cusick School curriculum. Students will play an active part in planning, data collection, and wetland conservation. Other county schools are planning to assist and use this site to teach classes in natural resources, biology, and other environmental sciences. Other funding sources will have to be found if playground equipment, a stage area and other activities are to be installed. For more information, please CONTACT US. back to top  Upper Pend Oreille Sub-watershed Ranking (POWR), a Washington Dept. of Ecology grant POWR REPORT   The northern portion of Pend Oreille County contains many tributaries which contain either Bull Trout (endangered species) or West Slope Cutthroat (species of concern). This grant from the WA Dept. of Ecology (DOE) established baseline water quality data for 16 watersheds which are important to the Pend Oreille Watershed Planning Unit. The creeks identified are Pewee, Slate, Flume, Sweet, Sullivan, Cedar, Sand, Mickey, Exposure, Muddy, Lost, South Fork Lost, LeClerc, Mill, Smalle, and Trimble. The water quality data collected under this grant will lead to BMP implementation projects prioritized by local citizens, not agencies.  This grant has been completed. To view the final report click here   "Firewise Education Program" (a Multi-Agency National Fire Plan Implementation in cooperation with the US Forest Service and US Fish & Wildlife Service) This grant deals with developing local community partnerships for educational opportunities directed towards fire prevention. Workshops on defensible space for homeowners and fire ecology were held last fall and spring. Firewise activities were incorporated into the Pend Oreille Water Festival and 6th Grade Conservation Days. In-class presentations to the first through sixth grades by the local fire districts are planned. The highlight of the project is to develop a "Fire Wise Training Trunk" for K-12 education to loan out to teachers when the grant is over. POCD also partnered with Fire District #3 on preparing a grant proposal to purchase wild fire fighting equipment and install several Dry Hydrants in the more populated areas of the county to increase their response efforts. That grant proposal was also funded and three dry hydrants were designed by NCRS and installed by Pend Oreille County Public Works and Fire District #3 last spring in southern Pend Oreille County.   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.