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WHAT IS THE VSP?

GET

INVOLVED

VSP UPDATES & RESOURCES

CONTACT VSP STAFF

VSP is a collaborative process that helps Washington communities ensure healthy landscapes and strong farms for the future. Through VSP, counties work with local residents to develop a plan to manage growth, protect critical areas, and maintain viable agriculture.

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WHAT IS VSP

Managing population growth and development ​

• Our state’s Growth Management Act (Chapter 36.70A RCW) requires all counties to develop plans for managing population growth and development.

• The plans must identify and protect critical areas (see left sidebar), including critical areas on agricultural lands.

• Plans also preserve farmland by preventing urban growth from crowding out agriculture. ​

Supporting agriculture and natural resources.. Voluntary > Regulatory 

• Prior to 2011, the main tool for counties to ensure protection of critical areas on agricultural land was regulation.

• Regulation of agricultural landowners can threaten farm viability and lead to legal battles.

• VSP was created in 2011 to give counties the option to use locally driven watershed plans and voluntary, incentive-based tools to protect critical areas. Washington State Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP)

The five critical areas that Pend Oreille County must protect:

1. Wetlands

2. Frequently flooded areas

3. Critical aquifer recharge areas

4. Geologically hazardous areas

5. Fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas (emphasis on anadromous fish)

Get Involved

GET INVOLVED

Step 1

Identify if your property has any of the 5 critical areas listed using our MAPPING TOOL in the VSP Updates and Resources Section BELOW.

Step 2

Help us avoid GMA regulation by sharing the stewardship you're already doing voluntarily. Simple use our FORM BELOW to share your practices with our technical staff. All shared stewardship data is confidential under RCW  36.70A

Step 3

If you find yourself in need of improvements, our technical staff will work with you to produce an Individual Stewardship Plan at NO CHARGE and connect you with financial resources as needed. 

Step 4

Keep up to date on VSP progress by checking the resources on this page, and by attending quarterly VSP work group meetings. 

VSP UPDATE & HANDOUTS
SHARE YOUR STEWARDSHIP!
What best describes your operation?
Are you interested in a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL consultation with our resource staff ?
Share Your Stewardship!

VSP Updates & Resources

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Goals met!

Read about our latest accomplishments and goals in our 5-year and Biennial reports. The VSP Work Plan is available for download as well.

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Keep Up To Date

Download past agendas and minutes to check out all the progress!

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Materials

Materials

This page is coming soon!

Read More

NEW* Critical Areas Mapping Tool

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Unsure if you have critical areas on your land? Use our new map tool and find out!
  • Use the search in the top left corner bar to enter your property address. 

  • Use the critical area "Layer List," to urn specific critical area layers on and off. Note which critical areas are on or near your property. 

  • Additional  tools that can be used to change the map view to satellite imagery, measure a distance, or print a section of the map. Contact us if you get stuck!

Contacts

Contact Us!

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Mary Malone

Education & Outreach

Have any questions about the VSP program? Would you like to receive any handouts? Mary would love to help!

mmalone@pocd.org

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Alex Case-Cohen

District Manager

Want to schedule a free site visit? Do you have questions about the best management practice? Alex is ready to assist!

alexcc@pocd.org

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