May 14th, 2025

Some of you may know that one of the hats I wear is being a board member of the North Yakima Conservation District. Conservation means best MANAGEMENT practices of our natural resources, allowing future generations to benefit from them. Yesterday we took the Washington State Conservation Commission on a tour of some of our projects. I thought I would highlight a few of them for you.

We started at our district office where our manager highlighted some past projects and our forest health chipping program and how it was added fire fighters in protecting homes in forested areas.

We then went and met local rancher Jack Field where he talked with our group about how he is using solar powered radio control collars on his cattle to better manage his grazing. Better control protects from over grazing, better movement of the cattle through a grazing allotment and can be used to create a buffer for better wildfire containment/management.

We then headed for the Wenas Valley where we talked about a project we are wrapping up, piping the Purdom Ditch. This will allow for better water conservation with less water leaking/seeping from the old ditch providing better consistent water to land owners, while allowing more water to stay in the creek to benefit fish. It’s a win, win!!

Then off to the Cowiche Valley to talk about Farmland Preservation protecting valuable farmland from development and ensuring the future of agriculture in our valley.

Conservation Districts across the state serve the unique needs of the areas they serve, protecting our natural resources for the generations to come, and ensuring agriculture will continue to thrive! I’m honored to be a small piece of the puzzle!