Files

Monitoring - Tips for Workgroups

To assist watershed groups in the task of identifying measurable programmatic and implementation goals and benchmarks, the WA Departments of Ecology, Agriculture, Fish and Wildlife and the WA Conservation Commission developed the following tool: Monitoring Tips for Local Voluntary Stewardship Workgroups. A companion resource table is also being developed.

Monitoring - Plan Process Review

The process on how to submit your monitoring plan. Updated 2024.

Monitoring - Toolbox Framework

VSP monitoring toolbox framework chart.

Monitoring - Project Development Guide

The approach and content of this guide are intended to provide the “bedrock” of foundational elements relating to monitoring within VSP.

Monitoring - Plan Review Tool

In 2024, Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) counties developed monitoring plans to document the monitoring protocols used to evaluate the work plan’s goals and benchmarks and whether critical area functions and values are being protected or enhanced at the watershed scale.

Work Plan - Yakima

Yakima County's VSP work plan folder.

Work Plan - Whitman

Whitman County's VSP work plan combined with the overview and checklist document.

Work Plan - Walla Walla

Walla Walla County's VSP work plan folder.

Work Plan - Thurston

Thurston County's VSP work plan folder.

Work Plan - Stevens

Stevens County's VSP work plan.

Work Plan - Spokane

Spokane County's VSP work plan folder.

Work Plan - Skagit

Skagit County's VSP work plan.

Work Plan - San Juan

San Juan County's VSP work plan and adaptative management plan.

Work Plan - Pend Oreille

Pend Oreille County's VSP work plan.

Work Plan - Pacific

Pacific County's work plan for VSP combined with appendix H - monitoring adaptive management.

Work Plan - Okanogan

Okanogan County's VSP work plan.

Work Plan - Mason

Mason County's VSP work pan.

Contract Template (Word)

This is a template for contracts within the Voluntary Stewardship Program.

DIP Statement

Created August 2023. The county may choose to offer a District Implemented Projects (DIP) program to achieve the goals and objectives of the VSP county-wide work plan. Since DIPs can only be used only by conservation districts (CDs), a county must have an interlocal agreement or sub-contract with their CD for VSP implementation to offer DIPs. CDs can use DIPs either with operating funds or with capital funds.

Work Plan - Lincoln

Lincoln County work plan.

Work Plan - Lewis

Lewis County work plan.

Work Plan - Kittitas

Kittitas County work plan.

Work Plan - Grays Harbor

Grays Harbor County work plan.

Work Plan - Grant

Grant County work plan.

Work Plan - Garfield

Garfield County work plan.

Work Plan - Franklin

Work Plan - Ferry

Ferry County work plan.

Work Plan - Douglas

Douglas County's VSP work plan folder.

Work Plan - Cowlitz

Cowlitz County work plan.

Work Plan - Columbia

Columbia County work plan.

Work Plan - Chelan

Chelan County's VSP work plan folder.

Work Plan - Benton

Benton County's VSP work plan folder.

Work Plan - Asotin

Asotin County work plan.

Work Plan - Adams

Adams County work plan.

Capital Funding - Project Proposal Tips

(Funding is currently closed.) This document explains the tips for successfully funding a VSP cost-share project.

Cost Share - Operating Statement

Created May 2023. After receiving operating funding from the Legislature for the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP), the Conservation Commission (SCC) makes funds available to each of the 27 participating counties.

Resources - New County FAQ

Washington State’s Growth Management Act (GMA) requires that counties develop and follow plans to preserve local critical areas and farmland. This includes ensuring that critical areas are protected or enhanced in places where agricultural activity is conducted. VSP provides an alternative opportunity for counties and landowners to implement voluntary, site-specific practices that help protect critical areas while also promoting agricultural viability. SSB 5353 reopens VSP to the 12 counties that did not originally opt-in to VSP in 2011-12.

Opt-In Process

Counties wishing to participate in the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) through the changes made to the VSP statute by SSB 5353 will abide by the process set out below. To participate in VSP, the county legislative authority must adopt an ordinance or resolution.1 But before that resolution can be adopted, the county must confer with tribes, and environmental and agricultural interests; and provide notice following the public participation and notice provisions of RCW 36.70A.035 to property owners and other affected and interested individuals, tribes, government agencies, businesses, school districts, and organizations.

SAC and TP - Policy Statement - 03-17 - Technical Review

The Conservation Commission is empowered to establish policies and procedures for implementing the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP).1 The following work plan (WP) policies and procedures shall apply when work groups submit their work plans for consideration to the VSP Technical Panel (TP) and Statewide Advisory Committee under RCW Chapter 36.70A. The purpose of this document is to establish the decision-making framework that the VSP Technical Panel and Statewide Advisory Committee shall use in processing VSP work plans.

SAC - Policy Advisory - 02-17 - Timeline for Remaining Work Plans

The Conservation Commission (Commission) is empowered to establish policies and procedures for implementing the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP).1 The Commission, after consultation with the VSP Statewide Advisory Committee, provides this advisory to the VSP county work groups to advise them on the schedule of the remaining VSP work plans to be reviewed by the VSP Technical Panel.

SAC- Policy Advisory - 01-17 - Confidentiality of Individual Stewardship Plans

The Conservation Commission (Commission) is empowered to establish policies and procedures for implementing the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP).1 The Commission, after consultation with the VSP Statewide Advisory Committee, provides this advisory to the VSP county work groups on the confidentiality of VSP individual stewardship plans and landowner checklists.

SAC - Policy Advisory - 06-21 - VSP and New Ag Activities

The purpose of this advisory is to clarify the application of the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) to “new” agricultural activities.

SAC - Policy Advisory - 04-19 -CAOs and Counties

The purpose of this advisory is to provide guidance for counties who have opted into the VSP (VSP counties) on how VSP relates to updates to their Critical Area Ordinance (CAO).

SAC - Policy Advisory - 03-18 - Roles and Responsibilities

The Conservation Commission (Commission) is empowered to establish policies and procedures for implementing the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP).1 The Commission, after consultation with the VSP Statewide Advisory Committee (SAC), provides this advisory to the VSP county work groups to advise them on the roles and reporting obligations during VSP implementation.

SAC - Policy Advisory - 07-22 - Adaptive Management

The purpose of this advisory is to present an operational definition of adaptive management in the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP), identify the conditions in which adaptive management should be considered, and describe the process of using adaptive management in VSP.

Legislative Report - 2023

VSP is required in RCW 36.70A.740 to submit reports to the legislature every two years, providing information on whether the participating watersheds and state agency partners have received adequate funding to implement the program. This report was submitted to the WA State Legislature in accordance with that requirement.

Legislative Report - 2025

VSP is required in RCW 36.70A.740 to submit reports to the legislature every two years, providing information on whether the participating watersheds and state agency partners have received adequate funding to implement the program. This report was submitted to the WA State Legislature in accordance with that requirement.

County Work Plan Reporting Guide - 2025

(Revised June 2025) Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) counties are required to create watershed work groups (work groups) to prepare work plans that protect and enhance critical areas through the establishment of goals and benchmarks. Each county must submit regular reports to their respective county government and to the Executive Director (Director) of the Conservation Commission (Commission).

VSP Factsheet

What is VSP? Download this fact sheet to learn more about what the Voluntary Stewardship Program does for farmers across Washington state.