By Brook Beeler
An area of approximately 6,029 square miles of Idaho,
Washington and Coeur d’ Alene and Spokane tribal lands stands to benefit from a
$15 million investment in conservation farming to protect the Spokane River
over the next five years.
That’s huge!
The project covers a big area and its big news for the
greater Spokane
River watershed and its tributaries. The rivers and lakes in the watershed suffer
from several water quality problems including low dissolved oxygen and too much sediment. The pollution comes from a variety of
sources ranging from urban stormwater runoff to soil erosion from agricultural
and forested lands.
That’s why a partnership of more than 16 state and local
organizations banded together to push for a locally led project to improve
conservation efforts in the region and ultimately protect our natural
resources.
The partnership secured funds from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Regional
Conservation Partnership Program, which directs the funds toward conservation projects that help improve water quality, enhance soil health and
support wildlife habitat.
Agriculture and
forestry improvements benefit the river
Agriculture and forestry are important economic industries
in Idaho and Washington. A strong economy is dependent on healthy land and
clean water.
Many landowners are already applying good practices and are
among some of the best stewards of lands. This new program will allow even more
landowners to enroll in innovative conservation programs that keep working
lands working in an environmentally friendly way.
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| Direct seed equipment allows farmers to leave stubble in the field over winter reducing potential for soil erosion. |
The project increases access to funds for landowners to
apply practices such as direct-seeding
and establishing and maintaining forested and grass filter strips, which work to
keep soil on farms, preventing nutrients from washing down stream.
Landowners could also qualify for payments equivalent to
crop values to keep forested and streamside lands out of production and prevent
pollution from reaching streams and rivers.
That’s good for farms, forests and clean water.
Get involved, contact
your local land manager or conservation district
The partnership aims to get 150,000 acres of conservation
practices on the ground to protect clean water and benefit working lands. In
the next five years, partners hope to enroll more than 300 landowners in the project.
Livestock, dry-land crop, and forestry operations can apply
for financial and technical assistance, which goes beyond the typical approach
and offers landowners additional benefits. Land within the Spokane River
watershed in Idaho, Washington and on Spokane and Coeur d’ Alene tribal lands
qualifies for the program.
Landowners interested in participating will continue to work
with partners they are familiar with, such as Idaho Department of Lands or the Pine
Creek Conservation District. Anyone interested in the project can sign up to
receive updates through email. The partnership expects to begin accepting
project applications this fall and will be developing landowner outreach and
community education programs.
Project partners
The partnership is led by the Spokane Conservation District
and includes all local conservation districts within the greater Spokane River
watershed, non-profit and agricultural organizations, and state agencies and
tribal governments in Idaho and Washington.
Benewah Soil and Water Conservation District
Coeur d’ Alene Tribe
Idaho Department of Lands
Inland NW Land Conservancy
Kootenai-Shoshone Conservation District
The Lands Council
Pacific NW Direct Seed Association
Pine Creek Conservation District
Spokane Conservation Distirict
Spokane County Division of Engineering and Roads
Spokane Tribe of Indians
Spokane River Forum
Trout Unlimited, Spokane Falls Chapter
Washington Department of Ecology
Washington Department of Natural Resources
Washington Department of Transportation
Washington State Conservation Commission
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