In 2024, Columbia Basin Conservation District welcomed Robert Bonnie, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, to Eastern Washington. He toured the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program (OGWRP) with Washington State Conservationist Roylene Comes At Night and SCC's Executive Director, James Thompson.
OGWRP helps farmers switch from Odessa groundwater to Columbia Basin Project water, tackling critical water supply issues. With more than $200 million in support from various partners over the last two years, the project is making great progress.
This effort shows the impact teamwork among local, state, and federal partners can have on protecting our region's water resources!.
Learn more here.
This $2.4M river restoration project on the Satsop River includes reshaping the riverbank and adding log jams to improve water flow and create a better habitat for wildlife. With 400+ acres of riparian restoration planned, the project is already helping to reduce flooding and improve the river's health.
Delaini Disher’s photo, “Well-Attended Field Demonstration” captures the use of livestock in sustainable farming, highlighting the importance of biomass collection from a grazed cover crop field.
Mckenzi Coleman's "Exclusion Fence" photo highlights the enduring value of exclusion fencing as a tool for protecting natural resources like salmon streams and safeguarding livestock.