Conservation Success Stories

The Conservation Commission and conservation districts integrate  science, technology, and effective strategies for engaging people into our  voluntary solutions. This helps us build community around conservation and  deliver multi-benefit results. You’ll find examples of these solutions—and  the results we’ve been able to celebrate with participating landowners and  partners—in these community success stories.

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

Kamm Creek Tree Planting

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
Whatcom Conservation District

With assistance from Whatcom Conservation District, a farmer enrolled 7.6 acres in CREP planted 3,650 seedlings along 4,500 feet of Kamm Creek. Kamm Creek is a lowland stream in the Nooksack Basin that provides critical spawning and rearing habitat for salmon. The blue tubes in the photo above indicate trees planted along the creek. Learn more about the project on page 60 of this report and by watching this short video by Whatcom Family Farmers.

More Community Stories:

Whatcom Conservation District

Changing the Face of the Landscape

CREP has changed the landscape in Whatcom County” (Wayne Chaudiere, Whatcom Conservation District). Riparian buffers, such as the one shown in the photo, now span along 132 miles of stream in Whatcom County, forming a panorama of native tree and shrub forests that were just recently open fields or invasive plant species such as blackberry.

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Success Story Snapshot: Tucannon River

Success Story Snapshot: Tucannon River. Voluntary, watershed-based effort leads to increased salmon runs.

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Clallam Conservation District

Partnership Leads to Salmon Recovery Success

Over the past two years, Clallam Conservation District and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (LEKT) have teamed up to plant conifer trees along the Elwha River, each bringing different resources to the table.

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