Each conservation district in Washington State is overseen by a board of five supervisors. Three supervisors are elected by registered voters within the district, and two are appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission. The term of office for each supervisor is three years. They meet once a month to discuss district business, oversee district finances, and provide guidance on district activities.

Conservation districts are political sub-divisions of state government that currently conduct their own elections. To participate, voters must request mail-in ballots from the district office or vote in person. State statute requires all conservation district elections be held in the first quarter of the year.

For Clallam Conservation District, the terms of office currently held by elected supervisor Scott Chitwood and appointed supervisor Ben Smith will expire in 2021. All potential candidates for these positions must be registered voters in Clallam County and may be required to own land or operate a farm.

We don’t yet know what COVID19 will mean for our 2021 election. However, we will follow all precautions and guidelines to make it accessible and safe for everyone. Further details of our 2021 election, including the election date, deadlines to apply for candidacy and request mail-in ballots, will be determined at our regular board meeting on December 8, 2020 and posted in the local news and on our website.

Visit our website at to learn more about us. Email info@clallamcd.org or call us at 360-775-3747 to learn more about the powers and duties of conservation district supervisors.

On October 17, 2020 conservation districts around the state, along with dozens of non-profit and agency partners, came together for the third annual Orca Recovery Day. Opportunities were provided for people to take action on the plight of the critically endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (orcas) that call Puget Sound home. The biggest threat to local orca whales is malnutrition due to their primary food source, Chinook (king) salmon, also being endangered. With salmon comprising 80 percent of the orca whale’s diet and Puget Sound salmon populations a fraction of what they used to be, orcas are having a difficult time finding food.

Locally, Clallam Conservation District and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe teamed up to support orca recovery by focusing restoration efforts on the Elwha River. 60 volunteers participated in the event, planting 1,497 trees along the Elwha River in the former Lake Aldwell reservoir. In addition 18 volunteers planted 732 trees along Little River, a tributary to the Elwha River, during the month of October. These 2,229 trees will help accelerate restoration of fish habitat, and in time provide vital shade and large woody debris for the Elwha River, to help with both recovery of the salmon and orca whale.

Make a plan before you place an order. Just like a trip to the grocery store, avoid impulse buying by making a list of the plants you need and want. So how do I know what plants I need, you ask? A landscape plan can help you determine this.

Before working on your plan, make a list of your objectives. Ask yourself what you want from your landscape. Do you want to attract birds, butterflies and other pollinators? Do you need space for children or grandchildren to play? What about pets? Are there certain “must have” plants on your list? By going through the exercise of writing down your objectives, it helps you prioritize what’s really important.

Next, figure out what nature has given you to work with. In other words, analyze your site. It’s helpful to have a base map or sketch of your property to make notes on.

Note the locations of structures, driveways, utilities, other infrastructure, streams and ditches on your base map. These aren’t going anywhere, so you’re going to have to work around them.

Determine the texture of your soil. Dig a few holes around your property to find out if you have a sandy-gravelly soil, clay, loam or a variety, and where each is. Soil texture affects drainage and water retention, thus the types of plants you can easily and successfully grow.

Identify existing vegetation that you either want to preserve/enhance or need to remove or control. The former could be trees or shrubs that are particularly special for one reason or another. Whereas the latter could be invasive species or hazard trees that pose a risk to structures. If you have snags or hazard trees, consult a professional before having them removed. It is likely that the entire tree doesn’t need to be cut down, and a shorter snag will continue to provide valuable habitat without posing a hazard.

Analyze your microclimates. Note areas that receive lots of sun, shady spots, areas that are exposed to the wind, and sheltered areas. Also note places where you’d like to make microclimatic modifications, such as protection from the wind or summer shade.

Take stock of your views. Note both the desirable views you want to preserve and the undesirable views you’d like to screen. Pay special attention to what you see most often, like what you see out the window at the kitchen sink. And, be mindful of your neighbors’ views, too.

Once you’ve analyzed your site and figured out what you have to work with, compare this to your landscape objectives. If you’re lucky, your site can fulfill your objectives without too much alteration and manipulation. Alternatively, you might have to make some compromises or invest extra time and money into changing the conditions you have. Focus on one area of your landscape at a time. Think of them as separate rooms.

When deciding on plants, always keep in mind their mature size. Do you want a tree or a shrub? Do you want it to be evergreen or deciduous? Deciduous trees provide summer shade but allow light in winter. Evergreens are good for visual screens and windbreaks and liven up drab winter scenery.

Each of the plants we sell is described on our Native Plant Descriptions publication , and more information about native plants can be found on our website. If you’re interested in attracting wildlife, check out Wildlife Use of Trees & Shrubs Native to the North Olympic Peninsula publication.

VIRTURAL WORKSHOP:
Planting Native Species for Pollinators

We are thrilled to once again host Xerces Society Pollinator Program Co-Director Eric Lee-Mader for a presentation on improving pollinator habitat for honeybees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Eric and his family also operate Northwest Meadowscapes, a native seed business based on Whidbey Island.

This year's presentation will be held virtually, and will include a step-by-step process to properly plan, install and maintain wildflower meadows and native hedgerows, and improve existing pollinator habitat.

• When: Tuesday, January 5, 2021 from 2:00 – 3:30 pm

• Where: Virtual workshop on GoToMeeting

• Registration: CLICK HERE to register and receive a link to attend the workshop.
  

If you aren’t able to attend the live workshop, check the box at registration to request the recorded presentation.

It can often be overwhelming to figure out which actions to prioritize on your farm, so we compiled a list of a few that can have the biggest impact.

1. Fence animals from waterways. Manure and sediment can impact water quality, and horses and livestock can ruin streambanks.

2. Direct water from high-traffic areas. Install gutters and downspouts to divert clean water away from animal confinement areas, feeding slabs, and other high traffic areas.

3. Cover manure piles. A tarp or roof over a manure pile will help manure decompose faster, reduce odor and prevent weed seeds from blowing in. It will also prevent valuable nutrients from leaching out of the pile during rain events, potentially polluting waterways and/or groundwater. Be sure to weight your tarps down or attach them to your manure structure.

4. Create a confinement area or sacrifice pasture. Confinement areas are used to confine animals in during the wet months to keep pastures from becoming trampled, and during the grazing season if pastures are becoming overgrazed. Often these areas can get very muddy, so creating a mud-free confinement area can be a key component to management on your farm. View our Heavy Use Areas publication.

5. Add native plants to your farm. Native plants can be used to create windbreaks, hedgerows, visual barriers, shade for animals, and attract pollinator species and wildlife to your farm. Be sure to fence animals away from plants so they don’t damage them by browsing on them or tramping their roots.

For more assistance please view our website or give us a call at 360-775-3747 ext. 5.

CONSERVATION SPONSORS