Commissioners vote to opt county into voluntary agricultural program By Jennifer Figueroa

The Wahkiakum County Commissioners met on Tuesday, March 11, for their regularly scheduled meeting. Commissioners approved The Duck Inn’s liquor license renewal and Public Works Director Chuck Beyer’s request to call for bids for landscape maintenance on county properties. Dave Hicks, Wahkiakum County’s Building Inspector, asked for approval on the Shoreline permit with Wooden LLC; this would allow the installation of conduit fiber Optic cables across the Julia Butler Hansen Bridge. Carrie Shofner, County Director at the WSU Wahkiakum Extension, requested approval to rent the Little Island Creamery for the Wahkiakum Marine Resource Committee Common Ground workshop series on March 19. Shofner made the point that this venue would better serve the number of people that will be attending versus the River Street Meeting Room, would help support a local business, and assured the commissioners the workshop grant would cover the funds. The commissioners agreed and approved the request.

The commissioners were presented with a resolution to opt into the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP). The Wahkiakum Conservation District members have urged commissioners to join the VSP since 2023. The program is implemented through the Washington State Conservation Commission and helps landowners implement voluntary, site-specific practices that help protect critical areas while promoting agricultural viability. After a few public comments from residents in favor of the program and some who seemed hesitant to agree that Wahkiakum should opt in, the commissioners unanimously voted to approve the resolution. “I feel that this could be a good program for Wahkiakum County.” Says Commissioner Gene Strong.

Sandra Staples-Bortner, Vice Chair of the Wahkiakum County Marine Resources Committee, says, “The Voluntary Stewardship Program will help farmers address stream-bank erosion issues on their agricultural lands. The Wahkiakum Conservation District, which will implement the program on behalf of the county, has decades of experience working successfully with farmers in Wahkiakum County. As we have seen in recent field trips hosted by the Wahkiakum County Marine Resources Committee, these projects benefit farmers, downstream landowners, water quality, salmon, and our economy.”

Joe Florek, Chair of the Wahkiakum Conservation District says, “We thank the county commissioners for opting into this voluntary non-regulatory program. We believe it will help the County’s Conservation District meet the currently unmet needs of County landowners. Farmers and ranchers will be able to request assistance to help with conservation practices on their lands and waters anywhere throughout the county. Additionally, this will bring additional opportunities to bring money and jobs into the County.”