1.1 Frequently Asked Questions What is a Voluntary Stewardship Program?

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1 1 Introduction The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) was adopted by the Washington State Legislature in The GMA provides for citizens, communities, local governments, and the private sector to cooperate and coordinate in comprehensive land-use planning. The GMA requires county and local governments to adopt development regulations that protect critical areas. In 2011, the Legislature amended the GMA with the intent to protect and enhance critical areas in places where agricultural activities are conducted, while maintaining and improving the long-term viability of agriculture. This amendment established the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP), a new, non-regulatory, and incentive based approach that balances the protection of critical areas on agricultural lands while promoting agricultural viability. VSP presents a unique opportunity to address an important environmental topic that has been a source of controversy in recent decades-how to protect and restore critical areas on agricultural lands while keeping agriculture economically viable (Schultz and Vancil 2016) 1.1 Frequently Asked Questions What is a Voluntary Stewardship Program? VSP is a new, no-regulatory, and incentive-based approach that balances the protection of critical areas on agricultural lands while promoting agricultural viability. VSP is allowed under the GMA as an alternative to traditional approaches to critical areas protection, such as no touch buffers Okanogan County is 1 of 28 counties that has opted into VSP and received funding to develop a VSP work plan. What are critical areas? The five critical areas that are specifically defined under the GMA (Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 36.70A.030) and designated through the County s critical areas ordinance include: 1) wetlands; 2) fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas (HCAs), 3) critical aquifer recharge areas (CARAs); 4) geologically hazardous areas (GHA s); and 5) frequently flooded areas (FFAs). All five critical areas are present within the County. See section 2 for definitions of these critical areas and Section 3 for descriptions on where these critical areas typically intersect with agricultural lands and critical area characteristics within the County. What does participation in VSP look like? Many agricultural producers are already implementing farming practices that provide critical area protections, such as nutrient, pest, and water management systems that protect the water quality functions of critical areas (see Section 3 for further discussion on critical areas functions and Section 4 for protection and enhancement strategies). Participation in VSP means working with the VSP technical lead to develop a Farm Stewardship Plan to help account for farming practices already in place that

2 provide critical area protections or to help identify practices or programs that help further the goals of this Okanogan County VSP Work Plan 1. VSP is voluntary; agricultural landowners and operators (commercial and noncommercial) are not required to participate. Agricultural producers who choose to participate are free to withdraw at any time without penalty (RCW 36.70A.760). Separate from VSP, landowners will continue to implement conservation practices and systems with new or existing contractual agreements through other federal, state, and county programs for which they are participating, or through self-funded efforts. Voluntary participation, anonymity, and privacy are all key principles that will be maintained during the reporting process on VSP. Farm Stewardship Plans developed under VSP can be discussed in the Work Group but are not disclosable to the general public (WSCC 2016). What is a Farm Stewardship Plan? A Farm Stewardship Plan Checklist (Attachment A) is an implementation tool developed by the Work Group to help facilitate the development of Farm Stewardship Plans to protect critical areas by identifying examples of practices and programs that further the goals and benchmarks of this Work Plan. Conservation practices included in a Farm Stewardship Plan do not necessarily need to meet a specific standard for practices, unless enrolled in a specific agency program or agreement; however, producers are encouraged to implement practices according to known standards 2. Farm Stewardship Plans should: Identify the potential presence of critical areas. Identify existing practices that may protect critical areas. Identify additional opportunities to protect critical areas. Additionally, Farm Stewardship Plans will assist the work Group with progress updates on the Work Plan goals and benchmarks for VSP participation and critical areas protection. What happens if I do not participate in VSP? Agricultural producers who do not formally participate in VSO are not required to take actions to protect critical areas. The Work Plan can remain viable at the County level, even without full landowner participation, if the County is meeting protection goals and benchmarks (See section XX). However, failure to meet the goals and benchmarks for critical area functions will represent failure of the Work Plan and trigger a regulatory approach to critical areas protection under the GMA (see Section XX for implementation timeline). What is meant by Baseline Conditions? 1 Has the Work Group thought about who the VSP technical lead will be? Also, does our work group plan on managing the VSP plan in the same way as Grant County has? 2 Discuss standards with Work Group. Find an example of a Farm Stewardship Plan.

3 The effective date of the VSOP legislation is July 22, Per the law, this is the date that identifies the baseline for protecting critical areas functions and maintaining agricultural viability. Per VSP legislation: Implementation of this Work Plan must prevent degradation of critical areas functions as they existed on July 22, 2011, while maintaining agricultural viability. Goals for enhancement of critical areas functions must also be identified. Failure to meet the goals and benchmarks for critical rea functions will represent failure of the Work Plan and could trigger a regulatory approach to critical area protection under the GMA. What does it mean to Protect and Enhance Critical Areas? VSPs require creation of measureable benchmarks that are designed to protect and enhance critical rea functions and values (such as irrigation water management to reduce erosion and protect water quality) through voluntary actions by agricultural producers while maintaining agricultural viability. Per VSP definitions: Protection requires prevention of the degradation of functions and values of baseline conditions (conditions existing as of July 22, 2011, when VSP legislation was passed). Enhancement means to improve the processes, structure, and functions of baseline conditions for ecosystems and habitats associated with critical areas (RCW 36.70A.703). What does it mean to Maintain Agricultural Viability? To receive approval, the Work Plan must protect critical areas in a way that maintains agricultural viability (RCW 36.70A.725). Activities or methods that protect critical areas must also be neutral to or benefit farm operations, such as reducing input costs or reducing soil erosion. Further, the VSP will not require an agricultural producer to discontinue agricultural activities that legally existed before July 22, 2011 (RCW 36.70A.702). Agricultural viability is discussed further in Section X. As illustrated in Figure 1-1, the VSP is intended to balance critical areas protection and agricultural viability at the county level through voluntary actions by agricultural producers. VSP is not a replacement for compliance with other laws and regulations, but participation in the program can often help agricultural producers comply with these requirements. Figure 1-1: Balanced Approach of Critical Areas Protection and Agricultural Viability

4 1.2 Work Plan Elements The Work Plan is intended to fulfill the state requirements outlined under RCW 36.70A.720(1), which includes several elements. These elements are addressed in the following major components of this Work Plan. Evaluate existing information and resource conditions. Establish protection and enhancement goals and measurable benchmarks for critical areas while maintaining agricultural viability. Establish participation goals by agricultural producers to meet measurable benchmarks. Provide a framework for monitoring and reporting. Facilitate landowner participation and outreach. 1.3 Work Plan Development-Roles and Responsibilities RCW 36.70A.705 identifies roles and responsibilities for state agencies, counties, and VSP work groups. Table 1-1 provides a summary of these roles and responsibilities, adapted to the Work Plan development process, and including participation by producers, conservation districts (CDs), local and state agencies, and others. The Work Group, convened by the County, developed the Work Plan. Implementation roles and responsibilities are further described in Section X. Table 1-1 VSP Roles and Responsibilities for Plan Development State-Approval and Administration Washington State Conservation Commission (WSCC) Administers VSP statewide; approves/rejects locally developed work plans

5 VSP Technical Panel 3 VSP Statewide Advisory Committee 4 Local-Administration and Work Plan Development Okanogan County Okanogan County VSP Work Group Conservation Districts Other Technical Providers Agricultural Producers-Outreach Focus Landowners/Operators/Others Provide technical, reviews draft work plans, makes recommendation on whether to approve or reject the work plan. Works with the WSCC to revise rejected draft work plans Administers VSP funding and grant for work plan development Develops and proposes a work plan for approval by WSCC Provides technical information to support work plan development Provides technical input during work plan development Provide input to the draft work plan 2 Okanogan County Regional Setting 2.1 Okanogan County Profile Climate Okanogan County s climate is arid to semiarid, characterized by hot, dry summers and cold winters. The county is located directly east of the crest of the Cascade Range, a major mountain range extending from southern British Columbia to northern California. The range acts as a barrier to marine air moving eastward from the Pacific Ocean. It also exerts a rain-shadow effect, resulting in heavy precipitation at high elevations. Precipitation rates throughout the county are a function of elevation and of distance from the Cascade crest, and vary widely, from less than 10 inches along the Columbia River to inches or more in the Cascades. Precipitation ranges from 8 to 35 inches per year, on average, with most falling from October through March. However, many of the county s rivers, streams, and lakes are fed by runoff from higher elevations, where much of the annual precipitation is retained as snowpack and released during the spring and summer months. Topography 3 The VSP Technical Panel members include representatives from Washington State Department of Ecology, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Department of Agriculture, and the WSCC. 4 Committee includes two representatives each from environmental interests, agriculture, and counties; two tribal representatives are also invited to participate.

6 Okanogan County topography ranges from mountainous alpine and sub-alpine terrain to gently sloping valleys. Elevation varies from over 8,500 feet in the Cascade Range to approximately 750 feet where the Columbia River crosses the County line south of Pateros. The landscape below 5,000 feet was sculpted by glaciers about 10,000 years ago. Large areas remain covered with rocks and other sediments deposited by glaciers or by rivers and lakes that formed when the glaciers began to melt. While most soils are coarsely textured and fast draining, volcanic ash and fine-textured sediments have contributed to less permeable soils in some places. Where impermeable soil layers occur, they have sometimes created perched aquifers areas of groundwater that are not connected to rivers and streams. However, in most parts of Okanogan County, groundwater is connected to rivers and streams. Groundwater flows into those water bodies during periods when soil moisture is high (generally during the spring snow-melt season). When moisture levels are low, water moves out of rivers and streams to replenish groundwater. Hydrology The Soil Survey of Okanogan County Area provides a good introduction to Okanogan County s hydrology: [Okanogan County] is drained by two principal streams the Okanogan river and the Methow River. All the drainage water ultimately flows into the Columbia River. The Okanogan is a slow flowing, meandering stream that drains the eastern part of the Area. A considerable part of its flow originates in Canada. The Methow River is a clear, fast flowing stream that drains the western part of the Area. Okanogan County is well supplied with lakes at all elevations. As noted above, river and stream flows and some lake levels vary seasonally. Flow rates are highest in the spring when snow is melting fast. Snow melt continues to supply rivers and streams with water through much of the year. (Even after most of the snow is gone, melted snow continues to percolate through the soil to the groundwater and perched aquifers, supplying rivers, streams, lakes, and wells with water.) Both the economy and the ecosystem are dependent on water resources. Agriculture, an important component of the local economy, depends on irrigation. Sources of irrigation water include groundwater, rivers and streams, and lakes and impoundments. Vegetation Okanogan County is generally forested at higher elevations, with shrub-steppe habitat dominating the landscape at lower elevations. Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) generally dominates at lower elevations, where annual precipitation ranges from ; Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is dominant in areas with higher levels of precipitation.

7 Sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and bitterbrush are the dominant native plant species in much of the county s shrub steppe. In the driest areas, where annual precipitation is below 15, grasses (including Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, and wild rye) become more important. Trees common to riparian areas are cottonwood, aspen, water birch, and alder; shrubs include willows, dogwood, spirea, hawthorne, rose, and snowberry. Grasses, forbs, and other herbaceous plants (cattails, for instance) dominate many wetlands. Wetland and riparian vegetation is often quite dense; it helps to retain water in shoreline areas and provides food and cover for wildlife. Invasive plant species are a problem in some areas, competing with native species and diminishing habitat value. Geology The geology of the area is complex, developed from marine invasions, volcanic deposits, and glaciations. The area consists of four differing geologic provinces. The Cascade Range, to the west, was created by ancient seabed uplift. Both the Okanogan highlands on the east and the Columbia basalt plateau to the south were created by volcanic activity. Finally, the oldest is the ridge of ancient seabed rocks that were folded and then carved by erosion into its present forms. During the ice age, ice spread over these dissimilar landforms and when receded, left valleys, canyons, waterfalls, benches, and cliffs (Widel, 1973). Water Resources and Precipitation (To be Developed) Land use and Land cover (To be developed) Major Land Resource concerns Develop a list of all concerns Current concerns are wildlife interaction with Agriculture: 1) Depredations of livestock by wolves 2) Potential depredation of livestock by Grizzly bears 3) Depredation of crops by grazing ungulates such as deer and elk 2.2 Agricultural Activities (text to be developed) The following concerns and concepts are to be included:

8 Grazing on public lands is a necessary agricultural activity in Okanogan County to preserve livestock production. Ag activity is concentrated along river corridors and in rest of county ag. Activity is scattered across landscape based on water availability It is important to identify ag. lands by those associated with irrigation districts or ditch companies and those ag. lands with none-district water resources. Altitude and land orientation affects agricultural activities and production Develop the following tables: Table 2.1 Agricultural Activity and Products indicate whether on private or public lands Agricultural Type % of County Primary Crops and Livestock Table 2.2 Farm Size in Okanogan County based on Agricultural Product Sales Farm Agricultural Product Sales % of Farms 2.3 Critical Areas Note that the following is taken from the adopted Whitman plan June 2017: Critical Areas Definitions The five critical areas that are specifically defined under the GMA (RCW 36.70A.030) include: 1) wetlands, 2) fish and wildlife habitat conservations areas, 3) critical aquifer recharge areas; 4) geologically hazardous areas and 5) frequently flooded areas. Critical areas perform key environmental functions (e.g., water quality and fish and wildlife habitat) and provide protections from hazards (e.g., flood, erosion or landslide hazards). Okanogan County has identified critical areas that will be managed und the VSP. (include text from County s CAO to indicate VSP cooperation with the County) (Note any exceptions within agricultural practices where VSP practices are differing from County s CAO that are accepted by other agencies) Insert here Okanogan County s definition of the five critical areas: This may be presented in the following format

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10 2.3.2 Critical Areas Functions and Values This is an added section in the Whitman Plan that better explains how the critical areas are considered in the terms of Function and Values. The Work Group needs to evaluate this section. See Handout. 3 Baseline and Existing Conditions A similar adaption of this text box for Okanogan County:

11 3.1 Establishing Baseline Conditions The baseline conditions assessment prepared for this Work Plan includes an inventory of agriculture and critical area resources. (These are to be documented in the Appendix) The following data were used in the inventory to assess the conditions as close to the 2011 baseline as data availability allowed: o Agricultural landcover assessment o Critical areas assessment o Privately owned lands o Public lands devoted to agriculture or were once agriculture lands o Public lands used for rangeland grazing leases/permits. 3.2 Baseline (2011) Intersection of Critical Areas and Agricultural Lane Uses Tables 3-1 and 3-2 summarize the potential presence of critical areas within the County that intersect with agricultural activities on private lands. Table 3-1 Critical Areas Within Okanogan County Agricultural Lands Critical areas type Acres within agricultural Lands % of Total Agricultural Lands Wetlands Fish and Wildlife Habitat Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas Geologically Hazardous Areas Table 3-2 Critical Area Streams within Okanogan County Agricultural Lands Stream Type Miles in County Miles within Agricultural Lands Streams Total Shorelines of the State Potential Fish Use No Fish Use % Within Agricultural Lands Agricultural Use on Public Lands Table 3-3 Agricultural Land use on Public Lands Agricultural Type % of County Primary Crops/Livestock Irrigated Dryland

12 Rangeland Total % of County Quantify critical areas in public Lands that are owned leased o fallowed. Quantify water rights associated with public lands. Wetlands Include discussion appropriate to Okanogan County Identify Aquifer recharge areas and key well head recharge areas. Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas-Stream and Riparian Vegetation (develop discussion and charts appropriate to Okanogan County) Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas- Priority Habitats and Species none aquatic (develop discussion appropriate to Okanogan County) Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas (develop discussion appropriate for Okanogan County including Key wellhead recharge areas) Geologically Hazardous Areas (develop discussion appropriate for Okanogan County) Frequently Flooded Areas (develop discussion appropriate for Okanogan County) 3.3 This section is left open to insert discussion on identified planning areas. (At this moment the work group has not committed to this concept) 3.4 Key Critical Areas Functions and Values 5 5 Instead of using the Grant County VSP January 2017, Whitman County VSP June 2017 was used because I no electronic copy of Grant County s earlier draft was available.

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14 Insert here any of the unique issues or qualities of Okanogan County s waters. 6 Hydrology Hydrology is the process of water delivery, movement, and storage. In an ecosystem, hydrology is affected by landform, geology, soil characteristics and moisture content, and climate (including precipitation). Water is delivered to streams primarily from surface and shallow subsurface runoff and in some cases, from groundwater. Streams channels, riparian areas and wetlands are also a part of the aquatic ecosystem that stores and transports water and sediment, maintains base flows and can support vegetation and microorganism communities. Insert here any unique contributions Okanogan agricultural practices have on hydrology 6 Note that table designations refer to section 2 which is Okanogan County s regional setting. Whitman ended up putting this information in Section 2 because it constructions the county setting approach to addressing critical areas. So it doesn t contribute to establishing baseline conditions.

15 Insert here comments on how agricultures preserves lands from more intensive development and contributes to soil management

16 Insert here discussion of Okanogan wildlife and habitat and how farming practices provide a variety of habitat functions. Identify common fish and wildlife species in Okanogan County Table 3-7 Critical areas Providing Habitat Functions 27.1 Agricultural Viability Baseline Conditions 28