How Washington Conservation Districts Work
Washington has 45 conservation districts, according to the State Conservation Commission, which is the coordinating state agency for all of them. Districts help private landowners, farmers and ranchers protect soil, water and habitat through "voluntary and incentive-based programs." A 2020 Sightline article calls them non-regulatory bodies: they cannot require landowners to change practices, but they offer financial incentives and technical help. The Commission gives an example in the Snohomish Conservation District, which has established new riparian forest buffers through the Riparian Grant Program.
The Board of Supervisors
Each district is governed by a five-member board. A Washington Legislature bill report describes the setup: three supervisors are elected and two are appointed by the Commission. Two of the elected supervisors, and one appointed supervisor, must be landowners or farm operators. The same report says elected supervisors serve staggered three-year terms, though lawmakers have studied changing how districts hold elections, so confirm the current rules with your district.
A Conservation Commission fact sheet says the appointed seats are filled "based on their skills and expertise by an interview and vote of the Conservation Commission."
Elections
- Timing: voting takes place in the first three months of the year, per the Commission's voting page.
- Who votes: you must be registered to vote in the county where the district is located and live inside the district boundary. Some districts require you to request a ballot.
- Separate from November: district elections run apart from general elections.
- Contested races: in 2020 the Commission said districts must now hold an election even if only one candidate is on the ballot, and about 67 percent of recent elections had been canceled under the old rule, per its announcement. It also said the changes would open the election to any interested person who meets position qualifications.
- 2023: the Commission certified results from all 45 district elections on May 18, 2023, per its results notice.
Questions about elections can go to the Commission's election officer at 360-407-6200.
What Districts Offer
Services differ from district to district, so check your own. The Commission lists statewide grant programs, including the Riparian Grant Program, and the district itself is the local office that delivers them. The state map page says each district's profile lists its contacts and meeting times. In practice, landowners should ask their district about technical help, cost-share, riparian buffers, erosion and farm planning before starting a project.
The State Conservation Commission
The Commission is headquartered in Lacey, with agency staff offices in Okanogan, Spokane, Goldendale and Yakima. It works through voluntary programs and gives districts financial and operational guidance. Its governing board has ten members:
- Four state partners: the Departments of Ecology, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Washington State University
- Two Governor appointees
- Three commissioners elected by district supervisors, representing Eastern, Central and Western Washington
- The president of the Washington Association of Conservation Districts
The Washington Association of Conservation Districts is a volunteer-run group of supervisors and staff from the 45 districts. Its board meets the third Monday of each month on Zoom.
How Districts Are Funded
Sightline reports that districts draw on private, state and federal funds, and that they can ask their counties to impose special assessments or other charges on property. The Commission's fact sheet adds that full compliance with its Conservation Accountability and Performance Program, a list of 15 statutory laws and requirements, is the threshold to receive state funds, and that funds are withheld from any district that does not score 100 percent on an evaluation. Assessment rates and the dollar amount of local funding are not covered here, so ask your district.
Why Turnout Matters
District elections are small. Sightline reported that in March 2019 the King County race drew 3,535 votes, under one-third of one percent of eligible voters, and that two-thirds of the state's districts held no election because candidates ran unopposed. A Washington State Institute for Public Policy report found a median total election cost of $2,500 under current law, ranging from $50 to more than $420,000. For a farmer or rancher, that means one informed vote, or one candidacy, carries real weight in setting a district's priorities.
How a District Is Created
Per the bill report, a district may be formed when 20 percent of the voters in a proposed area petition the Commission. A public hearing follows and the Commission may call an election. The district is created only if a majority of voters approve and the Commission finds the project feasible.
How to Work With Your District
- Find your district on the Commission's district map. District names do not always match county names, such as Columbia Basin and Pend Oreille.
- Call before starting a project, and ask what grants and technical help fit your land.
- Attend board meetings, which are listed on each district's page.
- Vote in the district election each winter, and consider running.
- Confirm your address falls within the district boundary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many conservation districts does Washington have?
45.
Do districts regulate my land?
No. They are described as non-regulatory and work through voluntary, incentive-based programs.
How many supervisors are on a board?
Five, with three elected and two appointed by the Commission.
When are elections?
In the first quarter of the year, separate from the general election.
Washington Listings Covered by This Guide
- Adams Conservation District
Adams Conservation District is a Washington local conservation district helping landowners in the Adams County area with soil, water, and habitat projects.
WA | (509) 659-1553 - Asotin County Conservation District
Washington local government district, Asotin County Conservation District, gives farmers and ranchers around Asotin County technical help on stewardship and cost-share programs.
WA | (509) 552-8117 - Benton Conservation District
Conservation district named Benton, serving land managers in Benton County with farm planning, riparian work, and natural resource education.
WA | (509) 736-6000 - Cascadia Conservation District
Cascadia Conservation District is a Washington local conservation district helping landowners in the Chelan County area with soil, water, and habitat projects.
WA | (509) 436-1601 - Central Klickitat Conservation District
Washington local government district, Central Klickitat Conservation District, gives farmers and ranchers around Klickitat County technical help on stewardship and cost-share programs.
WA | (509) 773-5823 ext. 5 - Clallam Conservation District
Conservation district named Clallam, serving land managers in Clallam County with farm planning, riparian work, and natural resource education.
WA | (360) 775-3747 - Clark Conservation District
Clark Conservation District is a Washington local conservation district helping landowners in the Clark County area with soil, water, and habitat projects.
WA | (360) 859-4780 - Columbia Basin Conservation District
Washington local government district, Columbia Basin Conservation District, gives farmers and ranchers around Grant County technical help on stewardship and cost-share programs.
WA | (509) 765-9618 - Columbia Conservation District
Conservation district named Columbia, serving land managers in Columbia County with farm planning, riparian work, and natural resource education.
WA | (509) 382-4273 - Cowlitz Conservation District
Cowlitz Conservation District is a Washington local conservation district helping landowners in the Cowlitz County area with soil, water, and habitat projects.
WA | (360) 425-1880 - Eastern Klickitat Conservation District
Washington local government district, Eastern Klickitat Conservation District, gives farmers and ranchers around Klickitat County technical help on stewardship and cost-share programs.
WA | (509) 773-5823 ext. 5 - Ferry Conservation District
Conservation district named Ferry, serving land managers in Ferry County with farm planning, riparian work, and natural resource education.
WA | (509) 775-3473 ext 100 - Foster Creek Conservation District
Foster Creek Conservation District is a Washington local conservation district helping landowners in the Douglas County area with soil, water, and habitat projects.
WA | (509) 888-6372 - Franklin Conservation District
Washington local government district, Franklin Conservation District, gives farmers and ranchers around Franklin County technical help on stewardship and cost-share programs.
WA | (509) 416-0440 - Grays Harbor Conservation District
Conservation district named Grays Harbor, serving land managers in Grays Harbor County with farm planning, riparian work, and natural resource education.
WA | (360) 208-4451 - Jefferson County Conservation District
Jefferson County Conservation District is a Washington local conservation district helping landowners in the Jefferson County area with soil, water, and habitat projects.
WA | (360) 385-4105 - King Conservation District
Washington local government district, King Conservation District, gives farmers and ranchers around King County technical help on stewardship and cost-share programs.
WA | (425) 282-1900 - Kitsap Conservation District
Conservation district named Kitsap, serving land managers in Kitsap County with farm planning, riparian work, and natural resource education.
WA | (360) 204-5529 - Kittitas County Conservation District
Kittitas County Conservation District is a Washington local conservation district helping landowners in the Kittitas County area with soil, water, and habitat projects.
WA | (509) 925-3352 - Lewis Conservation District
Washington local government district, Lewis Conservation District, gives farmers and ranchers around Lewis County technical help on stewardship and cost-share programs.
WA | (360) 996-4560 - Lincoln County Conservation District
Conservation district named Lincoln County, serving land managers in Lincoln County with farm planning, riparian work, and natural resource education.
WA | (509) 725-4181 ext. 3 - Mason Conservation District
Mason Conservation District is a Washington local conservation district helping landowners in the Mason County area with soil, water, and habitat projects.
WA | (360) 427-9436 - North Yakima Conservation District
Washington local government district, North Yakima Conservation District, gives farmers and ranchers around Yakima County technical help on stewardship and cost-share programs.
WA | (509) 454-5743 ext. 5 - Okanogan Conservation District
Conservation district named Okanogan, serving land managers in Okanogan County with farm planning, riparian work, and natural resource education.
WA | (509) 422-0855 - Pacific Conservation District
Pacific Conservation District is a Washington local conservation district helping landowners in the Pacific County area with soil, water, and habitat projects.
WA | (360) 875-6735 - Palouse Conservation District
Washington local government district, Palouse Conservation District, gives farmers and ranchers around Whitman County technical help on stewardship and cost-share programs.
WA | (509) 332-4101 - Pend Oreille Conservation District
Conservation district named Pend Oreille, serving land managers in Pend Oreille County with farm planning, riparian work, and natural resource education.
WA | (509) 447-1155 - Pierce Conservation District
Pierce Conservation District is a Washington local conservation district helping landowners in the Pierce County area with soil, water, and habitat projects.
WA | (253) 845-9770 - Pine Creek Conservation District
Washington local government district, Pine Creek Conservation District, gives farmers and ranchers around Whitman County technical help on stewardship and cost-share programs.
WA | (509) 285-5122 - Pomeroy Conservation District
Conservation district named Pomeroy, serving land managers in Garfield County with farm planning, riparian work, and natural resource education.
WA | (509) 843-5008 - Rock Lake Conservation District
Rock Lake Conservation District is a Washington local conservation district helping landowners in the Spokane County area with soil, water, and habitat projects.
WA | (509) 648-3680 - San Juan Islands Conservation District
Washington local government district, San Juan Islands Conservation District, gives farmers and ranchers around San Juan County technical help on stewardship and cost-share programs.
WA | (360) 378-6621 - Skagit Conservation District
Conservation district named Skagit, serving land managers in Skagit County with farm planning, riparian work, and natural resource education.
WA | (360) 428-4313 - Snohomish Conservation District
Snohomish Conservation District is a Washington local conservation district helping landowners in the Snohomish County area with soil, water, and habitat projects.
WA | (425) 335-5634 - South Douglas Conservation District
Washington local government district, South Douglas Conservation District, gives farmers and ranchers around Douglas County technical help on stewardship and cost-share programs.
WA | (509) 745-9160 - South Yakima Conservation District
Conservation district named South Yakima, serving land managers in Yakima County with farm planning, riparian work, and natural resource education.
WA | (509) 829-9025 - Spokane Conservation District
Spokane Conservation District is a Washington local conservation district helping landowners in the Spokane County area with soil, water, and habitat projects.
WA | (509) 535-7274 - Stevens County Conservation District
Washington local government district, Stevens County Conservation District, gives farmers and ranchers around Stevens County technical help on stewardship and cost-share programs.
WA | (509) 684-7579 - Thurston Conservation District
Conservation district named Thurston, serving land managers in Thurston County with farm planning, riparian work, and natural resource education.
WA | (360) 754-3588 - Underwood Conservation District
Underwood Conservation District is a Washington local conservation district helping landowners in the Klickitat County area with soil, water, and habitat projects.
WA | (509) 493-1936
Plus 7 more. Find yours on your county's page in the Washington directory.
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.