Agricultural and Farm Stewardship Planning and Assistance

On-Site Consultation and Technical Assistance

Habitat restoration and enhancement

Livestock and nutrient management 

Forest Health and Management

Noxious Weed Management

Soil Health Management

Water Quality Protection

Community Wildfire Resilience

Stormwater Management

Environmental Education

Urban Agriculture and Conservation

Our mission is to advocate, educate and assist people in responsible land management and agricultural practices that conserve and improve air, soil and water quality and fish and wildlife habitat for present and future generations.

ACCD strives to make available technical, financial and educational resources, whatever their source, and focus or coordinate them so that they meet the needs of the local land manager with conservation of soil, water and related natural resources.

• Natural resource conservation on a ridgetop to ridgetop approach
• Provide on-the-ground restoration and protection of water quality, soil health, riparian and fish & wildlife resources
• Helping the citizens of Asotin County with the understanding of conservation issues and practices
• Provide services with integrity and professionalism
• Provide local leadership, outreach and assistance in a non-regulatory manner
• Promote future of sustainable agriculture – successful, profitable, safe food production
• Provide on-the-ground activities to protect soil, water, disaster preparedness and recovery, and other related natural resources
• Protect farming, ranching, forestry, and rural life
• Protect private property rights
• Promote Long term conservation planning, implementation, and management
• Provide technical expertise
• Be a liaison with land owners/cooperators, agencies and organizations

People that live, work, and play in our district, and the natural resources included in our district and have impacts at regional levels. The District includes all of Asotin County excluding incorporated cities and towns. The District also serves the Grouse Flat Area of Garfield County. A Board of Supervisors governs the District, of whom local electors elect three landowners and others who participate in making land use decisions. 

The Asotin County Conservation District (ACCD) was formed on June 15, 1940, emerging from the national soil conservation movement spurred by the Dust Bowl, to help landowners manage resources like soil and water through education, technical help, and financial incentives, evolving from early farmland focus to broader watershed health, riparian restoration, and wildfire protection, serving all of Asotin County and parts of Garfield County.

• National Context: The ACCD's formation followed the 1930s Dust Bowl, a national crisis leading to the creation of the Soil Conservation Service (now NRCS) and a push for local conservation districts.
• Establishment: The district officially began on June 15, 1940, aiming to help residents with land use decisions, improve resource quality, and protect the environment. 

• Broadened Scope: While initially focused on farmland, ACCD expanded to address broader issues, including watershed health, forest stewardship, and wildfire resilience.
• Asotin Creek Model Watershed: In the 1990s, ACCD led the state's first model watershed plan for Asotin Creek to restore fish and riparian habitats, addressing impacts from floods and human activities.
• Community Wildfire Protection: ACCD played a key role in developing the county's Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) to build resilience against fires.
• Disaster Response: The district actively assists landowners in recovery from events like the 2021 wildfires and 2022 floods by helping with fencing, water systems, and replanting. 

Conservation Districts (sometimes referred to as "CD's") are community-based hubs of natural resource expertise and funding. They are staffed and led by locals who understand the needs of the landscapes and fellow communities they serve. Each of Washington's states 39 counties are is represented by at least one Conservation District. 

• The Asotin County Conservation District includes all of Asotin County excluding incorporated cities and towns. The Conservation District also serves the Grouse Flat area of Garfield County.

• The District is governed by a Board of Supervisors, of whom three are elected by local landowners and two are appointed by the State Conservation Commission or Governor.

In 1939 the Washington State Legislature created Chapter 89.08 of the Revised Code of Washington. RCW 89.08 created the Washington Conservation Commission and provided for the development and dissolution of conservation districts. It also explained the duties, responsibilities and powers of the Commission, conservation districts and district supervisors.

This law has been altered, amended and changed numerous times since it was created. However, much of the original wording remains because the focus and purpose of local conservation districts has remained the same. The law clearly identifies the need to conserve all renewable natural resources through the voluntary actions of Washington's residents.

RCW 89.08 clearly defines the role conservation districts fill in Washington State. It is the role of conservation districts to provide the state's residents with the tools, resources and skills necessary to voluntarily conserve the renewable natural resources.

Although conservation districts were first created to address resource conservation in the agricultural community, the State Legislature has broadened their scope over the years. Our state legislators recognize that for issues relating to natural resources, the most effective governmental link to private landowners in Washington State are conservation districts.

The Dustbowl Era

During the Dustbowl Era of the 1930's President Franklin D. Roosevelt saw a need for soil conservation. He pushed Congress to develop a new agency called the Soil Stabilization Service. This agency became the Soil Conservation Service, and more recently, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). To increase the functionality of this new agency, Roosevelt decided local input should be a part of this mix. Out of this, he devised the idea for locally led soil conservation boards. Of course, these boards are now our conservation district boards of supervisors.

Roosevelt went so far as to develop draft legislation (Standard States District Act) for each state so there would be continuity between states and so they would all have the same basic purpose. Roosevelt and Congress informed the states they would not be eligible to receive assistance from the federal Soil Conservation Service unless they had laws that allowed the creation of these boards and local communities were actively forming the boards.

In this way the federal government was able to get local input on which programs would be most locally acceptable. These new boards also facilitated two-way communication between local private landowners and the federal government. The boards were able to identify local soil conservation priorities, and in return informed the local public about new practices that could not only save soil, but could often mean more profitable farming.