Voluntary Stewardship Program
About VSP
The mission of the VSP is to create a voluntary stewardship program that balances the protection and enhancement of critical areas with maintaining and improving the long-term viability of agriculture.
The 5 critical areas:
- Wetlands.
- Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas.
- Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas.
- Frequently Flooded Areas.
- Geologic Hazard Areas.
Timeline of the VSP
- 2011: House Bill 1886.
- Amended GMA (RCW 36.70A).
- Permits county to use a VSP.
- Continue under existing law and update regulations for agriculture by 2013.
- Limit VSP to certain watersheds. Update critical areas regulations for other watersheds.
- 2012: County Participates.
- County elects to participate in VSP through ordinance.
- Identifies and nominates all five watersheds to participate as priority watersheds.
- 2014: VSP Work Group.
- County elects to administer funds and coordinate VSP Work Group.
- 2017: Work Plan Approved.
- County submitted VSP work plan and it's approved by the State Conservation Commission.
- 2024: Program Evaluation.
- Program is evaluated every five years to determine if benchmarks and goals are being met.