STEWARDSHIP CHECKLIST

Promoting Agriculture Viability and Protecting Critical Areas

The Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) is an optional, incentive-based approach to protecting critical areas while promoting agriculture. VSP allows you to work together with other producers to promote volunteerism versus additional regulatory controls. This means more certainty and fewer regulations.

This checklist serves as 1) an introduction to conservation practices and 2) a self-certification VSP stewardship plan referenced in the VSP law to help each producer contribute to the goals and benchmarks of the Chelan County VSP Work Plan. It can fulfill related requirements in other programs (e.g. Global GAP and others). 

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* 1. What basin is your agricultural property located within?

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Chelan Watersheds

Chelan Watersheds
Instructions: Use online tools to review critical area and agriculture maps. Here is a preliminary set of live maps that are considered planning level and subject to change: http://arcg.is/1480LC. Visually review potential critical areas on or near your property, such as ponds, streams, wetlands, steep slopes, etc.

Note: Checking one or more critical areas that may potentially be located on or adjacent to the property does not constitute an official determination of such a feature. It is helpful in filling out the rest of the checklist.

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* 2. Identify potential critical areas intersecting with agriculture:
Types of potential critical areas on, or near, property:

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* 3. Do you participate in the following conservation programs?

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* 4. If you checked any of the above conservation programs, please describe what kinds of activities you may have implemented since July 2011 that are related to conservation and protection of critical areas.

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* 5. Please select the type of agricultural production you do.

Conservation Practices
Conservation practices are practical methods of agricultural land management or improvements designed to protect or enhance natural resources – soils, water, air, energy, habitat – while allowing efficient and productive use of the land. Listed in following pages (and illustrated below) are types of conservation practices you may have implemented or may be interested in applying to your operation. These are just a few ideas – some may be applicable and others not.

VSP offers technical assistance and incentives for willing producers for conservation practices that protect and enhance critical areas. The conservation practices also are intended to improve agricultural viability by reducing producer costs and increasing yields and quality in many cases. See the last page for contact information.

Questionnaire Overview
On the following pages we ask about the types of conservation measures you have applied and your thoughts on how they are working for you. There is no right or wrong answer. Each operation is unique and changes over time. The VSP statute identifies a baseline year of July 22, 2011. Some of the questions ask about how much of the measures you’ve implemented. Please fill that in if you know those amounts.

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Conservation Practice Examples

Conservation Practice Examples

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* 6. Land Management and Habitat
Land Management and Habitat practices can promote both agricultural production and fish and wildlife habitat and wetlands conservation. For example, by fencing streams producers can increase stream bank stability, biodiversity, and wildlife habitats, while reducing disease incidents, water pollution, and erosion.

  Doing or Interested In If Implemented Before 2011 Do You Do More or Less of It Now?
Riparian protection and enhancement
Tree and shrub establishment
Fencing for browsing animal management or wildlife movement management
Structures for wildlife: Raptor and bat nesting box for predator patrol
Wetland creation or enhancement
Other (please write in)

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* 7. For practices implemented since 2011, please enter the amount if known

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* 8. Water Efficiencies/Management Practices
Water Efficiencies and Management practices can help enhance on-farm irrigation efficiency and distribution, conserve water for fish and other beneficial purposes, save energy, and potentially improve crop yield and production.

  Doing or Interested In If Implemented Before 2011 Do You Do More or Less of It Now?
Irrigation water management or improvements such as micro-irrigation, drip, pond lining, etc.
Water trust agreement or other water exchange
Other (please write in)

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* 9. For practices implemented since 2011, please enter the amount if known

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* 10. Soil Health and Erosion Control
Soil Health and Erosion Control help maintain agricultural viability for producers through improving soil health and water quality; avoiding soil loss and moisture loss; and maintaining the land base for agricultural purposes.

  Doing or Interested In If Implemented Before 2011 Do You Do More or Less of It Now?
Conservation cover or cover crop
Mulching to control erosion and conserve soil moisture
Prescribed grazing, including to reduce erosion and manage fuel loads
Fire wise: wildfire protection, maintain cover, and reduce soil loss
Other (please write in)

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* 11. For practices implemented since 2011, please enter the amount if known

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* 12. Other
Flooding: Flooding can damage crops, increase susceptibility of livestock to disease, flood farm machinery, and cause environmental damage to and from agricultural chemicals.

Aquifer Protection: Aquifer protection regulations protect water quality and water quantity in areas having a critical recharging effect on aquifers used for potable water.

  Doing or Interested In If Implemented Before 2011 Do You Do More or Less of It Now?
Avoid permanent changes in floodplain areas such as buildings, roads, and fill.
Setback levees to manage flood waters, reduce loss of land, and increase habitat
Water well: provide access to a groundwater supply suitable for livestock watering, fire control, wildlife, and other agricultural uses
Other (please write in)

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* 13. For practices implemented since 2011, please enter the amount if known

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* 14. If you would like more information or to be contacted about technical assistance or conservation practice cost shares, please provide contact information. (Providing contact information is Optional)

Thank you for your interest in agriculture and conservation in Chelan County.

For more information please see the project website or contact:

Project Website: https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/natural-resources/pages/voluntary-stewardship-program
Chelan County Natural Resources Department 
411 Washington St. Suite 201   | Wenatchee, WA 98801
Mike Kaputa, Director mike.kaputa@co.chelan.wa.us | 509-667-6584

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