Ruckelshaus

Below are resources to help members advocate for participation by counties in the Voluntary Stewarship Program (VSP) created by the passage of Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1886 during the 2011 legislative Session

Action Items for County Farm Bureaus and individuals

This sample organizational letter and this sample individual letter may be personalized and sent to your county officials. This additional sample letter may be used to follow up with your commissioners after you have made an initial contact and reqeust for action.

You can use this brief PowerPoint slide show or this PDF version for handouts if you are giving a presentation on the Voluntary Stewardship Program.

This one-page pocket speech is designed to read or to be used as a handout to concisely explain the VSP and what is involved for the county and for local agriculture.

This Letter supporting opting into the VSP was sent on behalf of 35 agricultural organizations to all county commissioners adn council members.

County Information

All counties must update their critical area ordinances according to a statutory schedule (approximately every 7 years). This spreadsheet shows when each county will have to update their CAO. The following documents serve as an update on specific county activity and as templates for other counties to use to help them in the effort to opt into the VSP.

Franklin County public comment packet and hearing notice

Grays Harbor County public comment notice

Kittitas County public comment notice, staff report, and draft ordinance

Lewis County ordinance, staff briefing, executive summary, and agenda 

Skagit County ordinance, staff briefing, SEPA document, and Ag CAO ordinance

Spokane County public notice

Yakima County public meeting and comment notice

Background information

The bill was the culmination of nearly five years of negotiations
between agricultural, county, and environmental stakeholders in an
effort often referred to as the Ruckelshaus Process. Tribal governments
also participated in much of the process. The result is a unique
opportunity for counties in handling critical areas on which
agricultural activities are conducted.

The VSP provides the tools for counties to protect critical areas while
maintaining and enhancing agricultural viability of those lands. This
standard is a tremendous stride forward in resource protection. We ask
that you urge your county to opt into the VSP. Stakeholders at the table provided a letter to the legislature and Tribal governments as well as the Governor to explain the benefits of the program.