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KCD 2021 Annual Report Highlights Our Work and Impact
It also captures accomplishments and priorities from our 2015-2021 strategic plan which focused on expanding KCD’s programming and efforts in response to essential regional priorities identified by the 2013 Conservation Panel, Task Force, and KCD Advisory Committee, and laid out in KCD’s 2015 ILA with the County.
Thanks to those guiding priorities, KCD has grown our relationships, partnerships, and investments in equity-focused programming, urban programming, and local food systems. A full summary can be found in the 2021 Annual Report.
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KCD Presents Annual Report to King County Council
KCD Executive Director Rosa Méndez-Perez recently gave KCD’s annual report to King County Council’s Local Services Committee. The report gives KCD a chance to showcase the amazing work accomplished in 2021 including grants that supported local food producers and those in need of food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, riparian enhancement work that will connect almost a mile of the Snoqualmie River with native plant buffers, and KCD’s unique role in mitigating wildfire impacts in King County. KCD also got to discuss the start of our efforts to build out a new strategic plan that centers Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We’re only at the beginning stages, but will be reaching out to partners and cooperators soon to gather feedback to inform our next strategic plan.
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Streamside Tour
Thursday, August 11 in West Seattle
Tour a local restoration project along Longfellow Creek in Seattle. Visit a streamside restoration project that uses native plants to revitalize an area once taken over by invasive weeds.
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Forest Tour
Saturday, August 20 in Maple Valley
Want to manage your small forest, but don’t know where to start? Looking to improve your forest’s health and your own enjoyment of your land? Join us for a free tour of local couple’s forest in Maple Valley.
This event is currently full and a waiting list has been started.
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Vashon Forest Field Day and Tour
Saturday, August 27 on Vashon Island with WSU Forestry Extension
Washington State University Extension and King Conservation District are partnering on this Field Day event featuring hourly outdoor workshops about current forest health issues, drought and climate impacts, fire risk reduction, wildlife, and more. The Field Day will be followed by a bring-your-own picnic dinner, and then a free KCD-hosted Twilight Forest Tour.
Field Day admission is $20/individual ticket or $30/couple (same household or ownership) with pre-registration, which must be received by 5:00pm on August 24. Day of registration is $30/indiviual or $40/couple/household (a check or exact change is required). This is family-friendly! Youth under 18 may attend free so bring your next generation of forest stewards. Discounts are available for students and active Master Gardeners (call 425-738-0109 for details). To be eligible for a refund, cancellations must be received by 5:00 PM August 24, and refunds may be subject to a $5 administrative fee.
KCD’s Twilight Forest Tour will highlight a Vashon resident’s forested property. This walking tour of the forest will have discussion of past treatments, forest health considerations, and other management tools and considerations. The Twilight Tour is entirely free.
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King County Launches New Wildfire Risk Reduction Strategy
KCD staff joined King County Executive Dow Constantine and other partners in July to launch King County’s first-ever Wildfire Risk Reduction Strategy. The strategy lays out 12 recommended actions to improve wildfire preparedness, response, and recovery as the region experiences hotter, drier summers due to climate change.
“This strategy provides all of us with the proactive set of actions that will address the risks posed by wildfire in King County. Now is the time to do this work and King Conservation District is excited to continue working with our local, county, and regional partners under the guidance of this strategy to empower and support King County communities to reduce their wildfire risk and become more wildfire resilient.”
Mike Lasecki
Senior Resource Specialist, Forest Stewardship
King Conservation District
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KCD Begins Strategic Planning
KCD sets 6-year strategic plans to guide the work that we do. KCD finished our last strategic plan in 2021. You can read about our last 6-year strategic plan and accomplishments in the 2021 Annual Report. In 2022, KCD has hired The Athena Group to help us build off the success of our last six years and develop our next strategic plan with a renewed commitment to community feedback and centering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The first leg of our process is internal work going on now with KCD’s Staff, Board of Supervisors, and Advisory Committee. We’ll have more information available as the process opens up to partners and cooperators to gather feedback to inform our next strategic plan.
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WSDA Local Food System Infrastructure Grant Application Deadline August 10
Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is offering Local Food System Infrastructure Grants to support local food system infrastructure, supply chains, and market access for farms, food processors, and food distributors. Funding is prioritized for small business owners, including those owned by women and marginalized community members.
There are 2 grant categories:
Small Projects
Grant amount: $15,000 to $250,000
Grant project timeline: Mid-September 2022 to June 30, 2023
Deadline to apply: August 10, 2022 11:59pm
Large Projects
Grant amount: $250,001 to $1,000,000
Grant project timeline: Mid-September 2022 to June 30, 2023
Deadline to apply: August 10, 2022 11:59pm
Please visit the Grant Webpage for Grant Guidelines, Application Forms, and additional grant information.
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Avian Flu Latest Information
High-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is in our area, is fatal in poultry, and spreads quickly!
Multiple cases of HPAI have been reported in King County. See the interactive quarantine map.
WDFW Avian influenza (bird flu) Information
Learn how to protect your flock at https://agr.wa.gov/birdflu
Bird Flu Q&A with WSDA Veterinarian Dr. Amber Itle
May 12, 2022
Dr. Amber Itle gives an update on the bird flu situation in Washington and provide an opportunity for questions from flock owners.
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Washington State Veterinarian Thanks Flock Owners
June 1, 2022
Dr. Amber Itle thanks flock owners across the state for their efforts in keeping flocks save during the 2022 HPAI outbreak.
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Native Plant Sale Feedback
Tell us how we are doing and let us know what plants you would like to see offered in the future.
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Equipment Share Program
Reservations are being accepted for KCD Farm Equipment. Visit each page to find out more and to get signed up now for the 2022 season.
And these tools are available for use for free:
Visit Equipment Share Program to check availability and rent or borrow any of the equipment.
KCD’s office is now open to the public and procedures are being updated for cooperators to come pick up equipment at the office.
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Get involved at one of these upcoming KCD or Partner events.
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Do-it-Yourself Soil Health Workshop
August 6, 10:00am-12:00pm
CitySoilFarm, Renton
Learn tips and tricks to let the soil do the work for you in your garden! Join Dr. Sally Brown, a University of Washington soil scientist, and avid practical gardener to learn about easy ways to improve the health of your garden’s soil. Learn how to evaluate the health of your soil, cheap and easy ways to improve it and get to take home a small bag of compost. Pre-registration is required.
Register Now
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Normandy Park Community Foresters August Saturday Work Party
August 13, 10:00am-1:00pm
Marine View Park
Normandy Park Community Foresters is a stewardship program that focuses on forest restoration in Marine View Park. Join them in the park from 10am to 1pm! Community Foresters will receive training in restoration ecology while restoring the upper forested section of Marine View Park.
Contact community.foresters@normandyparkwa.gov
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Current Use Property Tax Options for King County Forest Owners
August 16, 7:00pm-8:00pm
Online via Zoom
Current use taxation allows land to be taxed based on its current use for growing trees instead of its full market value, which may be based on using the property for development. King County has two options for people with forested property: Designated Forest Land (DFL) and Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS)
Instructors
Megan Kim, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks
Debra Clark, King County Assessor’s Office
Register Now
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Summer Pruning at City Soil Farm
August 25, 3:00pm-6:00pm
CitySoil Farm, Renton
Join CityFruit for a summer pruning work party in partnership with the team at City Soil Farm in Renton! Summer pruning is great for shaping and reducing the size of a tree, identifying and removing deadwood, and thinning trees which are crowded and/or overproducing.
Sign Up Now
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Volunteer: KCD Native Plant Nursery
August 26, 9:00am-12:00pm
KCD Native Plant Nursery, Renton
Join King Conservation District for an educational and impactful volunteer event at our Native Plant Nursery in Renton. Spend a morning outside helping to maintain trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and aquatic plants for projects across King County. Tasks may include watering, weeding, facilities maintenance, and more!
Volunteers earn native plants that can be used to landscape their properties or donate to other organizations.
Sign Up Now
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Volunteer With LLTK! Orca Half Marathon
Saturday, September 17, 2022, Shifts from 6:30am-1:00pm
Volunteer: Sign up now
Join LLTK staff and friends to help out at the famous Orca Half, hosted by their partners at Orca Running. Orca Running's commitment to sustainable races and communities (including supporting LLTK's salmon recovery work) is something they're proud to give back to! Let them know when you sign up for a shift and they'll send you some LLTK swag!
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WSU Extension’s Cultivating Success™: Whole Farm Planning Course
September 19 - December 5
Mondays, 6:00pm to 8:30pm
Online via Zoom with in-person field trips
$200 for the 12-week course, scholarships are available for Military Veterans and anyone for whom the course fee is a barrier
Learn More and Register
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Miller Creek Trail Stewardship
9:30am - 12pm
Walker Preserve
Burien
October 29
Miller Creek Trail
Normandy Park
November 5
Join the Miller-Walker Basin Steward and local community to restore the forest around Miller and Walker Creeks to continue work that was done in 2017-2019. By volunteering, you help make the Miller and Walker Creek basins better for people, fish, and wildlife.
Sign Up Now
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Please watch our website and social media outlets for information about other events and visit kingcd.org/events to register for future KCD-organized Workshops, Farm Tours and Volunteer Events.
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