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February 2023

Thurston Conservation District is a non-regulatory agency here to help our community conserve natural resources through educational, financial and technical assistance.
Since 1948 Thurston Conservation District has been serving the residents of Thurston County and partnering with landowners to empower them to be stewards and experts on their own land.

We hope you enjoy our monthly newsletter!

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Upcoming Events

Parasite Management Workshop


Monday, February 27th, 4:30-6:00 PM
RSVP for location details

Join TCD, WSU Extension Th Co, and Ecostudies Institute to learn from a veterinarian about the parasite life cycle, good de-worming practices, grazing for parasite management, refugia and resilience in animals, and nutritional needs for animals recovering from heavy parasite loads.
We'll be mostly focusing on sheep and goats with a chance to meet other local livestock owners.

Hosted in connection with the Southwest WA Grazing Association
All are welcome!

RSVP Here

February Board of Supervisors' Meeting


Work Session & Board Meeting
Tuesday, February 28th, 5:00 - 7:30 pm

In 2022, the Thurston CD Board of Supervisors will hold their regular Work Sessions on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 5 pm. The monthly Board meeting will immediately follow. 

For more information on how to join the monthly Board Meeting in person or virtually, visit our website.

Questions? Contact Sarah Moorehead, smoorehead@thurstoncd.com

Annual Native Plant Festival & Sale

Saturday, March 4th, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Thurston County Fairgrounds (Peterson Barn)
(3054 Carpenter Rd SE, Lacey, WA 98503)

Join the Conservation District at their annual Native Plant Festival & Sale on the first Saturday in March! Enjoy local vendors, community organizations, delicious food, live music, and, of course, all the native plants you could hope for! Check out the native plant species selection we will have the walk-up sale here.

Pre-order customers will be contacted by TCD staff to arrange an order pickup time for March 1st- 4th

Interested in volunteering at the Native Plant Festival & Sale? Please fill out this form.

Interested in being a vendor at our March 4th event? Please fill out this form.

Questions? Contact Kiana Sinner, ksinner@thurstoncd.com or 360-972-0407

News from Thurston CD

2023 Board of Supervisors Election Information

Voter Information


Are you a registered voter in Thurston County?

Do you want to have a say in how Thurston County residents like you manage and protect natural resources? Here’s how!

A mail-in election will be held on March 14, 2023. Registered voters who live within the Conservation District boundaries are encouraged to request a ballot to cast their vote in the 2023 election. Ballot requests begin February 6, 2023.

Follow the instructions below and be sure to learn about our candidates below.


REQUEST YOUR BALLOT
Get a ballot mailed to you by requesting your ballot by March 7 at 4:30 pm from elections staff at ballotrequest@thurstoncd.com or (564) 669-4929
OR
Get your ballot in person March 7-10 & March 13-14 between 8 am and 4:30 pm from elections staff at the Thurston Conservation District Office (2918 Ferguson St. SW, Suite A, Tumwater, WA 98512)

  1. RETURN YOUR BALLOT
    – Learn about our candidates – more information down below
    – Complete your ballot
    – Place your ballot in the security envelope
    – Sign your voter declaration
    – Mail or drop off your ballot by March 14th (must be postmarked by this date)
    – Postage is provided and there’s a ballot drop box outside the TCD Offices M-F between 8 am and 4:30 pm through March 14th
  2.  STAY CONNECTED WITH TCD
    – Preliminary election results will be shared on March 24th and certified at the May WA State Conservation Commission’s meeting
    – Keep in touch with TCD via our monthly newsletter, regular events, and community opportunities to see your civic engagement in action

 Please note, you cannot request, pick up, or return a ballot with the Thurston County Auditor’s Offices

Meet Your Candidates

Muhammad Iyub

My name is Muhammad Ayub. I live and farm with my wife, Lizzie, and children/grandchildren in Yelm, WA. I am driven to join this cause of the Thurston CD to help preserve farmland and the traditional agricultural life-style that is typical of this county, before the concrete jungle started encroaching. Carcinogens in the environment, deforestation, soil erosion and pollution have become a runaway train. I would love to contribute my time, energy, talent and skill-set towards furthering the goals of the Conservation District. Working together helps us move systematically towards milestones of measurable success. Fresh, energetic horses are needed to pull this carriage  in this relay race. Cross-pollination of ideas will help the “hive-brain” to be successful. I bring the local farmers’ voice to the table and I am most enthusiastic and passionate about this cause.

As an immigrant to this beloved country, I started my journey in Madras (Chennai), India.  I have been in the United States since 1996 and became a citizen in 2004. I have an MD- Doctor of Medicine from Texas A & M University and Fellowship in Academic teaching. Currently, I work at Madigan Hospital and am active with non-profit Edible Forest Gardens.

David Iyall

My name is David Iyall and I am a life time resident of Thurston County and enrolled member of the Nisqually Indian Tribe. I graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies and shortly after, began working for the Nisqually Tribe in the planning department as the construction projects manager. There I oversaw projects such as building remodels, new gas stations, and a new health clinic. Today I sit on the Tribal Council as the Treasurer. When not at work, my wife, and I enjoy hiking and gathering local vegetation to create traditional medicines.

I have been on the Board of Supervisors for Thurston Conservation District for the last four years. During this time I have enjoyed supporting the District in their work to restore salmon habit, seeing first hand the impacts of the work that is done with riparian buffer zones and engineered log jams. My main interest for getting re-elected to the Board is the work we are doing on the Conservation and Education Center. This is an opportunity to put the Thurston Conservation District in the spotlight and share with the community the great work that we do.

Welcome new TCD staff

Jae Townsend joined the Conservation District in January of 2023 as an Education & Outreach Assistant. Jae grew up in Port Orchard, Washington and attended school at the Evergreen State College where they hold a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Forest Ecology.
 
After graduating, Jae served as an AmeriCorps for two terms. They went on to hold the position of Outreach Coordinator for Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT) where they developed their outreach skills through community education regarding the Deschutes estuary and the impacts of the 5th Avenue dam in downtown Olympia.
 
My passion lies in connecting others with science. I love digging through dense information to glean important concepts and present them to others in a way that is digestible and fun.”
 
When asked what their favorite part of working at TCD is, they responded, “TCD has so many incredible programs for just about everyone, and I’m thrilled that my job is to generate excitement for these services and connect folks to local resources they might not know about.”  

Outside of their time with the District, Jae loves to camp and hike with their wife and friends, exploring the Pacific Northwest one trip at a time.

We're Hiring!

Thurston Conservation District seeks a dynamic, creative, and critical thinker with interest in designing and implementing habitat conservation projects in partnership with community members and as a part of our collaborative team.

This position supports community members with technical assistance to promote water quality protection, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, and natural resources stewardship. The Senior Habitat Restoration Specialist will work collaboratively as a TCD Technical Team member to bring TCD services to local residents.

See the full position description and application instructions here.
 

Regional Partnership Forum Report Out

Last month, a group of 80 conservation leaders, including our own Executive Director, Sarah Moorehead, attended the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Western Region Partnership Forum in Nevada. This interactive forum spanned one and half days and included conversations between biologists, ranchers, Natural Resources Conservation Service staff, and other Conservation Districts. Attendees from across the west shared their ideas, successes, challenges, and lessons in communication and collaboration between land managers and conservation professionals.

The stories and experiences shared at the forum all echoed similar themes: the establishment of lasting relationships built on trust and the building of multi-perspective partnerships. Conservation efforts are enlivened when there’s a willingness to incorporate new perspectives and relationships built from trust rather than necessity. It means going the extra mile to listen, understand, and lend a helping hand. 

After attending, Sarah shared, “Much like conservation projects, relationships need maintenance and monitoring”. When we effectively do this, long-term, our partnerships become stronger, new insights are introduced, land managers feel supported, and the entire community is uplifted."
TCD staff, Thurston County rancher Jake Yancey, and WA State Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program staff attended the conference together.

Conservation Starters: 
Grazing for the Good of Prairies 

On this episode of Conservation Starters, we're joined by Ecostudies Institute Director of Science, Sarah Hamman and WSU Thurston County Extension Director, Stephen Bramwell. Together, we discuss the ecological and cultural importance of our South Sound Prairies. We delve into a recent study Sarah, Stephen, and their teams produced that looked at the ecological and economic benefits of grazing prairie land in Southwest Washington. Sarah and Stephen share how their impactful results are being used to implement more sustainable farming and conservation practices along Thurston County prairies.  Listen in to learn more about this exciting work and how  you can get involved!
You can find this episode and others on all major streaming platforms.

Listen Now
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News from South Sound GREEN

South Sound GREEN is cooperatively sponsored by Thurston Conservation District, Thurston County, the Cities of Olympia, Tumwater, and Lacey, Trout Unlimited and housed at the Thusrtson Conservation Districts office.
Students from Lacey Elementary School check to make sure they’re using the right chemicals for their Dissolved Oxygen test on their Watershed Explorers Field Day.

Here at South Sound GREEN, we’re starting the year with lots of exciting events and teamwork with our community partners! Students from Woodland Elementary and Lacey Elementary were able to gain hands-on experience with water quality testing and stream bug identification at Long Lake Park and Woodland Creek Community Park. During these field trips, the students collected real data that they will use to analyze the water quality in their local watersheds. 

Students like these will soon have the opportunity to share their data at our Student GREEN Congress event! Congress will be held on March 23rd at The Evergreen State College in collaboration with The Nisqually River Education Project and Chehalis Basin Education Consortium. This is our biggest annual event, and we can’t wait to host it in-person again for the first time in three years! Check out the Student GREEN Congress webpage here for more information.

This month, the Teens in Thurston (TnT) high school volunteer group event took place at GRuB (Garden-Raised Bounty). High schoolers from across Thurston school districts worked together to remove invasive Himalayan blackberries from GRuB’s nature trail. In February, the TnT volunteer group will be assisting the Center for Natural Lands Management with restoring native prairie lands by creating a bonfire at a former Christmas tree farm! Are you a high school student interested in participating in conservation and sustainability activities and gaining community service hours? Sign up for email updates about TnT events using this form!

Another upcoming opportunity for high school students to engage with environmental science is the 2023 South Puget Sound Regional Envirothon! The competition will take place on April 25th at Squaxin Park in Olympia, WA. Competition participants and volunteers can register for the event here. If you have any questions, or would like more information, you can contact Sam Nadell at snadell@thurstoncd.com.
 

If you are interested in volunteering for any of South Sound GREEN’s programs or want to learn how to get your own school or class involved, contact Sam Nadell, snadell@thurstoncd.com or (360)754-2588 ext.102

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From Our Community

A snapshot of other great events, programs, and services available from throughout our community.

Climate Conversations 2023: Disappearing Kelp Forests


Thurston County Stream Team

Wednesday, February 8, 2023
6:00 - 8:00 pm

Online Webinar and
in-person

Learn more and register here.

Many of the kelp forests in the Salish Sea have disappeared or are disappearing. This is due to the impact of climate change and pollution from sewage, inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, and industrial waste that impair growth and reproduction. It is estimated that two-thirds of these underwater forests have been lost since the 1870s.

Join Stream Team with guest speaker Dr. Thomas Mumford, marine scientist, as you learn about kelp ecology, current conditions, climate change and other studies occurring in Puget Sound.

TCAT's Hybrid Action Hour 


Thurston Climate Action Team 

2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month
6:00 - 7:00 pm


Virtual and in-person

1223 Bethel St NE, Olympia 

Find the zoom link here.

Questions? Contact Alice at alice@thurstonclimateaction.org

 

Most of us can probably agree that it’s way more fun and motivating to take action alongside other people. Join either in-person or via zoom, for dedicated time for letter writing, phone banking, and/or petition signing.

Action Hour Coffeehouse is led by youth intern Dio Peter Lewis, a member of the Thurston Youth Climate Coalition. Dio prepares an Action Hour Coffeehouse “set list” of vetted actions to take, with talking points and scripts when applicable. You are welcome to bring your dinner, and true to Coffeehouse form there may be opportunities for music or poetry on occasion.

Bird Walk: Downtown Birding Tours


Puget Sound Estuarium

Saturday, February 26th, 2023
9:00 am - 11:00 am


Olympia & Tumwater

Learn more and registehere.

Join the Estuarium for a walk around downtown as they eye the sky for the various birds that call South Sound home!
 
During spring and early summer, you will walk the Olympia Port Peninsula, starting at the LOTT wetlands to hear the songs of Red-winged blackbirds and watch Mallards take a sunny afternoon nap. Don’t forget your binoculars as you head along East Bay to spot Purple Martins flying in and out of nest boxes foraging for their chicks. Then, stroll over to catch a glimpse of the Ospreys using the nesting platforms at Swantown Marina. Finally, you will round out the tour looking for shorebirds near Percival Landing and talk about the impacts humans have on local urban bird habitat. No birding experience required! The walk will be 2 hours and cover approximately 2 miles, so don’t forget your comfy walking shoes. Please bring your own binoculars, however there are a few to spare. The Bird Walk tour also includes a tour of the Estuarium facility.
 
Prices: $15 – Kids 12 and under are FREE!

Conservation News

Interesting news, articles, and studies on conservation issues from around the world.

7 winter-blooming plants to nourish bees


By Kym Pokorny
Farm Progress

"During the bleak days of winter, bees and other pollinators look to gardeners for the nourishment that keeps them going until the more abundant seasons of the year arrive.

“Black-tailed bumblebees are out as early as January,” said Andony Melathopoulos, Oregon State University Extension Service pollinator specialist amd assistant professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Read more here.

Healthy plants start with healthy soil
  

By Emily Cabrera
Morning AgClips

"The winter months are a great time for gardeners to start catching up on projects they have postponed or to begin planning crop rotations and ordering seeds for the upcoming year. One of the most critical steps to ensuring a productive growing season is to test and prepare the soil, as it will be the foundation that your plants — and success — depend upon." Read more here.

Middle-school students amass to restore west Olympia forest on MLK Day


By Shirley Stirling
JOLT

"On its annual tribute for Martin Luther King Day, students at Thurgood Marshall Middle School from the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades volunteered throughout Olympia on Friday,  January 13 to plant native trees and ground cover at Cooper Crest." Read more here.

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Copyright © 2018 Thurston Conservation District, All rights reserved. 
Thank you for signing up for our newsletter! 

Here at Thurston Conservation District our employees and the people we serve come from all walks of life. We strive to work with great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone. Our agency serves community members without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status

Thurston Conservation District
2918 Ferguson St. SW, Suite A
Tumwater, WA 98512
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Thurston Conservation District · 2918 Ferguson St. SW, Suite A · Tumwater, WA 98512 · USA