Volume 36 Number 1 SOIL•WATER•WOODLAND Winter– January 2020

S K A G I T C O N S E R V A T I O N D I S T R I C T

NATIVE PLANT SALE EDITION

Inside this Issue: Rates and Charges—Thank You!

SCD Board Elections

SCD Annual Report Summary

Maple Tree Education

Plant Sale Information

Watershed Masters Program

The Scoop on Poop

VSP Information

2

RATES AND CHARGES UPDATE

The Skagit Conservation District Supervisors and

Staff would like to thank all those that shared their

support with the Skagit County Commissioners for

the adoption of our System of Rates and Charges.

We are very excited that the

District will be able to bring back

the Forester position in summer of

2020. We are also grateful for the

additional funding that will help us

maintain and improve our ability to

respond to the various requests of

landowners and partners to assist

them in their efforts to be good

stewards of our natural resources.

We are all looking forward to 2020

being a very successful year for

the Skagit Conservation District and

our customers.

The Skagit Conservation District Presents:

Backyard Conservation Stewardship Short Course Featuring Valuable Tips for:

Native Plant Landscaping * Environmentally Friendly Garden Practices

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) * Attracting Birds to Your Backyard * Composting

Bees as Pollinators * Building Healthy Soils * Managing Invasive Plants * Gardening for Wildlife

Introduction to Low Impact Development/Rain Gardens * Permaculture Gardens and MORE!

Training provided by local experts!

Classes are free and will be held on Wednesday evenings, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm, beginning

Wednesday, March 18th and continuing through Wednesday, April 22nd at the Padilla Bay Research

Reserve facility. Two Saturday field days are scheduled for April 4th and April 18th.

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Please pre-register by March 13th

This program is being held in partnership with

Skagit County and the Cities of Anacortes,

Burlington, Mount Vernon, and

Sedro-Woolley

For more information or to

register, contact Kristi

Carpenter: (360) 428-4313 or

emai kristi@skagitcd.org

94 volunteers plant 1,466 trees at a March Point pocket

estuary for Orca Recovery Day, October 19, 2019.

3

SKAGIT CONSERVATION DISTRICT

BOARD SUPERVISOR ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT

One elected position and one appointed position on the Skagit Conservation District (SCD) Board will expire in 2020. The positions are currently held by Jed Holmes (elected) and Margery Hite (appointed). There are no term limits, so both candidates may chose to continue on the Board if elected by the public or appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission to do so. To vote, request an absentee ballot by 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, 2020 by calling the SCD at (360) 428-4313 or cast your vote at our public walk-in poll election, which will be held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25 at 2021 E. College Way, Mount Vernon, WA. Voters must be Washington State registered voters and live within Skagit County. To be an elected candidate, you must be a Washington State registered voter and live within Skagit County and file an information form with the SCD by 4 p.m. Tuesday, February 25, 2020. For your name to appear on the ballot, a valid nomination form signed by 25 registered Skagit County voters must also be filed by February 25, 2020. Information forms and nomination petitions are available by contacting the SCD at (360) 428-4313. To be an appointed candidate, go to http://scc.wa.gov/elections/ and complete the Conservation District Appointed Supervisor Application form. This is only available on-line. The SCD can provide assistance if needed. Applications for the appointed position must be received by the Washington State Conservation Commission (WSCC) by close of business on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. More about the Board of Supervisors The SCD Board is a governing body of five supervisors who are unpaid public officials. The Board oversees the work of the SCD, which provides voluntary, incentive based options that support working landscapes while protecting and enhancing our natural resource land base. Three of the Board Supervisors are elected by the voters of Skagit County and two are appointed by the WSCC.

Important

2020 Election Dates

Candidate Filing Deadline 4 pm Tuesday,

February 25, 2020

Absentee Ballots Request Deadline

4 p.m. Tuesday March 3, 2020

Absentee Ballot Receipt Deadline

1 p.m. March 25, 2020

Public Poll Election 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wed., March 25, 2020 @ 2021 E. College Way, Mount

Vernon, WA

For more information or to request a form or ballot

contact Cindy at

(360) 428-4313 or email cindy@skagitcd.org

Don’t forget to vote!

Wednesday,

March 25, 2020

Commission website: http://www.scc.wa.gov/

BOARD

ELECTIONS

SCD

4

2019 SCD Annual Report of Accomplishments Summary

Commercial Livestock and Small Farm Operations

198 commercial and small farm landowners assisted

22 farm plans completed

20 structural BMPs implemented

Environmental Education

800 students participated in the annual Youth Conservation Tour in May

Hosted educational displays and “hands-on” educational activities for 11 events – 6133

attendees

1,000 tree seedlings distributed to students in honor of Arbor Day

Hosted the Soil and Water Stewardship poster contest for local youth grades K-12 – 122 entries

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

718 buffer acres installed to date

239,330 feet (45.33 miles) of riparian restoration implemented to date

334,020 native trees planted to date

Clean Samish/Padilla Bay Education

Co-sponsored Samish Seed Plant and Everything Garden Swap and Hop – 250 attendees/20 vendors (150 native plants

distributed)

Co-sponsored Kids in Nature: Families Outdoors at Pomona Grange Park – 143 participants

Hosted educational display and hands-on watershed-based activities at 4 Samish Watershed events ~2468 attendees

Hosted education display and activities at Alger Hall’s ”Fun’ Raiser” ~250 attendees

Firewise and Fire Adapted Communities

10 Risk Assessments

6 Community presentations to 250 people

5

Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program

33 community volunteers participated in the 2019 sampling season

Backyard Conservation Stewardship Program

56 individuals completed the Spring 2019 Backyard Conservation Stewardship Short Course

1,000+ Skagit County residents, farms, parks, and schools have applied sustainable landscaping practices to date and have certified their yards as backyard wildlife habitats/sanctuaries

Low Impact Development (LID) & Stormwater Education

525 storm markers installed by volunteers on storm drains

41 stormwater education presentations provided to 936 Skagit County students

Skagit Stream/Storm Team

68 volunteers participated in the 2018/19 Stream Team Program and monitored for fecal coliform, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity twice a month at stations located in the Padilla Bay, Samish Bay, Kulshan Creek, Trumpeter Basin, Gages Slough, Ace of Hearts Creek, and Nookachamps Creek basins

8 volunteers participated in Storm Team program

1,088 Stream Team volunteer hours reported for 2018/19 monitoring season

Watershed Masters Volunteer Training Program

35 individuals completed the fall 2019 Watershed Masters Training program — 607 participants to date

3,208 Watershed Master volunteer hours reported in 2019 – over 65,135 total hours clocked to date

District Media/Miscellaneous Skagit Conservation News – 2 newsletters each distributed to approximately 3,500 readers

Over 20,000 native plants were sold at the annual SCD plant sale

For our full list of 2019 annual accomplishments, please visit our website at www.skagitcd.org

2019 SCD Annual Report of Accomplishments Summary

6

Maple Trees

An under appreciated species

Submitted by: Al Craney, CF, District Forester, Emeritus

Big Leaf Maple, (Acer macrophyllum) is a hardwood tree species in Western Washington. In the past, it has been treated as a “weed” in forest management; but that may be changing. A grant by the USDA to the University of Washington will take a closer look at Big Leaf Maple and may change opinions about its value in northwest forests.

The species, once consider a “weed”, may be the future for small forest landowners. Wood production saw-log prices are $500 – $550 per thousand board foot(MBd.Ft), but with genetic improvement to develop Figured Wood, prices could reach $5,000/MBd.Ft. Maple syrup is another good added value product with prices up to $300 per gallon.

An Ecological Niche is the match of a species to a specific environmental condition. An Eltonian niche emphasizes that a species not only grows in and responds to an environment, it may also change the environment as it grows. Big Leaf Maple has this influence on riparian environments. Maple epiphytic communities are a rooting medium and food web source. This includes several species of ferns, 20 species of mosses, 5 species of lichens, 6 species of liverworts. This plant community provides an ideal environment for insects and connects aquatic life to terrestrial life and vice versa. The plant community provides an environment for food, cover, nesting, insects, and amphibians. Big Leaf Maple has a positive effect on water quality and temperature and is an excellent shade tree.

Big Leaf Maple is a tree that can reach 100 feet tall or more and 48 inches diameter, can live to be 300 years old, and were a component of low elevation old growth forests. Maple trees provide ideal nesting platforms in a protected riparian environment.

Nutrient cycling is critical to soils in the Pacific Northwest, which are typically acidic and deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus. A study comparing the soil properties beneath Douglas-fir with those beneath Big Leaf Maple found that concentration of essential nutrients were significantly greater beneath Big Leaf Maple than under Douglas-fir at all test sites.

Maple will grow on a variety of sites, but prefer moist, but well drained soils. More than any other N.W. tree species, Maple is considered to be a soil building species with a greater depth of humus formation, associated with higher concentrations of macro and micro nutrients and increased soil pH. Study results suggest that Big Leaf Maple can modestly improve soil fertility within coniferous forests.

If you would like to know more, consider attending a WSU-Extension workshop on Maple Syrup. Check on their website for upcoming workshops at http://forestry.wsu.edu.

7

Our mission:

Providing voluntary

incentive-based programs

to support the land base

while protecting and

enhancing natural

resources in Skagit

County.

2021 E. College Way, Suite 203

Mount Vernon, WA 98273-2373

Phone: 360-428-4313

Website: www.skagitcd.org

Email: skagitcd@skagitcd.org

SKAGIT CONSERVATION

D I STRICT

Skagit Conservation District

2020 Native Plant Sale

Pre-order minimum:

$50 before taxes

with 50% deposit

(check, cash or credit card)

Pre-order deadline:

4 p.m. Friday, March 20, 2020

Pre-order forms available

from the office or

www.skagitcd.org

Limited quantities

First come, first served

Pick up date:

Friday, April 3, 2020

from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pick up location:

WACD Lynn Brown

Plant Materials Center,

16564 Bradley Road, Bow

Plant Sale Proceeds: The proceeds of the plant sale are used to support our K-12 education programs.

Availability of Plants: The number of plants for sale are limited to the number we order six months before the sale. Availability may also be affected for various unpredict-able reasons, such as plant failure, damage or disease.

Plant Grade & Size: Our plants are conservation-grade, graded mostly on survivability as they are intended for conservation purposes, such as shelterbelts, erosion control, fire resistance, and wildlife habitat. Most plants are bareroot seedlings, so are generally small (approximate sizes are listed). A high hauling capacity is NOT necessary.

Pre-order

Information

Open Sale Information

D i s c o u n t A v a i l a b l e ! 15% discount for plant purchases more than $500 (before sales tax)

More About Our Native Plant Sale

OPEN SALE

Saturday, April 4, 2020

from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

SALE LOCATION

WACD Lynn Brown Plant Materials Center

16564 Bradley Road, Bow

(Directions & map on page 3)

First-come,

First-served

basis sale!

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DECIDUOUS TREE SEEDLINGS (SOLD IN BUNDLES OF 10) 10. Maple, Vine 1-0 Acer circinatum

25’ Grows in dry to wet areas; wildlife shelter, host for the Wstrn. Tiger Swallowtail butterfly.

12”+ $24.00 for 10

11. Maple, Big Leaf 1-0 Acer macrophyllum

80’ Grows in dry to moist soil; wildlife food & shelter, early bloom for pollinators.

18”+ $24.00 for 10

12. Birch 2-0 Betula papyrifera

80’ Prefers moist, well-drained soils; wildlife food & shelter, fuel, lumber, windbreak.

18”+ $23.00 for 10

13. Pacific Crabapple 1-0

Malus fusca 30’ Prefers low, damp places; wildlife food. 12”+

$23.00 for 10

14. Quaking Aspen 1-0 Populus tremuloides

80’ Grows in dry to moist, soils; wildlife food & shelter, fuel, lumber, windbreak.

12”+ $23.00 for 10

15. White Oak 2-0 Quercus garryanna

80’ Prefers dry, well-drained soils; wildlife habitat & food.

12”+ $23.00 for 10

16. Cascara 2-0 Rhamnus purshiana

35’ Prefers shady and moist areas in forest Openings; wildlife food, good for bees.

18”+ $23.00 for 10

SHRUB SEEDLINGS (SOLD IN BUNDLES OF 10-EXCEPT AS NOTED)

17. Kinnikinnick 4” pot Arctostaphylos uva-vrsi

8-10” Ground cover that prefers well-drained, exposed sites; wildlife food, pollen.

4” pot $5.50 EACH

18. Red Osier Dogwood 1-0 Cornus stolonifera

20’ Grows in moist to wet sites; red twigs; wildlife food & shelter, erosion control.

12”+ $23.00 for 10

19. Salal 4” pot Gaultheria shallon

6’ Grows in dry to moist sites; wildlife food, edible, floral greens, erosion control.

4” pot $5.50 EACH

20. Ocean Spray 1-0 Holodiscus discolor

15’ Grows in moist to dry sites; erosion Control, benefits birds and butterflies.

6-12” $23.00 for 10

21. Tall Oregon Grape 2-0 Mahonia aquifolium

10’ Grows in dry to moist sites; wildlife food, erosion control, edible fruit.

12”+ $23.00 for 10

22. Low Oregon Grape 2-0 Mahonia nervosa

2’ Drought tolerant once established; wildlife food, durable and adaptable, edible fruit.

3-6”+ $23.00 for 10

SKAGIT CD 2020 NATIVE PLANT SALE: PLANT DESCRIPTIONS AND PRICES

Common/Latin Name Genus Species

Max. Ht

Classification & Species Characteristics (see key)

Habitat Characteristics & Conservation Uses

Est. size

Bundle Price

EVERGREEN/CONIFER TREE SEEDLINGS (SOLD IN BUNDLES OF 25)

1. Grand Fir 2-0 Abies grandis

200’ Moist to dry well-drained soils; Christmas tree, lumber, wildlife food & shelter.

12”+ $29.00 for 25

2. Noble Fir P-1 Abies nobilis

200’ Prefers cool, moist, well-drained soil; Christmas trees, wildlife food & shelter.

6-12”+ $50.00 for 25

3. Port Orford Cedar 2-0 Chamaecyparis lawsoniana

200’ Prefers cool, moist, well-drained soil; Wildlife food & shelter.

12”+ $29.00 for 25

4. Sitka Spruce 2-0 Picea sitchensis

200’ Moist forests and forested bogs; erosion control, wildlife food & shelter, lumber.

12”+ $29.00 for 25

5. Shore Pine 2-0 Pinus contorta

65’ Tolerant of salt & low nutrients in dry to wet sites; wildlife food, fuel, lumber.

12”+ $29.00 for 25

6. Western Hemlock P-1 Tsuga heterophylla

200’ Shade tolerant, prefers high humidity and acidic soils.

12” $40.00 for 25

7. Douglas Fir 2-0 Pseudotsuga menziesii

300’ Prefers acidic, well-drained soils; Christmas tree, lumber, wildlife food & shelter.

12”+ $29.00 for 25

8. Western Red Cedar P-1 Thuja plicata

300’ Prefers moist to swampy soils; wildlife food & shelter, windbreak.

12”+ $40.00 for 25

9. Giant Sequoia 72 Sequoiadendron giganteum

300’ Prefers moist, well-drained, sandy loams in full sun. Tolerates some light shade. Avoid heavy clays and dry soil.

plug $50.00 for 25

KEY: Evergreen deciduous full sun partial full shade nuts/seeds flowers/pollen fruit/berries sun shade

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DIRECTIONS TO THE SCD NATIVE PLANT SALE

WACD Lynn Brown Plant Materials Center (PMC) 16564 Bradley Road, Bow, WA. From I-5 take the Cook Road Exit (#232). Go west on Cook Road. Cross Chuckanut Dr. and Avon Allen Road. Cook Road will become Bradley Road after Avon-Allen. Continue west for about one mile. The PMC will be on your left. If you come to a sharp right turn, you have gone too far. Do not rely on GPS devices!

KEY: Evergreen deciduous full sun partial full shade nuts/seeds flowers/pollen fruit/berries sun shade

SKAGIT CD 2020 NATIVE PLANT SALE: PLANT DESCRIPTIONS AND PRICES

Common/Latin Name Genus Species

Max. Ht

Classification & Species Characteristics (see key)

Habitat Characteristics & Conservation Uses

Est. size

Bundle Price

23. Indian Plum 1-0 Oemleria cerasiformis

15’ Grows in dry to moist, soils, wildlife food, attracts pollinators.

12”+ $23.00 for 10

24. Ninebark 1-0 Physocarpus capitatus

13’ Grows in damp places along streams; wildlife shelter.

12”+ $23.00 for 10

25. Red Flowering Currant 1-0 Ribes sanguineum

10’ Grows in dry to moist soil at low & mid-elevation; wildlife food.

12”+ $23.00 for 10

26. Pacific Rhododendron Rhododendron macrophyllum plug

10’ Prefers moist to dry well-drained soil; source of shelter and pollen.

plug $5.50 EACH

27. Nootka Rose 1-0 Rosa nutkana

10’ Dry to moist sites; wildlife food and shelter, host plant for numerous butterflies.

12”+ $23.00 for 10

28. Peafruit Rose 1-0 Rosa pisocarpa

6’ Grows in damp/wet areas, sun to part shade; wildlife food and shelter.

12”+ $23.00 for 10

29. Hooker Willow Salix hookeriana whip

20’ Grows in moist to wet sites; erosion control, benefits birds and butterflies.

36” whip

$20.00 for 10

30. Blue Elderberry 1-0 Sambucus glauca

15’ Dry to moist sites; wildlife food and shelter, pollen, edible.

12”+ $23.00 for 10

31. Snowberry 1-0 Symphoricarpos albus

6’ Prefers dry well-drained soils; wildlife food, erosion control.

12-18” $23.00 for 10

32. Evergreen Huckleberry Vaccinium ovatum plug

8’ Grows in sun or shade with well-drained soil; ornamental leaves and edible fruit.

plug $5.50 EACH

HERBACIOUS (SOLD BY EACH)

33. Northwest Meadowscapes Native Pollinator Seeds pkg.

100 sq. ft.

Variety of native annuals and perennials includes native bunch grasses to provide nesting habitat for bees and to reduce weed encroachment.

seed pack

$10.00 EACH

10

Protecting our legacy of clean water… Meet the Fall 2019 Watershed Masters - Class 27!

The Skagit Conservation District and partners, including the City of Mount Vernon, City of Burlington, City of Sedro-Woolley, City of Anacortes and Skagit County, would like to thank and commend the participants of the Fall 2019 Watershed Masters Volunteer Training Program. Participants of this program play a key role in the long protection of our local streams, rivers, and marine waters - from sharing what they have learned with others to providing "hands on" water quality protection measures in their own backyards and throughout the community. Watershed Masters pledge to complete 40 hours of volunteer service in our community after completing the training. Each individual volunteer decides how to spend these hours.

The 2019 class was recognized at a special ceremony on November 13th culminating eight weeks of training, which included 8 evening classes and 3 Saturday field days.

The Watershed Masters Volunteer Training course is offered each fall, with volunteer activities occurring year-round. For information about the program, please contact Kristi Carpenter, Skagit

Conservation District, at (360) 428-4313 or email: kristi@skagitcd.org

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world, indeed it's the only thing that ever has."

- Margaret Mead (1901-1977), Anthropoligist

Miran Amos Nihart John Greenfield Michael McCrain

Philip Attneave Leah Grupp-Williams Gary Munsterman

Marina Ball Mariah Hinds Mark Shinkle

Jackie Beebe Kevin Jackman Brad Solomon

Penny Berk Paul Johnson Annemarie Todd

Keri Brant Semakaleng Lebepe-Mazur Jose Torres

Frederick Burke Megan Madamba Dean Van Vleet

Chuck Durkee Ted Maloney Abby Weaver

Laurence Egalla Erin Matthews Lynne Wenberg-Davidson

Jack Galbraith Rob Mazur Charlie Wilson

Karen Gardiner Linda McCrain Susan Wilson

Tim Gohrke Tori Wood

Watershed Masters—Class 27

11

Watershed Masters: Volunteers in Action! …..A few highlights of 2019 Watershed Master volunteer activities

Miriam Amos Nihart has been passionate about

working with the Skagit Land Trust and assisting them at numerous work parties.

This beautiful rain garden was installed by WSM

graduate, Miriam Amos Nihart to help protect water quality starting in her own backyard!

Kari Brant (pictured at far right), completed her

40-hour volunteer commitment before the end of November! She is pictured here with her Trumpeter

Stream Team teammates., Phil Latendresse and Darlene Thompson.

WSM grad, Paul Johnson planted trees for

Orca's at the SCD's Orca Recovery Day event on March Point on Oct. 19th.

WSM grad, Mark Shinkle, assisting at the SCD

stormwater education display at Taylor Shellfish Farms during the Skagit Valley Festival of Farms

Tour.

WSM grad, Jack Galbraith, greeted visitors to

Taylor Shellfish Farm during the Skagit Valley Festival of Farms Tour

Thank you for your many contributions to our community!!

12

THE SCOOP ON POOP!

Roundworms, E. coli, and Giardia are just a few of the many harmful microorganisms that can be transmitted from pet waste to humans. Some can last in your yard for as long as four years if not cleaned up. Children who play outside and adults who garden are at greatest risk of infection. Pet waste is one of the leading causes of bacterial contamination of streams in urban areas. When it rains, the bacteria is carried from our backyards, neighborhoods, parks, and trails, into our storm drains, creeks, lakes, and marine waters. Pet waste also causes the same nitrogen related problems as fertilizer and livestock manure.

Dog poop can contain disease-causing organisms,

including roundworms, Giardia, Salmonella, E. Coli, Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasima, and Parovirus. Scoop

it, bag it, and trash it to keep your family safe and protect water quality.

The best solution is safe and easy: 1. Scoop the poop, 2. Put it in a bag, 3. Place it in the trash, and 4. Wash your hands. This is the preferred disposal method. From a surface water perspective, it removes the pollution source from human and surface water contact and contains it in a landfill situation where discharges are monitored and containment levels are known. Landfills are designed to safely handle substances such as dog waste, cat litter, and dirty diapers. Many people already place their dog waste in the trash because it is convenient. If you are already placing it in the trash, keep up the good work!

Maybe. For residents using onsite septic systems for sewage disposal (the majority of rural Skagit County), flushing pet waste can potentially exceed the design capacity of the septic system. High volumes of hair and ash, not normally found in human waste, can interfere with septic system functions and clog drain fields. If you are on a municipal sewer system and you can stand the yuck-factor, flushing is a highly desirable method of disposal. Most people, especially those with large or multiple dogs, are not comfortable with the notion of bringing outdoor pet waste indoors to flush it.

Composting and burial are not good ideas. They may seem practical, but they do not kill hazardous pathogens that may be in the waste and can pollute water. Landfills are designed to safely handle these substances. The pathogens and parasites within the domestic pet waste are not properly treated or removed under most compost conditions. Experts strongly advise that pet waste should never be placed in your home compost bin or directly on your landscape.

Can I bury or

compost pet waste?

What are the

solutions?

Can I flush pet

waste down the toilet?

13

Skagit CD farm planners recently worked with a farm in the Padilla Bay Watershed to collect lot runoff from the barnyard. This helps to reduce the potential for sediment, nutrients, and bacteria to enter surface and groundwater. Lot runoff is captured in a tank, then pumped up to the barn to be collected in the waste management system. This project was supported by the Skagit Conservation District and a cost-share grant; the grant was awarded through a competitive application process. Whether you have been on the land for several generations or are new to the area, the farm planners at Skagit CD are happy to help you with land management technical service.

THE SCOOP ON POOP . . . . continued

There is no doggie census, and many people do not license their dogs, so there are no hard numbers indicating Skagit County’s overall dog population. Instead, we can estimate dog populations based on the best available research. Research conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association shows that 37.4 percent of Washington State households own dogs, with an average of 1.5 dogs per dog-owning household. In 2019, the population of Skagit County was estimated at 126,026 – thus, averaging 4 people per household, would mean that there are approxi-mately 31,507 households in Skagit County. Assuming that 37.4 percent of those households own dogs, that means just over 11,784 Skagit County households own dogs. At 1.5 dogs per household, we can estimate the Skagit County dog population at approximately 17,676.

Did you know that an average-sized

dog dropping produces 3 billion fecal coliform bacteria?

At an estimated rate of 0.33 pounds of solid waste produced daily per dog, the estimated daily production of dog waste in Skagit County is over 5,833 POUNDS PER DAY!!

How much waste

do they produce?

How many dogs

are there?

Innovative Use of Existing Tools to Collect and Treat Barnyard Run-off

Septic tank used to collect barnyard run-off Sump pump with float trigger to send

effluent to waste management system.

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Submitted by: Skagit County Public Works

Many people are surprised to find out that septic systems failures happen in the drainfield more often than the septic tank. Why? The drainfield is the work horse of a septic system, but it's also the most fragile and most ignored part of a septic system. A septic tank is just a holding tank where solids settle out. The drainfield is where all the treatment happens. Pipes set below the surface spread water from the tank into the drainfield. The soil of the drainfield filters nutrients and pathogens out of the water. Septic systems cost $5,000-$30,000 (or more!) to replace, and you want your septic system to last as long as possible. That's why it's so important to do regular maintenance like getting an inspection every year (or, if you have a gravity system, every three years). If the inspection finds a problem, you can fix broken parts before they cause a failure. And of course, protect that drainfield! How much does an inspection cost? Around $200, depending on the type of system you have. (That's less than half of an average Mount Vernon sewer bill, in case you wondered. Of course, if you’re on sewer, you

never have to worry about a surprise $10,000 septic replacement bill, so it evens out in the end!)

There are a lot of resources for septic system owners at poopsmart.org/septic, including:

Links to information on your septic

system

A list of certified inspectors

Videos on how a septic system works

Our Septic 101 online course

Info on how to get trained so you can inspect your own septic system

The Scoop on Septic Failures

Common reasons for failures include:

Pipes clogged by solids if the tank

isn't pumped often enough, allow-ing solids into the drainfield

Pipes clogged because a broken

part in the tank allows solids into the drainfield

Pipes clogged by roots of shrubs

and trees that were planted too close

Crushed pipes when vehicles are

driven over them, or when live-stock are allowed to graze over them

Overuse or misuse of the septic

system, for example, more people using it than it was designed for, pouring chemicals down the drain, using too much water all at once, etc.

15

About the Voluntary Stewardship Program

The Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP), is an alternative approach to typical regulation for environmental protection on lands with on-going agriculture. Skagit County is one of many Washington State counties that has opted into and developed a work plan for implementation of VSP. With community engagement, effort and use of existing programs; it is the goal for VSP to provide protection to the beautiful local watershed and to help continue bolster the thriving agriculture production that Skagit County is known for. The local VSP watershed work group, Skagit County Public

Works and the Skagit Conservation District are the primary

implementers of the VSP work plan. Watershed work group

meetings are held quarterly and are open to the public. If you

are interested in learning more about VSP or other programs

that could potentially be beneficial to you, feel free to reach

out to the County office today at 360-416-1400.

What Are the Protected Critical Areas?

Wetlands

Fish and Wildlife Habitat

Conservation Areas Geologically Hazardous Areas

Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas

Frequently Flooded Areas

To learn more about VSP or to review the entire workplan,

feel free to visit our webpage at the following address:

https://www.skagitcounty.net/Departments/PublicWorksNaturalResourcesManagement/vsp.htm

Watershed Group

Meeting Dates

March 27

th from 2-4pm

June 26th from 2-4pm

Sept. 25th from 2-4pm

Nov. 20th from 2-4pm

All meetings are open to the

Public. Meetings take place

in the Commissioner’s

Hearing Room located at

1800 Continental Place in

Mount Vernon.

"Last of the Skagit" by A Camera Story

is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Submitted by: Skagit County Public Works

16

SKAGIT CONSERVATION DISTRICT 2021 E COLLEGE W AY, SUITE 203 MOUNT VERNON , W A 98273-2373 PHONE : 360-428-4313 W EBSITE : www.skagi tcd.org

SCD Board meetings are held at

2021 E College Way

2nd floor conference room

on the fourth Wednesday of

every month at 7:30 a.m.

and are open to the public.

Please call 360-428-4313, ext. 1000

to verify dates.

Vis it Us On Facebook !

Vis i t our page for t ips , updates , photos and

events , and don’ t forget to “L ike” us!

WASHINGTON STATE CONSERVATION COMMISSION www.scc.wa.gov WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS www.wadistricts.org

SCD Board of Supervisors: Dean Wesen, Chair | Dave Malsed, Vice Chair | Jed Holmes, Auditor | Margery Hite, Member | Eben Twaddle, Member

We wish to thank the businesses and individuals who help to sponsor this publication of the Skagit Conservation District News

Skagit Conservation News sponsorships cost $50 a year for listed business names or $100 for business cards, and are seen by over

3,500 readers twice a year.

The Skagit Conservation District recognizes the following businesses as Skagit Conservation District News sponsors:

To become a Skagit Conservation District newsletter sponsor,

please contact Cindy at 360-428-4313, Ext. 1026

www.skagi tcd.orgwww.skagi tcd.orgwww.skagi tcd.org

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PAID Permit No. 91

Mount Vernon, WA

Change Service Requested Printed on recycled paper that contains 30% post-consumer waste.

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