USDA to Assist Washington County Landowners Repair Wetland Properties

HILLSBORO, OR – The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to help Washington County landowners improve water quality and fish habitats on private land.

Through a partnership between the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District, funding is now available for farmers, ranchers, and woodland owners in the Dairy-McKay and Middle Tualatin watersheds to restore stream habitat for salmon and other fish and wildlife, improve water quality, and increase irrigation efficiencies.

Entering the second year of a three-year project, the Dairy-McKay Degraded Riparian Ecosystems Regional Conservation Partnership Program builds on a decade of work by the Tualatin conservation district and its partners to restore 39 miles of streams throughout the larger watershed.

The deadline to apply for NRCS financial assistance is May 19. More than 70 landowners have participated since the program’s inception, and Washington County’s Clean Water Services –– another water quality assurance agency –– has assisted the effort by providing incentives to landowners who implement conservation-focused changes to their lands.

"Restoring fish habitat and improving the health and vigor of streams requires a team effort across the watershed, including on public and privately-owned lands," said Dean Moberg, NRCS resource conservationist in Washington County. "We are fortunate to have a solid group of conservation partners here in Washington County. Together, we are offering financial assistance, technical assistance and other resources to help private landowners maximize voluntary conservation and restore stream habitat on their land."

Planting trees along streams, installing fencing and livestock water facilities, and upgrading irrigations systems are just a few of the cost-share conservation options available to landowners through the program.

For more information, or to apply for financial assistance, visit the USDA Hillsboro Service Center at 1080 S.W. Baseline St., Suite B-2.

Prospective applicants can also contact Moberg at 503-207-7950 or Dean.Moberg@or.nrcs.usda.gov, or Tualatin SWCD’s Juli Waarvik at 503-207-7956 or Juli.Waarvik @or.nacdnet.net.

Image via the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Resource Conservation Service