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Voluntary Stewardship Program - Thurston (VSP)
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Program level:
State
Provider:
WA State Conservation Commission, Thurston Conservation District
Benefits provided:
Free technical assistance, Financial
Land use:
Agriculture
Water-focused program:
Yes
The Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) is an alternative approach for counties in Washington State to protect and voluntarily enhance environmentally critical areas while maintaining and improving the long-term viability of local agriculture.
Overview
Description:
Instead of enacting further critical areas regulation for agricultural activities, the VSP allows a technical assistance provider to work with agricultural operators to develop voluntary, site-specific stewardship plans. The Thurston Conservation District is the technical service provider for Thurston County.
Goals of the VSP:
- Protect and voluntarily enhance critical areas where they overlap with agricultural activities.
- Maintain and improve the long-term viability of agriculture and reduce the conversion of farmland to other land use types.
- Proactively address land-use regulation and conversion.
Why Participate?
- Gain a better understanding of the critical areas on your land and how to work with those to improve operational efficiencies, see higher yields, and increase production.
- Flexible – allows farmers and ranchers to manage in a way that meets their needs.
- Focuses on results rather than regulations. Proactively be a good steward of your land for generations to come.
- Enhances the image of agriculture to the larger community as good stewards of natural resources
- Protect your farm from violations and regulation
- Participation in the VSP potentially opens individual landowners up to other cost share opportunities.
- A successful Voluntary Stewardship Program supports a voluntary approach to land stewardship for all Thurston County residents. Success is dependent upon landowner participation.
Eligibility:
The project must be within the five critical areas identified in Washington's Growth Management Act:
1. Wetlands
2. Frequently flooded areas
3. Critical aquifer recharge areas
4. Geologically hazardous areas
5. Fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas (emphasis on anadromous fish)
Financial benefit:
Funding is available to implement conservation practices as agreed upon in the workgroup. Funding amounts vary per project and practice.
Contact information
Information last updated on July 15, 2025.
Planning Importance
Developing a forest, agricultural, or conservation plan helps identify and prioritize objectives for landowners. These objectives can determine what type programs to search for. Supporting organizations in your area often provide free consultation and planning.
Landscape Characteristics
See how your land fits into the broader context of regional conservation, ecosystem services, and working lands' values across the landscape through our interactive mapper tool. It could help you determine which program is a good fit for you!
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