HomeMy WebLinkAboutMason Conservation District Amendment # 5 - AmendmentMASON COUNTY VOLUNTARY STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
AMENDMENT 5 to MC CONTRACT #19-053
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT between
MASON COUNTY and MASON CONSERVATION DISTRICT
This Amendment, issued pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act, Chapter 39.34 RCW, extends
the Interlocal Agreement, MC Contract #19-053, dated July 1, 2019, relating to the Voluntary
Stewardship Program, for a two-year period through June 30, 2027.
1.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE
It is the intent of the parties that the period of performance will be consistent with the
timelines set forth in RCW 36.70A.720-760, subject to available funding. Subject to its other
provisions, the period of performance of this Amendment shall commence on July 1, 2025
and be completed on June 30, 2027, unless either extended by agreement of the parties or
terminated sooner, as provided under the Interlocal Agreement.
2.0 SCOPE OF WORK
The Mason Conservation District shall furnish the necessary personnel, equipment, material
and/or service(s), or contract with third parties to accomplish the same, and otherwise do
all things necessary for or incidental to the performance of the work as set forth in
Attachment A -Scope of Work.
3.0 PAYMENT
Compensation for the work provided in accordance with this Amendment has been
established under the terms of chapter 39.34.130 RCW. The parties have estimated that the
cost of accomplishing the work herein will not exceed $290,000.
4.0 EFFECTIVE DATE
The effective date of this Amendment shall be July 1, 2025.
All other terms and conditions of the Interlocal Agreement, MC Contract #19-053, shall remain in
full force and effec
Dated this day of
MASON CONSERVATION DISTRICT:
=-
J on Ragan, Chair .
, 2025.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Sharon T-raask, Ghair
Pier 1'
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Tim Whitehead, Chief DPA
2025-2027 Biennium Contract Amendment Between Mason County and Mason Conservation
District 1
MASON COUNTY VOLUNTARY STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
ATTACHMENT A -SCOPE OF WORK
COUNTY is responsible for the overall administration of the Mason County VSP including program
and fiscal responsibilities and compliance.
COUNTY has designated the DISTRICT as the Lead Entity responsible for administering VSP funds and
coordinating the VSP Watershed Work Group.
1) Organize, convene, and maintain a watershed group. This includes providing necessary staff
support and facilitation for the watershed group. Assist the watershed group in the
implementation of the approved VSP work plan, including
A. Working closely with the watershed group and technical service providers to ensure full
compliance with the requirements and intent of VSP.
B. Ensure that every effort is made to maintain effective communication between the
watershed group, the technical_ser_vice_pr_oviders,the_COUN_T_Y-,localstakeholder-s,and
participating state and federal agencies and personnel.
C. The DISTRICT will organize members of a VSP watershed group with representatives from
a variety of stakeholder groups including but not limited to tribes, environmental groups,
and agriculture. Organization of a vetted core watershed group comprised of a broad
representation of key watershed stakeholders and, at a minimum, representatives of
agricultural and environmental groups and tribes that agree to participate. The DISTRICT will
encourage existing lead entities, watershed planning units, or other integrating
organizations to serve as the watershed group.
D. The DISTRICT will develop and/or maintain watershed group meeting bylaws, rules,
and/or policies.
E. The DISTRICT will provide facilitation for watershed group meetings or other actions of
the watershed group.
2) Implement the VSP work plan, including implementing the requirements of the VSP and RCW
Chapter 36.70A.700-760. Implementation includes:
A. Identifying critical areas and agricultural activities within those critical areas.
B. Identifying a public outreach plan to contact landowners.
C. Identifying and designating entity(ies) to provide landowner assistance (voluntary
stewardship plans).
D. Identifying measurable programmatic and implementation goals and benchmarks.
E. Reviewing and incorporating applicable water quality, watershed management, farmland
protection, and required species recovery data and plans.
F. Seeking input from tribes, agencies and stakeholders.
2025-2027 Biennium Contract Amendment Between Mason County and Mason Conservation
District 2
MASON COUNTY VOLUNTARY STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
G. Developing goals for participation by agricultural operators conducting commercial and
noncommercial agricultural activities in the watershed necessary to meet the protection and
enhancement benchmarks of the work plan.
H. Ensuring outreach and technical assistance is provided to producers and operators in the
various watersheds of the county.
I. Creating measurable benchmarks that, within ten years after receipt of funding, are
designed to result in (i) the protection of critical areas functions and values and (ii) the
enhancement of critical areas functions and values through voluntary, incentive based
measures,
J. Incorporating into the work plan any existing development regulations relied upon to
achieve the goals and benchmarks for protection of critical areas.
K. Establishing baseline monitoring for (i) participation and implementation of voluntary
stewardship plans and projects, (ii) stewardship activities, and (iii) the effects on critical areas
and agriculture relevant to protection and enhancement -benchmarks.
L. Developing timelines for periodic evaluations, adaptive management, and provide written
reports of plan status and/or accomplishments to the COMMISSION.
M. Coordinating monitoring programs with other state agency activities.
N. Meeting any other requirement for the successful implementation of VSP in RCW
36.70A.720.
Deliverables:
1) Organize, convene and maintain a watershed group that meets regularly and as necessary for
implementation of the county VSP work plan.
2) Implement the VSP work plan, including implementing the requirements of the VSP and RCW
Chapter 36.70A.700-760.
A. Two year status reports. No later than August 30, 2025, provide the written biennial
report to the COMMISSION. The biennial report must provide the status of plans and
accomplishments of the work plan to COMMISSION. The biennial report should include a
summary of how plan implementation is affecting each ofthe following:
1) The protection and enhancement of critical areas within the area where agricultural
activities are conducted;
2) The maintenance and improvement ofthe long-term viability of agriculture;
3) Reducing the conversion of farmland to other uses;
4) The maximization of the use of voluntary incentive programs to encourage good
riparian and ecosystem stewardship as an alternative to historic approaches used to
protect critical areas;
2025-2027 Biennium Contract Amendment Between Mason County and Mason Conservation
District 3
MASON COUNTY VOLUNTARY STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
5) The leveraging of existing resources by relying upon existing work and plans in
counties and local watersheds, as well as existing state and federal programs to the
maximum extent practicable to achieve program goals;
6) Ongoing efforts to encourage and foster a spirit of cooperation and partnership
among county, tribal, environmental, and agricultural interests to better assure the
program success;
7) Ongoing efforts to improve compliance with other laws designed to protect water
quality and fish habitat; and
8) A description of efforts showing how relying upon voluntary stewardship practices as
the primary method of protecting critical areas and does not require the cessation of
agricultural activities.
B. Five year review and evaluation report. If a Five year VSP report is due during this contract
period, than no later than the current deadline for submittal of the report to the
COMMISSION, and in conjunction with the county watershed group, facilitate, develop,
assist and submit the five year report to the director of the COMMISSION. See RCW
36.70A.720 (2) (b) (i) and (c) (i). When submitting the five-year review and evaluation report
to the COMMISSION, as per RCW 36.70A.720 and RCW 36.70A.730, the DISTRICT agrees to
use the COMMISSION'S Guide and Template. The Guide is available for download on the
COMMISSION's VSP web page: (https://www.scc.wa.gov/vsp/implementation). The
Template will be provided or made available by the COMMISSION to the DISTRICT.
C. At five year intervals from the date of receipt of funding, each county watershed group
must submit a report to the director of the Commission and the COUNTY on whether it has
met the work plan's protection and enhancement goals and benchmarks. The five year
review and evaluation report should include a summary of how plan implementation is
satisfying the flowing plan elements through VSP implementation:
1) Develop goals for participation by agricultural operators conducting commercial and
noncommercial agricultural activities in the watershed necessaryto meet the protection
and enhancement benchmarks of the work plan;
2) Ensure outreach and technical assistance is provided to agricultural operators in the
watershed;
3) Create measurable benchmarks that, within ten years after the receipt of funding, are
,designed to result in (i) the protection of critical area functions and values and (ii) the
enhancement of critical area functions and values through voluntary, incentive -based
measures;
4) Work with the entity providing technical assistance to ensure that individual
stewardship plans contribute to the goals and benchmarks of the work plan;
5) Incorporate into the work plan any existing development regulations relied upon to
achieve the goals and benchmarks for protection;
2025-2027 Biennium Contract Amendment Between Mason County and Mason Conservation
District 4
MASON COUNTY VOLUNTARY STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
6) Establish baseline monitoring for: (i) Participation activities and implementation ofthe
voluntary stewardship plans and projects; (ii) stewardship activities; and (iii) the effects
on critical areas and agriculture relevant to the protection and enhancement
benchmarks developed for the watershed;
7) Conduct periodic evaluations, institute adaptive management, and provide a written
report of the status of plans and accomplishments to the county and to the commission
within sixty days after the end of each biennium;
8) Assist state agencies in their monitoring programs; and
9) Satisfy any other reporting requirements of the program.
10) The COUNTY agrees that VSP cost -share projects funded using any amount of
COMMISSION VSP funds shall be reported in the Conservation Practices Database
System (CPDS).
D. Ensure that the COMMISSION has the most recent version ofthe COUNTY's VSP work plan
by providing to the COMMISSION's Project Officer, identified herein in APPENDIX D —
RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS, the most current version ofthe COUNTY's VSP work plan, which
includes all attachments and / or appendices. This can be accomplished by sending the
COMMISSION an electronic link which the COMMISSION can use to download the plan.
E. Provide to the COMMISSION's VSP Contract Manager, no later than 120 days from the
date this agreement is signed by the DISTRICT, an implementation budget designed to
ensure all requirements related to VSP implementation are accounted for during the
performance of this agreement, and to ensure that the two-year and five-year reporting
requirements will be met.
2025-2027 Biennium Contract Amendment Between Mason County and Mason Conservation
District 5