King Conservation District (KCD) is a nonregulatory, special purpose district funded mostly through rates and charges with a mission to promote the sustainable use of natural resources through voluntary stewardship in King County since 1949.
We provide education, technical assistance, and cost-sharing to private residents in forest management, farm conservation planning, wildfire preparedness, and streamside and shoreline enhancement. We also provide grants and work with cities and other organizations to support community gardens, urban forest canopy, and local food systems.
KCD provides direct assistance to private residents to manage their natural resources for the collective benefit. The cumulative effect of these efforts improves water quality, soil health, forest canopy, and local food systems that benefit all of us through healthier ecosystems, abundant wildlife, and access to healthy, local food.
KCD achieves natural resource improvements by providing outreach to connect with people ready to take action, education to train individuals to better steward their natural resources, technical assistance to provide access to natural resource technicians, and cost-share to overcome financial barriers. KCD also provides grants to cities and nonprofits.
KCD’s work is guided by science-based standards and Best Management Practices (BMPs) set by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Our operations are overseen by our board of supervisors and the Washington State Conservation Commission (WSCC). The KCD Advisory Committee also brings together regional stakeholders to provide input and guidance on our programming and efforts.
KCD’s service area includes 34 cities and all of unincorporated King County with the exception of Cities of Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific and Skykomish that do not participate in the district.
Funding
KCD is funded primarily by a per-parcel Rates and Charges fee. All of unincorporated King County and 34 cities (with the exception of those list above) are members of King Conservation District. KCD receives some funding from the Washington State Conservation Commission. We also receive grants from other state, federal and local sources such as the Urban Resources Partnership, Washington Department of Ecology, the Conservation Commission Research Grant and King County Community Development Block Grants. Although KCD is authorized by the state legislature, it is not a state agency and does not receive an ongoing operating budget from the state’s General Fund, as most state agencies do.
Programming
KCD has eleven main program areas laid out in our 2020-2024 Interlocal Agreement with King County that establishes the majority of our work planning. Along with these main programs, KCD has support programs that facilitate successful conservation projects including Engagement, Education, Landowner Incentive Program, Operations, and Finance.
Member Jurisdiction Grants
Sets aside $1.2 million of rates and charges each year to fund conservation projects selected by member juris¬dictions and implemented by the jurisdiction or a partnering organization.
Riparian/Shoreline Land Stewardship
Provides education and technical assistance to residents with marine and freshwater resources to allow individuals to better steward their natural resources.
Rural Land Stewardship & Farm Conservation Planning
Provides education, natural resource technical assessments, recommendations, farm conservation planning services, farm equipment, and cost-sharing to farm and livestock owners to improve water quality, soil health, and wildlife habitat.
Riparian Restoration/Improvement
Provides technical assistance, cost share, and work crews to help landowners implement best management practices such as removal of invasive species, planting natives, and installing buffers.
Wildfire Preparedness
Provides workshops, wildfire risk assessments, fuels reduction assistance, home hardening, and fire-adapted community planning to residents and homeowners associations to mitigate the likelihood and impact of wildfires on forested properties.
Urban Forest Stewardship
Partners with cities to identify, develop, and fund projects that maintain and improve urban tree canopy on public and private property.
Small Lot Forest Stewardship
Partners with small acreage forested properties to improve forest health and increase canopy cover by providing education, technical assistance, stewardship planning assistance, and cost-share to implement best management practices.
Regional Food System
Provides competitive and strategic initiative grants to grow the local food economy and increase access to local food based on goals and strategies of the King County Local Food Initiative.
Agricultural Drainage Assistance
Assists farmers with maintaining and improving agricultural drainage systems to increase field drainage to improve and restore crop production.
Community Agriculture
Develops urban food production and conservation practices by providing seed grants, tools, compost, culturally relevant seed starts, and technical assistance to community gardens.