Our mission is to conserve natural resources on all lands in Washington in collaboration with conservation districts and other partners.

Duties of the SCC include:

• Encourage cooperation and collaboration between conservation districts and other partners (e.g. state and federal agencies, tribes, local government, non-governmental organizations)
• Facilitate ways for conservation districts to serve natural resource partners in delivering resource conservation programs and activities to their local community.
• Coordinate and assist conservation district programs, administrative procedures, operations, elections, and accountability systems.
• Determine the distribution of state funds to conservation districts and monitor their expenditure.

The Commission consists of a 10-member governing board representing Governor appointees, other state agencies, and conservation districts. A small staff carries out the direction of the board, provides direct service to conservation districts, and coordinates the work of the Commission and districts with other natural resource and agricultural partners. While our headquarters office is located in Lacey, we have agency staff in several communities around the state, including: Okanogan, Spokane, Goldendale, and Yakima. ‍

See the Agency Org Chart

Who sits on the SCC Board of Commissioners?

• Four Commission members are appointed to represent state partners (Departments of Ecology, Department of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources, and Washington State University).
• Two Commissioners are appointed by the Governor.
• Three Commissioners are current CD board supervisors elected to serve on the Commission by members of the Washington Association of Conservation Districts (WACD).
• One Commissioner is the WACD President.

More information:

• History of Conservation Districts (links to National Association of Conservation Districts)
• ‍Celebrating 80 Years of Conservation: 2019 Annual Report
• Chapter 89.08 RCW: Conservation Districts
• 2016-21 Strategic Plan