Through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Sponsorship Program (ACES), the Office of Farmland Preservation partners with conservation districts to provide a pathway for conservation districts to access grants made available by the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) to permanently protect farmland in their districts. All projects facilitated through this program are for permanent agricultural conservation easements that are developed and implemented in partnership with local conservation districts.

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RCO has been the sole funder for all projects sponsored through ACES thus far. No match requirement at this time. No minimum or maximum grant amount; the Conservation Commission is eligible for up to 100% of total project costs.

Conservation districts are encouraged to consult with the Office of Farmland Preservation staff to gain a better understanding of what will be expected of them in project development and implementation.

CREP is a joint federal and state funded program that restores streamside habitat for salmon and protects that habitat for 10-15 years.

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FSA pays 50% of implementation costs plus 40% PIP; SCC adds 10% implementation cost share and up to 2,700 dollars per acre maintenance, so landowners don't need to provide a cash match beyond costs not covered by FSA/SCC.

Landowners and operators who meet USDA FSA CRP/CREP eligibility and enroll riparian lands under an FSA contract; participants must meet FSA cropping history or marginal pasture requirements and have an approved riparian plan and contract with FSA.

The Disaster Assistance Program is a short-term disaster recovery financial assistance program for farmers and ranchers sustaining physical damage or incurring expenses as a result of a natural disaster. It may partially reimburse eligible disaster recovery expenses or fund the implementation of best management practices that restore and/or increase disaster resiliency.

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The DAP uses SCC operating funds. Typically, this means that funds must be approved and allocated within a state fiscal year (July 1 to June 30).

See program guidelines for more information on eligibility. Only a conservation district can request activation of the DAP. If you are a farmer or rancher impacted by a natural disaster, please contact your local conservation district. If you are conservation district staff, please contact Bill Eller at the SCC (beller@scc.wa.gov) if your conservation district is interested in activating the DAP.

FPLA serves the dual purpose of permanently protecting high-quality farmland and facilitating access to land for next-generation farmers and ranchers. This is the protection component of a buy-protect-sell strategy in conjunction with the FarmPAI program.

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Project dependent. No minimum or maximum grant amount; funding may cover easement purchase price and related eligible acquisition costs (appraisal, surveys, environmental audits, baseline documentation, farm or stewardship plan, cultural resources, administrative costs up to 50,000 dollars, etc.). See FPLA guidelines for full cost eligibility details. No match required; applicant covers ineligible costs. Awards made following Commission approval.

Land Trusts and Conservation Districts who have secured a loan from FarmPAI.

Forest Health and Community Wildfire Resiliency (FHCWR) provides funding for Washington conservation districts to improve forest conditions and strengthen community resilience to wildfire.

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Natural Climate Solutions Account - operating biennial funds. No minimum or maximum grant amount, unless on a case-to-case basis. No fixed match; leveraging other funds and partnerships is strongly encouraged. Awards are made after application review is complete, but no later than July 1, 2027. Work starts after award notice.

See program guidelines.

IEGP restores instream flows in rivers and streams and ground water aquifers where water supplies are limited. Offering up to 100 percent of costs for water-saving irrigation systems.

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Competitive, project-based and project dependent. On‑farm projects: maximum cost‑share 400,000 dollars per landowner per fiscal year. Water purveyor conveyance projects have no cost‑share maximum but are limited to one project per biennium; a cap per application may be set if needed. Cost-share program; SCC funds a portion of eligible project costs. Financial assistance is awarded after staff review and approval. Work starts after award notice.

Conservation districts

Conservation districts use Natural Resource Investments to offer local, incentive-based programs that empower landowners to voluntarily install best management practices.

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Biennial Capital Funds, Non-Competitive. Maximum cost-share 100,000 dollars per landowner per fiscal year; up to 25 percent of each award may be used for technical assistance (planning, design, permitting, project management, etc.). All funded practices must meet capital funding criteria and NRCS or SCC practice standards. No match required. Initial allocations are awarded soon after the biennium begins upon receipt of an approved addendum; any later returned or new funds may be awarded either competitively or split equally among eligible districts, depending on the amount available. Work must start within 120 days of award.

Conservation districts that meet all Conservation Accountability and Performance Program (CAPP) requirements.

The Riparian Grant Program encourages incentive programs focusing on landowner projects to restore and maintain riparian management areas. This program is funded by the Climate Commitment Act.

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Capital funding. The Riparian Grant Program is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA puts cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov. Applicants must complete the CCA Requirements to apply. Information, including instructions, resources, and a letter template, can be found at www.scc.wa.gov/cd/cca.

Conservation districts

The Riparian Plant Propagation Program expands the supply of native trees and shrubs to support riparian restoration and advance salmon recovery across Washington.

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Operating funds. Conservation district projects must be completed by June 30 every fiscal year. The nursery contract grows based on the biennium.

Conservation districts and nurseries.

Using a targeted approach to invest in projects voluntarily installed by conservation districts and landowners, the Shellfish Program builds cumulative results for shellfish recovery.

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Shellfish projects are funded in the Capital budget. Projects are pulled monthly.

Conservation districts in watersheds that drain to recreational or commercial shellfish beds. For guidance on what makes a competitive project for shellfish funding, contact your regional manager.

SFF makes it easier and more affordable for farmers and ranchers to implement climate-smart practices and projects that increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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Funding awardees from the previous round of funding must complete projects by June 30, 2026.

Conservation districts; state agencies; colleges, universities, extension offices; federally recognized tribes; counties, cities, towns, and other municipalities; and special purpose districts.

$2,900,000 in funding was reappropriated in the 2025-2027 biennium to support alternative manure management activities. This funding is from the Climate Commitment Account.

This funding is open to conservation districts and other public entities only. Interested producers should reach out to their CD, WSU Extension Office, or local climate-smart government program.