Graphic image that shows a carrot, camas plan, and water in a circle with text in the middle that reads "united in conservation"

Support local funding for
Thurston Conservation District

To achieve local goals like retaining open spaces and local farmland, preserving agriculture, and managing impacts of growth, people in every corner of Thurston County need access to conservation services.

  • Over 79% of Thurston County is privately owned, and our population is approaching 300,000 — we can’t expect healthy natural resources and farmland without informed public involvement in conservation.

Thurston Conservation District (TCD) is the accessible hub of natural resource and agricultural expertise for people in our county.  

  • For over 75 years, our local team has connected people to free and low-cost services that help them practice conservation where they are — whether on a farm or in a neighborhood.

Now is the time to invest in the future of our community! Our system of rates and charges public funding is the linchpin for Thurston CD to deliver conservation services at a county-wide scale, and we need your support to see that continue!

For .06 cents a day, we can achieve:

  • Healthy lands, thriving communities, and a sustainable future for all.
  • A future where forests, farms, and waters are protected, climate resilience is built into daily life, everyone has access to land and food, and conservation is a shared community value led by strong local leadership.
  • By 2045, Thurston County is home to thriving farms, forests, and waterways. Communities and partners collaborate across boundaries to address climate change, protect working lands, and ensure that future generations inherit a resilient, healthy landscape.

To learn more about this vision for the future, check out our new strategic plan.

How to Get Involved
Frequently Asked Questions

Rates and Charges for TCD benefits everyone, regardless of land ownership or direct involvement in conservation projects.

Protect and Restore Natural Resources

Stewardship at the landscape scale, restoring balance where it has been lost and protecting the natural resources that shape our region’s identity are of paramount importance to our future. Through long-term land use policies, protection of habitat, forest, and farmlands, and advancing watershed health and agricultural viability, our lands and communities will thrive.

Build Climate Resilience & Disaster Preparedness

Together, we can equip our community to not just withstand climate impacts, but to emerge stronger, more adaptable, and more unified. Through the integration of climate-smart farming and conservation practices, promotion of green infrastructure and stormwater management, and expansion of wildfire prevention and disaster recovery.

Create Community, Access & Equity

Belonging, health, and shared stewardship across our landscape will flourish by cultivating spaces where gardens, farms and nature become everyday resources. We are committed to empowering current and future generations to ensure that the benefits of conservation are felt broadly and meaningfully throughout our region.

Invest in Organizational Excellence & Leadership

Thurston Conservation District intends to be a leader in conservation and to facilitate regional collaboration through sufficient staff and funding capacity. This priority acknowledges that strong internal systems and visionary leadership are key to conservation work and will help us acheive the shared goals of a resilient and thriving Thurston County.

With these funds, Thurston Conservation District pledges $1 Million dollars a year to save farmland in Thurston County.

How you can get involved

Your voice matters! Here’s how to participate in the conversation about TCD rates and charges:

  • Step One – Provide comment at our June 17, 2026 Public Hearing
    Our Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing to share information about the proposed changes to our system of Rates and Charges and to hear and collect public feedback. This is an opportunity to get your voice on the record!
    You can attend or provide comment on June 17th, 2026, 5:00 – 6:00 PM:
    1) In person at the TCD Offices (582 Tilley Ct SE, Suite 152 Tumwater 98501)
    2) On Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82572744467
    3) Written comments sent by mail (582 Tilley Ct SE, Suite 152 Tumwater 98501) or email (publiccomment@thurstoncd.com) by Monday, June 22nd at 4:30pm will also be considered.
  • Step Two – Participate in Th Co Commissioner Hearing
    The five-member Thurston County Board of Commissioners will vote on the Thurston CD rates and charges proposal in the second half of 2026. Stay tuned for the where and how to give public comment at their event. In person, virtual or written comment options will be available.
    Each Commissioner represents one of five county district — use this map of Thurston County Commissioner Districts to find yours.

TCD staff help a farmer problem solve seeding with TCD’s No Till Drill, a piece of equipment that is part of the District’s Equipment Rental Program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are rates and charges?

“Rates and charges” refer to county-approved fees that local residents pay to cover public services in the community.

For example, county residents pay water and sewer management fees that are based on a county-approved system of rates and charges to cover the cost of those services.

How much will it cost me as a county resident?

Our proposal is a per-parcel rate of $25 beginning in 2027. Under this proposal, if you live in the conservation district boundaries, you will annually pay $25 parcel + $0.10 per acre. This will automatically show up on your property tax statement.

Why does TCD need public funding?

Conservation districts are about public service, not private profit. As mission-driven public entities, our budgets are tied to public funding and project-specific grants, and we can’t pursue commercial activities that aren’t directly related to our mission. Our community conservation needs continue to go unmet in Thurston County as we see more farmland loss and increased pressures on our natural resources from climate change and population growth.

Our local funding puts control in your hands, the community we serve, to support conservation of our shared landscapes and resources that are an integral part of what makes this place so special.

Why can’t TCD use other funding sources?

We do! TCD is the proud recipient of state, federal, local and private grants. But grant funding is a volatile revenue source that fluctuates year-to-year, and we have seen major funding cuts for conservation at the state and federal level.

Grant criteria can be rigid or disconnected from our community’s priorities, making it difficult to tailor grant-funded services to local needs. Rates and charges allow for local control of how those funds are invested in the county.

Local funds also serve as leverage for successful grant writing and projects on the ground. In 2026, TCD is bringing in roughly $17 for every $1 of rates and charges funding.

Why is TCD proposing a 10-year rates and charges schedule?

We currently have a 10 year rate schedule. Long-term local funding for TCD is the optimal choice for our community. Thurston County residents will benefit from:

Predictability: Reduced uncertainty about future funding gives us space to develop Thurston County-specific programs to solve and support complex natural resource and agriculture challenges, such as our unique endangered and threatened wildlife species and vibrant local agriculture economy.

Focus on Service: TCD will focus more on our mission and providing quality community service, rather than dealing with financial uncertainties and developing contingency plans for district-funded services, such as our popular soil testing program.

Pledge to Save Farmland: TCD commits to pledge $1 Million dollars a year to save farmland in our community. This complicated work takes coordination and cooperation with partners; we’re excited to have the focus and opportunity to accomplish this together.

Investment in a local Conservation Education Center: This funding helps unlock the door to a Conservation Education Center (CEC) for our community. The CEC will be a “conservation hub” that unites urban and rural residents of all ages in learning about managing farmland, agricultural businesses, wildlife habitat, shorelines and other natural resources. Learn more about our plan for the CEC here.

How will a decision be made about TCD’s proposed renewal for rates and charges?

Two decisions will be made about the proposed rates and charges renewal:

1) On June 17th from 5:00 – 6:00 PM, TCD’s Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing to collect public comment on this proposal. The hearing will be held at the TCD offices and can be attended in person, on Zoom, or comments may be submitted in writing. See details above! Those comments will be considered by the Board when they vote on the proposed rates and charges at their June business meeting. The proposal the Board adopted will then go to the Thurston County Board of Commissioners for a final decision.

2) Summer/Fall 2026 the Thurston County Board of Commissioners votes on the rates and charges system. If passed, TCD rates and charges will take effect from 2027 – 2036.

Resources

Interested in learning more about Rates and Charges?

Sarah Moorehead
Executive Director
smoorehead@thurstoncd.com
360-754-3588

You can also use our contact form.