If you are a landowner in the South Sound region, there may be assistance programs that offer technical site-specific planning support and/or financial benefits like additional income, tax reductions, and project cost offsets. These assistance programs can help property owners better manage their land for the long-term health of their families, communities, and landscapes by conserving natural resources and improving their agricultural operations.
Looking for resources beyond the South Sound? Check out this Conservation Explorer tool.
How to Use This Resource
This webpage lists programs for which South Sound landowners may be eligible. Please note, these programs are not Thurston County specific.
To learn more about each program, use the drop-down button to expand the program box. This information is intended to provide an overview of program information.
If you need help navigating this website or are interested in learning more about how to get involved with these programs, reach out to Nora Carman-White from Thurston Conservation District. Program-specific contact information is also included under each program listing.
Program Types
Use the buttons below to jump to specific program categories or scroll to explore all incentive programs.
Explore easement, acquisition, and land transaction programs designed to conserve ecologically and agriculturally significant lands.
Explore programs and organizations that offer one-on-one site-specific technical guidance and planning support.
Explore financial assistance, cost-share, and grant programs that may help fully fund or offset the cost of projects on your property.
Note – You may notice duplicates within the three listed categories. Several programs offer multiple types of incentives and are listed under multiple categories.
Easement, Acquisition, and Land Transaction Programs
Easements, acquisitions, and other types of land transactions are voluntary legal agreements between landowners and other organizations or entities. Oftentimes, these types of agreements include the sale of development rights, which allows landowners to retain ownership, while protecting natural and agricultural values in perpetuity.
To learn more about easements, check out this helpful handout.
Natural Resource Conservation Service
The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Agricultural Land Easement (ACEP ALE) helps land trusts, and other entities, protect, restore, and enhance wetlands or protect working farms and ranches through conservation easements.
What is paid for: Up to 50 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement.
Match: 50% match required; some exceptions do apply.
Eligibility: Any state or local unit of government, or qualified non-governmental organization can apply.
Contact information: Carlee Elliott; carlee.elliott@usda.gov or find your local service center.
Natural Resource Conservation Service
The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP WRE) helps private and Tribal landowners protect, restore, and enhance wetlands that have previously been degraded due to agricultural uses.
What is paid for: NRCS pays 100% of the easement value and restoration costs for the purchase of the easement. NRCS pays 50-75% of long-term contracts and easement costs.
Match requirements: No match is required for permanent easements. Some match is required for long-term contracts or easements.
Eligibility: Private landowners and Tribes.
Contact information: Carlee Elliott; carlee.elliott@usda.gov or find your local service center.
Farm Service Agency & WA State Conservation Commission
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a subsect of the Conservation Reserve Program. CREP is specifically designed to improve the habitat of a target species. In Western Washington, that’s along rivers and streams for salmon.
What is paid for: Agricultural producers are paid a yearly rental rate per acre ($50,000 annual max payment). This program doubles the rental rate of the traditional Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. This program offers a sign-up incentive payment and pays 100% cost of approved practices.
Match: Landowners are responsible for paying for a portion of the project. Payment rates per conservation practice or enhancement are posted at the beginning of the fiscal year.
Eligibility: State agency, Tribal government, or non-government organization. Only landowners with specific salmon-bearing streams are eligible.
Contact information: Brian Cochrane, bcochrane@scc.wa.gov
Farm Service Agency
This program removes and restores environmentally sensitive lands from production via a 10-15 year contract with farmers.
What is paid for: Agricultural producers are paid a yearly rental rate per acre ($300/acre max). This program also pays 50% cost of approved practices.
Match: N/A
Eligibility: Agricultural producers who have operated their land for the previous 12 months. Land must have four years in production between 2012-2017.
For local FSA contact information, find your local service center.
Farm Service Agency
This program’s goal is to remove environmentally sensitive land from production and install native plant species to improve environmental health.
What is paid for: Agricultural producers are paid a yearly rental rate per acre ($300/acre max). Rental rates at 85-90% of regional rental average.
Match: N/A
Eligibility: Agricultural producers who have operated their land for the previous 12 months. Land must have four years in production between 2012-2017.
For local FSA contact information, find your local service center.
Farm Service Agency
This program aims to protect grassland, including rangeland and pastureland, while maintaining the area as grazing lands.
What is paid for: Agricultural producers are paid a yearly rental rate per acre. Rental rates are based on the 75% national average for pasture. 50% cost of approved practices
Match: N/A
Eligibility: Agricultural producers who have operated on their land for 12 previous months. This program also pays 50% cost of approved practices.
For local FSA contact information, find your local service center.
Thurston County
Thurston County provides funds to a land trust to purchase a conservation easement or land outright from a landowner with the goal of preserving open space, historic or archeological interests, wildlife habitat, or farm and working lands.
What is paid for: The fair market value of the property, as determined by an appraisal.
Match: Pierce County -10%; Thurston County – None
Eligibility: Land trusts, non-profit conservation organizations, park districts, and cities.
Contact information:
Pierce County Contact: Chris Chaput, Christina.chaput@piercecountywa.gov
Thurston County Contact: Andrew Deffobis, andrew.deffobis@co.thurston.wa.us
Recreation and Conservation Office
This program provides funding to buy development rights on significant farmland. This program also funds “restoration of natural functions”.
What is paid for: Land acquisition (easements), restoration and enhancement, stewardship plans.
Match: 50% match requirement.
Eligibility: Cities, counties, non-profits, Washington State Conservation Commission
Contact information: Kim Sellers, kim.sellers@rco.wa.gov
Washington State Housing Finance Commission
This program assists in protecting important at-risk farmland in order to keep it in production while lowering barriers to land access for beginning or historically underserved farmers and ranchers.
What is paid for: Acquisition of fee-title interest in farmland in order to place an easement on a property.
Match: N/A
Eligibility: Conservation organizations and entities.
Contact information: Dan Schilling, dan.schilling@wshfc.org
Washington State Conservation Commission
This program works in conjunction with Farm Protection & Affordability Investment (PAI) to permanently protect high-quality farmland at risk of development.
What is paid for: Agricultural conservation easements.
Match: No match requirements. To be eligible, projects must have secured financing from Farm PAI.
Eligibility: Private landowners.
Contact information: Kate Delavan, kdelavan@scc.wa.gov
Thurston County
Pierce County
This program mitigates for impacts to species covered by the Thurston County or Pierce County Habitat Conservation Plan.
What is paid for: Fee-title land acquisition or easements.
Match: N/A
Eligibility: Landowners with species covered in the HCP on their property.
United States Army
This program helps protect properties with habitats or species that are protected on-base.
This program is not yet in effect but should be by the end of calendar year 2023.
What is paid for: TBD.
Match: TBD.
Eligibility: TBD.
Contact information: Sean Callahan, sean.e.callahan3.civ@army.mil
Thurston Conservation District
The South Sound FarmLink program keeps farmland in production in the South Sound region for generations to come so that it is affordable and accessible to all interested farmers.
What is paid for: N/A, this program matches landowners seeking farmers to rent or buy their property with those seeking land. Support for document creation, agreement making, and farmland successional planning is provided.
Match: N/A
Eligibility: Any landowner in the Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Grays Harbor County area with land to list or anyone seeking farmland.
Contact information: Tina Wagner, twagner@thurstoncd.com
Thurston County
This program’s goal is to preserve farmland while allowing owners to get the economic value of their land’s development potential.
What is paid for: The transfer of development rights.
Match: N/A
Eligibility: In Pierce County rural lands, resource land (i.e., agricultural or forest), wildlife habitat lands and recreational conservation lands. For more information see Eligible Sending Site Criteria.
In Thurston County agricultural landowners within a long-term agricultural (LTA) zoning district.
Contact information:
Mike Poteet, Michael.poteet1@piercecountywa.gov
Andrew Deffobis, andrew.deffobis@co.thurston.wa.us
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance, sometimes called a grant or cost-share, is designed to support farmers, producers, and landowners to better their agricultural operations and property while also conserving our shared natural resources.
Ecostudies Institute
This program supports the adoption of conservation grazing practices by private producers.
What is paid for: Weed control, seeding, ecological monitoring.
Match: None
Eligibility: Private landowners in the Chehalis basin.
Contact information: Sarah Hamman, Shamman@ecoinst.org
Natural Resources Conservation Service
This program is a bridge between the EQIP and CSP programs that provides both annual stewardship payments as well as funds for conservation practice implementation.
What is paid for: Conservation management practice implementation and/or annual payments.
Match: Landowners are responsible for paying for a portion of the project. Payment rates per conservation practice or enhancement are posted at the beginning of the fiscal year.
Eligibility: Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who own or lease agricultural land may be eligible.
For local NRCS contact information, find your local service center.
Farm Service Agency & WA State Conservation Commission
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a subsect of the Conservation Reserve Program. CREP is specifically designed to improve the habitat of a target species. In Western Washington, that’s along rivers and streams for salmon.
What is paid for: Conservation management practices.
Match: Landowners are responsible for paying for a portion of the project. Payment rates per conservation practice or enhancement are posted at the beginning of the fiscal year.
Eligibility: State agency, Tribal government, or non-government organization. Only landowners with specific salmon-bearing streams are eligible.
Contact information: Brian Cochrane, bcochrane@scc.wa.gov
Farm Service Agency
This program removes and restores environmentally sensitive lands from production via 10-15 year contracts with farmers.
What is paid for: Agricultural producers are paid a yearly rental rate per acre ($300/acre max). This program also pays 50% cost of approved practices.
Match: N/A
Eligibility: Agricultural producers who have operated their land for the previous 12 months. Land must have four years in production between 2012-2017.
For local FSA contact information, find your local service center.
Farm Service Agency
This program’s goal is to remove environmentally sensitive land from production and install native plant species to improve environmental health.
What is paid for: Agricultural producers are paid a yearly rental rate per acre ($300/acre max). Rental rates at 85-90% of regional rental average.
Match: N/A
Eligibility: Agricultural producers who have operated their land for the previous 12 months. Land must have four years in production between 2012-2017.
For local FSA contact information, find your local service center.
Farm Service Agency
This program aims to protect grassland, including rangeland, and pastureland, while maintaining the areas as grazing lands.
What is paid for: Agricultural producers are paid a yearly rental rate per acre. Rental rates are based off the 75% national average for pasture. 50% cost of approved practices
Match: N/A
Eligibility: Agricultural producers who have operated on their land for 12 previous months. This program also pays 50% cost of approved practices.
For local FSA contact information, find your local service center.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
CSP is a program where landowners receive annual payments to maintain conservation stewardship activities and adopt additional enhancements on their working lands.
What is paid for: Annual contract payment plus supplemental payments. Payment rates per conservation practice or enhancement are posted at the beginning of the fiscal year.
Match: Some match may be required.
Eligibility: Agricultural producers who currently have an operation and plan to continue for 5 years.
For local NRCS contact information, find your local service center.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
EQIP is a financial assistance program where landowners can get funding to implement voluntary conservation measures that work with their agricultural operation, whether it’s for profit or not.
What is paid for: Producers must pay upfront costs with their own funds. A producer is reimbursed after a conservation practice is certified
as meeting Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) standards and specifications. Payment rates per conservation practice are posted at the beginning of the fiscal year.
Match: Some match may be required.
Eligibility: Agricultural producers and non-industrial forest managers
For local NRCS contact information, find your local service center.
Your Local County
This program allows owners of certain properties to apply for a reduction of their County property taxes in exchange for maintaining their land in a undeveloped state.
What is paid for:
A 30-90% reduction of property taxes in Pierce County.
A 50-90% reduction of property taxes in Thurston County.
Match: There is a fee to apply.
Eligibility: Property owners with timberlands, agricultural lands, recreation lands, or habitat areas.
United States Department of Fish & Wildlife
This non-regulatory program provides free technical and financial assistance to plan, design, supervise and monitor customized habitat restoration projects. These projects range in size from a wetland of a few acres to a grassland restoration covering several hundred thousand acres.
What is paid for: Project costs and planning support.
Match: N/A
Eligibility: All private landowners interested in restoring wildlife habitat on their land. Priority goes to projects judged likely to provide habitat for rare, threatened, and endangered species.
Contact information: Nicholas George, nicholas_george@fws.gov
Washington State Conservation Commission
The goal of this program is to make 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.
What is paid for: This program funds technical assistance, purchase of supplies, equipment sharing, cost-sharing for Best Management Practices (BMP), annual payments for carbon sequestration, and more. BMPs must match NRCS practices. Applications should provide estimates of carbon dioxide equivalent impact benefits using COMET-Planner. The maximum cost-share per landowner or operator per fiscal year is $100K.
Match: None.
Eligibility: Conservation districts, state agencies, universities, Tribes, counties, cities, special purpose districts. These entities can work directly with a landowner on an application, if capacity allows.
Contact information: Karen Hills, khills@scc.wa.gov
Technical Guidance & Planning Support
Technical guidance often involves one-on-one site-specific planning and guidance offered by a conservation or agricultural technical service provider.
Your Local Conservation District
Through the process of Conservation Planning and the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs); Districts work with their communities to support farm production and producer goals while reducing the impacts of farm activities on our shared natural resources.
What is paid for: Conservation and technical planning services.
Match: None.
Eligibility: Community members within each District’s boundary.
Ecostudies Institute
This program supports the adoption of conservation grazing practices by private producers.
What is paid for: Weed control, seeding, ecological monitoring.
Match: None.
Eligibility: Private landowners in the Chehalis basin.
Contact information: Sarah Hamman, Shamman@ecoinst.org
This program provides funding to buy development rights on significant farmland. This program also funds “restoration of natural functions”
What is paid for: Land acquisition (easements), restoration and enhancement, stewardship plans
Match: 50% match requirement.
Eligibility: Cities, counties, non-profits, Washington State Conservation Commission
Contact information: Kim Sellers, kim.sellers@rco.wa.gov
United States Department of Fish & Wildlife
This non-regulatory program provides free technical and financial assistance to plan, design, supervise and monitor customized habitat restoration projects. These projects range in size from a wetland of a few acres to a grassland restoration covering several hundred thousand acres.
What is paid for: Project costs and planning support.
Match: N/A
Eligibility: All private landowners interested in restoring wildlife habitat on their land. Priority goes to projects judged likely to provide habitat for rare, threatened, and endangered species.
Contact information: Nicholas George, nicholas_george@fws.gov
Washington State Conservation Commission
The goal of this program is to make 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.
What is paid for: This program funds technical assistance, purchase of supplies, equipment sharing, cost-sharing for Best Management Practices (BMP), annual payments for carbon sequestration, and more. BMPs must match NRCS practices. Applications should provide estimates of carbon dioxide equivalent impact benefits using COMET-Planner. The maximum cost-share per landowner or operator per fiscal year is $100K
Match: None.
Eligibility: Conservation districts, state agencies, universities, Tribes, counties, cities, special purpose districts. These entities can work directly with a landowner on an application, if capacity allows.
Contact information: Karen Hills, khills@scc.wa.gov
Washington State Conservation Commission
The Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) is an alternative approach for counties in Washington State to protect and voluntarily enhance environmentally critical areas while maintaining and improving the long-term viability of local agriculture.
What is paid for: This program funds technical assistance, planning support, and will help pay for portions of project costs.
Match: None.
Eligibility: Landowners with agriculture on their property and a critical area.
Thurston County VSP Contact information: Marguerite Abplanalp, mabplanalp@thurstoncd.com
This webpage was created by the partners participating in the JBLM Sentinel Landscape Partnership Program. To learn more about this partnership visit Joint Base Lewis McChord Sentinel Landscape’s webpage here.
If you need help navigating this website or would like to learn more about how to get involved with the listed incentive programs reach out to Thurston Conservation District staff.
Nora Carman-White
Communications & Education Manager
nwhite@thurstoncd.com
360-999-3727
You can also use our contact form.