Agriculture-watershed characterization and mapping to support a marketplace approach for implementing planning priorities in Whatcom County
Presentation Abstract
Agricultural operations and watershed features have long been key components of Whatcom County’s distinct landscape. Both are critical for our community’s economy and health. While it may seem that agriculture and watershed functions are at odds with one another after decades of regulations and planning, there are in fact many locations where protection of agricultural lands and enhancement of watershed functions can result in mutual benefits. The Whatcom County Agriculture-Watershed Pilot Project examined ways to reward the good things that farmers already do - those beneficial actions that go beyond existing regulation to maintain, enhance or protect large-scale watershed processes, while also strengthening agriculture in Whatcom County. The project explored quantitative tools to help prioritize, measure, recognize and account for voluntary actions that go above and beyond what is required by regulation, and that can generate benefits for both agricultural and watershed functions. This has been part of a larger effort within the project to examine how incentive-based approaches can work with current regulation to strengthen agricultural endeavors while also enhancing large-scale watershed processes. The methodology for agriculture-watershed characterization and mapping was developed and pilot-tested during Phase 1 of the project, and was based on the approach used in the Department of Ecology’s Puget Sound Watershed Characterization Project. Agriculture-watershed characterization and mapping work, conducted with inputs from a range of local stakeholders, identified and located agricultural and watershed priorities so that they could be mapped concurrently. The mapping process allows agricultural priorities to be integrated into routine spatial planning for consideration alongside adopted watershed priorities in Whatcom County’s lowland areas. The project was funded by a National Estuary Program Watershed Protection and Restoration Grant to Whatcom County Planning & Development Services. Project Partners included: Whatcom Farm Friends, Whatcom Conservation District and the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Session Title
Lessons from Management Approaches
Conference Track
SSE4: Ecosystem Management, Policy, and Protection
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE4-162
Start Date
6-4-2018 9:00 AM
End Date
6-4-2018 9:15 AM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Agriculture--Environmental aspects--Washington (State)--Whatcom County; Watershed management--Washington (State)--Whatcom County; Watershed restoration--Washington (State)--Whatcom County; Agricultural ecology--Washington (State)--Whatcom County
Geographic Coverage
Whatcom County (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Agriculture-watershed characterization and mapping to support a marketplace approach for implementing planning priorities in Whatcom County
Agricultural operations and watershed features have long been key components of Whatcom County’s distinct landscape. Both are critical for our community’s economy and health. While it may seem that agriculture and watershed functions are at odds with one another after decades of regulations and planning, there are in fact many locations where protection of agricultural lands and enhancement of watershed functions can result in mutual benefits. The Whatcom County Agriculture-Watershed Pilot Project examined ways to reward the good things that farmers already do - those beneficial actions that go beyond existing regulation to maintain, enhance or protect large-scale watershed processes, while also strengthening agriculture in Whatcom County. The project explored quantitative tools to help prioritize, measure, recognize and account for voluntary actions that go above and beyond what is required by regulation, and that can generate benefits for both agricultural and watershed functions. This has been part of a larger effort within the project to examine how incentive-based approaches can work with current regulation to strengthen agricultural endeavors while also enhancing large-scale watershed processes. The methodology for agriculture-watershed characterization and mapping was developed and pilot-tested during Phase 1 of the project, and was based on the approach used in the Department of Ecology’s Puget Sound Watershed Characterization Project. Agriculture-watershed characterization and mapping work, conducted with inputs from a range of local stakeholders, identified and located agricultural and watershed priorities so that they could be mapped concurrently. The mapping process allows agricultural priorities to be integrated into routine spatial planning for consideration alongside adopted watershed priorities in Whatcom County’s lowland areas. The project was funded by a National Estuary Program Watershed Protection and Restoration Grant to Whatcom County Planning & Development Services. Project Partners included: Whatcom Farm Friends, Whatcom Conservation District and the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife.
