Washington Conservation Efforts Highlighted During NRCS Visit

NRCS Assistant Chief Hans Hunt recently toured central and eastern Washington, meeting with staff, producers, and partners to highlight voluntary conservation efforts across the Evergreen State.

Over four days, Hunt visited ten sites, seeing firsthand how NRCS programs support soil health, water management, and long-term farm productivity.  Stops included Spokane, the Palouse, Toppenish, and Moses Lake, where projects ranged from regenerative agriculture and stream restoration to tribal partnerships and large-scale irrigation improvements.

At the Spokane Conservation District, Hunt met with leaders from local, state, and federal agencies, who discussed how they work well together to help producers across Washington. The discussions also reflected another NRCS priority: strengthening partnerships by improving efficiency and accountability in service delivery.

“Partnerships are essential,” Hunt said. “Seeing staff and local partners working together shows how we can reach more producers with practical solutions that fit their operations.”

Field visits across the Palouse highlighted how regenerative agriculture can reduce inputs, restore biological activity, and improve long‑term soil health.  At the Pullman Plant Materials Center, Hunt observed NRCS-Washington’s drill rig, a vehicle used constantly across the region to assist producers looking to enhance their operations with modern waste storage facilities or to invest in stream restoration projects.

During his visit with the Yakama Nation in Toppenish, Hunt emphasized the importance of Tribal partnerships in advancing conservation goals.  He toured a Pacific Lamprey restoration site and an irrigation project funded through an Alternative Funding Arrangement (AFA), along with the Yakama Nation farm, which participates in RCPP and other NRCS programs.

“These collaborations show how conservation can honor local priorities while strengthening agricultural lands,” said Hunt.

And then finally, in Moses Lake, Hunt visited the Odessa Ground Water Replacement Program, where producers and partners described how efficient irrigation systems and science‑based planning help reduce pressure on declining aquifers. The project illustrated how conserving water resources supports long‑term farm viability and protects agricultural land across an entire region.

"Washington demonstrates what’s possible when everyone works toward the same conservation goals,” Hunt said as he wrapped up his tour of the state.

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