Support local funding for Cascadia Conservation District
About Cascadia Conservation District
In 1939, the Washington State Legislature passed RCW 89.08, paving the way for the creation of conservation districts throughout the state. Locally, this led to the formation of two districts in 1948: the Wenatchee-Entiat Soil Conservation District and the Lake Chelan Soil Conservation District. These two districts merged in October 1973 to become the Chelan County Conservation District. Then, in July 2007, we adopted our current name, Cascadia Conservation District, to avoid confusion with county government and to better reflect our commitment to serving the needs of our members and stakeholders.
Our mission is to promote the wise stewardship and conservation of natural resources for the benefit of current and future generations in our community. We believe in building cooperative, practical solutions that create the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people.
We invite you to learn more about the people behind our work and explore the links to meet our Board of Directors, staff, federal partners, and the organizations that support our mission.
Rates and Charges Proposal
Under RCW 89.08.405, county legislative authorities are authorized to establish a system of rates and charges assessed per property parcel to help fund conservation district services. In 2016, Cascadia County Council adopted the Ordinance, establishing a ten-year rate structure spanning 2017 through 2026.
Rates and Charges 2017-2026
Our current Rates and Charges authorization is expiring at the end of 2026.
Current authorization charges $4.63 per parcel for a total of ~$192,000 annually.
The rate has been static since it was adopted in 2017
Since 2017 Cascadia CD has leveraged Rates and Charges at a ratio of $8.10 of state and federal funding to $1.00 of local funding ($13.8 million generated from $1.7 million)
Alongside this proposal, we are also developing our new Strategic Plan. Feedback gathered through this engagement process will directly inform both efforts, ensuring our work continues to reflect the priorities of the community we serve. To learn more, please visit our Strategic Plan here.
How you can get involved
Your support matters! Here’s how to participate in the conversation about Cascadia Conservation District rates and charges:
Step One – Provide comment Our Board will hold a public hearing to share the information about the proposed changes in our system of Rates and Charges and to hear and collect public feedback on July 23, 2026. Written comments can be sent to [email protected] or
Step Two – Participate in the County Commissioner Hearing Chelan County Board of Commissioners will vote on the Cascadia 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
