About the District
Who We Are
The Grant County Conservation District (GCCD) is a political subdivision of the State of Washington with powers and authorities identified in the RCW 89.08 . We are led and operated locally by an elected and appointed Board of Supervisors who oversees our team of staff. The GCCD serves all of Grant County and the irrigated portion of Adams County, with our main office located in Moses Lake.
Established by the State Legislature in 1939, the Washington State Conservation Commission provides guidance and support to the GCCD and 45 other conservation districts across the State of Washington.
Our Mission
Our mission is to address local natural resource conservation issues by creating local working solutions through educating and serving District land occupiers in the voluntary implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs).
History of Conservation Districts
The Dust Bowl drought of the 1930's caused a national crisis. Congress responded by declaring soil conservation a national priority. Conservation districts were created to connect the technical and financial resources of the federal government with local volunteers and landowners who knew the land best. Today, nearly 3,000 conservation districts operate in the United States to help develop solutions to local resource concerns.
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The Grant County Conservation District works alongside residents who care for the land, water, and wildlife that define the region. Rooted in a long history of locally led stewardship, the organization helps translate broad conservation goals into practical actions that fit the landscape of central Washington. From the irrigated fields stretching across Grant and Adams counties to the natural corridors that frame them, the district serves as a connecting point between landowners, communities, and the broader mission of caring for shared natural resources in everyday, meaningful ways that endure across generations of use and change.
At the heart of the district is a locally governed Board of Supervisors, supported by a team of staff who bring a wide range of experience in agriculture, natural resources, and community engagement. Supervisors are elected and appointed by neighbors, which keeps decision making close to the people affected by those decisions. Staff members work to coordinate programs, provide technical and financial assistance, and connect residents with the right resources for their situation. Together, this leadership structure helps ensure that conservation work reflects the priorities of the people who live, farm, and recreate throughout the district every day.
The district's reach extends across a varied landscape, including working farmland, rangeland, waterways, and the communities that depend on them. Programs often focus on soil health, water quality and quantity, irrigation efficiency, livestock management, and habitat for fish and wildlife. Lawn care, landscaping, farm energy audits, and noxious weed coordination are also part of the broader effort to help residents manage their properties in ways that protect natural resources. By offering education, classroom resources, and on the ground technical support, the district encourages practices that benefit both the land and the people who rely on it.
Public participation is a key part of how the district operates. Regular board meetings, public notices, agendas, and minutes keep residents informed about ongoing projects, decisions, and opportunities for involvement. Community members are encouraged to attend meetings, review reports, and share input on topics ranging from watershed planning to cost share assistance and burn permits. By making records accessible and welcoming feedback, the district fosters a transparent process where conservation is shaped through ongoing conversation rather than top down decisions, helping to build trust and shared responsibility.
Partnerships strengthen the district's ability to serve the region. Collaboration with the Washington State Conservation Commission, watershed councils, and local groups helps align local priorities with wider initiatives such as groundwater management and broader conservation programs. These relationships open doors to additional technical expertise, funding, and educational opportunities for residents. Whether coordinating across organizations or working one on one with landowners, the district sees collaboration as essential to addressing complex natural resource challenges and to sustaining healthy farms, ecosystems, and communities well into the future.