Okanogan Conservation District

09/04/2026

Our office will be closed on Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day. We will reopen on Tuesday, September 8th at 8:00am. We hope you enjoy the holiday weekend!

09/04/2026

Do you have great photos of natural resources, conservation work, agricultural practices, or people enjoying the outdoors in Okanogan County? Enter them in the Okanogan Conservation District's Calendar Photo Contest! Deadline: Friday, October 9th.

The top 13 photos will be featured in our 2027 calendar distributed county wide and featured on Okanogan CD's social media channels as our photo of the month. We're looking for year-round photos that relate to each month of the year.

Photo can include:
--Landscapes, scenery, plants, wildlife, and habitat
--People caring for natural resources
--People enjoying the outdoors
--Agriculture, farming, livestock
--Land stewardship & conservation practices
--Historic conservation photos, or conservation and farming practices

We can't wait to see your photos! Visit our website or submit them here: https://tinyurl.com/OCDPhotoContest

08/27/2026

In partnership with American Forests, Okanogan CD is offering FREE post-fire forest management plans for a limited time. In order to qualify you must have 50 acres or more of forest land that has burned in the last 10 years.

These plans include a forest inventory, an individualized management plan, and appendices that outline information such as property soil type and unique features. This process is tailored to your unique goals and is a guiding resource, not a binding agreement. Our planning staff will consider your property and how you would like to see it progress in the coming years and decades

If you are interested, please reach out to Sam Nurmi, [email protected] or 509-429-4326, by September 30th, 2026 to learn more and see if you qualify.

08/25/2026

If you are an orchardist who's property was impacted by the recent wildfires in our community, Okanogan CD needs your help. Working with our partners at FSA and WDFW, we are gathering loss reports from orchards as we work to access funds to support post-fire refencing to reduce future loss from deer and other wildlife. We need as accurate data on the level of need for refencing as possible as requests for funding are made at the state and federal levels.

If you suffered fence loss, or any other damage to your orchard due to wildfire please fill out our post-wildfire intake form: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/019ed212876e70d0baf258695460f319

For those who have lost trees, learn more about the FSA's Tree Assistance Program (TAP) here: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/disaster-recovery/tree-assistance-program-tap

PC: Airan Mendoza

08/25/2026

Virtual Fence Workshop TONIGHT at 6! Hear from three virtual fence vendors at the Omak Elks Lodge.

🐂 VIRTUAL FENCE WORKSHOP IN OMAK!

Interested in learning more about virtual fencing and how it could work for your operation? This is a great opportunity to hear directly from representatives from three virtual fence vendors currently operating in the West — Vence, Halter & Gallagher.

📅 Tuesday, August 25
⏰ 6:00 PM
📍 Omak Elks Lodge

They will also discuss cost-share opportunities available for the vendor of your choice. Snacks and beverages will be provided!

Questions? Contact Ryan J. Sample, President of the Okanogan County Cattlemen’s Association:

📞 (509) 306-0184
📧 [email protected]

Come learn, ask questions, compare options and see what virtual fencing could mean for your ranch!

08/21/2026

Has your forest property recently burned? Resources and assistance are available to help you understand your land management options. Certain forest management practices require permitting issued by DNR, and potentially mandatory replanting, depending on what is being done.

This guide from After the Fire Washington outlines how to begin your post-fire forest management journey; more information can be found at afterthefirewa.org. Additional resources can also be found at www.okanogancd.org/wildfire.

Contact our Forests and Wildfire Program Lead Eli Loftis at [email protected] or 509-429-3453 for assistance relating to forest management.

Contact Kyle Buckmiller, DNR Forest Practice Forester for Okanogan and Ferry Counties at [email protected] or 509-999-8545 for information about post-fire compliance with Washington State Forest Practice rules.

08/21/2026

It's still smoke season! Stay vigilant about protecting your health, especially if you're in a sensitve group. For free N95s stop by our office during business hours at 1251 2nd Avenue South, Room 102 in Okanogan. For the real-time air quality index, check out resources such as the Watch Duty app or https://www.airnow.gov

08/20/2026

Stop by on Saturday for the Tonasket School Garden Celebration! Don't miss out on the fun 🥕🌷🌱

We'd love to see you on Saturday, August 22nd, for the Tonasket School Garden Celebration! We are hosting a community potluck, live music, and community fun in collaboration with the Tonasket School District, Tonasket School Garden, and Leaping Sheep Farms. Potluck dishes are optional but encouraged; most importantly, come stop by and visit anytime from 5pm to 8pm! The garden is located next to the football field on Roy Stotts Avenue, off Havillah Road, in Tonasket 🌱🌷🥕

Questions? Contact Jack Earnest: [email protected]

08/18/2026

Our new stream table has been hitting the road as we visit students around the county to educate about water quality and stream health. Take a look at this lesson with Okanogan Middle School students from last spring. We're looking forward to the new school year!

Thank you to the Department of Ecology for their funding support of our educational water quality education.