To work with landowners and residents to develop sustainable land use practices that protect and conserve San Juan County's soil and water for habitat, forestry, farming, residential and other uses.
Our Role in the Community
The San Juan Islands Conservation District is a local organization serving residents county-wide. It is a legally constituted arm of Washington State and is non-regulatory. The district is governed by five elected and appointed volunteers who serve on the District Board of Supervisors.
The Conservation District is committed to protecting, conserving and enhancing natural resources in San Juan County:
• Technical guidance on land use and conservation practices, farm/forest planning, low impact development
• Natural resource information resources (resource library, publications, newsletter)
• Research and restoration projects
• Public education workshops & clinics
• Funding assistance & grants
Timeline History of the San Juan Islands Conservation District
2010 - US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grant 3 year sub-award for LID land-owner technical assistance in Eastsound and Westcott/Garrison Bay Watersheds.
2009 - Complete 5 year Centennial Clean Water Grant targeting False Bay Watershed and promotion of Low Impact Development.
2008 - Work with AHBL and Puget Sound Partnership to develop Low Impact Development alternatives for local application.
2007 - Change of name to 'San Juan Islands Conservation District'.
2005 – San Juan County Board of County Commissioners approved an annual assessment for the District at $5.00 per parcel for five years.
2002 – Water quality monitoring program initiated by the District on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Island.
2001 – District selected as Lead Entity for the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board Program in San Juan County.
2001 – First District Manager hired by District’s Board of Supervisors, along with an expanded staff to better serve the needs of County residents.
2000 – San Juan County Watershed Management Action Plan adopted by the San Juan County Board of County Commissioners-support provided by the District.
1990 – Washington State Department of Ecology grant received by the District for $5,000 for water quality testing of Crow Valley wells on Orcas Island.
1979 – Washington State Conservation Commission grant received by the District for $1,000 for District operations.
1975 – San Juan County Soil and Water Conservation District renamed the San Juan County Conservation District.
1964 – San Juan County Soil and Water Conservation District established through a merger of the Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Island Soil Conservation Districts.
1947 – Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Island Soil Conservation Districts established.
1939 – Washington State Soil Conservation District Law passed.
1935 – U.S. Soil Conservation Act signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The San Juan Conservation District is one of 47 conservation districts across the State of Washington, and it continues to advance sustainable farming & forestry county-wide through free farm/forest resource planning services, as well as providing free advice on sustainable building & land use practices. We are guided by the Washington State Conservation Commission and we are a member of the Washington Association of Conservation Districts.
ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY:
Thor Hanson, Board Member, Appointed Board Member May 2008-July 2010
Thor was a WSCC appointed Supervisor for the District for two years. He was born in Bellingham and grew up spending summers in the San Juans, where his family connections span five generations. He holds a Masters in botany and a PhD in Natural Resources and has studied everything from primates to pollination in ecosystems around the globe. He has worked as land steward for the San Juan County Land Bank and the San Juan Preservation Trust, and continues to work as an independent researcher, author and biological consultant.
Eliza Buck, Agricultural Resources Committee Coordinator, January 2007-June 2009
The Conservation District supported the Agricultural Resources Committee of San Juan County (ARC), an advisory committee to the San Juan County Council. The San Juan Islands Conservation District provided administrative and financial support to the Agricultural Resources Committee (ARC) through an inter-local agreement with San Juan County. Eliza was the Coordinator while many staff were members representing San Juan County farms. The ARC is now administered from the San Juan County Economic Development Council (July 2009). From 1991 to 2003, Eliza worked throughout the West as a public folklorist documenting and presenting traditional practices to the public. Eliza worked at The Whale Museum on San Juan Island from 2003 to 2006. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in cultural anthropology from UC Berkeley and a Master’s Degree in folklore and mythology from UCLA.
Tim Clark, Farmland Preservation Coordinator, February 2008-June 2009
The ARC received a grant from the Washington State Office of Farmland Preservation to promote farmland preservation in San Juan County. The ARC hired Tim to inventory and map farms. Tim completed the assignment and now works for the SJC Land Bank. He lives on his Lopez Island farm, raising livestock, hay, and grain. He worked as a local field surveyor while building his green, off-grid house. He graduated from the University of Washington with a BS in soils relating to plant growth.
Bill Hamilton, District Manager 2001-2006, Financial Officer 2006-April 2009
Bill coordinated budget and finance for the Conservation District. He served as District Manager from April, 2001 until his retirement in May 2006. He continued to assist the Conservation District as the financial officer until April of 2009. Bill worked in non-profit finance and management including twenty years as Deputy Director of a large community services agency in Marin County, California. He had a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Kentucky and Bachelor of Laws Degree from Yale University.
Ron Zee, District Manager from 2006-May 2008
Ron was the Conservation District Manager from June 2006 through 2008. A resident of San Juan Island, Ron specialized in non-profit development and management in the non-profit sector in Colorado and New Mexico for twenty years. He has worked in government at both the state and federal level, with tribal organizations, and helped establish a multidisciplinary scientific research center in New Mexico. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Macalester College, and a Master’s Degree in International Relations from American University.
Jerry Kasparek, Board Chair, Elected from 1995 to May 2008
Jerry served as a volunteer as our District Board Chair for 13 years. Jerry was raised in Southern California and graduated from California State Polytechnic College with a degree in Architectural Engineering. He spent three and one-half years in the Navy Civil Engineering Corps as an Officer. Upon completion of active duty he obtained an Architectural license and practiced for thirty years in California. Jerry's wife, Shirley retired from teaching high school art and ceramics, and the couple moved to Orcas Island in 1993. Jerry became interested in the conservation district in 1996 and became an associate in 1999. His goal was to help the community become more aware of the natural resources, and to have respect for the land and environment, with the hope this country can be passed onto future generations in good condition.
Thom Pence, Vice Chair, Appointed Board Member from 2000-May 2008
Thom graduated from Michigan State University in 1972 with a BS in Forestry. He worked for the US Forest Service from 1969 (seasonally till graduating from college) until retirement in 1999. Thom spent the majority of his 20 year career in silviculture (including reforestation, stand prescription writing, thinning, pest management, vegetation management and urban forestry/arboriculture), with several seasons of timber presale (including sale layout, timber marking), timber sale administration (including timber scaling and beach log salvage) and fire suppression. He worked in minerals management (inspecting exploratory drilling sites and mine construction), while still doing silviculture work. He wrote numerous NEPA documents and worked in the schools (K-12) doing environmental education programs. Thom moved to the San Juans in 1999 and volunteered his time with the CD and helped save the threatened Garry Oak (Quercus garryiana) habitat