Welcome by WADE President and Awards. CTD Spotlight: Meet your CTD team, hear about an exciting new project, and learn how CTD resources can help you grow professionally through training, tools, and collaboration. (General Audience)
This presentation traces the history of Northwest Tribes from the Stevens Treaties through profound land loss, forced policies, and enduring resilience. It highlights key moments such as the Fishing Wars and the 1974 Boldt Decision, which reaffirmed Tribal sovereignty and established co-management between Treaty Tribes and the State of Washington. The story concludes by emphasizing government-to-government relationships, education, environmental stewardship, and the ongoing importance of family, community, and kinship. (General Audience)
This session is designed to gather input from users on the replacement for the current SCC system(s). Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences, highlight challenges, and suggest improvements. The goal is to ensure the system aligns with user needs, enhances workflow efficiency, and supports data-driven decision-making across SCC. (General Audience)
This talk explores how Indigenous land management practices and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) offer practical, time-tested frameworks for contemporary land stewardship. Centered on biocultural restoration models, Linzie draws on place-based, community-engaged work to demonstrate how food production, ecological restoration, and cultural responsibility are deeply interconnected. The presentation highlights how land management and restoration efforts informed by Indigenous knowledge can strengthen soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience across a range of working landscapes. Participants will leave with clear insights into engaging TEK in modern land management through responsible partnerships, long-term relationships, and place-based accountability. (General Audience)
Participants take a brief personality style profile and learn about their type as well as other peoples’ types. Each personality type is explored- the positives and potential challenges of those types-noting that each personality style is awesome. Working with folks with same, similar, and/or quite different styles is discussed, as well as ways to better work with all personality types. (General Audience)
Come have fun at the annual WADE Lawn Games Mixer! The CTD will have all kinds of fun games and beverages on hand. Come mingle and meet new people, connect with colleagues from other Districts, and have fun! Held in The Meadow (behind the Fountain Cluster near Meadow Stage). (General Audience)
The Finance and Admin Track emphasizes engagement, connection, and shared learning, beginning with an interactive icebreaker to foster participation and connection. (General Audience)
This session offers an interactive look inside the USDA-NRCS Soil Health Trailer, a mobile classroom designed to bring soil science to life through hands-on demonstrations and visual learning tools. Participants will be guided through a series of exhibits that illustrate key soil health principles, including water infiltration, erosion control, aggregate stability, and the role of living roots, cover crops, and residue in protecting soil resources. (General Audience) (Combined with Education, Communication & Outreach track)
The Family Forest Fish Passage Program (FFFPP) assists private forestland owners in removing culverts and other stream crossing structures that keep trout, salmon, and other fish from reaching upstream habitat. The program has specific eligibility requirements and a project waiting list. Learn how to identify projects that might qualify for this program. (General Audience)
Introduction and functional demo of the new Living Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) tool. An online, GIS based tool for developing CWPP documents and tracking projects and changes in conditions in real time. The tool is easy to use, even for non-GIS experts, is being hosted by Washington DNR and being made available to entities that develop CWPP’s statewide. (General Audience) (Combined with Forestry track)
This open forum brings finance and administrative staff together for facilitated roundtable discussions focused on shared learning and peer connection. Participants will have the opportunity to debrief sessions from the day, ask questions, share experiences, and discuss common challenges in a collaborative and supportive setting. (General Audience)
Open discussion on what districts use for collecting data in the field. Hareware, software, processes, or even pen & paper. Bring examples and your questions about what your district might need for a project. (General Audience)
Join us for a panel discussion about digital accessibility and the new requirements for conservation districts that will start April 2027. During this session we will discuss the “why” behind these updates and aim to answer questions from districts and provide resources to help districts to help foster their accessibility work at home. Paige DeChambeau, SCC’s communications director will MC the event. Please send any questions you would like the panel to discuss to her at [email protected]. (General Audience)
Field Session - We will carpool to the nearby fish hatchery where Randy will share a tribal perspective on the importance of restoration and why it's so important to remember the long cultural history of the areas where we work. If time allows, we may travel to another nearby area with tribal significance.Fiel (General Audience) (Combined with Riparian Restoration track)
This session will explore Carbon Farm Planning, which is a great way to start a conversation with producers about the climate implications of agricultural (or other land management) practices and to give practical steps to manage carbon sequestration and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions on the farm. Participants will learn more about the Carbon Farm Planning Template, how assess existing conditions, and how to provide recommendations for carbon-friendly farming practices. (General Audience)
Karen Hills is the Sustainable Farms and Fields Program Manager for the Washington State Conservation Commission. She holds degrees in Rural Sociology, Soil Science and Crop Science. Karen enjoys working at the interface of science and practice and has over 20 years of combined experience... Read More →
Field Session - We will carpool to the nearby fish hatchery where Randy will share a tribal perspective on the importance of restoration and why it's so important to remember the long cultural history of the areas where we work. If time allows, we may travel to another nearby area with tribal significance.Fiel (General Audience) (Combined with Riparian Restoration track)
Field Session - We will carpool to the nearby fish hatchery where Randy will share a tribal perspective on the importance of restoration and why it's so important to remember the long cultural history of the areas where we work. If time allows, we may travel to another nearby area with tribal significance.Fiel (General Audience) (Combined with Riparian Restoration track)
