Agriculture Strategic Plan Public Review Process

May 4-June 5, 2023.

Input Survey

Please click here to take the survey.

Outreach and Input Events

Plan Presentation

Click here to view the plan presentation.

Request Presentation

Please contact Patrice Barrentine to request a presentation to your organization.

Mission/Vision

This plan’s scope of work was created by Fish, Farm, Flood (FFF), but it is also a stand-alone agricultural plan to guide support for agricultural needs in the Snoqualmie Valley Agriculture Production District (SVAPD) over the next 25 years. In March 2019, the Agriculture Task Force was formed and convened by King County Agriculture Staff. The task force worked on the problems facing the commercial farming sector in the SVAPD in managing the agriculture land resource for farming productivity. The task force brings experience from farmers and industry professionals in the commercial farm sector:

• Farmer organizations: SnoValley Tilth and Snoqualmie Valley Preservation Alliance;
• Agency agriculture policy advisors: King County Agriculture Commission;
• Special purpose districts: Snoqualmie Valley Watershed Improvement District and King Conservation District;
• Educational institutions: Washington State University Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources; and
• The FFF Implementation Oversight Committee (IOC).

The Task Force Scope of Work laid out two main goals for the plan:

1) Improve the long-term productivity of farmland, bring more acres into production, especially food production, and increase opportunities for farmers to develop the necessary infrastructure to support or increase their farm businesses.

2) Propose acreage to permanently protect for farming (also called out in Recommendation 32 and Farm 4 of the FFF agreement[i]).

The vision of this plan is to elevate the land resource needs for infrastructure, policy, and regulatory improvements for commercial farmers in the SVAPD and King County so that farmers in the APD, policy makers and service providers can understand the agricultural needs based on facts, implement the solutions, and gain the results needed in the next 25 years.

Members

Technical Experts

Todd Klinka (KC IT, GIS)
Richard Martin (KC WLRD)
Ted Sullivan (KC WLRD)
Eric Beach (KC WLRD)
Rick Reinlasoder (KC WLRD)
Bee Cha (KC WLRD)
Lou Beck (KC WLRD)
Erin Ericson (SVWID)
Liz Stockton (KCD)
Rebeccah Maskin (KC DLS)
Kollin Higgins (KC WLRD)
Joe Hovenkotter (KC WLRD)
Teresa Lewis (KC WLRD)
Chase Barton (KC WLRD)
Jen Vanderhoof (KC WLRD)
Katy Vanderpool (KC WLRD)
Maya DeGasperi (KC WLRD, intern)
Elizabeth Stone (KC WLRD intern, contractor)
Andrea Mojzak (KC WLRD)
Nicole Sanders (KC DLS)
Jesse Reynolds (KC DLS)
Harkeerat Kang (KC IT, GIS)
Elyssa Kerr (Beavers NW)
Dylan Collins (Tulalip Beaver Project)
Evan Lewis (KC WLRD)
Brett Randle (KC WLRD)

Table of Contents

(Download Entire Plan)

Abstract and Contents
Executive Summary
Acknowledgements
Overview

Issue Papers

1.A. Introduction and Profile of the Commercial Agriculture Sector in the SVAPD

1. Improved Farmland Productivity
  1.1 Drainage
    1.1.1 Drainage Maintenance for                        ADAP Eligible Waterways
    1.1.2 Drain Tiles
    1.1.3 Flap gates, Floodgates, and                      Pumps
    1.1.4 Culverts
    1.1.5 Drainage Maintenance for                        non-ADAP Waterways
    1.1.6 Beavers

  1.2 Flood Safety
    1.2.7 Flood Safety for Farms: High                    Ground Refuge and Farm Pads
    1.2.8 Home Preservation in the APD

  1.3 Irrigation
    1.3.9 Water Rights and Irrigation

  1.4 Transportation
    1.4.10 Revetments
    1.4.11 Transportation and Bridges

  1.5 Climate Change
    1.5.12 Climate Change Predictions
    1.5.13 Invasive Species

2. Increased Farmland Protections
  2.1 Population Growth and                             Development Impacts
    2.1.14 Population Pressure

  2.2 Wildlife
    2.2.15 Elk and Deer (See also 1.1.6                     Beavers)

  2.3 Farmland Preservation
    2.3.16 Farmland Preservation

  2.4 Proposed Acreage for a Long-                Term, Viable Sector
    2.4.17 Acreage Challenges, Needs,                     and Recommendation

Appendices (Download All)

1. Principles of the Plan
2. Sub-goals of the Plan
3. Objectives
4. Table D: Issue Papers by Values and Themes
5. Table E: Issue Papers by Plans and Entities
6. Table F: Strategies by Values and Themes
7. Table G: Sub-goals and Issue Papers by Priority Ranking of Importance
8. Table H: Common Acronyms
9. List of Leads and Partners for Plan Implementation
10. Tables, Figures, and Maps

For more information about the Agricultural Land Resource Strategic Plan Task Force, please contact Patrice Barrentine, Project/Program Manager, Water and Land Resources Division, Department of Natural Resources and Parks.