Okanogan Conservation District

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.

08/17/2026

The Farm Service Agency in Okanogan County is accepting applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to address damages from the B & O wildfire.

ECP provides cost-share and technical assistance to producers to restore farmland to pre-disaster conditions following a qualifying natural disaster. ECP signup began on August 3, 2026, and ends on October 3, 2026.

Approved ECP applicants can receive up to 75% of the allowable cost of the approved restoration activity with practices including: debris removal, fence restoration, critical area planting, cover crop planting and windbreak-shelterbelt establishment. If you are interested in ECP be sure to check with FSA before beginning restoration work.

To learn more about ECP, producers can contact the Okanogan County FSA Office at 509-422-2750 or visit farmers.gov/protection-recovery.

08/13/2026

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]

08/12/2026

A red flag warning is in effect in our area today from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. due to a low-pressure system increasing the chances for scattered showers/thunderstorms. Rainfall within the area of the Sinlahekin Fire and other burned areas will be variable. While any precipitation is needed, it does create potential risk to public safety, infrastructure, and structures in and around burn scars due to potential debris flows and flash flooding. Winds will also contribute to difficult-to-predict fire behavior.

Individuals are strongly encouraged to be aware of their surroundings, especially if they are near steep slopes, rivers and streams, or areas of high burn severity if rain begins in the area. Even small amounts of rain can lead to flash flooding or debris flows depending on the post-fire soil conditions and slope.

For more information about the risks of flooding after fire:https://dnr.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-03/ger_fs_alluvial_fans.pdf

If you have concerns about post-fire debris flows and flooding, please contact Eli Loftis, Forests and Wildfire Lead at: 509-429-3453, [email protected]