The SVPA represents the farming and rural community in strategic watershed planning discussions. We are committed to keeping the channels of communication open and that our work be sustained over time by a group that is consistent and accountable. Managing the limited resources in this valley against a variety of competing interests is difficult; but if we all work together, we will all be better off.
One action SVPA takes to achieve this goal is participating as a member of the in the King County Fish-Farm-Flood (FFF) Advisory Committee. After a productive three-year process, this diverse 14-member group agreed in 2017 to a series of actions to benefit endangered species, protect agricultural soils, and reduce flood impacts. The FFF committee is now engaged in holding each other and King County accountable for honoring the commitments made in 2017.
The SVPA staff serves on the Buffer Task Force to shape policy around riparian buffers. Riparian buffers are valuable because they enhance habitat, but sometimes they are implemented without regard to how farms are impacted over time. When too generous, they take valuable agricultural land out of production permanently, and can make operations more difficult. This task force brings together scientists, farmers, and conservation planners to develop science-based cost benefit analyses to ensure policies promote the biggest lift to habitat with the least impact to agriculture. With your contributions, we are able to provide consistent and meaningful advocacy throughout this multi-year process. If you’d like to learn more about the details about buffers and farms, please email lauren@svpa.us.