Heading into the summer months, we want to remind everyone to do everything they can to reduce water use. Our water resources are precious. If you have irrigation water on your property, please remember that every drop of water comes from the Dungeness River, and it should be used wisely.

Most of our efforts to reduce water use have focused on water conservation projects with the Dungeness irrigation districts and companies, most notably, piping leaky irrigation ditches. Earlier this year we completed a piping project with the Sequim Prairie-Tri Irrigation Association, piping an open ditch near Costco. This project totaled over 1,300 feet piped on the north side of Hwy 101 and will result in an approximate savings of .25cfs (cubic foot per second) of water volume to the Dungeness River.

We are continuing to partner with a diverse group of stakeholders to develop plans and secure funding for the Dungeness Off-Channel Reservoir. This project will create off channel water storage, resulting in substantial reductions in irrigation water diversions from the Dungeness River during the last four to six weeks of the irrigation season when river flows are low and irrigation water demand is high. This project is critical to conserve water supplies and build climate resiliency, and will keep flow levels in the Dungeness River high enough to support salmon and steelhead.

Native Plant Landscaping

Thank you to those who participated in our Spring Native Plant Landscaping courses. They were a big hit; we had over 110 people registered. The course was divided into 3 webinars and 2 field trips. If you missed the webinars you can watch the recordings on our Virtual Workshop Recordings webpage. In these courses we emphasize landscaping with native plants. Our sustainable landscaping program promotes a variety of resource conservation objectives, including water conservation, habitat enhancement for wildlife and pollinators, stormwater management and building healthy soil. Look for more courses coming in the fall of 2022.

Dealing with pesky insect issues on your farm? Here are some suggestions to help reduce flies and mosquitoes that are out annoying both you and your livestock:

• Good manure management will help reduce breeding grounds for flies. Collect manure on a regular basis (ideally every 1-3 days) and compost it in a designated bin or pile. Heat generated by composting kills fly eggs and larvae.

• Cover your manure and/or compost pile with a tarp to speed up the composting process, especially during rainy weather. Manure should be about as wet as a wrung out sponge to properly compost and kill larvae. More information on manure management and composting can be found in this GUIDE.

• To reduce mosquitoes, eliminate standing water by turning over buckets, wheelbarrows, feed pans, and ensure that drainage ways and collection facilities are properly functioning.

• Encourage healthy riparian habitat along streams, ponds, and wetlands to increase wildlife like amphibians, birds, and reptiles that feed on insects.

• Consider installing a bat house on your farm. A female bat can consume her body weight in insects during one summer night. Click Here for more information, including plans and installation suggestions, for local bat houses. The Rocket Box bat house is also a northwest favorite with bats.

• Eliminate muddy pens and paddocks on your farm. Mud and manure-filled pens will significantly increase the amount of flies on your farm. Check out this GUIDE for detailed instructions on installing mud-free paddocks.

• Frequently change out water in birdbaths, pet bowls, and stock tanks.

• Consider adding a mosquito dunk in livestock tanks. Dunks are formulated to kill larvae but are safe for livestock.

Longer days and warmer temperatures mean that most pastures are rapidly growing. But how can you tell if the pasture is ready for your grazing animals?

• Livestock should only be permitted onto a pasture when the soil is dry enough to support their weight without leaving hoof prints.

• Grass should be 6-8 inches tall before animals are allowed to graze. Remove livestock when the grass is grazed down to 3-4 inches in height and allow the pasture to regrow before grazing again.

• Harrow manure and clip the pasture after grazing to encourage even regrowth.

• Do not allow livestock to graze wet areas, boggy pastures or wetlands. Use temporary fencing to restrict access to these sensitive areas. Pastures that are too wet to graze in the spring often provide forage later in the season. Think of that wet pasture as “naturally irrigated” because it will often be productive when most other fields have dried out and the grass has gone dormant.

• Be extra cautious when grazing newly planted pastures. Baby grass, just like all babies, require extra care. Use the “Pull Method” to ensure that roots are well established before grazing. Consider using mowing rather than grazing for the first season of a newly planted pasture.

• Keep an eye out for weeds and tackle small infestations before they become unmanageable.

Need more assistance on managing your pastures? Come to our upcoming farm tour, request assistance from one of our planners, or refer to our pasture guide on the farm webpage.

Farm Tour - Boost Pasture Production

When: Wednesday, May 25, 1:00 - 2:30PM
Where: Agnew area cattle & hay farm (directions sent after registration)
Cost: FREE, but pre-registration is required. REGISTER HERE

Join Conservation District planners for a pasture workshop at an Agnew area beef cattle farm. Participants will tour the farm’s pastures and hay fields to learn management techniques designed to help boost forage production, including rotational grazing, proper species selection, clipping, dragging, fertilization and irrigation to help boost forage production.

Fence Weir Smolt Trap Installation

A huge thank you to the volunteers that assisted our partner, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, with helping to install smolt traps on Deep Creek and West Twin River in west Clallam County. These traps, consisting of a fence weir and live box, hold fish smolts (juvenile fish) to allow the tribe to count, and identify the number of outgoing smolts. The Tribe has been collecting this fish monitoring data since around 2000 to help learn more about fish populations and trends in these important river systems.

To volunteer for working on similar projects please sign up to be placed on our volunteer mailing list.

Avian Influenza

Two confirmed cases of avian influenza, also known as “bird flu” have been found in Clallam County, both in backyard flocks, one raising chickens and one geese. The virus can affect several species of poultry, as well as wild birds and pet birds.

If you are raising domestic birds please refer to the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s website for more information on prevention, mitigation, monitoring your birds for symptoms, and who to contact if you are concerned you may have avian influenza in your flock.

CONSERVATION SPONSORS

Peninsula Environmental Group - (360) 819-3081 www.peninsulaenvironmental.com

Clark Horticultural Inc - (360) 460-9178 www.ClarkHorticultural.com

Eagle Creek Tractor - (360) 683-9391

John and Kriss Seago

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