The Thurston Conservation District is funded by various grants and assessment fees. The assessment fee is authorized and collected under RCW 89.08.400.pdf

Typically, the assessment provides approximately 45% of total funding, while grants make up the remaining 55%.  Those grants come from various sources including the Washington State Conservation Commission, Washington State Department of Ecology, Department of Fish & Wildlife, Environmental Protection Agency, and other small granting agencies/foundations.

The Thurston Conservation District has had an assessment since 1993.  In 2003, when the District's assessment was re-authorized, 28% of the funds received were set aside in a "shellfish fund" for water quality improvement projects within the Shellfish Protections Districts (Henderson & Nisqually areas).  On September 25, 2007 the Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing and approved the District's request for reauthorization of the assessment for a period of 10 years.  The next renewal process will begin in 2017.

We wish to express our appreciation to all the local residents and entities that attended the hearings and expressed their opinion regarding the assessment.