Habitat Stewardship
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Our backyards are where better ground begins.
Picture your property. Each plant, each structure, each pathway and drain. Bring it to life in your mind’s eye. Your yard is your very own mini ecosystem. That ecosystem includes you and your family, but it's much bigger than that. You share it with everything from tiny soil micro-organisms all the way up to squirrels and deer. Rain, snow, and wind affect it, and can even change it by knocking down a tree or flooding a low area of lawn. The location of your gutter drains, your impervious concrete surfaces (like driveways), and the fertility of the soil on which your grass grows all influence your ecosystem. Is your backyard ecosystem healthy? Are all the components of it working together properly? And if not, how can you make improvements? We have some tips and resources you can access to assess the health of your property’s ecosystem, and lots of resources to help you with improvement and conservation projects. Check out our resource tabs, where we’ve digitized all of our print resources for you to browse.
If you still have questions after you’ve checked out our resources, or you’d like some help planning your backyard conservation project, please request assistance through our form below - and note that since we are a free and voluntary agency, many utilize our services and we often have a waitlist for these services. The Importance of Greenspaces VideoLearn some tips for beautifying your greenspace from former Outreach Coordinator Shannon Bly.
Smart Watering Tips VideoLearn about Natural Yard Care practices, including water-saving tips, from former Outreach Coordinator Shannon Bly.
Tips Sheets for Habitat HealthClick on a Tips Guide to download and share below:
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"We were in awe of the land’s beauty and felt we personally gained so much just by being surrounded by nature. Once we realized the adverse impacts of noxious weeds and non-native plants on the forest’s health, we felt a responsibility to help however we could." -Joan Stoupa & Doug Nierman
Spring 2021 Landowner Ambassadors Habitat Stewardship ResourcesClick a Tab Below for Resources:
Backyard conservation resources
Native Plants promote
WICD offers volunteer opportunities with its annual Native Plant Sale.
Native plants provide a landowner with countless possibilities for infusing conservation into their backyards. Whether you have a wetland, a shoreline, a forest, or a lot in town, you'll want to browse and click on the publications listed below. If you are trying to locate the WICD Annual Native Bareroot Plant Sale, click here. Getting Started with PNW Native Plants
Step-by-Step Guides for Native Plants
Go Natural Irrigation & Watering Mulching Tips Alternative Pest Management Microclimates Pollinators
Birds & Wildlife
Soil Stabilization & Erosion Control (see also our Water Management page)
Rain Gardens (see also our Water Management page)
Wet Sites, Wetlands & Riparian Areas (see also our Water Management page)
Fire-Resistant (see also our Firewise page)
Drought Tolerant Washington Glacial Outwash Prairies Shorelines & Bluffs (see also our Water Management page)
Septic Drainfield Landscaping
Screens & Hedges
Lawn Alternatives Orchard Care
noxious weed resources
Seasonal Noxious Weed
Created in 2013, the Weed Bulletin has grown to include now a quarterly publication available to all island residents, developed in partnership between WICD and Island County Noxious Weed Control Board. The seasonal focus of the bulletin is intended to help highlight the most important noxious weeds for landowners to look out for that season. To signup to receive the weed bulletin, or for more information about Island County Noxious Weed Resources, and to view the current and past Weed Bulletins, click here. soil health resources
It Starts with Soil...
WICD staff can assist you with improving your soils.
Soil is integral in many conservation practices. Soil health effects lawns, gardens, crops and forests. It effects drainage and other water issues. It effects the ability of our ecosystems to function properly. There are many tools and resources available provided through the USDA, WSU Extension, and others to begin the journey of learning about your site. To begin, we recommend Healthy Soil for Life.
Create a Soil Report utilizing the USDA's Web Soil Survey, learn about soil fertility and fertilizing soils through WSU Extension publications, and get your soil tested through guides offered by Oregon State University below. Be sure to check out our Farm & Ag Assistance page for additional soils-focused resources. Firewise
Firewise Whidbey-Style
Firewise™ is a partnership between WICD, local fire departments & WA DNR.
When it comes to wildfires, do you think of Whidbey Island? Most would venture to our neighbors to the east of the Cascades on this topic, but with growing awareness of the effects that drought-prone summer seasons play in wildfire ignition potential on Whidbey Island, WICD and its partners at the Washington Dept. of Natural Resources Wildfire Division, North Whidbey Fire & Rescue, Central Whidbey Island Fire & Rescue, and South Whidbey Fire & EMS have partnered together to offer resources and expertise for Whidbey residents on how to be more Firewise™. Request a free 30-minute Firewise Home Assessment for your property by contacting Kelsi Mottet at (888) 678-4922 or kelsi(at)whidbeycd.org. Please provide your name, address to receive a Firewise Assessment, and preferred day of the week/time of day between Mon - Fri, 8AM - 5PM. Be sure to check out the following Firewise™ publications below that will help equip you to have a more Firewise™ backyard or visit the Firewise resource page.
Education & outreach
Teaching Natural Resource
WICD is available to bring conservation education into your classroom. We can provide classes to schools, daycares, girl or boy scout troops, garden clubs, volunteer groups, etc.
Contact us if you’d like to develop a class together. Give our office a call at (360) 678-4708 or email us at wicd@whidbeycd.org. Resource Publications Conservation Kids Resources Water Conservation Challenge
Take WICD's water conservation challenge! Here's how it works:
Resource PagesClick on a Habitat Stewardship Resource Page to be redirected to resources and links on that topic:
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Ready to get started?
What to Expect When Requesting Assistance from the Whidbey Island Conservation District
- Our services are free and voluntary, so lots of folks love to work with us, and we look forward to working with you!
- We have 2 staff who assist with satisfying client requests
- We assist requests in the order that they are received
- Please allow for 2 weeks for an initial reply
- General info requests take approximately 1 month to respond to
- New site visit requests to properties are on a 6-month waitlist currently
- Farm, animal, and waste management plans are on a 1-year waitlist currently
- Here is a list of directories and/or organizations which may be able to respond to your request sooner. We can not recommend private sector professionals as a government entity, so have included directories housed by other entities that are populated by the professionals themselves:
- Agriculture & Forestry Professionals Directory via USDA - https://nrcs-sites.secure.force.com/FindaTSP
- Forester & Silvicultural Contractors Directory via WSU Extension - https://bit.ly/3xT2eVJ
- Arborists Directory Pacific NW International Society of Arboriculture - https://bit.ly/37S8YJ6
- Online Learning Module for Understanding Wildfire Threat to Homes - https://bit.ly/3AOeCID
- Environmental Consultants Directory for Wetlands & Wildlife - https://bit.ly/2VZHY7J
- Landscaping / Gardening Consultation with WSU Master Gardener Hotline - https://bit.ly/3CUTodZ
- Island County Noxious Weed Program Coordinator Consultation - https://bit.ly/2VXnHQe
- Construction / Land Development Contractors Directory via SICBA - https://www.sicba.org/list/
