Who We Are & What We Do

We are a local governmental subdivision of the state of Wyoming as defined and established by Wyoming Conservation Districts Law.  The Washakie County Conservation District's Board of Supervisors are elected by the people of Washakie County at General Elections by popular vote.  Conservation District Board members are the only locally elected board charged specifically with the responsibility of representing local people on natural resource issues.

We do provide locally led leadership, encourage, and promote and inform through education, the conservation of natural resources.  The Washakie County Conservation District assists landowners and land managers in practicing good natural resource stewardship and conservation for the long term benefit of the people by using monitoring, partnerships, staffing resources, and the taxpayer's money as efficiently and effectively as possible. 

To learn more about Who We Are and What We Do, view our new story map by clicking on the image below. 
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News and Events

Meet our new 
EDUCATION COORDINATOR

Janet Hofmann joined the WCCD team on September 1, 2022, replacing the position left vacant by Halli Caines.  Janet brings a lot of enthusiasm and creativity to the team, and is full of new program and education opportunities to provide our community.  Stop by and say hello, and reach out if you are looking for educational opportunities!

​Janet Hofmann grew up in a farm town in southern Idaho where she learned to be resourceful and hard working.  As a Boise State graduate, she earned recognition as the Department of Kinesiology’s Outstanding Health Promotion major.  Her internship and subsequent employment with the YMCA led her to a career in the fitness industry until she decided to leave the workforce to be home full time with her children. She stayed active in the community teaching fitness classes part-time and volunteering at her children’s school.  Volunteer work led to a job offer and Janet transitioned to education for 8 years. 

The Hofmann’s moved to Worland in 2016, at which point they built their own log home from the ground up.  Janet was the project manager while her husband Ben, was the construction foreman.  Their four children helped too, peeling logs, and learning basic trade skills.  Janet’s favorite lesson from building their own home is that “The solution to any problem is just an idea away!”

​In 2021, Janet started volunteering at the Worland Community Garden becoming the Board President in recent months. Although still a fledging gardener she has enjoyed learning about regenerative practices, including no-till gardening, soil enrichment techniques, organic seed saving, rainwater harvesting, winter gardening and the like.  Janet is an avid learner and is always uncovering some new idea or topic to explore.  Being the Education Coordinator at the Washakie County Conservation District is a great fit for her because not only does she get to keep learning about conservation and stewardship of natural resources, but she gets to share that information with others through community outreach programs.

Cost Share Opportunities

Section 319 Upper Big Horn Sub-Basin Watershed Implementation Program

WCCD is now under contract with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality for our FY2022 319 Upper Big Horn Sub-Basin Watershed Implementation Program.  This program will help cost share for on the ground projects that implement best practices proven to help improve water quality.  We have had several producers take advantage of this program since 2015, and are excited to provide additional cost share assistance for producers over the next couple of years, or until funds have been expended.  

The Upper Big Horn Watershed is a HUC 8 sub-basin of the Big Horn Watershed.  The watershed encompasses 2, 222, 571.48 acres over several counties.  The map above shows the area within Washakie County that projects will be considered.  

The purpose of this project is to reduce bacteria and pathogens entering the Big Horn River, Sage Creek, Slick Creek, Nowater and Fifteen Mile Creek within the identified watershed.  Also included is Cottonwood Creek, but this is not currently listed as an impaired waterbody and will have lower priority.

Our goal is to drive and complete voluntary participation in water quality restoration projects to reduce bacteria and pathogen loading  within the watershed through strategic outreach and education opportunities, implementation of best management practices, as well as seeking ways to create and implement a water quality monitoring program to asses how previous 319 projects have impacted water quality conditions.

If you have a project in mind that you believe will provide a public benefit by improving our water quality and quantity, reach out to Amanda with details on how to qualify.  All applications will go through a ranking process with the Washakie Watershed Steering Committee for recommendation to the WCCD Board of Supervisors for approval.

There are many types of projects that could qualify, from rangeland to irrigated cropland, and more.  Cost share funding is available upon approval and will only be offered until all funds have been committed.
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WCCD Rural Cost Share Program

WCCD offers a Rural Cost Share Program funded through Mill Levies through the County.  This on the ground project funding program was created to help fund projects that make a positive difference on the land.  The focus of the program is to impact water quality, enhance or protect soils, and enhance wildlife habitat.

This is a 50% cost share program with a maximum of $10,000 allocated for each project.  The District budgets $40,000 annually towards this program.  Applications are accepted on the first week of every month and require an on-site visit of the proposed project.  We have four batched applications periods annually, with project presentations to the Board of Supervisors for approval during the February, May, August and November board meetings held on the 3rd Monday of those months.

For more information on the application process, or to discuss your project for consideration, please contact Amanda.  Our application can be downloaded through the Cost Share link on this webpage.