What Pierce Conservation District does

Pierce Conservation District is a Washington State government conservation district, organized under Washington State law as a political subdivision of state government and serving Pierce County, Washington since 1949. The District operates as a non-regulatory, voluntary conservation entity, governed by a Board of Supervisors (three locally elected, two appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission). It delivers free technical assistance, site visits, planning support, volunteer work parties, and educational programming to private landowners, farm operators, urban communities, and local governments across Pierce County's unincorporated areas and 15 incorporated cities including Tacoma, Puyallup, and Lakewood.

Its core programmatic offerings include Habitat Improvement (riparian/floodplain restoration, invasive species removal, salmon/orca recovery), Water Quality Improvement and Monitoring (rain gardens, green stormwater infrastructure, Depave projects), Farm Planning and Agricultural Assistance, the Harvest Pierce County urban agriculture program, Forest Stewardship, Shore Friendly Pierce (shoreline management), the South Prairie Creek-Wilkeson Creek Knotweed Control Program (running since 2010), and Environmental Education. Sub-brands Harvest Pierce County, Shore Friendly Pierce, and Green Tacoma Partnership operate under the District umbrella. Programs are delivered by ~40+ staff supplemented by an AmeriCorps cohort and large volunteer base.

The District is funded primarily through federal and state grants (EPA pass-throughs via Washington Department of Ecology, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Killer Whale Conservation Funds, Washington State Conservation Commission allocations, NFWF/Department of Natural Resources riparian restoration awards), cost-share programs with partner agencies, and donations routed to the Harvest Pierce County food programs. All district services are provided at no charge. Quantified outcomes include 100,000+ pounds of fresh produce donated to local food banks annually, 46,000+ trees and shrubs planted at South Prairie Creek Preserve over 20 years, and approximately 90-100 active community food projects. The District holds no patents and discloses no proprietary technology beyond standard conservation/GIS field practices.

Name

Pierce Conservation District

Legal name

Pierce Conservation District

Website

https://piercecd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pierce Conservation District is a Washington State government conservation district serving Pierce County since 1949, providing free voluntary habitat restoration, water quality, farm planning, and urban agriculture services to landowners, farmers, and community members via grant-funded staff and volunteer programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation and Natural Resource Management Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Riparian & Watershed Reforestation (Streambank Stabilization) (AFAMACAK), Wetland, Riparian & Buffer Services (within forest landscapes) (AFAMAMAI), Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Natural resource conservation
• Habitat restoration services
• Water quality improvement
• Urban agriculture programs
• Environmental education workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Puyallup

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Primary funding from federal and state grants including EPA agreements through Washington Department of Ecology, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Killer Whale Conservation Funds, and Washington State Conservation Commission allocations
2. Donations: Harvest Pierce County programs accept donations to support food bank contributions and community garden operations - over 100,000lbs of fresh food donated annually
3. Cost-Share Programs: Connects landowners with cost-share opportunities for forest management, habitat restoration, and conservation activities through partnerships with government agencies

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pierce Conservation District provides free, voluntary conservation services to landowners, farmers, and community members across Pierce County, Washington. Core offerings include habitat improvement (riparian, floodplain, and nearshore restoration, invasive species removal, native plantings), water quality improvement and monitoring (rain gardens, green stormwater infrastructure), farm planning and agricultural assistance, the Harvest Pierce County urban agriculture program (community gardens, gleaning, farm incubators), environmental education, forest stewardship, and shoreline management support. All services are provided at no cost to participants and are funded primarily through federal and state grants, donations, and cost-share partnerships.

Product overview

Pierce Conservation District operates as a single unified organization offering multiple conservation programs rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings include: Habitat Improvement (restoring riparian/floodplain habitats, removing invasive species, native replanting), Water Quality Improvement & Monitoring (rain gardens, stormwater management), Farm Planning & Agricultural Assistance, and the Harvest Pierce County urban agriculture initiative. Supporting programs include Environmental Education, Forest Stewardship, Shore Friendly Pierce (shoreline management), the Knotweed Control Program, Volunteer Opportunities, and the Internship Program. The Harvest Pierce County program itself encompasses sub-programs including Community Gardens, Gleaning Project, Seed Sow Share, Farm Foundations, and Goss Incubator Farm. These programs work collaboratively toward the District's mission of creating a just food system, improving water quality, promoting sustainable agriculture, and recovering wildlife habitat.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Habitat Improvement Program Program focused on improving riparian, floodplain, and marine nearshore habitats of Pierce County along with rare and endangered plant communities. Implements projects to recover native salmon/orca populations, remove invasive species, replant native trees and shrubs, and restore ecosystem processes.
• Water Quality Improvement & Monitoring Program Program helping people with water quality projects including building rain gardens, removing pavement through Depave, and planting along streams to absorb stormwater and filter pollution before it reaches waterways.
• Farm Planning & Agricultural Assistance Program providing farming assistance and agricultural support to local landowners, helping improve farm productivity while protecting natural resources.
• Harvest Pierce County (Urban Agriculture Program) Urban agriculture program supporting a network of nearly 100 community food projects including community gardens, orchards, food forests, the Gleaning Project, and events like Seed Swap and Edible Gardens to build food security.
• Environmental Education Program Program providing environmental education to students and community members throughout Pierce County, focusing on restoration plantings and environmental awareness.
• Forest Stewardship Program Program providing assistance to small 5-20 acre forest landowners through a shared forester who helps with forest health improvement, wildlife habitat management, wildfire prevention, and water quality, including creating forest plans and connecting landowners with cost-share opportunities.
• Shore Friendly Pierce Program connecting marine waterfront residents with technical support and resources for informed shoreline management decisions, offering free site visits and erosion assessments to help landowners protect their property while protecting Puget Sound health.
• South Prairie Creek-Wilkeson Creek Knotweed Control Program Program leading knotweed eradication efforts since spring 2010 within the Nisqually River and South Prairie Creek watersheds to protect salmon runs and local habitats from invasive plant species.
• Green Stormwater Program Program designing and managing green stormwater infrastructure projects that help clean polluted runoff and provide better urban habitats.
• Conservation Internship Program Part-time unpaid internship offered three times per year (Spring February-May, Summer June-August, Fall September-December) providing experience in conservation district operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 lbs of fresh produce donated to local food banks annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Puyallup Tribe of IndianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in conservation efforts, particularly in riparian habitat restoration and salmon recovery in the Pierce County region
• South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group (SPSSEG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner for salmon habitat restoration projects and watershed conservation initiatives
• Forterra - Land for GoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for land conservation and stewardship programs in Pierce County
• Washington Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in riparian restoration through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation funding, and beaver mitigation programs
• BeaversNWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partner for beaver mitigation and cohabitation programs with landowners in South Prairie and Wilkeson creek basins
• Washington Department of EcologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder through Riparian Systems Lead Grant funds for Knotweed Control Program and other water quality initiatives
• Washington State Conservation CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOversight agency for conservation district elections, board appointments, and regulatory guidance under WAC 135-110
• National Fish and Wildlife FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiller Whale Conservation Funds provider for riparian restoration efforts in South Prairie and Wilkeson watersheds
• Tacoma-Pierce County Health DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor for Harvest Pierce County programs and community food initiatives
• Northwest Bio Carbon InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation partner for bio carbon initiatives within Harvest Pierce County urban agriculture program
• Mason Conservation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared forester arrangement providing forest stewardship assistance to small 5-20 acre forest landowners

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• King Conservation District: Conservation district serving King County, Washington with farm planning, habitat, water quality, and urban agriculture programs under the same Washington State Conservation Commission framework. Most direct operational peer — same statutory model, same funder pool, similar program mix, and immediately adjacent geography.
• Thurston Conservation District: Conservation district in Thurston County, WA offering habitat, water quality, farm planning, and community agriculture programs through the same non-regulatory, free-service model. Direct operational peer with overlapping tribal partnerships and salmon-recovery mandate.
• Snohomish Conservation District: Conservation district serving Snohomish County, WA delivering habitat restoration, farm planning, and forestry assistance under the same state statutory framework. Direct peer in service offerings, funding sources, and Puget Sound geography.
• South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group: Regional nonprofit focused on salmon habitat restoration in South Puget Sound watersheds. Direct peer and existing partner of Pierce CD — overlaps heavily on riparian restoration, volunteer work parties, and salmon recovery project delivery.
• BeaversNW: Washington nonprofit providing technical expertise on beaver mitigation and cohabitation — an existing PCD technical partner in the South Prairie and Wilkeson creek basins. Direct peer in beaver-related riparian and watershed restoration work.
• Mason Conservation District: Adjacent Washington conservation district with which PCD already operates a shared-forester arrangement for 5–20 acre forest landowners. Direct peer in forest stewardship, habitat, and farm services under the same state oversight.

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that creates parks and protects land for public use, including urban green-space and shoreline work in Washington. Broad incumbent — adjacent on conservation outcomes, with stronger focus on land acquisition and policy than PCD's service-delivery model.
• Washington State Conservation Commission: State agency that provides statutory oversight, elections administration, and funding allocation to all 45 Washington conservation districts including Pierce CD. Broad incumbent — sets the rules, allocates core funding, and could be considered a parent/regulator rather than a competitor.
• The Nature Conservancy (Washington): Large international conservation nonprofit with major Washington operations spanning land acquisition, habitat restoration, and climate resilience. Broad incumbent — overlaps with PCD on conservation outcomes but operates at much larger scale and geography, and typically leads on multi-county initiatives Pierce CD cannot bid on.

Emerging players

• Forterra: Washington-based land conservation and stewardship nonprofit with which PCD has a core partnership on land conservation. Comparable on land stewardship and conservation real-estate transactions, though Forterra operates across a broader region and focuses more on land acquisition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PierceConservationDistrict
• Instagraminstagram.com/pierceconservationdistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pierce-conservation-district

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles28 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pierce Conservation District