What Spokane Conservation District does

Spokane Conservation District (SCD) is a local government entity established under Washington State Conservation District Law (RCW 89.08) in 1939, serving Spokane County as one of 45 conservation districts in Washington State. The organization coordinates technical, financial, and educational resources to support voluntary landowner conservation of soil, water, trees, and other natural resources. SCD is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors (three elected, two appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission) and operates without regulatory enforcement authority, relying instead on voluntary participation and incentive-based programs.

SCD delivers a diversified program portfolio across four core areas: Water Resources (shoreline restoration, riparian buffers, Family Forest Fish Passage Program, rainwater conservation), Forestry Resources (Tree Sale, Firewise, CoolCanopy urban canopy, Inland Tree Conference, Natural Resources Youth Apprenticeship), Farm & Food Resources (No-till & Direct Seed Program, Livestock & Land, Biofarming, Farmed Smart certification, Vets on the Farm, Farm & Food Symposium, Voluntary Stewardship Program), and Educational Resources (K-12 outdoor learning, Outdoor Explorer Packs, Rocks to Roots podcast, backyard conservation workshops). The 50-acre Quarry campus in Spokane Valley, acquired in 2017, serves as the operational headquarters and hosts The Nest nature-based preschool, the Scale House Market and Kitchen (a year-round farmers market), WSBDC as a co-located tenant, a tree nursery, plant propagation greenhouse, ponds, and trails.

SCD is funded through a mix of grants (federal, state, and foundation), charitable donations (IRS Code Section 170(c)(1) deductible), product sales via a Shopify e-commerce storefront, workshop registration fees, and leasing income. There is no proprietary technology platform, no AI/ML capabilities, and no external venture capital or private equity involvement. The organization operates as a public, non-profit government entity with 22 employees and a contract-based delivery model.

Name

Spokane Conservation District

Legal name

Spokane Conservation District

Website

https://spokanecd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Spokane Conservation District is a local government entity established under Washington State law (RCW 89.08) that delivers voluntary landowner conservation programs covering water, forestry, farm, and educational resources across Spokane County, operating from a 50-acre Quarry campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Resource Conservation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Administration of Conservation Programs (924120)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH), Forest Ecosystem Services & Carbon/Conservation Programs (AFAMAAAJ), National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access) (THAAAAAH)

Keywords

• Natural resource conservation
• Watershed restoration services
• Regenerative agriculture certification
• Riparian habitat restoration
• Environmental education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Spokane Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary funding source from individual donations, qualifying as charitable contributions under IRS Code Section 170(c)(1). Tax-deductible gifts from supporters.
2. Product Sales: Revenue from selling conservation products including tree seedlings, rain barrels, deer repellent, soil test kits, and tree tubes through e-commerce storefront.
3. Workshop and Program Fees: Registration fees for educational workshops such as rain barrel conservation ($35) and backyard conservation series ($35).
4. Grant Funding: Funding from government agencies and foundations including grants, sponsorships, and advertising partnerships to support educational, environmental, and conservation programs.
5. Leasing and Tenant Revenue: Washington Small Business Development Center leases 5,300 square feet of partnership building at The Quarry campus.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Spokane Conservation District is a local government entity that delivers voluntary natural resource conservation services to Spokane County landowners and residents, including technical and financial assistance for riparian restoration, shoreline protection, forestry, and regenerative agriculture. It sells conservation products (tree seedlings, rain barrel retrofit kits, soil test kits, deer repellent, tree tubes) through an e-commerce shop, hosts workshops and educational programs, and operates the 50-acre Quarry campus with the Scale House Market and Kitchen. Funding is sourced from donations, grants, sponsorships, product sales, and workshop fees.

Product overview

Spokane Conservation District is a local government entity offering a comprehensive portfolio of conservation programs and services organized around five core areas: Water Resources, Forestry Resources, Farm & Food Resources, and Educational Resources, all centered at The Quarry—a 50-acre nature reserve and community campus. Their product portfolio includes direct service programs (tree sales, rain barrel workshops, shoreline restoration), agricultural support (Biofarming, Farmed Smart certification, Livestock & Land), veteran services (Vets on the Farm), and educational offerings (K-12 lessons, Outdoor Explorer Packs, Rocks to Roots podcast). They also operate the Scale House Market & Kitchen as a community commercial kitchen and farmers market facility. Programs are delivered through a Shopify-based e-commerce platform for product sales and Smartsheet-based forms for service requests, without any public API or AI/ML capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rocks to Roots Podcast: An engaging podcast series dedicated to providing educational resources on land management and stewardship practices.
• Vets on the Farm
• Farmed Smart
• Biofarming
• The Quarry
• The Scale House Market
• The Nest

Products and services

• Tree Sale and Conservation Products Store Annual tree sale and online e-commerce store selling tree seedlings, rain barrel retrofit kits, soil test kits, deer repellent, and tree tubes for community members, landowners, and conservation participants.
• Water Resources Programs Water resources conservation programs including shoreline restoration, riparian buffer planting, the Family Forest Fish Passage Program, and rain water conservation services for Spokane County landowners.
• Forestry Resources Programs Forestry and tree programs including the Community Forestry partnership, Firewise wildfire preparedness, Natural Resources Youth Apprenticeship Program, and CoolCanopy urban tree canopy initiative for Spokane County.
• Farm & Food Resources Programs Comprehensive agricultural programs including No-till & Direct Seed Program, Livestock & Land, Biofarming, Farmed Smart certification, Farm & Food Symposium, Vets on the Farm, and Voluntary Stewardship Program for agricultural producers and landowners.
• Educational Resources Programs Educational programs including K-12 classroom lessons, Outdoor Explorer Packs, the Rocks to Roots podcast with 90+ episodes, educator resources, and Backyard Conservation workshops for schools and community members.
• The Quarry Nature Reserve & Campus 50-acre nature reserve and conservation campus in Spokane Valley featuring SCD offices, The Nest nature-inspired preschool, tree nursery, Scale House Market and Kitchen, and community education facilities.
• Scale House Market and Kitchen Year-round farmers market and commercial kitchen at The Quarry campus supporting farm and food businesses, featuring 25 indoor vendors, 30 outdoor vendor spaces, food trucks, and a teaching kitchen; estimated to attract 249,000 annual visitors.
• Farmed Smart Certification Third-party regenerative agriculture certification program verifying sustainable production practices, providing access to commodity market premiums, ecosystem benefits like carbon marketing, and regulatory Safe Harbor status from Washington State Department of Ecology.
• Rain Barrel Conservation Workshops Hands-on workshops teaching participants to convert used food-grade barrels into 55-gallon rain water collection systems, including maintenance and the importance of rainwater capture. Registration fee is $35 per person.
• Livestock & Land Program Free site assessments and financial assistance for horse and livestock operators to implement Best Management Practices addressing mud, manure, pasture management, stormwater drainage, erosion, and riparian fencing.
• Vets on the Farm Program Veterans transition program providing education, partnership, and employment opportunities in agriculture, farming, ranching, and conservation-based industries, including Farm Stand and educational curriculum partnerships with WSU Extension.
• Outdoor Explorer Packs Free loaner kits for K-12 youth featuring activities, tools, and materials for outdoor learning experiences covering topics including snow, trees, rocks and soil, water, pollinators, and wildlife.
• Natural Resources Youth Apprenticeship Program Academic apprenticeship program in partnership with Spokane Community College providing Associate of Applied Science degrees, where apprentices take college coursework while gaining hands-on conservation experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• 145+ miles of fish usable habitat re-opened since 2004
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Washington State Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing forestry and water quality expertise; information on firewood permits; Forest Practices Office; Small Forest Landowner Office; DNR Cost Share Program. Partner for forestry technical assistance and forest health programs.
• WSU-Spokane County Extension OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated adjacent to SCD offices; partners on agriculture, natural resources, and environment programs; Master Gardener Clinic co-located facility providing plant and insect identification services.
• Spokane River ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on Spokane River access restoration projects and water quality monitoring. Coordinates annual litter cleanup activities. Maintains Spokane River Water Trail website (30-35K annual page views).
• Washington State ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Islands Trailhead project and river access points including Plese Flats and confluence access. Collaborative restoration of public lands.
• Washington Department of Fish & WildlifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Islands Trailhead Project. WDFW mitigation funding utilized for shoreline restoration projects at river access points.
• Trout UnlimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner on Islands Trailhead Project for river access and habitat restoration.
• Washington State Department of EcologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on Newman Lake Advanced Wastewater Treatment Pilot Study. Funding source for Phase II (up to 10 additional treatment systems). Partner since 2020-2021 pilot phase. DOE signed MOU granting Farmed Smart participants 'Safe Harbor' from Water Pollution Control Act.
• Spokane CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on Newman Lake wastewater treatment pilot. County partner for VSP work group. Board of County Commissioners approved VSP workgroup.
• Washington Small Business Development Center (WSBDC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeases 5,300 square feet of partnership building at The Quarry campus. Tenant partner supporting small business development.
• Community Canopy (Cities of Hayden, Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene, Spokane)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership program between cities and SCD to promote healthy and sustainable community forests.
• City of Spokane Parks & Recreation Urban ForestryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource for urban forestry issues including permitting, right-of-way plantings, street trees, and pruning techniques.
• TransCanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Islands Trailhead Project for river access improvements.
• Silverbow Fly ShopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Islands Trailhead Project supporting fishing community access.
• Spokane Canoe & Kayak ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Islands Trailhead Project for paddling access.
• Spoken Fly FishersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Islands Trailhead Project supporting fishing community.
• Spokane Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Natural Resources Youth Apprenticeship Program providing Associate of Applied Science degrees. Apprentices take college coursework while gaining hands-on conservation experience.
• The Susie ForestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity action group started by Nancy MacKerrow; SCD provides trees and labor for planting in honor/celebration of people and events.
• Reforest SpokaneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram of Spokane Parks Foundation accepting donations to plant street trees. Collaborative urban forestry effort.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmed Smart certification criteria backed by NRCS practice standards. Farmed Smart audit process utilizes NRCS erosion models.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Trout Unlimited: A national coldwater fisheries conservation nonprofit collaborating with SCD on the Islands Trailhead Project and riparian restoration. Functions as a thematic partner rather than a direct competitor, supplying funding and volunteer capacity for habitat work SCD initiates.

Broad incumbents

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Federal agency backing Farmed Smart audit standards with NRCS erosion models. Operates a parallel nationwide network of conservation technical assistance that complements and partially overlaps with SCD's landowner-facing work.
• The Nature Conservancy (Washington Chapter): A large national conservation nonprofit active in Washington. Overlaps with SCD on habitat protection and stewardship but operates at a much larger scale, with private fundraising, science capacity, and land acquisition absent from the district model.
• Washington State Conservation Commission: The state agency that appoints two of SCD's five board supervisors, oversees all 45 Washington conservation districts, and administers the Voluntary Stewardship Program. Broader regulator and funding conduit for SCD's operational mandate.

Direct peers

• King Conservation District: A Washington State conservation district serving King County under RCW 89.08, offering parallel services in forest management, water quality, farm/agriculture assistance, and education. Directly comparable as a county-level government conservation authority operating in the same legal framework.
• Snohomish Conservation District: A Washington State conservation district serving Snohomish County with a comparable RCW 89.08 mandate focused on forestry, agriculture, water resources, and community education. Closely analogous in scope, programs, and operating model to SCD.
• Whatcom Conservation District: A Washington State conservation district serving Whatcom County with parallel natural resource, agricultural, and forestry programs under RCW 89.08. Comparable in size and program portfolio to SCD.
• Skagit Conservation District: A Washington State conservation district serving Skagit County with analogous farmland, forestry, water quality, and youth education programs. Direct peer in size, statutory framework, and service mix.
• Pierce Conservation District: A Washington State conservation district serving Pierce County, providing landowner technical assistance, native plant sales, riparian restoration, and youth education programs under the same statutory framework as SCD.

Emerging players

• American Farmland Trust: A national nonprofit focused on farmland preservation and regenerative agriculture. Comparable to SCD's Farmed Smart and Biofarming programs but operating through advocacy and policy rather than direct landowner technical assistance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SpokaneConservation
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpokaneConservation
• Instagraminstagram.com/spokaneconservation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spokane-conservation-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Spokane Conservation District