The attendance size may have been modest at Tuesday’s strategic input work session hosted by the Grays Harbor Conservation District (GHCD), but the suggestions of future accomplishments and priority conservation needs gave the Board of Supervisors much to work with as they and GHCD staff begin developing a 10-year strategic plan.

The current five-year plan was written in 2022 and set to sunset in 2027.

“We started this process because we have a relatively new board,” said David Marcell, executive director.

Lisa Zaborac, chair of the Board of Supervisors, opened the meeting by welcoming the attendees.

“This is our kickoff meeting for our 10-year- long range planning process. We’re hoping to get some public input on some of the areas that you see that we need to be closer examining what needs to happen,” she said. “Do not be limited in your input with current funding or things like that. We want everyone to think outside of the box and really think about the areas that you see that we need to have improvements done so that we can start making a plan on that.”

Ray Ledgerwood, owner of Board Works by Ledgerwood, facilitated the meeting and brought over 40 decades of experience in the conservation district space to the role. Before retiring and starting his consulting business, Ledgerwood worked for the Washington State Conservation District Commission and the National Association for Conservation Districts.

He previously worked with the Grays Harbor Conservation District on strategic planning while employed with the state.

“They didn’t have to explain to me what the resource issues were or what they were dealing with in terms of their evolution as an organization,” Ledgerwood explained.

Marcell provided an overview of the GHCD’s structure, which he described as “locally led by board members and staff” and “it’s a non-regulatory alternative to nature resource consultation for private, public, and tribal landowners within the GHCD boundary.”

The only areas not within the GHCD’s service area are the city limits of Westport, the Quinault Indian Nation, and the city of Cosmopolis, although the city will be included into the service area in the near future.

Accomplishments in fiscal year 2025 that he highlighted include six best management practices implemented with shellfish investment funds, 53,850 stems and 107 acres planted on watershed restoration projects, and 338 acres that have had forest stand improvement activities. This work was accomplished solely through competitive grant funding.

Ledgerwood then led the group through an exercise that invited participants to forecast future accomplishments. One participant offered, “By 2028, organize a program to safely discard of old tires,” and another suggested, “By 2030, develop a comprehensive stream to sea education project curriculum that engages youth and the community as a whole.”

Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisor Nora Doelman said, “By 2027, have a working relationship with all food and fiber producers in the county.”

For the second brainstorming exercise, Ledgerwood asked groups to identify three priority conservation needs. Riparian areas proved a shared priority for the entire group with suggestions such as riparian reforestation and riparian establishment to stop erosion. Other priorities included addressing European green crab and education initiatives.

The workshop’s last activity invited groups to identify the geographic priority areas. On large sheets of blank white paper, an outline of Grays Harbor County was drawn and attendees circled the priority areas. The Chehalis Basin watershed, including its upper reach near Oakville, areas affected by European green crab, and the cities of Aberdeen and Hoquiam were among the areas identified.

Ledgerwood’s last ask of attendees was offering recommendations for the Board of Supervisors to consider while writing the 10-year strategic plan. Again, many of the recommendations coalesced around a need to expand current education and outreach programs, and being proactive to connect with the community, whether by hosting a table at local events, meeting constituents where they are, and walking around and meeting people.

As the discussion wound down, attendees offered parting thoughts.

“My biggest takeaway was just hearing everybody’s input and comments,” said John Henrikson, a small forest landowner in East County on the Chehalis River. “I think this is an excellent process because it’s clear to see where there’s a lot of alignment but also, more importantly to me being from [the] non-Harbor side of the county, clearly seeing the different objectives of what’s needed here, and it’s good to hear that.”

Zaborac closed the workshop, thanking everyone for attending.

“I just really appreciate everybody just expanding outside of their little bubble and thinking the whole county level. … You guys gave up your evening to come here, huge help. I really appreciate it.”

On Wednesday and half a day on Thursday, the Board of Supervisors and staff met, which Ledgerwood also facilitated.

As for the timeline for writing the strategic plan, “we’re about to hit a new fiscal year,” he explained. “It’d be great if our 10-year plan was put together with the start of the new fiscal year in July, but we’re dealing with some interesting changes with funding that happens overnight.”

For those who were unable to attend Tuesday in-person meeting, comments can be provided via an online form — https://bit.ly/LRSPInput.