Terry Cosby, Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), toured multiple locations across Washington June 11 to 13.
On the first day, the Columbia Basin Conservation District (CBCD) and the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District (ECBID) jointly hosted a tour of the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program (OGWRP) in Grant and Adams Counties. Dignitaries accompanying the Chief included Astor Boozer, NRCS regional conservationist for the West Region; Roylene Comes At Night, Washington State conservationist; Washington State Representatives Tom Dent, Mary Dye and Joe Schmick, Washington State Senator Judy Warnick, Derek Sandison of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Tom Tebb of Washington State Department of Ecology’s Office of the Columbia River, landowners, and leadership of the host organizations.
The group of dignitaries visited sites along planned and constructed laterals, siphons, and pump stations to better understand the magnitude of this programs and what projects need to be implemented to recharge the groundwater. The group talked about the objectives of the program, which include helping 22 communities, preserving the $3 billion agriculture industry, and recharging the aquifer.
“It was a real honor to show Chief Cosby and West Regional Conservationist Astor this program and tremendous potential for NRCS to partners. NRCS is honored to work with the many partners, leadership, and local producers to have support from the National to finish this project that was proposed over 40 years ago,” said Roylene.
The next day, the Chief made morning remarks and answered questions over breakfast with Washington Association of District Employees. This Association is the voice for more than 300 conservation district (CD) employees in which 17 CDs have help NRCS with workload over the years. The next stop was Kittitas County, where the Kittitas Conservation District (KCD) has successfully implemented the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). NRCS leadership toured fish passage projects on Manastash Creek. While the creek was dry in 2009, salmon-habitat friendly water now flows thanks to strong partnerships that implemented irrigation water saving practices, piped water instead of open ditches, and other practices.
The Chief then traveled to the Yakama Nation where he was able to witness, and assist, with the release of several lamprey into the river, furthering the Yakama Nation’s investment in the restoration of prehistoric lamprey habitat, through RCPP. Finally, the whirlwind tour ended at Barker Ranch, where Michael Crowder, the past president of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and manager of Barker Ranch which is a Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) easement with NRCS. Barker Ranch also hosted a group of state, tribal, local, and national conservation leaders and partners for a reception and dinner.
“All in all, it was an amazing tour,” Roylene said. “We couldn’t be more thankful and appreciate for the time partners committed for amazing event. It really gave us an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the amazing things our partners, staff and friends are doing across the state, yet the very valuable and close relationships we share with all of them.”
During Chief Cosby’s 40+ years with NRCS, he has held numerous leadership and staff positions. He began his career as an NRCS intern in Iowa in 1979 and rose through the agency’s ranks to become its 17th chief on May 24, 2021. Terry’s conservation and agricultural roots run deep. He grew up on his family’s cotton farm and attended a land grant university that prepared him well to serve all producers, including those who were historically underserved. Prior to being named Acting Chief, Terry served as NRCS State Conservationist in Ohio for 16 years. His other leadership positions include Deputy State Conservationist in Idaho, Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations in Missouri, and Area Resource Conservationist in Iowa.
Original source can be found here.