Underwood Conservation District
Underwood Conservation District was established in 1940 when concerned orchardists and farmers around Underwood Mountain gathered to discuss irrigation needs, the decline of forest productivity, and the impacts that development was having on their land – increasing soil erosion and degrading water quality. The meeting resulted in a partnership between the Soil Conservation Service (a Federal USDA Agency, now called the Natural Resource Conservation Service) and private landowners, which created the locally-run conservation district.
Underwood Conservation District provides technical assistance, cost-share assistance, project and water quality monitoring, community involvement and education, and support of local stakeholder groups within the district. The district works with willing and interested landowners in implementing conservation practices.
Since its inception in 1940, the Underwood Conservation District has grown several times. The District’s boundaries now encompass the western third of Klickitat County and all of Skamania County. If you live anywhere in Skamania County, or in Klickitat County west of the Klickitat River, you are in UCD’s district area.
Native Plant Sale & TreeFest
Every year, Underwood Conservation District offers low-cost tree and shrub seedlings to residents in the Columbia Gorge. They offer a variety of conifers, deciduous trees and shrubs. These come ready to plant as 1-3 year-old, bare-root or plug seedlings. The sale runs online from late November through the end of February each year.
The annual plant sale in White Salmon is one way the Underwood Conservation District encourages the restoration of natural habitats and promotes native species. They hope to provide a convenient, low-cost way for property owners in Skamania and western Klickitat Counties to obtain these trees and shrubs.
The culmination of the online native plant sale is TreeFest event in March, which serves as our online order pick-up location and features an additional walk-up sale for the opportunity to purchase single stems or mix-and-match bundles. The TreeFest event is a great way to get to know the Underwood Conservation District’s programs and meet the staff. They also host informational booths from local organizations and nurseries, offer music, kid’s activities, food, and more!
Technical Assistance
Underwood Conservation District staff are available to offer recommendations on suitable native plants for your planting project. These recommendations can be via email, phone, or at an in-person site visit.
Financial Assistance
Underwood Conservation District offers native plants as bare-root, restoration-grade stock in an effort to keep costs low and pass savings on to our district residents. Large quantity discounts are available for reforestation species; call to inquire.
Education
A variety of printed materials are offered at the Underwood Conservation District office including books and plant references that are available to borrow; they also host several topical educational lectures, field days and workshops each year. Sign up for their eNewsletter to stay in the know about upcoming events.
Tools
Underwood Conservation District also has hand tools available to borrow; including a soil sampling probe, moisture meters, and planting tools. Underwood Conservation District owns a manure spreader, which also works with compost or other medium.
Underwood Conservation District also rents out a Land Pride 3P500V no-till seed drill.
Contact the Underwood Conservation District at 509-493-1936 to learn more about the Native Plant Sale or to discuss your planting project. You can also check out their Plant Sale FAQ, for answers to frequently asked questions.
