Rock Lake Conservation District Newsletter - Spring 2025
Meet the Team
Our board is comprised of five local landowners who have volunteered their time and expertise to advise conservation efforts in our communities. We’d love for you to get to know them a little better.
Board Chair: Stuart Elliot, 15 years of farming experience growing wheat and barley
Board Vice Chair: Chris Crider, 25 years of farming experience growing wheat and peas
Treasurer: Doug Schuster, 37 years of farming and ranching experience, growing wheat, barley, canola, and raising beef cattle
Member: Erik Logen, a local farmer with many years of experience growing wheat
Newly Elected Member: Gerry Jones, 45 years of experience farming winter wheat
Our office is faithfully operated by a small, but mighty staff who are always happy to help our local community.
District Manager: LeAnn Thomas, a lifelong resident of St. John, advocates for rural life and the benefits of small communities
District Assistant: Lori Loomis, a member of the St. John community for 15 years, consistently has been involved with local schools and businesses
Grant and Outreach Coordinator: Maya Aune, 4 years of agricultural teaching experience at SJE High School, lives on a farm and ranch raising wheat, hay, and beef cattle
Let’s Get to know you
We at Rock Lake Conservation District are in a growth phase. Learning more about our local farmers, ranchers, and landowners will help our team find funding opportunities that will meet the needs of our community.
Tell us more about your relationship to the land, current practices, and concerns about conservation, agriculture, and the environment.
Burn Permits Availible
Springtime burning is upon us! You can stop by the office any day of the week, Monday through Friday, to apply for your burn permits in person.
You can also apply for your permit online - visit Burn Permits to learn more about applications and fees.
Programs for Farmers, Ranchers, & Landowners
EQIP - Environmental Quality Incentives Program
EQIP is a program designed to incentivize farmers and landowners to incorporate conservation practices into their operations. The NRCS will work directly with producers to develop and implement conservation plans. These plans are typically targeted at a specific issue or concern and can apply to “one-off” projects like installing grass waterways or implementing a new waste management system. Some cost-share assistance is available for certain projects.
CSP - Conservation Stewardship Program
Similar to EQIP, CSP is a program focused on assisting farmers, ranchers, and landowners to implement conservation practices. However, CSP takes a broader approach while encouraging farmers, ranchers, and landowners to continue the good conservation work they do while improving their methods along the way. Financial assistance under CSP can apply to maintaining or continuing conservation practices over a set period.
Reach out to your local NRCS office in Colfax or stop by the Rock Lake CD office to grab an application to get started on EQIP or CSP.
Partner Progress Highlight
Conservation Tillage Cost Share Program
Our partners at the Pine Creek Conservation District in Oakesdale had Department of Ecology funding available to assist farmers in hiring custom seeding or renting conservation tillage equipment.
We hope to continue this work in the Rock Lake Conservation District and to assist our partners across Whitman County in spreading the word about the benefits of conservation tillage.
Click here to learn more about applying for a cost-share program today!
Events at the Office
Upcoming Partner Events
St. John Community Stock Show
April 25 - 27, St. John FAIRGROUNDS
We may be a small community, but we’re like a big family! The Rock Lake CD team will be at the St. John Stock Show!
Come visit with us at our booth in the Community Building on Friday and Saturday. We’ll have youth activities and prizes, and program information to share!
Native Plant Hike with Palouse CD
April 27th on Kamiak Butte
Join our partners at the Palouse Conservation District on a hike at Kamiak Butte. The hike will be guided by expert Palouse CD staff and will offer an excellent opportunity to learn more about native Palouse plants and how to identify them.