Pomeroy Conservation District receives $25,000 PSE Fund grant
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-East Washingtonian photo by Connie Boyer
The Pomeroy Conservation District was handed a check for $25,000 from the Blue Mountain Community Fund (BMCF) on December 9 for the development of two habitat projects within Garfield County. Pictured from left to right: Duane Bartels, District Manager of the Pomeroy Conservation District, Paul Smith, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) Plant Manager, Kari Isaacson, Executive Director for BMCF, Brad Johnson, Middle Snake Watershed Manager for the Palouse Conservation District, Grant Morgan, Garfield County Engineer, Anne Walsh, Wind Resource Advisor for PSE, Mike Denny, Blue Mountain Audubon and County Biologist, David Hoffman, Local Government Affiliate Manager for PSE, and Wynne McCabe, Garfield County Commissioner.
POMEROY-The Puget Sound Energy Lower Snake River Wind Habitat Project Fund of the Blue Mountain Community Fund (BMCF) presented a check for $25,000 to the Conservation District here Monday afternoon, December 9. The grant will help fund two restoration projects in Garfield County; restoring a two mile stretch of Pataha Creek and recovery of a five–acre landfill on Bell Plain Road.
About six miles southeast of Pomeroy Pataha Creek, the project will make improvements to the mainstream through habitat development, beaver management and wetland creation. It includes catching run off water, storing it, and releasing it during dry seasons, wetland development and building structures for fish and beavers.
The second project is for habitat improvement on the old landfill site about four miles east of Pomeroy, on Bell Plain Road. Native trees and shrubs will be planted to re-establish habitat and a windbreak on the five–acre site.
Both projects anticipate completion by the end of 2020, and will improve farming, fishing and hunting. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Garfield County have contributed to the projects, matching the PSE Fund grant, through in-kind donations of equipment and labor.
The Blue Mountain Community Foundation has over 30 years of service in managing charitable funds directed to benefit the people of Garfield, Columbia and Walla Walla Counties in Washington, as well as Umatilla County in Oregon. In 2018, they distributed over $2.5 million in grants and scholarships.
They also facilitate the Puget Sound Energy Lower Snake River Wind Habitat Project Fund established by Puget Sound Energy (PSE) in 2012 when the wind farm was established in Garfield County. Wind farms are required to mitigate habitat loss, and to satisfy this requirement, PSE gives money to the BMCF to give out to appropriate projects in Garfield County. The $25,000 grant awarded on this day marks the third endowment award from PSE, for a total of $55,000 given since its beginning in 2012. The recipients of the grants are chosen by committee every two years.