There is currently an election underway of a Kittitas County Conservation District (KCCD) Board of Supervisors position. You are eligible to vote in this election if you are a registered voter AND you live inside Kittitas County but outside the city limits of Ellensburg, Kittitas, or South Cle Elum.
So where is your ballot? Conservation District elections are operated outside of the usual election process; ballots are not issued by the county auditor’s office and ballot drop boxes are not used. YOU must request a ballot directly from KCCD (509-925-3352) OR stop by their office at 2211 W. Dolarway Road, Suite #4, Ellensburg to pick up a ballot. Return your completed ballot to KCCD’s office no later than 4:30pm on March 3, 2026.
Why should you care about this Conservation District?
Kittitas County Conservation District works to educate and promote programs that leverage the knowledge available to support healthy water, soil and environmental practices. Established in 1942, KCCD’s mission is to provide “leadership, technical, educational and financial assistance to landowners and land users in their utilization and management of natural resources.”
According to the Washington State Conservation Commission website, conservation districts provide: non-regulatory services tailored to meet local needs, site-specific plans for property designed to help owner achieve land use and conservation goals, technical expertise for project planning, permitting, and construction and grant funding to help property owner keep our water, soil, air, and habitats healthier for all of us.
Conservation districts are funded through a variety of sources including local, state, and federal grants as well as private grants. According to KCCD’s website, it is primarily 94% grant funded and has approximately 20 open grants at any given time.
If you value clean air, water, and soil in Kittitas County, support your local conservation district and its work by voting in this election!
Co-published by Ellensburg Daily Record Newspaper on Feb 28, 2026. Charli Sorenson is the past President of the Kittitas County League of Women Voters. She has also served on the Ellensburg Affordable Housing Commission, Kittitas County Developmental Disabilities Advisory Committee, and Kittitas County Elections DisabilityAdvisory Committee. She lives in Kittitas County with her long suffering husband of 48 years.