The San Juan County conservation district is organized under Chapter 89.08 RCW to protect, restore and conserve the natural resources of San Juan County by:
A. 
Conducting surveys, investigations, and research relating to the conservation of renewable natural resources;
B. 
Conducting educational and demonstrational projects on any lands within the district upon obtaining the consent of the occupier of such lands;
C. 
Carrying out preventive and control measures and works of improvement for the conservation of renewable resources within the district, upon obtaining the consent of the occupier of any such lands;
D. 
Cooperating or entering into agreements with and to furnish financial or any other aid to any agency, governmental or otherwise, or any occupier of lands within the district;
E. 
Making available, on such terms as it shall prescribe, to land occupiers within the district, agricultural and engineering machinery and equipment, fertilizer, seeds, and seedlings to assist in conservation of renewable resources; and
F. 
Administering any project or program concerned with the conservation of renewable natural resources located within its boundaries undertaken by any federal, state, or other public agency.
(Ord. 10-2005 § 1)
A. 
The following rates and charges are fixed for all parcels within the district's boundaries:
Land Use Category
Calculated Rates
Per Parcel
Per Acre
Residential
$25.000
$0.1000
Commercial
$25.000
$0.1000
Agriculture
$25.000
$0.1000
Institutional/Public
$25.000
$0.1000
Vacant/Undeveloped
$25.000
$0.1000
Open Space
$25.000
$0.1000
Designated Forest Land
$3.0000
$0.0100
B. 
All those landowners qualifying as low income senior citizens shall be exempt from this section.
C. 
All those lands with assessed values of less than $500.00 shall be exempt from this section.
D. 
The County treasurer pursuant to RCW 89.08.405(6) shall deduct one percent from the collected rates and charges to cover the costs incurred by the County assessor and County treasurer in spreading and collecting the rates and charges, and such deduction shall not exceed the total cost of such work.
(Ord. 10-2005 § 3; Ord. 13-2019 §§ 1 – 3, 6; Ord. 16-2025 § 2)
The amount of rates and charges provided for in this chapter shall constitute a lien against any property for which the rates and charges have not been paid by the date it is due, as provided in RCW 89.08.405. The County treasurer shall collect the unpaid assessment in the same manner as delinquent real property taxes, subject to the same interest rate and penalty as for delinquent property taxes.
(Ord. 10-2005 § 4; Ord. 16-2025 § 3)
All taxes collected from any assessment levied under this chapter and any rates and charges imposed under this chapter shall be deposited in a special fund in the treasury of San Juan County known as the San Juan County conservation district fund, along with all other funds which the San Juan County conservation district is authorized to receive. Interest earned from investments of this fund shall remain with the fund. This fund shall only be used to support the activities of the San Juan County conservation district.
(Ord. 10-2005 § 5; Ord. 16-2025 § 4)
The rates in SJCC § 3.36.030 are to be charged beginning in January 2026 and the approved rates continue for a period of 10 years, unless modified by a request of the San Juan Islands district board of supervisors and by action of the San Juan County council during the effective period.
(Ord. 10-2005 § 6; Ord. 23-2010; Ord. 13-2019 § 4; Ord. 16-2025 § 5)