Devan Rostorfer

Education:  B.S. Biology, M.S. Natural Resources and Environment

Occupation:  Clean Water Division Manager, Clark County Public Works

Candidate Statement: Devan is a dedicated public servant committed to protecting and restoring farmland and the habitats they provide to achieve clean water in Clark County. Outside of her role with Clark Conservation District, Devan works as the Division Manager for Clark County's Clean Water Division and is a proud alumnus of Leadership Clark County Class of 2020. She resides in Vancouver with her husband, daughter, and her miniature schnauzer Winston and enjoys spending summers on the river with family and friends.

Tell us about your past experience with Clark Conservation District, or other Conservation Districts. Devan began her work with Clark Conservation District as a Water Quality Specialist with the Department of Ecology. In this role, Devan was responsible for developing Water Cleanup Plans for watersheds on the State’s Polluted Waters List. During this time, Devan started working with Clark Conservation District to help build their capacity to implement technical assistance and planning to help address water quality challenges on private property that are most often associated with failing septic systems and manure management. To help build this capacity, Devan worked with the Conservation District to increase funding and begin their locally recognized and successful program Poop Smart Clark.

What is the greatest strength of the Conservation District model, in your opinion? Conservation Districts are essential organizations since they build relationships with landowners to help achieve clean water. By taking a non-regulatory, voluntary approach to conservation – the District is able to share technical and financial assistance to help landowners improve habitat and water quality on their property. This is key to protecting local rivers, and lakes to keep water clean for future generations.

What role can Conservation Districts play in addressing regional priorities, while still remaining true to their basic operating mandate? The Conservation District partners with state, federal and local governments to help implement Water Quality Plans, TMDLs, and address key conservation needs identified by the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Services. The conservation district achieves this not only through technical and financial assistance, but also by helping support local nursery development so there are more trees available for river restoration locally. The district is also working to increase urban tree canopy in partnership with the County and DNR. Landowners also benefit from farm planning to identify important manure management BMPs to address drainage challenges on their property, or to implement manure storage, and solutions for heavy use areas, and pasture lands for grazing. The district also has a stewardship forester that can help private forest owners with their forestry needs including efforts to address wildfire risks – which is a huge benefit for conservation and public safety!

If elected, during your term of office what will be your priority focus areas for Clark CD and what do you hope to accomplish? As a Clark Conservation District Supervisor I am dedicated to communicating the unique needs of rural landowners in a County that is experiencing significant land use change, population growth, and development. I am committed to communicating the shared values in keeping rural areas rural. Preservation and conservation of local farmland is not only important for the environment, there are multiple economic and social benefits that can be achieved for people, fish, and wildlife – and also for food, farms, and floods.