Original Post Date: 4-23-2008
Quite a few things in the Natural Skagit landscape are up for consideration and decisions: the dangerous big trees in Rockport State Park; new usage plans for the Anacortes Community Forest Lands; the selling of Puget Sound Energy; for examples. Keeps us busy paying attention. Good to see so many digging into these hard choices.
Speaking of Digging In, I was at the Swinomish Earth Day celebration on Saturday with over 250 others and, as was mentioned often, it was a special time.
How about this Wetland Mitigation Bank proposal making its way to the County Commissioners? Without taking a stand one way or the other, here is my take. I would like very much to hear more comment and studied opinions.
From standing way back and not squinting, this looks like a nice way to improve some habitat near Nookachamps creek. It will also provide for some farming of seeds and create a large wetland, where one probably ought to be. The big wetland can be used to mitigate for small wetlands destroyed by developments, with the developers paying the big wetland owner for “credits”, rather than having to create a different wetland to mitigate for the one destroyed. The owner makes some money from his/her investment to create the wetland mitigation “bank” in the first place, and it will help prevent the creation of many small, unconnected wetlands, as is often the mitigation approach now. While it does take some land out of agriculture, nobody stepped up to buy the old farm to keep it farming, as far as I am aware. The proposal has a seed-farming portion.
There was a big public forum awhile back, sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women. Knowledgeable people from all aspects of this thing spoke and took audience questions. It appeared that many governmental bodies had to get on board and “certify” such banks, and the process in Washington was going slowly and deliberately to allow for testing some pilot-projects. There did not seem to be any consensus about the proven value, yet, of such efforts, so slow seemed good!
Another aspect that seems positive is that some necessary land development projects, and I’m thinking of roads, sometimes can’t avoid messing up wetlands, and so having a prearranged and functioning new wetland to use as mitigation makes good planning sense. There are plenty of places where new wetlands are needed and can be established for such a purpose.
From an up-close, squinty look, things are a bit different. There is no web site or readily available information about the company, Clear Valley Farms LLC. proposing this bank. From web sites of other Wetland Mitigation Bank operators I noticed two things quite clearly. First is that most of the proposed, stated benefits of a bank go to developers, the “clients”, while the benefit to the natural eco system is mostly motherhood. Second is that the principals behind the “banks” are not local people or firms, but rather usually larger outfits with a profit motive first and an environmental motive after that.
I have seen opposition to this particular bank from several individuals and organizations, as would be expected here in NaturalSkagit. But, I don’t see any attempt, by anybody, to show the public why it is a good thing. No pamphlet, no public meetings or presentations, no sales pitch.
The official documents about it are available from the county website, but most of them are huge PDF files, and there are a lot of them. I cannot imagine any typical citizen being able to read them all and understand them, let alone use them to make a decision. While it is not the County’s job to explain the thing in simplicity to us, somebody ought to, if they want our support.
I was able to read the document explaining the seed farm proposal. I don’t want to spoil your total fun, but the plan is to hand pick seeds and cones, and take cuttings, from the native materials that get planted to establish the “bank”. The picking and cutting will have to wait until the plants are established and deemed adequate to allow some harvesting, and the resulting harvest will be used to replant the area as needed.
Can we get some more light on this thing?
The Local-Organization-You-Might-Want-To-Be-Involved-With this week is the Skagit Public Utility District http://www.SkagitPUD.org (sometimes known as Public Utility District #1 of Skagit County) Quite a few of us are already involved since we get our water from the PUD. It was formed in the early 1940s and is one of the few Washington State PUDs that does not also supply sewer and electrical service. The original Washington State PUDs, in 1931, were established to supply electricity. A PUD is governed by elected commissioners, Skagit PUD has 3.
The Skagit PUD has a pretty big impact on NaturalSkagit for several reasons. First, it maintains a huge protected watershed East of Clear Lake, including the Judy Reservoir, which collects the water from several streams and is the source of the water treated and distributed to its customers. It also controls many pipeline right-of-ways, which often represent natural spaces.
Secondly, development tends to follow water (and sewer) pipes, and so where the PUD can put them is always a hot topic. Especially now, since streams must be maintained at some maximum “low flows” to protect fish. Some places near streams can no longer allow wells. In fact, the PUD must be able to stop filling the Judy Reservoir at times, in order to maintain required flows in its feeder streams. There is a big pipe and pump being built to take Skagit River water up there during those times.
How do you extend piped water service to protect stream flow and yet minimize development?
The PUD can offer other “utility” services including electricity, sewer, wastewater, and telecommunications. Some of these services might have big impacts on our natural settings.
On the PUD website http://www.SkagitPUD.org there is a short and sweet on-line opinion poll about the Puget Sound Energy merger and a potential role for the PUD. Hop on, Dig in, and make your voice heard!
Here are some near-term activities to consider:
Thur. April 24 SR 20 Litter Pick-up Meet at Wilderness Info. Center in Marblemount North Cascades National Park 9:00am – 3:00pm (Joyce Brown 360 854 7304 to carpool from Woolley,) 360 854 7275
Sat. April 26 Native Plant Sale - The Salal/Washington Native Plant Society at the WSU Display Gardens on Memorial Highway, Mt. Vernon 10:00am - Noon
Sat. April 26 Native Plant Nursery Spring Setup North Cascades National Park Marblemount Ranger Station 9:00am – 3:00pm RSVP 360 854 7275
Thur. May 1 Anacortes Community Forest Lands Usage Plan Public Meeting Fidalgo Center 7:00pm
Sat. May 10 Master Gardners Plant Sale - Annual sale at the WSU Research center on Memorial Highway, Mt. Vernon 8:00am - 3:00pm
Many similar events and activities and opportunities are posted on the GoSkagit Event Calendar. Check it often!
(Your comments about this blog will be helpful. New ideas to consider, and changes we should make are especially welcome. Corrections and further enlightenment will help as well. You can email to . Thank you.)
