Conservation Report - February 2022

Details

Last Updated: January 20, 2022

By Tim Manns

The many conservation issues important to Skagit Audubon exceed the space available in the Skagit Flyer. For these additional issues and more on those mentioned below, please refer to the Conservation Notes on the chapter’s website: www.skagitaudubon.org. Click on the conservation tab at the top of the page.

Fully Contained Communities (FCCs) in Skagit County

The effort to stop these very large residential developments from being built in rural Skagit County is making progress. LaConner, Sedro-Woolley, and Mount Vernon City Councils have each passed a resolution opposing FCCs and urging Skagit County to end its attempt to circumvent the process long in place for changing countywide planning policies. At this writing (Jan. 15), the County Commissioners have just announced they will consider a resolution deferring further action on allowing FCCs until the matter is brought before the Growth Management Act Steering Committee, which is to say, they will now follow the long-agreed process. In recent years, the Steering Committee, comprised of Skagit’s towns, cities, and the county, has repeatedly rejected allowing FCCs. For more information: https://www.rightgrowthrightplace.org and past issues of the Conservation Notes.

Washington State Legislature

The sixty-day legislative session began January 10^th. Audubon’s 25 Washington chapters and thousands of members across the state are well positioned in every legislative district to advocate for important conservation measures. Read about Audubon Washington’s priorities related to bird habitat and climate change at https://wa.audubon.org/conservation/advocacy. Scroll down to “Top Policy Priorities in 2022.” On the same page, “Bill Tracker: 2022 Legislative Session” gives weekly updates and actions to take. Clicking on bill numbers takes you to the Legislature’s website to find bill text, staff reports, and a “comment on this bill” button where you can do just that. Sign up for Audubon Washington’s Action Alerts at “Take Action …” on the same page mentioned above.  Audubon Washington joins over 20 groups in the Environmental Priorities Coalition. Learn about the coalition’s priorities for this year at Environmental Priorities Coalition - Washington Environmental Council (wecprotects.org). Scroll down to “Bills to Watch” for weekly updates.