Residents criticize commissioners: County’s Shoreline Management Program is lacking climate change plans

On March 1, at a public hearing before the Skagit County Board of Commissioners, representatives of several organizations expressed concerns about the absence of references to climate change and sea level rise in the February 2022 draft Shoreline Master Program. Molly Doran of Skagit Land Trust described “planning” as the most effective way to reduce impacts on shorelines, homes, farmland and infrastructure. With another update not due for eight years, many fear it will be too late. The SMP is going in the wrong direction said Tim Mann of Skagit Audubon.

While some changes have been made based on the 87 written public comments and 11 verbal comments, submitted last spring, fewer than 20 issues have been brought forward to the Board of County Commissioners. Climate change and sea level rise are not among them.

Furthermore, Amy Trainer, speaking for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, expressed frustration that none of the issues addressed in its 70-page comment letter submitted last spring, were incorporated into the document.

Several speakers were in opposition to granting variances in buffers for setbacks. Up to 50% are being approved as administrative variances. This was criticized for the broad discretion granted to staff and bypassing pubic notice and comments.

By allowing timber harvesting and temporary roads within shoreline buffers, the draft also falls short in protecting streams, and rivers, commented Marlene Finley, president of Evergreen Islands. Both activities com-promise the wide variety of ecosystem functions that buffers provide and salmon depend upon.

Noting the collapse of commercial net pens in 2017 off Cypress Island, Rein Attemann of Washington Environmental Council, urged that net pens for both native and non-native fin fish be prohibited. Aquaculture upland facilities are seen as more environmentally safe, especially in the Skagit waterways that offer some of the state’s most productive, remaining native salmon fisheries.

Multiple issues around wells on Guemes Island were described by Stephen Orsini of Evergreen Islands and Hal Rooks of the Guemes Island Planning Advisory Committee. A request was made to rescind a 2019 County legal opinion by a staff lawyer that held the County could only regulate wells if they were linked to a development permit. As a result, well drilling goes on, without adequate regulation and despite an increase in the number of wells with saltwater intrusion.

Long in process, Skagit County has been updating this SMP since 2011 with input from the public, its planning commission, and Planning and Development Services staff.

It is before the county commissioners now and widespread appreciation was expressed for their facilitation of this public hearing, as well as for extending the comment period. As Commissioner Lisa Janicki stated at the end of the hearing, the hope is for a “meaningful and contemporary” SMP.

More information is available at http://www.skagitcounty.net/smp. Comments can be sent to [email protected] until 4:30 p.m. April 1.