Together, We Thrive

URGENT CALL TO ACTION: Help Protect Clark County Resource Lands from Irresponsible Railroad Expansion

We need your help to get SB 5820 over the finish line!

Support SB 5820

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

More good news for Clark County: SB 5820, introduced by Senator Adrian Cortes (D-18th District), is a bill that fixes a serious problem created by SB 5517 in 2017 related to irresponsible railroad expansion.

SB 5517 carved out a special exception that allowed industrial development on resource lands and critical areas near a short-line railroad in Clark County — something no other county is allowed to do. SB 5820 repeals that exception and requires Clark County to follow the Growth Management Act, just like every other county in Washington.

In short: There is no valid reason for Clark County to be exempt from protecting farmland, forests, and mineral lands simply because they are “adjacent” to a railroad.

Why this matters:

Clark County residents overwhelmingly opposed SB 5517. In a 2018 survey, roughly 80% of respondents opposed the proposed rail-related development overlays and the industrial uses they allowed.
The policy has been unworkable. After eight years and enormous staff time, only one small overlay was approved, and it is unlikely to ever be developed.
The railroad operator tied to SB 5517 has a documented history of unpermitted and environmentally damaging activities, leading to investigations, stop-work orders, violations, and fines from multiple agencies.
Support for this bill comes from residents covering a wide range of political views and associations.

Why now?

The legislative cutoff for the House floor is March 6th. Our support has helped move this bill to the House Rules Committee, but we are now facing our most critical deadline yet. If SB 5820 is not “pulled” from the Rules Committee and voted on by the full House within the next 10 days, this years-long effort to protect our land and water could time out. SB 5820 gives us a real chance to permanently protect Clark County’s resource lands — but lawmakers need to hear from us now.

Take action (it only takes a few minutes)

Email, write, or call your legislators in support of SB 5820
Share this message with neighbors and friends who care about farmland and open space

Clark County legislators to contact (you can send one message and CC all of them. Don’t have time to CC all of them? Message the top 3 in bold!):

monica.stonier@leg.wa.gov
peter.abbarno@leg.wa.gov
kevin.waters@leg.wa.gov
hunter.abell@leg.wa.gov
stephanie.barnard@leg.wa.gov
april.connors@leg.wa.gov
chris.corry@leg.wa.gov
lauren.davis@leg.wa.gov
jeremie.dufault@leg.wa.gov
darya.farivar@leg.wa.gov
joe.fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov
mark.klicker@leg.wa.gov
mari.leavitt@leg.wa.gov
debra.lekanoff@leg.wa.gov
melanie.morgan@leg.wa.gov
lillian.ortiz-self@leg.wa.gov
alex.ramel@leg.wa.gov
tarra.simmons@leg.wa.gov
larry.springer@leg.wa.gov
chris.stearns@leg.wa.gov
drew.stokesbary@leg.wa.gov
my-linh.thai@leg.wa.gov
joe.timmons@leg.wa.gov

You can also call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000.

Sample message you can copy/paste

Subject: Please Support SB 5820 – Protect Clark County Resource Lands

Dear Senator/Representative [Last Name],

I am a Clark County resident and I strongly support SB 5820 introduced by Senator Adrian Cortes. This bill restores Growth Management Act protections and safeguards our agricultural, forest, and mineral resource lands.

Please co-sponsor and vote YES on SB 5820. Thank you for representing our community.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City or ZIP]

Every email and every call matters. Together, we can get this done!

Thank you for taking action!

Friends of Clark County

Imagine all the possibilities! All you have to do is take a stroll along the waterfront, visit historic parks, hike up forest and mountain trails, kayak down the river, spend an afternoon picnicking in the park, shop at the local farmer’s market, bike along the twisty roads, garden with your kids, or simply be in nature enjoying the diversity of wildlife. Clark County is a spectacular place to live, work, play and raise a family. That’s why Friends of Clark County wants to ensure this legacy continues and flourishes. We live in a special place. Let’s protect it for future generations!

Farmland & Forests

Preserving the heritage of our rich farmland and forests here in Clark County is critical to our mission at Friends of Clark County. Given the uncertain nature of our global circumstances, protecting an ample supply of prime farm and forest lands is of paramount importance.

A scenic vision of waterways in Clark County provide us with unending beauty, recreational opportunities, fish and wildlife habitat and sustenance. Water is essential to local farming. Clean and abundant water is vital for all.

Understanding the range of habitats that species depend on for their survival, Friends of Clark County believes we need to protect and restore those areas to ensure biological diversity in SW Washington.

Local food provides many benefits. Developing a thriving, local food system in Clark County is essential in the wake of our uncertain global food economy. Friends of Clark County is educating people about the urgency of developing a resilient local food economy and supports local farmers and ranchers.

Friends of Clark County advocates for creating connected communities by linking affordable housing developments with diverse public transportation options, meeting our growing population demands while protecting our resources and the environment.

Exploring natural places provides renewal, feelings of well-being, and a sense of harmony with the broader community. In Clark County, the presence of protected natural areas within our urban fabric can serve to counter-balance the stress and strain of modern life.