News From Your Friends

What’s on our Radar – Week of January 26th, 2026

January 26, 2026 in General

Photo of the Chelatchie Bluff area from the Columbian

Happy Monday! Before you read much further, we ask that you take a moment for two extremely important and urgent calls to action for the fast-paced legislative session!

First, take our📣 Call to Action to Help Protect Clark County Resource Lands from Irresponsible Railroad Expansion! Senator Adrian Cortes (D-18) has introduced SB 5820, 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.

As of today, one State Senator, Liz Lovelett of San Juan County, is holding up the bill. The window to make your voice heard is still open. We need a surge of support right now to ensure this bill moves forward. You can find a letter template and all the information you need at on our website here: https://friendsofclarkcounty.org/urgent-help-protect-clark-county-resource-lands-from-irresponsible-railroad-expansion/

Photo of Turnover timber sale, courtesy of Tonya Enger

Second, help us urge our legislators to protect legacy forests and generate revenue by supporting HB 2170 / SB 5999. From the Center for Responsible Forestry: This legislative session, Washington lawmakers are considering a bill that would give the DNR the legal authority to expand revenue generation from natural climate solutions and ecosystem services—such as carbon storage and sequestration—rather than clearcut logging. Today, the DNR generates much of its revenue through logging. In many cases, this means cutting down some of the rarest and oldest forests we have left to help fund a portion of school construction and essential rural services like libraries and fire districts. These services are important—but they should not depend on the destruction of irreplaceable forest. Take the 📣 CRF Call to Action here: https://www.c4rf.org/take-action

  • Other Clark County advisory board/commission meetings:
    • Thursday, January 29th at 5:30pm is a Planning Commission work session on the Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs) related to the Comp Plan Update. Following that work session at 6:30 pm is a Planning Commission hearing regarding selecting a preferred alternative for the Comp Plan Update – continued from Jan. 8 and Jan. 15, 2026. More information here: https://clark.wa.gov/community-planning/planning-commission-hearings-and-meeting-notes
  • Other happenings:

See you next week!
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