Climate Change – Page 5 – Friends of Clark County in SW Washington

October 23, 2024

We’re Almost There: Speak Up for Approval of an Agricultural Advisory Commission in Clark County!

in Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, Responsible Development

Over the past several years, members of the farming community, including Friends of Clark County, the Clark/Cowlitz Farm Bureau, local farmers market organizers, and the Clark Conservation District have expressed to Clark County the need for agricultural interests to be represented in Clark County government. Representation for Agriculture Benefits us All Currently, there are NO […]

October 23, 2024

Update and Background on the Chelatchie Bluff Surface Mining Overlay (SMO) on Forestland

in Accountability, Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, Mining

What is a Surface Mining Overlay (SMO)? Surface mining refers to the removal of the terrain surface to access minerals underneath. An overlay “is a set of additional or stricter standards and criteria that are applied on top of existing land use designations or zoning districts” (Source). An overlay does not change the zoning that […]

October 23, 2024

Friends of Clark County and Farmers Support NO on 2117: Help Us Defend Washington State’s Climate Commitment Act

in Climate Change, Farmland & Forests, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces, Rivers, Lakes & Aquifers, Wildlife Habitats

With just two weeks until Election Day and ballots already in your mailbox, there is no doubt that you’ve heard some rumblings about a slate of initiatives that were purchased by a single hedge-fund millionaire from California, Brian Heywood, sponsor of the Let’s Go Washington campaign. One of the most frightening of these is Initiative […]

October 22, 2024

Don’t Dabble with Dabbler: FOCC Needs Your Help Saving The Dabbler Forest

in Climate Change, Farmland & Forests, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces, Rivers, Lakes & Aquifers, Wildlife Habitats

What is it? “Dabbler” is a name given by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to three forested units it manages in Clark County comprising 156 acres of legacy forest that are slated to be auctioned off at a timber sale set for November. FOCC opposes this timber sale and you can read our […]

October 18, 2024

CALL-TO-ACTION ON THE CHELATCHIE BLUFF SURFACE MINING OVERLAY ON 330 ACRES OF FOREST LAND ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22ND

in Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, Mining

Date: On or before October 22nd at 10am Context: Clark County will hold a hearing to consider a proposal to repeal the Surface Mining Overlay (SMO) ordinance that could allow mining on 330 acres of prime Tier I forestlands at Chelatchie Bluff. This proposed action to repeal the ordinance is in response to the Growth […]

October 11, 2024

Call-to-Action on the Dabbler Timber Sale of 156 acres of Clark County Old Growth Forest: Read our Letter and SEND YOUR OWN!

in Climate Change, Farmland & Forests

What is the issue? “Dabbler” is a name given by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to three forested units it manages in Clark County comprising 156 acres of legacy forest that are slated to be auctioned off at a timber sale set for November. The sale will be voted on by the Board […]

September 23, 2024

Clark County Needs an Agricultural Commission

in Climate Change, Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems

Over the past several years, members of the farming community, including Friends of Clark County, Clark/Cowlitz Farm Bureau, local farmers market organizers, and the Clark Conservation District have expressed to Clark County the need for agricultural interests to be represented in Clark County government. Currently, there are NO voices representing the agricultural community while the […]

August 15, 2024

WATCH: Returning to Local Food Production in the Era of Climate Change – FOCC’s August 2024 Forum Recording Available Now!

in Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, General, Local Food Systems

For those who could make the live session, we deeply appreciate your attendance at our forum about returning to local food production in the era of climate change. It is a hopeful sign that we had such a great showing of local residents who took the time out of their evening for this discussion. Now, […]

August 10, 2024

FOCC asks Clark County to take important steps in management of Camp Bonneville

in Accountability, Climate Change, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces, Rivers, Lakes & Aquifers

FOCC asks the County to permanently close the Camp Bonneville shooting range, establish a permanent Camp Bonneville Citizens Advisory Group (CAG), and establish a Camp Bonneville Safety Evaluation Panel (SEP) which will allow the county to regain control of and properly manage the property in order to protect the health, safety, well-being, and interests of […]

August 9, 2024

BREAKING: Clark County’s Decision to Retain the Illegal Chelatchie Surface Mining Overlay (SMO) Risks Millions in Grants and Loans from Washington State for Non-Compliance

in Accountability, Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, Mining

We hate to say we told you so, but FOCC has long echoed the warnings of Clark County staff saying that retaining the illegal Chelatchie SMO would put state grant funding in jeopardy because of non-compliance with state law. Those warnings went unheeded by most of the Council, and now the county is poised to […]