Farmland & Forests – Friends of Clark County in SW Washington

September 24, 2024

Land Use, The Forgotten Climate Solution: Help Advocate for Friends of Clark County’s Climate Change Priorities

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

Clark County’s public participation process is underway to collect feedback from residents on climate change for unincorporated Clark County. CLARK COUNTY WANTS AND NEEDS YOUR INPUT, so please take some time to learn about FOCC’s climate priorities that are targeted toward tackling the root causes of much of our climate woes: land use. The county’s […]

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 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 […]

July 8, 2024

The Freight Rail Dependent Uses (FRDU), a Changing Landscape, and the Vacant Buildable Lands Model (VBLM): Breakdown of the June 26th Clark County Council Decision, What’s Next, and Call to Action!

in Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, Mining, Railroad, Responsible Development

Did you find yourself perplexed following the Clark County Council meeting on June 25th on the Freight Rail Dependent Uses (FRDU) consultant contract discussion, as well as the spontaneous subsequent work session on the topic the following morning? So were we! After review and investigation, we are here to break it all down for […]

June 18, 2024

FRDU CALL-TO-ACTION to Protect Clark County from Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad (PVJR) and Eric Temple: Write a Letter to Ecology Opposing PVJR’s Stormwater Permit Application for Barberton (DUE JUNE 22ND)

in Accountability, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, Mining, Railroad, Responsible Development, Rivers, Lakes & Aquifers

What’s the issue? PVJR is seeking a Construction Stormwater NPDES and State Waste Discharge General Permit for industrial construction activities disturbing 25.79 acres of soil to be discharged into Curtin Creek in Barberton. What’s the action? Submit public comment to the Washington State Department of Ecology. Ecology reviews public comments and considers whether discharges from […]

June 10, 2024

Our Comments for Clark County’s Environmental Impact Scoping on the Comprehensive Plan Update

in Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems, Mining, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces, Railroad, Responsible Development, Rivers, Lakes & Aquifers, Wildlife Habitats

FOCC agrees the comprehensive plan, and the development it could authorize, is likely to have many different and significant probable adverse impacts on the environment and, thus, agree with the County’s determination that an EIS is required. FOCC agrees with Futurewise that building for growth cannot take precedence over the need for maintaining, protecting, and […]

May 20, 2024

June Forum – Save the Date!

in Climate Change, Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems

On Thursday, June 20th from 5 – 6:30 pm, we will be hosting a companion forum titled Returning To Local Food Production In The Era Of Climate Change. We will have more information about panelists, topics, and how to RSVP in your inbox soon—but for now, SAVE THE DATE!

May 20, 2024

Will Clark County Finally Get an Agricultural Commission? The answer may be YES!

in Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems

Photo from Red Truck Farm in Ridgefield, Washington For years, farmland advocates, including Friends of Clark County, have been asking the County to create an Agricultural Commission. Clark County has 33 citizen commissions and advisory boards that advise the council and staff on a host of issues, but we do not have one that covers […]

May 19, 2024

It’s All Connected: The Freight Rail Dependent Uses (FRDU), the Chelatchie Bluff Mine, Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad (PVJR), and the Climate Crisis

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

(Photo of the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad from Clark County today) Please use this information about the heavy industrial railroad and mining expansion plan to craft your letters and public testimony to the Clark County Council and wherever else you can amplify your opposition to the plan, such as Letters-to-the-Editor of the Columbian and the Reflector, […]

May 19, 2024

Once in a Decade: Clark County’s Comprehensive Plan Update

in Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, General, Housing & Transportation, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces

Photo from Clark County government In addition to the Site Specific Requests, which are a major priority and focus for Friends of Clark County, The Comprehensive Plan Update has been underway at the County. Population and Employment Allocation: The County has been addressing this phase of the Comp Plan for some time, with hearings and […]