Farmland & Forests – Page 5 – Friends of Clark County in SW Washington

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 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!