News From Your Friends – Page 13 – Friends of Clark County in SW Washington

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 […]

May 19, 2024

How Green Spaces Disappear Before Our Very Eyes: Site Specific Requests

in Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces

Most of us don’t see Site Specific Requests, nor are we aware of this process that can result in the loss of acres and acres of beautiful, soil-rich, productive agricultural land and carbon-sequestering forest lands in Clark County. As part of the Comprehensive Planning process, the County accepts site specific requests from landowners hoping to […]

April 23, 2024

Read About our Priorities on Housing in the Comp Plan Update

in Accountability, Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, Housing & Transportation, Local Food Systems, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces, Position Statements & Policy Recommendations

We provided public comment at the Population, Housing, and Employment Hearing today emphasizing two important points: 1) Nothing in the current studies, reviews, or discussions justifies any urban growth area (UGA) expansions. This position has been echoed by Clark County’s cities and by Community Development. Although both the Department of Commerce and Community […]

April 8, 2024

Our Responses: Stormwater Survey

in Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Responsible Development, Rivers, Lakes & Aquifers, Wildlife Habitats

Clark County Public Works recently released a Stormwater Survey – due by April 22nd: https://clark.wa.gov/public-works/stormwater If you are concerned about clean water, healthy fish populations, and water management, we highly recommend that you fill out the survey! When we took the survey, we found ourselves putting a lot of comments in the “other” category. We […]

April 4, 2024

FBI Shooting Range at Camp Bonneville – Position Statement

in Accountability, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces, Position Statements & Policy Recommendations

We urge that Council and staff take the necessary steps to address the lack of transparency and record keeping with county contracts, specifically regarding the Camp Bonneville FBI shooting range, as well as multiple instances in which false information has been presented to Council and the public. The following provides a thorough explanation of the […]

April 4, 2024

Transparency for the Camp Bonneville Community Advisory Group (CAG) – Position Statement

in Accountability, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces, Position Statements & Policy Recommendations, Rivers, Lakes & Aquifers

After attending the March 20th Camp Bonneville Community Advisory Group (CAG) meeting and learning of subsequent developments regarding Camp Bonneville, we’d like to reiterate old concerns and express new ones, all falling under the theme of transparency. They are as follows: 1) Spoken Public Testimony and the Uniqueness of the Proposed Charter: When asked about […]

April 3, 2024

Consolidated Report: Chelatchie Bluff Mine and Surrounding Industrial Plan

in Accountability, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Farmland & Forests, Mining, Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces, Position Statements & Policy Recommendations, Railroad, Rivers, Lakes & Aquifers, Wildlife Habitats

Over the past 18 months, experts in the fields of hydrology, fish and wildlife, forestry, geology, and hydraulic engineering have collaborated to consolidate a report on the proposed surface mining on Chelatchie Bluff and the surrounding areas. The author and contributors conclude that should the Chelatchie Bluff mine be able to expand, it would mean […]

March 15, 2024

Preserving Farming and Local Food in Clark County: March 2024 Forum

in Climate Change, Comprehensive Plan & Growth Management Act, Events & Fundraising, Farmland & Forests, Local Food Systems, Position Statements & Policy Recommendations, Responsible Development, Wildlife Habitats

Thanks to all who attended our March 2024 Forum on Preserving Farming and Local Food in Clark County! And thank you again to our knowledgeable panelists! In case you missed it, or in case you want to go back and review all the great information that was shared, you can view the recording here: And […]

February 28, 2024

Join us for our upcoming forum: Preserving Farmland and Local Food Access in Clark County

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

Forum Date and Time: March 14th, 2024 from 5 – 6:30 pm Pacific Time Location: Remote Only via Zoom; Register on Eventbrite Join Friends of Clark County for a panel discussion on the importance of preserving farmland and access to local food in Clark County. Farmland is being lost throughout the United States, but Clark […]