Welcome to Skagit County

July 16th, 2010

Successful Save the Samish meeting attracts community's attention

SKAGIT COUNTY - Approximately 120 community members attended last night's Save the Samish Community Meeting at Edison Elementary. The successful two and a half hour meeting provided information and discussions on the current fecal coliform pollution problem in the Samish watershed, the actions being taken to address the problem, and the community support that is vital in getting the situation under control.

All three County Commissioners, along with Washington State's Department of Ecology Northwest Regional Director, Jeannie Summerhays, were present.
Representatives from Skagit County Public Works, Planning, and Health, provided presentations on the Samish watershed, the water quality monitoring program, the new Pollution Identification and Correction Program to be funded by an EPA grant, Critical Areas Ordinance regulations, and the On Site Sewage Management Plan.

Four community members also provided personal stories discussing successful farm plans, neighborhood efforts used to correct septic system problems, and encouragement regarding the need for community action in order to protect the local economy, natural resources, and our way of life.
"I was encouraged by the great turnout at the Clean Samish meeting in Edison Wednesday night," said Rick Haley, Skagit County Water Quality Analyst. "There were many excellent questions from the audience and the speakers who related their experiences with their own properties showed that it is possible to prevent pollution in a cooperative and straightforward manner. We're looking forward to carrying this concept further as we work to clean up the Samish River."

The meeting also provided several displays from local organizations involved in the Samish cleanup effort. Among the displays were many local resources and programs for local residents wishing to do their part in the effort to clean up the Samish watershed, including information on the Skagit Conservation District's farm plans, Public Health low-interest loans for onsite sewage repairs, and Skagit County's Natural Resource Stewardship program.

For more information on the meeting, or for information regarding available resources for addressing fecal coliform pollution, contact Rick Haley at rickh@co.skagit.wa.us or at (360) 336-9400 ext. 3424. Also visit www.skagitcounty.net/cleanwater and join the Samish list-serve for Samish watershed updates.