Welcome to Skagit County

December 16, 2003

SKAGIT COUNTY ONE STEP CLOSER TO GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT COMPLIANCE

SKAGIT COUNTY – The Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board issued a compliance order ruling on December 3, 2003, stating that Skagit County’s new ordinance pertaining to protection of salmon and on-going agriculture is now in compliance, with two exemptions. The ruling requires that Skagit County:

Adopts an amendment to clarify that failure to comply with the new ordinance and its mandatory Watercourse Protections Measures will result in enforcement.
Add additional specificity on how monitoring will be conducted, how resulting data will be used, and timelines that ensure prompt corrective action.

The order gives Skagit County 180 days to refine its ordinance to the required level of clarity and specificity. “This is great news for Skagit County. We’ve worked hard to develop an ordinance that protects both fish and farmland,” said Tom Karsh, Skagit County Director of Natural Resources.

Skagit County will begin implementing the enforcement provisions of the ordinance January 1, 2004. The Skagit County Planning and Permit Center will begin responding to requests for investigations filed alleging violations. Concurrently, Planning and Permit Center staff will be working with property owners and groups to facilitate a better understanding of the new requirements.

Skagit County Public Works is implementing ongoing water quality monitoring and a habitat inventory.
“The water quality monitoring plan is complete and monitoring has begun, consistent with the requirements of the ordinance and corresponding monitoring resolution,” said Karsh.

The recent ruling by the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board is available online at www.skagitcounty.net

For further information, contact: Carly Ruacho
Skagit County Planning & Permit Center
360-336-9410