During review of the draft water resources element on May 16, commissioners and public commenters pressed county staff to address monitoring gaps, clarify existing data sources and commit to long-term groundwater monitoring and reporting.

Public and commissioner concerns: Commissioner Bill Banks and others said monitoring networks are incomplete. Banks questioned whether monitoring on Orcas remains active and said USGS analysis the county expected had been delayed. He called for a county commitment to monitoring and public reporting of groundwater trends, noting recent consultant findings on Lopez that showed declines and signs of saltwater intrusion in some wells.

Staff response: Kendra from the Environmental Stewardship Department described the revisions to the water resources goals and policies, emphasizing priorities of water quantity management (flooding, infiltration, recharge), water quality, monitoring and reporting. She said the Clean Water Advisory Committee prioritized building a clear monitoring and reporting strategy to understand consumption and guide management. Staff acknowledged the USGS report delay and said the county is considering hiring a hydrogeologist consultant to help fill data gaps.

County officials: Mark Tompkins (director of health and community services and DCD interim director) confirmed the county has a hydrogeologist on contract who assists reviews, and staff said both the Clean Water Advisory Committee and county departments expect to scope a water resources action plan tied to the comp plan to guide investments over the coming decade.

Why it matters: Much of the county relies on private wells (exempt wells) and decentralized systems; without robust monitoring, staff and policymakers lack the baseline to evaluate whether future growth and development can be supported without compromising water quantity or quality.

Next steps: Staff said they will continue working on the water element and plan to scope an action plan for monitoring, and they invited commissioner participation through the Clean Water Advisory Committee. The water resources appendix was included in the packet; staff will continue refining the capital facilities inventory and supporting data over the summer.