Friends of the San Juans urges science-based updates to critical areas ordinance

Tina Whitman, senior science director with Friends of the San Juans, told the San Juan County Planning Commission during public comment that new scientific findings should be incorporated into the county's upcoming critical areas ordinance update. "The trends from this new science are not good," Whitman said, noting declines in eelgrass and kelp and pressures from increased boating and shoreline armoring.

Whitman said her organization submitted a detailed comment letter on Nov. 19 that links to recent studies and summarizes management implications for shoreline, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas. She pointed commissioners to the Department of Ecology's 2022 guidance and to the county's FASET consultant gap analysis as resources staff should use when drafting the update.

"The new science includes current and improved information on trends and health of key marine critical areas, such as eelgrass, kelp, juvenile salmon," Whitman said, adding that some code provisions currently allow substantial vegetation removal and a long list of activities in buffers that, together, are inconsistent with best-available-science guidance.

Whitman urged commissioners to consider changes now to better protect habitat and listed species while also reducing shoreline instability and risks to private property under a changing climate. She said Friends of the San Juans and local partners will participate in the update and provided a written letter with links and summaries for staff and commissioners to review.

The commission acknowledged the comment and proceeded to staff briefings on pending code amendments. Whitman concluded her remarks by thanking the commission and noting she needed to leave for another meeting.