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Whatcom County archaeologist: do surveys ahead of encroachment and maintenance to avoid stoppages
Summary
Whitney Ogenstein, Whatcom County Public Works archaeologist, said maintenance crews and homeowners should plan surveys and encroachment permits ahead of work so crews don't have to stop for inadvertent discoveries; she also described coordination with state and tribal reviewers.
Whitney Ogenstein, the archaeologist in Whatcom County Public Works, said her office reviews encroachment permits for right‑of‑way work and will recommend surveys or monitoring when a site is nearby. "If the county is digging ditches in your site, I'm there," she said, describing her role in ensuring county maintenance avoids or minimizes impacts to archaeological sites.
Ogenstein recommended that homeowners and county crews obtain surveys or permits in advance and suggested including the county right‑of‑way in surveys to reduce the chance of work stoppage. She said she typically coordinates with tribal and state reviewers and that doing a survey earlier often costs little more than adding probes while the consultant is already on site.
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