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Who: South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District
What: New Comprehensive Plan proposes clearing Forest, taking over natural areas
When: South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District is scheduled to adopt its new comprehensive plan on Wednesday, Oct. 19.
What: This is what the District is planning:
* Clearing 10 acres in the Trustland Trails forest for an “equestrian facility.”
This 200 acre forestland was acquired by SWP&RD from the state Dept. of Natural Resources on condition that it be managed for wildlife habitat and recreation that didn’t interfere with its habitat value. Permanently deforesting 10 acres is not consistent with the purpose and conditions for which this forestland was acquired. The District is also planning on allowing the “Mudder” bicycle race, involving hundreds of racers, also incompatible with the land’s use as wildlife habitat.
* Taking over ecologically important natural areas such as South Whidbey State Park.
South Whidbey State Park includes ancient forest that people stood in front of chain saws to keep from being logged in the 1970s. The Classic U forest is designated under state law as a “Natural Forest Area,” the highest form of protection possible in state parks and legal recognition of its exceeding rarity as low elevation ancient forest. SWP&R does not have the mandate, the experience, or the culture to manage natural areas, as shown by the plan to clear part of the Trustland Trails forest.
* No environmental review has occurred of these or the other proposals in the comprehensive plan. Adoption of the comprehensive plan without studying its environmental impacts violates the State Environmental Policy Act.
Tell South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District:
* No forest clearing in Trustland Trails and no mountain bike races.
* Delete any takeover of ecologically important areas, such as South Whidbey State Park.
* Perform environmental review of the comprehensive plan, as required by state law.
Contact by Oct. 19:
Don Wood (running for re-election unopposed)
email: dowood@amgen.com
home: 321-2275
cell: 206-255-7844
Jim Porter
email: jporter@whidbey.com
home 331-1368
work: 331-1500
Matt Simms (who wrote the amendments)
email: matthewesimms:eaton.com
home: 221-6504
cell: 425-876-0826
Allison Tapert (term ends after election)
email: x-sound@whidbey.com
home: 730-2330
work: 331-3113
Joel Gerlach (is running for Allison Tapert's seat, unopposed)
email: jgerlach@whidbey.com
Mark Helpenstell (he's new)
email: markhelpenstell@gmail.com
home: 579-8633
cell: 425-879-2603
Staff:
Terri Arnold, Director
email: dirswprd@whidbey.co
m
5475 Maxwelton Road
Langley, WA 98260
221-5484
to read the draft comp plan, check out: http://www.swparks.org/pdfs/DRAFT%20Comp%20Plan%202011%209.7.11.pdf
the wish list is at the very end.
