By David Smith

I am a board supervisor for Whidbey Island Conservation District, and I am speaking on behalf of the district office, 404 NE Center Street in Coupeville. I would like to summarize for the public the district policy statement in support of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and farm planning as rational exemptions to the Island County Critical Areas Ordinance. This statement was delivered to Island County Board of County Commissioners and the Planning Commission on May 13. Conservation districts are the only organizations in Washington State that routinely design and apply on-the-ground BMPs and farm planning services for landowners and operators.

The technical help provided to landowners by conservation districts is free for the asking. Conservation districts are not regulatory in nature. They were not organized to tell people what they can or cannot do to their land. Rather, they were formed to help people find ways to use their land without impairing natural resources. As such, conservation districts work regularly with agricultural landowners and operators to plan and implement BMPs in Island County. All of our district farm plans meet not only Island County BMP requirements, but also U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service standards and specifications. Farm planning is specific and scientifically based. In addition, farm plans take into consideration the individual land use desires in a more flexible approach to land management.

Farmers who have had their property in agricultural use since Oct. 1, 1998, and are near critical areas have been able to receive a partial exemption from more strict critical area regulations if they have acquired and implemented a farm plan (per ordinance C-151-99). Under the new proposed ordinance, all farmers operating in rural zoned lands that are near critical areas will no longer have the opportunity for that exemption.

Since ordinance C-151-99 was adopted, Whidbey Island Conservation District has provided farm planning services to 197 landowners and operators on Whidbey Island. All of these 197 cooperators were conducting agricultural activities involving livestock, hay or crop production. Of the 197 cooperators who received farm planning services, 180 properties were within the rural zone. Of these 180 properties in the rural zone, 67 (37 percent) have a wetland/critical area located in their property. Fifty (75 percent) of these landowners/operators with critical areas have initiated or completed formal farm plans. The remainder of the landowners have been advised and implemented some form of BMPs.

The Growth Management Act allows for special provisions for ongoing agricultural activities. WICD recommended the continued use of farm planning as a rational and science based exemption from critical area ordinance requirements.

Our district is also concerned that the rural zoned landowners and operators with critical areas, that we have already served, will be negatively impacted with the adoption of the proposed ordinance as written. These landowners and operators voluntarily came forward under the laws in effect at the time and adopted farm plan compliance with BMPs. All of their efforts, as well as expenses incurred, to implement BMPS need to be considered. Our district recommends an exemption from the Critical Area Ordinance for these agricultural landowners and operators of rural zoned lands with existing farm plans.

If Island County considers zoning changes from rural agriculture as an option for agricultural landowners to utilize the BMP exemption currently available to agriculture zoned lands, then our district recommends the following:

That the zone change designation be simplified and expedited and that the required acreage for rural agriculture classification be decreased from 10 to five acres, so that landowners are not down-zoned in the process of rezoning. Many of the rural zoned agricultural landowners currently cooperating with our district have properties less than 10 acres.

In summery, farm plans are comprehensive and protect natural resources. Farm planning and BMPs implementation translates into proper land management while honoring the property rights of individuals. Rural lifestyles is an important characteristics of Whidbey Island and families will engage or disengage in farming activities as it suits the needs of their families.

Farming as an activity os a socioeconomic issue as well as a land use issue. Whidbey Island Conservation District supports strengthening the connection between the land and the people who grow food and fiber. Such a policy does not have to be in conflict with protection of the environment.

David Smith lives outside of Oak Harbor.