My work as a Commissioner to assure a healthy environment is underway. Preserving our natural heritage in Clark County is important for our generation, my son’s and eventually his children’s

• I am proud to be the lead Commissioner updating our Wetlands Protection Ordinance. We created a living document to protect the values our wetlands offer while providing flexibility and incentives for higher quality, lower impact development.
• The Board just finished updating the Habitat Conservation Ordinance. With the help of the environmental community, farmers, rural property owners, and others, we have an innovative ordinance that will provide us with better information about how we can all be good stewards of the land, while recognizing the importance of helping farmers is successful in our community.

Beyond the required ordinances and updates, we are proactively finding ways to preserve the beauty we love about Clark County.

• We’re working with Fish First, property owners, and the State, to counter streambank erosion in the East Fork.
• I’m working with County staff, Bill Dygert, and the Columbia Land Trust to create a Regional Land Conservation Program in the County that will acquire and preserve thousands of acres of critical open space corridors.
• In 2005, the County applied for and received $750,000 in State grants for a program to enhance valuable wetland and habitat complexes as mitigation for road projects.

Open space isn’t limited to rivers and habitat areas. Our trail and park system is an important piece of the puzzle.

• Earlier this year, I secured $500,000 in Federal funds to build a trail from Battle Ground to connect with the Lucia/Moulton Falls trail.
• I have led efforts to work with the Battle Ground School District and Vancouver/Clark Parks and Recreation to create joint efforts leading to more opportunities for sports clubs and neighborhood kids at existing and new schools.

We have just begun the effort to preserve the beauty of our natural heritage in Clark County and we have much work remaining. I am excited about the possibilities.