Call To Action!
Please send an email to the Skagit County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)By November 14, 2025
IUrge them to amend the Critical Areas Ordinance to protect all critical areas like Big Lake, from new project off-site impacts, not just those critical areas within 200’ of the new project. The staff continues to recommend against doing so. Public comment closes on November 14, the final vote is scheduled for November 26, 2025.
Ask the BOCC to adopt the Department of Ecology recommendation of the 2024 Stormwater Manual (page 149) to look one-mile down stream.
“In the best interests of the general public and environment,” Ecology recommends local governments require development projects that discharge stormwater off-site to submit an off-site analysis report that assesses the potential off-site water quality, erosion, slope stability, and drainage impacts associated with the project. The review should look downstream for a distance of up to one-mile from the project site.
Please send your e-mail labelled “Skagit County 2025 Critical Areas Ordinance Update” to individual commissioners and planning staff by Friday, November 14, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. Be sure to include your full name and mailing address. If that is not included, your public comment will not be considered. (See “How to Comment” below.)
Thank you, Big Lake Informed
HOW TO COMMENT:
The comment period will be open from Thursday, October 30, 2025,
to Friday November 14, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.
Below are the two options for submitting public comments.
Option 1: Email comments are preferred and must be sent to pdscomments@co.skagit.wa.us with the proposal name “Skagit County 2025 Critical Areas Ordinance Update” in the subject line.
Submit comments to:
Commissioners:
Lisa Janicki: ljanicki@co.skagit.wa.us
Peter Browning: pbrowning@co.skagit.wa.us
Ron Wesen: ronw@co.skagit.wa.us
Option 2: Paper comments must be printed on 8½x11 paper and mailed or delivered to:
Planning and Development Services
Comments on “Skagit County 2025 Critical Areas Ordinance Update”
1800 Continental Place
Mount Vernon WA 98273
All comments must be received by the deadline referenced above and include your full name and mailing address. Comments not meeting these requirements will not be considered.
For more information, please contact Robby Eckroth, Senior Planner, at reckroth@co.skagit.wa.us.
