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principles & goals

Preserve the Character of the Islands

Goals:

• Preserve the character of our small communities.

• Support hamlet planning where desired by local citizens.

• Conserve rural, natural, conservancy, and resource land.

• Monitor compliance to local, state and federal law.

• Promote low-impact development.

• Monitor updates to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Shoreline Master Plan.

• Support island scale, sustainable, economic development.

Conserve Natural Resources

Goals:

• Conserve the biological diversity of the San Juan Islands.

• Protect critical and environmentally sensitive areas.

• Initiate scientific study and recovery planning (e.g. orca, salmon, forage fish, eelgrass, and kelp).

• Monitor County watershed and water resource planning efforts.

• Monitor compliance with local, state and Federal environmental protection laws, intervening legally when appropriate.

• Compile Best Available Science for inclusion in local, state, federal planning documents.

Promote Ecological Stewardship

Goals:

• Foster a stewardship ethic among residents, visitors, governmental and tribal agencies.

• Increase the capacity of planners, managers, and consultants to apply Best Available Science to decision making.

• Form innovative partnerships with private, tribal, and public agencies to preserve our natural and cultural heritage.

• Serve as a community resource.

Promote Strong Environmental Policies and Protections

Goals:

• Monitor compliance with local, state, and federal laws.

• Develop community partnerships to support conservation campaigns.

• Increase the County’s capacity to protect resources through data sharing, computer training, etc.

• Promote the precautionary principle.

• Facilitate information sharing/communication between decision makers to ensure consistent implementation of protection policies.