Initiative 933 Would Impact Local Wildlife Populations

Jim Davis is the president of the Conservation Partnership Center, a local conservation organization working to protect and recover wildlife in the North Cascades.

Public surveys reveal that wildlife is an important, if not the most important reason why many people choose to live in the North Cascades foothills. Most foothills residents treasure even a brief glimpse of an elk, a bear, a mountain goat or other wildlife. We are blessed with remaining wild habitat that allows these animals to survive in the North Cascades.

Unfortunately, some wildlife populations are already under stress on the west slope of the North Cascades. Lowland habitat is the limiting factor for these species during the early spring, late fall, and/or winter. To survive seasonal changes, they must move freely between secluded mountain slopes and flat lowland valleys. A new subdivision in each valley every few years slowly degrades the remaining lowland habitat. Without appropriate seasonal habitat, much of our wildlife will disappear or be reduced to isolated remnant populations.

Voters will soon be asked to approve or disapprove Initiative 933, commonly known as the “Developer’s Initiative.” If passed, this initiative would force communities to waive local laws that control and guide development (i.e., protect forestlands and wetlands) or substantially increase taxes to pay aspiring developers for maintaining their property in its existing condition. If I-933 passes, scenic valleys on the west slope of the North Cascades will rapidly fill with new homes, degrading essential wildlife lowland habitat and devastating many wildlife populations.

At the local level, the Whatcom County Council will soon craft a land-use plan, with substantial public input, that will determine development patterns throughout much of the foothills subarea of eastern Whatcom County. Decisions made through this long-term plan will impact lowland habitat for wildlife, most immediately in the Columbia Valley near Kendall. Allowing extensive residential development in this area will directly impact already stressed wildlife populations. The subsequent long-term need for local employment and local services to support additional families will inevitably fuel future development in these North Cascade lowland valleys, leading to a downward spiral in wildlife populations.

Whatcom County voters and elected officials must demonstrate the vision to protect our wildlife populations for future generations. Once wildlife is driven out by rural residential development, it will be very very hard to bring back. What is now portrayed by the proponents of rural residential development as “reasonable compromises with developers” will in future years be seen as disastrous mistakes that undermined the quality of life in our area.

Whatcom County residents can do two things to protect the future of their wildlife. Vote no on Initiative 933 and let your County Council person know how you feel about reining in development that degrades lowland wildlife habitat in the North Cascades foothills. §