Skagit County reauthorizes Clean Water Program

MOUNT VERNON – Skagit County commissioners recently approved a five-year reauthorization of the Clean Water Program, established in 2005 to address pollution in local waters.

The Clean Water Program (CWP) was created to address pollution in shellfish growing areas, and to reduce non-point sources of pollution in Samish and Skagit River watersheds.

Programs operating under the CWP umbrella include Pollution Identification and Correction; Clean Samish Initiative and Natural Resource Stewardship. Other programs are Water Quality Monitoring; Skagit Marine Resource Committee; Lake Management District Administration; Salmon Habitat Administration and support of the Health Department’s On-Site Sewage Program.

In addition to Skagit County’s own programs and activities, the CWP assists other local, non-governmental organizations that are committed to improving water quality and restoring salmon habitat. Among those organizations are the Western Washington Agricultural Association, Skagit Conservation District, Skagit Conservation Education Alliance, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group and the Skagit Watershed Council.

Commissioners approved reauthorization of the CWP on June 3 following a public hearing. They approved a proposal by the Public Works Department to reauthorize at existing special assessment rates through December 31, 2019.

For more information about the CWP, see the 2013 CWP Annual Report at www.skagitcounty.net/Departments/PublicWorksCleanWater.