When considering the fragmented ways we are looking at so-called “separate” Critical Areas categories, only one truth unfailingly dictates what happens to saltwater ecosystems: Everything flows downhill. Best Available Science soundly backs this reality. In observing nature, we observe that all land slopes downhill to the salt waters we wish to protect. If we want to know where to begin protection, we must start at the top of the mountain. Every tree we rip out of the ground up-slope impacts everything below.

We’re privileged to live in an abundantly beautiful, diverse, and fragile area. Since natural wetlands are the filtering systems for whatever runs into the sea, much as our lungs and kidneys filter toxins from the air and within our bodies, it makes sense to view the islands as bodies and wetlands as lymph, circulatory, and endocrine systems and filtering organs.

The idea and practice of separating and fragmenting wetlands to downgrade  protective regulations is egregious, because even small, unregulated wetlands are contiguous with greater wetland systems, contain the same hydrology, and are thus a part of them.

It’s vitally important to protect wetlands and other Critical Areas in an Urban Growth Area. Given the geography, geology, and hydrology of Eastsound Basin and Lopez Village, the health of our Category 2 wetlands such as Eastsound Swale directly impacts the Marine environment.

If property value is based solely on the concept of developability without considering the health of our Critical Areas as part of our collective wealth, we will destroy the supporting lands and waters that make our high quality of life possible. It’s essential that we broaden concepts of valuation to include health of Critical Areas and educate ourselves on how Critical Areas systems work together, so that we will want to protect and preserve them, and know how.

What incentives can we offer to property owners for protecting and preserving Critical Areas? Future generations will inherit the results of our decisions and actions. Can we look much farther ahead than the next 20 or even 50 years, and further afield than our own backyards?

Sadie Bailey

Eastsound