Scoping meeting for the national monument
Published 1:18 pm Tuesday, March 3, 2015
by MARCIA DECHADENEDES
SJI National Monument Manager
The second anniversary for the San Juan Islands ‘ designation as a national monument is on March 25.
We are at last moving into the resource management plan process where we are turning to you for your personal insight and support. Once complete, this plan will be the foundation for management decisions for the next 15-20 years.
Thus far we have created a team of agency resource specialists to represent the diverse interests for the landscapes, we have generally identified the existing data for the landscape and we have opened up our process to other governmental agencies to share their expertise in the process. We also have a team of local citizens who have stepped forward to represent the public voice in the planning process as the monument advisory committee.
We are now at the stage of defining the issues for management of these diverse landscapes, and we would like to hear from you.
We are hosting a scoping meetings on Thursday, March 12 on the Interisland Ferry, Klahowya, in the dining area from 1 to 3:30 and on Friday, March 13 at Eastsound Fire Hall, 5-8 p.m. At these meetings you will hear from our lead planner Lauren Pidot and our recreation lead Nick Teague. Our cultural heritage lead Rich Bailey, lead biologist J. Vacca and vegetation lead Mark Williams will also be present for you to connect with.
You can hear from Lauren about the planning process and Nick will share an overview of the landscapes of the monument. Following their presentations the public can ask questions. Fliers and fact sheets will also be available.
You will have the opportunity to submit comments here, in writing, at any of the resource stations, or elsewhere by email or writing to identified locations.
Written comments may be submitted during the official scoping period in the following ways: Email to blm_or_sanjuanislandsnm@blm.gov, mail to San Juan Islands National Monument RMP, P.O. Box 3, Lopez, WA 98261, hand deliver to BLM Lopez Island Office, 37 Washburn Place, Lopez Island, WA 98261 or fax 503-808-6333
Submit comments by the end of March.
