The commissioners are considering re-evaluating the criteria for the Conservation Futures Program.
Island County commissioners are considering re-evaluating the criteria for the county’s Conservation Futures Program.
Every year, the program provides funding for preserving open spaces, timberlands, wetlands, habitat areas, culturally significant sites and agricultural farmlands within Island County.
In August 2023, the commissioners were supportive of two projects that applied for funding — a wetlands preserve in Freeland and Freund Marsh in Oak Harbor.
But during a work session last week, Department of Natural Resources Manager Jen Schmitz informed the commissioners that the funding for Freund Marsh is in limbo, since the city of Oak Harbor has yet to accept the Conservation Futures dollars.
Though an advisory board is recommending that the county commissioners take a pause on the program in 2024 to work on policy, Commissioners Jill Johnson and Melanie Bacon were not prepared to do so until they heard from the Oak Harbor City Council.
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