Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a federal law designed to protect and recover fish, wildlife, and plants that are threatened with or are in danger of becoming extinct. It requires federal and state agencies to work in coordination with local jurisdictions to recover listed species. Under the ESA in Clark County, several species have already been listed as threatened, including bull trout, chum, chinook, coho, and steelhead.
Big, Wild Fun at the Fair
| Video showing the River Ramble exhibit at the county fair, August 7 to 16, 2009. |
At the 2009 Clark County Fair, the ESA Program joined forces with partners to develop the River Ramble exhibit which won a first place award in the educational display category. The River Ramble included various activity centers offering information about how to protect and care for the "natural treasurers in our backyard."
The pieces de resistance
of this exhibit was the colorful floor mural painted by local artist, Brendan Addis. Using paint generously donated by Rodda Paint, Brendan created a river, fields, and habitat areas where visitors could "ramble."
Thank you to our partners: Clark Conservation District, Master Composter/Recycler Program, Clark Public Utilities StreamTeam, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, WSU Extension Watershed Stewards, and county departments Weed Management, Community Planning, and General Services for making this exhibit a success.
Habitat restoration on your land
We are developing a Web site that will help you learn more about the watershed that you live in. It will also give you information about protecting and improving the environment on your land. Just click on this link Habitat Restoration Marketplace and then click the phrase "Learn value." When the page comes up, enter your address to see an aerial photo of your property. Finally, click the phrase "tell me more" to get the details about your watershed. You can click any of the blue highlighted phrases to learn more. You can also move the slide bar up or down to zoom the photo in or out. Have fun.
Cumulative Effects Fund
Land use regulations in Clark County, including the county habitat and wetland ordinances, protect sensitive environmental characteristics and habitats. Mitigation required by the ordinances may not fully protect or replace the habitat impacted by development, resulting in small amounts of habitat and ecosystem functions being lost. The Cumulative Effects Fund helps solve the problem of losing small habitats or wetlands without compensation. The developer's or builder's obligations to mitigate are transferred to a program sponsor who invests the fees in mitigation of priority sites.
First meeting on March 25 orientated participants on the Cumulative Effects Fund and meetings thereafter will focus on the details of the proposed program. All meetings are usually from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98666, 6th Floor, Board of of Clark County Commissioners' Hearing Room.
Meeting agenda and summaries:
March 25
Agenda (PDF)
CEF Program Introduction (PDF)
April 8
Agenda (PDF)
Meeting Summary (PDF)
April 22
Agenda (PDF)
Meeting Summary (PDF)
Program Outline Draft No. 5 (PDF)
Requests for public records:
To request public records involving the Endangered Species Act, contact Joel Rupley at (360) 397-2022, joel.rupley@clark.wa.gov.
