It could be the last chance to be heard before the county updates ordinances intended to protect the natural environment of Orcas Island.

After years of research and public discussion, San Juan County is currently in the process of updating their critical areas regulations beginning with codes covering the upland wetlands and fish and wildlife habitat areas followed by marine shoreline regulations.

The update of Critical Areas Ordinances, or CAO, is a system for counties in Washington to preserve the natural environment and protect public health and safety. Because the issues are important to the future of environmental protection and the rights of property owners, the San Juan County Council has initiated field trips and workshops to involve the public.

Jeff Hansen, staff member of the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee, is getting the word out about the series of field trips and public meetings beginning November 9 on San Juan Island.

“I think the Council is reacting to the public discussion that has become somewhat polarized. They have asked the staff to develop some good, solid information and get it out to the public so people can have a common base of knowledge as they discuss some solutions to some of the challenges of some of the new regulations,” Hansen told the Islands’ Sounder.

Questions and ideas from the community will be solicited through field trips and public meetings hosted by environmental experts. The public participation opportunities will be held November 9 at the Mullis Center on San Juan Island, November 12 at the Senior Center on Orcas Island, and November 16 on Lopez Island (note new date).

The Orcas field trip will look at Eastsound wetland rights through the center of the town from the airport to the Outlook Inn and possibly additional areas as well. The field trip will be facilitated by Jim Kramer who has been involved with resource issues for years. It is an opportunity to see various wetland and shoreline areas, to better understand their value, and learn how property owners will be affected.

“Any property that has any of these critical areas as part of the property, whether it is a stream or a wetland, will have some regulations or buffers that help protect that environmental function,” Hansen said.

The field trips will start at 11:30 a.m. and public meetings at 5:30 p.m. on the same date. Field trip meeting locations will be posted on the San Juan County web site at http://www.sanjuanco.com/calendar.aspx.

To participate in the Orcas Island field trip, or on San Juan or Lopez, contact Hansen via email at jeffh@sanjuanco.com so transportation and other logistics can be planned.

Participants are encouraged to read the recently released paper entitled “It’s Time to Share, Consider, and Decide” that summarizes the current issues before attending the field trip. The paper was prepared October 26 and is available along with other CAO documents at http://www.sanjuanco.com/cao/.

“The most important thing is for people to at least scan the issue paper, to be able to come with a basis of knowledge is a lot better than coming with just opinions,” Hansen said.

Questions about the proposed ordinances may be answered by calling Shireene Hale at (360) 370-7569 or Jim Kramer at (206) 841-2145.