Letter to the editor: Why we should care about the Edmonds Marsh buffer

Editor:

Readers of My Edmonds News have probably seen articles about our local marsh and the controversy surrounding it. They may be aware that there is an Edmonds organization, called Save Our Marsh. They might even have heard testimony about the marsh at many city council meetings. Now a public hearing on the marsh is scheduled for the city council meeting on March 21.

Local Benefits

Why should we care about all this? There are so many reasons: Our marsh is not only a place of refuge for a multitude of birds and other wildlife, it also offers a peaceful refuge for people seeking the serenity of nature in an urban area. Additionally, many people from outside Edmonds come to the marsh to view the more than 190 species of birds to be found there; this eco-tourism contributes to our local economy. Furthermore, students and their teachers use the marsh as an educational resource, and indigenous groups treasure it as part of their heritage.

Big Picture Benefits

Those are just the local benefits. What about the big picture? Our marsh is connected to Puget Sound and, as one of the few remaining saltwater estuaries linked to it, plays a role in the health of the Sound. The health of the Sound is essential for recovery of salmon runs and sources of food for Orca whales. Not only do such marshes play an important role in water quality, they play a role in general environmental quality. In the process of storing carbon dioxide, marshes can help mitigate global warming.

What are the threats to the marsh?

With general agreement about these benefits, why is there a problem? As is so often the case, economic goals come into conflict with environmental concerns. Protecting the marsh and its inhabitants with a buffer may limit the amount and type of future development at Harbor Square, which sits on the northern boundary of the marsh. The Port of Edmonds Commissioners want the freedom to sell this land to developers, with few restrictions on land use. When there is money to be made, too often the greater good is overlooked.

Dedicated citizens have been working hard to get clarity from the city council in defining the desired buffer for the marsh, a definition that does not put developers in charge of its fate. Anyone who cares about this amazing local resource should plan to attend the hearing at the city council meeting on March 21.

Marjorie Fields
Edmonds

  1. Thank you for your letter. I believe that most Edmonds residents agree that the marsh needs protection, and that a scientifically determined buffer is essential to achieve that goal. I hope that Edmonds residents will call or write the council or attend the meeting to show support for protecting the marsh.

  2. If we’re unable to attend the meeting, is there a petition we might sign? If yes, where would we go to sign it; also, maybe someone could start one online or in the Edmonds News?

  3. The writer’s characterization of the Port of Edmonds intentions and policies for Harbor Square are exactly wrong. The Port has consistently supported Marsh values and restoration. Our planning documents and process clearly shows that. There is no collusion or secret agenda with any developers. Economic goals and environmental issues are not always in conflict, and need not be. We believe restoration and redevelopment work best when they work together. It isn’t one or the other. The question is, what creates the best value for the community in the long run? It now appears that wider buffers will eliminate any prospect for redevelopment at Harbor Square. What you see is what you get. Unfortunate from the Port’s perspective, but we certainly do respect the opinions and values of Marsh advocates nontheless.

  4. The taxpayers of Edmonds and Woodway also need to remember that they own the Port, so they should have a serious interest in their assets being prudently managed. And I’m confident that’s what’s happening.

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