“Landowners, Fish and Wildlife team up to take on elk” tells only part of the story (The Columbian, Aug. 15). A 2019 survey of agricultural land in East Skagit County reported elk damage on one-third of the farmland (5,182 acres out of 15,000 acres). Damages to each of the 107 farms ranged from $12,000 to $150,000. The estimated farmer losses caused by elk for the entire East Skagit County area is $1.4 million each year.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife brought additional elk to the farming areas of east Skagit County and has not managed the elk to protect farmland for the past 10 years.
Under the Growth Management Act, Skagit County must identify and permanently protect agricultural land as part of compliance with the act and the Skagit County Comprehensive Plan. The act also requires protection against conflicts with the use of agricultural resource lands that are designated under RCW 36.70A.170.
Skagit county commissioners are required to comply with all state planning laws. How can the county commissioners protect farms and farming when the actions of the Department of Fish and Wildlife are not protecting farmland? State agencies should comply with all state laws and manage their programs to not damage any landowner, including farmers. Fish and Wildlife has much more work to do to comply with the law to protect farmland from elk.
