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Welcome to “Action Hour” with the Whidbey Environmental Action Network.

On this podcast, we discuss environmental issues affecting Whidbey and Camano Islands in Washington State, dive into ecology and policy impact, and educate you, the public, on what you can do about it.

Available on Spotify, Apple Music, iHeart Radio, Youtube, and Substack.

A Voice For Islands With Marnie Jackson

On this episode of Action Hour, Engagement Director Amanda Bullis and Executive Director Marnie Jackson discuss WEAN's programmatic priorities, including their work advocating for Whidbey and Camano Islands at the county and state levels, as well as current pending litigation against the City of Oak Harbor. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whidbeyenvironment.substack.com

Rearranging Deckchairs In The Face Of Sea Level Rise With John Lovie

WEAN and John Lovie

Sea level is projected to rise by one foot in the Puget Sound region by 2050, and Island County is at particularly high risk of hazards such as coastal flooding. Water activist John Lovie returns to this episode of Action Hour to discuss the complexities of land use in the face of sea level rise, emphasizing the need for a coordinated, sound-wide adaptation strategy to plan for the inevitable.Check out Dr. Ian Miller’s study, “Projected Sea Level Rise for Washington State."Read John’s blog post on the 2022 king tide, “An Imperfect Storm." This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whidbeyenvironment.substack.com

Drinking Water And Water Systems With John Lovie

WEAN and John Lovie

On this episode of Action Hour, Amanda discusses drinking water sources and water systems in Island County with water, environmental, community activist, and writer John Lovie. John's insights and musings about water, mostly, can be found on his blog, Mostly Water, at https://johnlovie.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whidbeyenvironment.substack.com

See Something, Say Something With Marianne Edain

On this episode of Action Hour, Amanda and Marianne unpack Marianne’s process for taking action against unpermitted development in our neighborhoods, following up with jurisdictions regarding permitted activity, and navigating the enforcement challenges. As always, persistence is key to success.Find our "See Something, Say Something" guide here.Report environmental violations to WEAN here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whidbeyenvironment.substack.com

Making Positive Change: A Framework For Activism With Marianne Edain

Marianne and Amanda demystify the step-by-step process foundational to Marianne’s years of successful environmental activism. Societal problems are complex, government agencies are complex, and local communities that engage with this complexity repeatedly are imperative for making lasting change in the world.Learn how to tackle an issue, share the workload, and keep showing up for each other and our planet.Framework guide here: https://tinyurl.com/makingpositivechangeTake action: https://www.whidbeyenvironment.org/act-now This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whidbeyenvironment.substack.com

Talking Conservation Easements And Contiguous Habitat With WCLT’s Ryan Elting

What exactly is a conservation easement? How do they work? Why would a landowner decide to put one on their property? Whidbey Camano Land Trust's Executive Director, Ryan Elting, joins us on an episode of the Action Hour podcast to discuss the many benefits of conservation easements, bringing conservation values to affordable housing, and WCLT's vision for protected contiguous habitat on Whidbey and Camano Islands.Conservation Easement Q&ALearn more about Whidbey Camano Land Trust at https://www.wclt.org/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whidbeyenvironment.substack.com

Monitoring And Protecting The Western Toad With Steve Erickson

Amanda and Steve discuss the conservation efforts for the western toad on Whidbey Island, including the challenges faced by the species due to rapid development and habitat destruction. They also explore the potential of using remote sensing approaches, such as bioacoustic monitoring and environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling techniques, to detect and understand the behavior of the species. WDFW Western Toad Calls: https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/western_toad.mp3Report Toad Sighting to WDFW: https://wdfw.wa.gov/get-involved/report-observationsReport Toad Sighting to WEAN: https://www.whidbeyenvironment.org/reporttoWEAN This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whidbeyenvironment.substack.com

The Need For Public Benefit Rating Reform With Marianne And Steve

On this episode of Action Hour, WEAN founders Steve Erickson and Marianne Edain explain the Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS) tax program on the state level and discuss how Island County could reform its PBRS program to include ecological classifications for forestry and beyond.See Island County's basis for assessment for PBRS here. Read the county code for PBRS, Chapter 3.40, here. Read the state statute, RCW 84.34.055, here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whidbeyenvironment.substack.com

WEAN's Battle For Critical Areas Protections In Island County, Part 2

WEAN founders Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson continue to chronicle their decades-long battle to protect critical areas in Island County and delve into the concepts of “takings” and “no net loss” of ecological function. If you haven’t listened to the previous episode, start there. Unfamiliar with the laws and terminology? Listen to our episodes on the Growth Management Act, critical areas⁠ , and the Comprehensive Plan first. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whidbeyenvironment.substack.com

WEAN's Battle For Critical Areas Protections In Island County, Part 1

Before 1984, Island County did not have a permanent code for development. Between 1982 and 1984, Marianne and Steve helped the county develop its first permanent zoning ordinance, which may have included the first critical area protections in the state. Then, the Growth Management Act passed in 1990, and Island County refused to comply, so Marianne and Steve took the county to court in a battle that would last decades. This is part one of a two-part conversation. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whidbeyenvironment.substack.com

Mailing Address

Whidbey Environmental Action Network (WEAN)

P.O. Box 293

Langley, WA 98260

Email

engage@whidbeyenvironment.org

Voicemail
360-222-3345

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