It is possible that a grading permit could be issued very soon that would allow grading and logging in the mature forested buffer of one of the most special and rare wetlands in Snohomish County — Hooven Bog! Hooven Bog is a sphagnum bog, which in itself is rare in Washington, but it is also home to a rare bladderwort and three rare plant communities that include bog laurel, labrador tea and coast pines.
If they log the forest buffer of Hooven bog, it will likely be the end of the bog as we know it. The property owner has already filled in a portion of the bog with concrete rubble, severely impacting the bog’s chemistry and allowing for invasive species to encroach. He has also graded a road along the forest edge further compacting the soils. This is the 11th hour to stop this new activity. I would implore folks to become active to stop this activity.
If this isn’t coming across as being this critical then, those of us who understand the importance of this bog haven’t achieved our goal. Folks should be angry and feel deep frustration that Planning and Development Services at Snohomish County (who would issue the logging and grading permit) and the state agencies have completely failed to hold up the Growth Management Act and RCW 90.48 that mandates the state protect wetlands, especially irreplaceable wetlands.
I need folks to understand this isn’t just another degraded urban wetland but one of the very few really special habitats we have left. It would be like chopping down the General Sherman tree in the Redwood forest. There are certain areas/habitats that should just not be touched and this is one of them.
For more info on what you can do:
www.bearcreekhw.org/hooven-bog.html
Sarah Spear Cooke, PhD.
Wetlands Ecologist; Fellow, Society of Wetland Scientists
Seattle
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
