Vancouver resident Peter Bracchi shares his concern over the destruction of protected land and water resources in Clark County
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
I am writing to raise urgent concern over the destruction of protected land and water resources in Clark County, specifically within a designated Critical Area under the Growth Management Act. The area surrounding Cold Creek — a steep canyon feeding into Burnt Bridge Creek — is experiencing severe environmental degradation due to unregulated encampments of the unhoused.
This once-pristine urban forest and vital waterway are now polluted, with tree loss, ground disturbance, and direct contamination of the stream. Burnt Bridge Creek is already impaired, and the ongoing damage to Cold Creek further threatens its fragile ecosystem.
We are failing the core principle of No Net Loss of Functions, a promise meant to protect our critical areas. This is not just an environmental failure but a loss for our entire community. I invite everyone to see the extent of the destruction through this photo link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/y5Az1dNPzVvnhxAx9
We need a serious conversation about balancing compassion and environmental responsibility before this damage becomes irreversible.
Peter Bracchi
Vancouver
Also read:
- POLL: Why did voters reject all three tax proposals in the April 22 special election?
Clark County voters rejected all three tax measures on the April 22 special election ballot, prompting questions about trust, affordability, and communication. - Opinion: The war on parental rightsNancy Churchill argues that Olympia lawmakers are undermining voter-approved parental rights by rewriting key legislation and silencing dissent.
- Opinion: An Earth Day Lesson – Last year’s biggest environmental victories came from free markets
Todd Myers argues that Earth Day should highlight free-market solutions and grassroots innovation as more effective tools for environmental stewardship than top-down mandates. - Opinion: Time to limit emergency clauses and give voters a choiceTodd Myers urges the governor to remove emergency clauses from bills that appear intended to block voter input rather than address real emergencies.
- Letter: C-TRAN Board improper meeting conductCamas resident Rick Vermeers criticizes the C-TRAN Board for misusing parliamentary procedure during a controversial vote on light rail.
wpDiscuz
