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Mission
The Skagit County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) has been appointed by the Skagit County Board of Commissioners to address local marine issues, recommend remedial actions to local authorities, and build local awareness of the issues and support for remedies. The Skagit MRC consists of representatives of diverse interests, which include the county, two municipalities, three tribes, one environmental group, an agricultural research facility, a refinery, commercial and recreational fishing interests, boating groups, and concerned citizens. The actions of the committee will be guided by sound science and the needs of the marine ecosystem, in coordination with the Northwest Straits Commission, governmental and tribal agencies, and scientific and academic institutions.
Primary Programs/Projects
The MRC is currently working on a public outreach project to assess potential locations of Marine Protected Areas to protect and restore rocky reef bottomfish populations in Skagit County. Four public and several partner group meetings were held to educate on the status of bottomfish in Skagit County and on how Marine Protected Areas could be used to restore bottomfish populations. A final report will be produced that will summarize the public input.
The MRC is also working with People for Puget Sound and Anacortes High School on a Rapid Shoreline Inventory on sections of Skagit County shoreline. This is a citizen-based project that will involve training of students and volunteers to gather information on critical shoreline habitat to address the loss of nearshore habitat.
Reason for Participating on the Skagit Watershed Council
To participate in the recovery of salmonids and encourage projects in nearshore and estuarine habitats. One of the Northwest Straits Commission Benchmarks for Performance, which drive the focus of the MRC, is to ensure the net gain of highly ecologically productive nearshore, intertidal and estuarine habitat. The Skagit Watershed Council and its' member organizations are important partners in the protection and restoration of marine and freshwater habitats.
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