Why FOSC? | Friends of Skagit County

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	Preserving Skagit County's rural character by protecting the environment, supporting sustainable resource based economies and promoting livable urban communities.

Why FOSC?

In 1993, Skagit County residents founded FOSC to promote local compliance with the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA). When GMA passed in 1990, Washington state was growing at an unprecedented rate. The state legislators believed that requiring local governments to plan for growth would help stop the sprawl that threatens Washington’s natural heritage and high quality of life. GMA directs counties and cities to protect rural and agricultural lands and “critical areas” such as creeks and wetlands. GMA also requires that urban services keep up with growth, and encourages revitalization of urban areas instead of unplanned “sprawl” development in rural areas. FOSC is an advocate for the GMA. Skagit County’s political leadership and some of the development community still resists GMA. In the past 5 years, the county commissioners paid over $1.2 million in legal fees, principally to resist compliance with GMA. FOSC works to promote local growth management by focused legal action, when needed, community education, and working with other community groups.

What is at stake?

Some of the most productive farmland soils in the nation, in the top 1% in the world for quality
Majestic forests
Habitat for hundreds of thousands of migrating waterfowl
Over-wintering habitat for swams and snow geese
Wintering and nesting habitat for bald eagles
35% of Puget Sound’s wild Chinook salmon
Friendly, low-crime, cohesive towns with diverse populations
Breath-taking scenery
Our rural character

We invite you to join FOSC and to help make decisions in your community that promotes our mission.

Preserving Skagit County's rural character by protecting the environment, supporting sustainable, resource-based economics and promoting livable urban communities.