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October 7 - 8, 2004, Two-day Conference:
Economy, Community, Environment: Building a Vision
Wenatchee Convention Center
Complete Conference Summary (12 pages)
(pdf files, Acrobat reader required. Click on button for free download) 
CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION (posted fall 2004)
The conference will explore how North Central Washington can continue to grow while preserving its natural, cultural and community resources. A diverse group of organizations have come together to sponsor the event: the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, NCW Association of Realtors, The Nature Conservancy, Institute for Rural Innovation and Stewardship, Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce, Chelan County Port District, NCW Resource, Conservation, and Development Council, Economic Development District of North Central Washington, and Sustainable Northwest.
Many studies have shown that preserving the character and natural values of a community is good for economic well-being. “In fact,” notes conference organizing committee member Gordon Congdon, “communities that incorporate these values consistently outperform communities that do not. The challenge is to retain a high quality of life in the face of a shifting resource-based economy and intense growth pressures.” Conference organizers believe that economic development strategies for this region must build on and preserve existing natural and cultural resources. This is a fundamentally different approach from old formulas of economic and community development that often result in the degradation of the cultural and natural assets of a region. Natalie Bennett, another conference organizer, adds, “We believe that we can sustain and build a better quality of life if we ensure economic vitality, provide housing opportunities, protect our environment, protect property owners, and build better communities.”
“Economy, Community, Environment: Building a Vision” will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 7 at the Wenatchee Convention Center and continue through Friday, October 8 ending at 3:30 p.m.
The conference will include a section on understanding the local economy, developing a vision for local landscapes, and actions for achieving a desired future. Participants will be asked to develop strategies for a healthy economy, community, and environment and have a chance to hear from a variety of leading professionals who work on these issues. Speakers will include economist Ray Rasker of the Sonoran Institute; rancher and community leader Diane Snyder with Wallowa Resources; Seattle architect William Kreager; community leader Bob Rose, who heads Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland; land-use attorney Sandy Mackie with the firm, Perkins-Coie; and water expert Dr. Phil Mote of the University of Washington.
Click for information on speakers and sponsors for the conference.
CONFERENCE OUTLINE (posted fall 2004)
Understanding the Local Economy
The conference will begin with presentations by Ben Alexander and Ray Rasker, economists from the Sonoran Institute, on The Changing Economy of the Rural West and an Economic Profile of North Central Washington. The Sonoran Institute has done very innovative work to help local communities understand and adapt to economic forces that are at work throughout the rural West. This session will inform people about the local economy and encourage them to develop their own conclusions about trends, challenges, and opportunities.
At lunch on this day, we will hear from Diane Snyder, rancher, and Executive Director of Wallowa Resources, in Enterprise Oregon. Diane will tell us about how farmers, ranchers, loggers, business groups, and environmentalists overcame political and social gridlock in Wallowa County to forge some positive approaches to landuse and economic development.
Visions for Local Landscapes
The second part of the program will take a closer look at three broad categories of land: 1) the developed landscape, 2) public land and/or lands protected for public benefit, and 3) farm, forest, and ranchland. The first panel and discussion, Housing Needs and Development Strategies for the 21st Century, will feature Barbara Kitchens, Government Affairs Director for the Washington Association of Realtors. Barbara, will include information from the Washington State University Center for Real Estate Research, about projected housing needs and real estate trends for North Central Washington. Architect William Kreager, Principal of the Seattle firm Mithun, will give a presentation on innovative styles of residential development that use small lots and other techniques that minimize impacts on the natural landscape.
Public Lands: Benefits and Challenges for Local Communities will be the topic of the second panel and discussion. Chelan County Commissioner Ron Walter, will talk about the challenges local governments face when much of the land in the County is owned by public agencies. Washington State Senator Linda Evans Parlette will talk about public land ownership from a regional and state perspective and efforts at the state level to inventory and assess future needs for public lands. Ray Rasker, from the Sonoran Institute, will present the findings from a recent study by the Sonoran Institute that addressed the question: What is the relationship between how public lands are managed in the western United States and the economic health of neighboring communities? Bill Robinson, Director, State Government Relations for The Nature Conservancy of Washington, will add another perspective to this question of how public lands affect the health of local communities.
The third session, Agriculture, Forestry, and Working Landscapes: The Critical Middle Ground for Rural Communities, will begin with a presentation by Ryan Temple from the Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities Partnership (HFHC). HFHC is a collaborative network dedicated to building rural economies based on forest restoration and ecosystem management, and to creating markets for the 'by-products' of these activities.
Richard Carkner, Extension Economist for the Washington State University Puyallup Research and Extension Center, will talk about how agriculture in developing areas can remain viable and contribute to the health of regional economies and cultures. He will also talk about the aesthetic and ecological value of maintaining farmland. Bev Sparowk, cattle rancher from Oregon, will talk about the formation of the Oregon Rangeland Trust and how long-term conservation easements can be used to help strengthen the economy, community, and environment associated with ranching. Bob Rose, from Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, will talk about Land Use, Taxes, and the Bottom Line, based on research done in the Skagit Valley.
The Keynote Address will be given Friday, October 8, at noon, by Phil Mote from the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington. Dr. Mote will talk about Climate Change and the Future of Water in North Central Washington. Studies indicate that climate change will lead to major changes in snowpack and the timing of water runoff in North Central Washington. This will likely have major impacts for all the land uses discussed in this conference.
Actions and Strategies for Local Landscapes: How to Achieve a Desired Future
The conference will conclude with practical examples of how to balance conservation and development. Gene Duvernoy, President of the Cascade Land Conservancy, will discuss Conservation Incentives for Private Landowners and Developers. The Cascade Land Conservancy has pioneered many innovative approaches to protecting ecological functions while meeting the needs of landowners. Sandy Mackie, land use attorney with Perkins Coie, will present a Review of Local Planning Processes and How to Make Them Successful. Mr. Mackie will suggest ways to use the information, ideas, and examples presented at this conference to make existing planning processes more successful.
