Draft summary of the findings from the water, fisheries, aquaculture and agriculture focus group held in Fall 2008.

In addition to forestry, Mason County has long been identified with its major water systems and cultural heritage of working on the water.  Fishing and shellfish harvesting have acted as major economic drivers since settlers first came to the area in the mid 1800’s.  Before that, the area’s Native American Tribes depended on Mason County’s waterways for food and other necessities.  Recreationists travel to Hood Canal and other Mason County waterways each year for shellfish, salmon and other fishing opportunities. 

Farming also holds a special place in Mason County’s history.  Its major river valleys have been intrinsically linked with farming ever since the first settlers established claims there in the mid 1800’s.  Because of the close link between farming and the river systems in Mason County, the focus groups for Farming and for Water / Fisheries / Aquaculture decided to join together, and their findings are presented jointly. 

In 100 years, what is our vision for the waters and for farming in Mason County?

• Mason County will have healthy water systems that support abundant life, recreational opportunities and provide clean water for drinking and irrigation. 
• Mason County will show support and pride in a cultural heritage of working on the waterways, and have a resident base that is active, educated and involved.
• Mason County will think of aquaculture as a type of agriculture for the purposes of education, regulation and preservation of cultural heritage.
• Mason County will grow in ways that supports our existing natural resources, and have a system for managing growth that is an informed community voice. 
• Mason County will provide local food to residents in school lunches and other public institutions. 
• Residents will have increased and continued public access to shorelines and open spaces, as well as adequate opportunities for recreational fishing and shellfish harvesting. 
• Mason County will have a range of sustainable small farms that comprises a critical mass to support the agriculture industry.  This includes farms that are family wage based. 
• Residents will have access to a variety of agriculture opportunities such as pea patch gardens and permanent, year round farmer’s markets.
• Mason County will have a greater interest in and incentives for land conservation, especially for working lands.

Why can’t we get there?

• High real estate value is removing productive lands from working status and converting them to residential and commercial uses. 
• Regulatory barriers exist that discourage local production.  An inflexible regulatory approach exists that results in unintended consequences and lacks incentives to encourage farmers to stay in the business.
• Mason County needs appropriate / adequately resourced infrastructure for areas to grow.
• There is a lack of data availability and sharing, and a lack of data measures over time. 
• There is a lack of infrastructure to encourage farming, such as processing facilities, farmer’s cooperatives and markets for local food.
• The resource land to urban interface negatively affects farm and aquaculture land.  Pressure from neighbors can include trespassing, problems with pets etc. 

What can we do about it?

• Develop programs that incentivize the agriculture and aquaculture industries and encourage the business of farming.  This includes incentives for large landowners not to fragment, including incentives for conservation, and encouragements for the business of farming to pass through generations.
• New development in Mason County should be thoughtfully planned, in order to utilize a smaller footprint and reduce the urban / resource land interface. 
• Mason County needs to foster place based conversations to encourage local solutions, and a local pride in the cultural heritage of working on the waterways and on resource lands. 
• Partnerships between public agencies and educational facilities should utilize students for data gathering and monitoring on a consistent basis in order to provide yearly data over time. 
• Above all, these strategies should protect Mason County’s rural life style.