Editor,

How interesting that an alleged anonymous silent majority should arise to promote urbanization of Whidbey when development ambitions in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties have been restricted by water availability issues.

Once again, gold-rush mentality developers are looking our way for someone vulnerable enough to swallow their false claims as though Whidbey hasn’t been through all of this time and again.

Few island environments have been studied as intensely as ours. One of the last go-arounds resulted in the adoption and partial implementation of the Island County Water Resources Management Plan. The entire plan wasn’t implemented, most likely because of flawed provisions that applied to differing environs.

Our aquifer is more sensitive to “ripple effects” than most people realize. It requires a hydrologic excess or “head pressure” to ward off seawater intrusion that is fatal to wells … and people.

Some longtime residents find their wells seasonally poisoned by seawater when more inland located residents return and activate their wells.

Our hydro-geography is more erratic and poorly understood than primitive early surveys depict. Area well drillers report occasional dry holes that defy explanation.

The idea that Skagit River water, contractually limited to the military bases and City of Oak Harbor, is an unlimited and secure water source for all these idyllic schemes. It ignores recent state Supreme Court decisions as well as the obvious.

Court restrictions already limit Skagit River usage.

Then too, the bridge and pipeline aren’t earthquake proof and certainly part of enemy/terrorist attack plans. Think about that for a while.

It’s a good bet the alleged silent majority are really ambitious developers whispering fake news and promises into Pinocchio’s ear.

Al Williams

Oak Harbor