Chelatchie Prairie Coalition - CPC

Chelatchie Prairie Coalition - CPC We are a growing coalition of landowners dedicated to the continued recovery of Chelatchie Prairie from previous uncontrolled industrialization.

Our coalition is not opposed to business, construction, railroads, or mining. To illustrate our stance, consider this analogy: I am a dog lover and have owned many dogs throughout my life. However, I do not permit my dog to use my living room as a bathroom. Instead, I train the dog to use the appropriate area, ensuring both the cleanliness of my home and the well-being of my pet. This rule does no

t make me anti-dog; it makes me a responsible homeowner who maintains a livable environment while caring for my dog. Similarly, out-of-state, multi-million-dollar foreign-registered corporations seek to exploit Chelatchie Prairie without regard for its sustainability or the community's well-being. Our goal is to redirect their activities to safeguard our water, environment, and the progress we have made in recovering from past over-industrialization of this pristine and ancient prairie.

07/21/2026

When you turn on your tap or look out across agriculture or forest land, the letter next to a politician’s name doesn’t mean a thing if your well goes dry or a heavy industrial rail yard gets dropped next to your property.

What actually matters is whether the person sitting on the Clark County Council has the backbone, technical expertise, and willingness to protect our rural communities and clean water.

That’s why we are backing **Troy McCoy for Clark County Council, District 5** in the August 4th primary - and why we are asking our community to look past party labels and vote for real results.

Here is what is at stake for North and East Clark County:

For years, out-of-county and out-of-state corporate interests have pushed to turn rural land along the 33-mile Chelatchie line into a heavy industrial corridor. Right now, we’re facing active proposals for a 4-spur rail loading expansion and exploratory drilling on Chelatchie Bluff.

For those of us relying on shallow wells fed by fragile, near-surface aquifers, aggregate mining expansion and heavy industrial rail aren't abstract politics. They are direct threats to our drinking water, property values, and rural way of life. Once an aquifer is disrupted or contaminated, there is no undo button.

Here is why Troy McCoy earns our vote:

🔹 **Stops Heavy Industrialization Where It Doesn't Belong:** Troy’s stance is explicit—heavy industrial development belongs in designated commercial corridors, NOT on productive farmland or adjacent to rural residential neighborhoods.
🔹 **Engineering Mindset:** With a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Oregon State and 20+ years as a local small business owner, Troy brings analytical problem-solving to county planning, not partisan talking points.
🔹 **Proven Governance:** As former Mayor of Battle Ground, City Council member, and School Board President, Troy has a track record of balancing budgets, managing growth responsibly, and listening to residents.
🔹 **Bipartisan Backing:** Protecting rural land and water isn't an "R" or "D" issue. Troy is supported across the political spectrum - endorsed by leaders ranging from former Republican State Senator Ann Rivers to Democratic State Senator Adrian Cortes.

On August 4th, don't vote for an R, a D, or an I. Vote for the candidate who will actually move the needle on protecting our water, stopping heavy industrial sprawl, and keeping county government accountable to the people who live here.

Take a look at Troy’s platform for yourself:
🌐 Website: [https://www.votetroymccoy.com/](https://www.votetroymccoy.com/)
📘 Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/votetroymccoy/](https://www.facebook.com/votetroymccoy/)

06/24/2026

06/24/2026 – Operational Update: Quarry Activity & Ongoing Investigation

Code Enforcement Findings
Direct communication with Clark County Code Enforcement this morning has clarified the immediate nature of the physical activity at the Chelatchie Rock Quarry site, while leaving a secondary inquiry open.

Weyerhaeuser Infrastructure Repair: A Code Enforcement officer conducted a site inspection, observed the ongoing work, and interviewed personnel on-scene. The physical activity observed this week is a localized infrastructure project by Weyerhaeuser to repair NE Blevins Road.

Ownership Disavowal: Code Enforcement formally consulted with Presto Homes LLC, who verified they maintain no active operations on-site, harbor no future operational plans for the property, and are currently preparing the asset for sale.

Why the Investigation Remains Open
Despite the verified road-maintenance activity, the case file remains open to address the online listings. Code Enforcement confirmed they are aware of the Facebook posts offering gravel for sale and are keeping the investigation open to look into the matter. Since these online offers do not align with the approved road maintenance work, officials are reviewing them further to clarify the details.

Community Acknowledgement
The CPC extends its thanks to the residents whose prompt reporting initiated this verification cycle. Given our rural geography, proactive citizen oversight is indispensable. Ensuring that commercial entities adhere strictly to the same regulatory frameworks that govern private citizens is vital to maintaining the long-term environmental integrity of our watershed.

Thank you for your continued vigilance. We will provide updates as the county's review progresses.

The CPC Team

06/20/2026

Good news, we resolved our email issue. [email protected] is back up and running.
Thank you for your patients.
CPC

06/19/2026 – Operational Update: Quarry Status and Bluff DeterminationChelatchie Rock Quarry MonitoringActive operations...
06/19/2026

06/19/2026 – Operational Update: Quarry Status and Bluff Determination

Chelatchie Rock Quarry Monitoring
Active operations continue to be observed at the quarry site. We request that community members remain vigilant. If you observe heavy equipment or transport vehicles entering or exiting the property, please document the activity, including vehicle descriptions and license plate numbers. For precise geographical reference, please consult the attached GIS overlay map.

Temporary Communications Update
The primary CPC email infrastructure is currently undergoing technical maintenance. Until full functionality is restored, please direct all reports, imagery, and correspondence to our temporary operational address: [email protected]. The organization’s public profile has been updated to reflect this temporary pivot.

Chelatchie Bluff Regulatory Status
Inquiries regarding the recent excavation on Chelatchie Bluff indicate that the cleared area falls within the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Logging Road Maintenance exemptions, encompassing an area of less than one acre. This is a positive development confirming regulatory compliance. The CPC fully respects private property rights when exercised within the boundaries of established state and local law.

The Value of Community Vigilance
While independent verification occasionally confirms that observed activity is permitted - as is the case on the Bluff - consistent monitoring remains vital to protecting our shared watershed and domestic wells.

As a matter of precedent, it was a single citizen alert in 2023 that allowed us to notify state authorities regarding unpermitted operations by the Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad (PVJR). That verification led directly to documented regulatory enforcement, substantial administrative fines, and mandatory land restoration agreements (all matters of public record).

Thank you for remaining the eyes and ears of the Chelatchie Prairie community.

06/19/2026

Note, due to an issue with our original email, I have swapped to a generic email that I was not being used. Please use this email until further notice. (I have changed it on our profile as well).
Thank you!
[email protected]

06/16/2026

News Flash: Chelatchie Quarry and Bluff Activity Update

Chelatchie Rock Quarry Status
The Chelatchie Rock Quarry, previously acquired by Presto Homes LLC, has entered foreclosure, rendering its current ownership status unstable. Concurrently, active, unpermitted excavation has been documented at the site, specifically involving an excavator and a red dump truck, with corresponding offers for gravel sales appearing online. Clark County Code Enforcement is actively investigating the matter, with a stop-work order currently under review.

Chelatchie Bluff Activity
Following citizen reports of heavy equipment movement on Rotschy Mill Road, a recent aerial survey confirmed approximately 35,000 square feet of recent excavation on land zoned FR-40. Clark County Planning has confirmed they hold no record of a permit request or approval for this work, and the activity does not appear to be logging-related. Formal county investigations are underway.

Our Position & Community Action
The CPC maintains a firm stance on regulatory compliance. Our primary objective is the preservation of local water resources; Chelatchie Bluff serves as a critical recharge zone for our local aquifer, feeding hundreds of domestic wells and supplying over a quarter of the water volume for Cedar Creek.

We request that community members remain vigilant. If you observe heavy equipment operations or active excavation in the area, please report the details to us. We will verify the permitting status with county officials to ensure local environmental and land-use standards are maintained.

05/27/2026

Where does our water come from? 🚰
If you live in Chelatchie Prairie, the answer isn’t a distant city reservoir or a massive mountain river. The answer is right under your feet.
Every single drop of water we cook with, clean with, and drink comes entirely from local wells. Many of these are shallow domestic wells, dropping down just 30 to 60 feet into the ground.
So, how does that water get there? Our underground water supply relies on a delicate natural system. Rain falls on the Chelatchie Bluff and the forested high ground looking over the Prairie. These areas like the Bluff act like a giant natural sponge, soaking up the water, filtering it through the soil, and slowly feeding it down into Chelatchie Creek, Boody Creek, and hundreds of tiny underground tributaries. This process constantly recharges the shallow aquifers that our community relies on to survive.
**The Scale of the Threat: Over 1,000 Acres 🗺️ What happens when you strip that sponge away? The area of concern has expanded far beyond a single plot of land; the industrial footprint hanging over our water supply now spans well over 1,000 acres.
When you hear about plans for an open-pit surface bedrock mine and heavy industrial railroad yards moving into the Prairie, you are looking at a direct physical threat to your faucet:
• Draining the Sponge: An open-pit mine requires stripping away the forest and top layers of earth. This destroys the natural filtering system and drastically cuts down the amount of rainwater that can actually soak back into the ground to refill our water table.
• Fracturing the Flow: Heavy bedrock mining and railroad yard creation relies on explosive blasting. Cracking and shattering the deep rock layers that doesn't just loosen gravel, it physically disrupts, blocks, or completely misaligns the fragile underground channels that guide water down the Bluff and into our wells.
• Industrial Contamination: Introducing heavy industrial rail yards and heavy machinery directly over a highly sensitive water table brings a constant risk of toxic fluids and fuel leaking into our shallow groundwater. Pollutants that are incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to clean up once they reach a well.
**Why This Matters Right Now 🏜️
We are already facing extreme drought conditions. Neighbors are already documenting dropping well levels, some wells are going completely dry, and our local creeks are drying up much earlier in the summer season than they ever used to. Our water system is already stressed to its limit.
Adding massive, heavy industrial operations to the headwaters of our watershed is a gamble we cannot afford. Once an aquifer is disrupted or contaminated, there is no quick fix, if there is a fix at all.
We aren't talking about light, historic, or recreational rail use that celebrates our community's history. We are talking about heavy industrial exploitation of over 1,000 acres of critical watershed.
Keep your eyes on the Prairie, stay informed, and protect your well. When they threaten the Bluff, they threaten your tap.

05/10/2026

**Drought Alert: Water Security in Amboy and North County**

Community, we need to talk about our local water security. 💧

While we’ve seen some rain recently, the official **Washington Water Supply Outlook Report** for May 2026 highlights a serious situation in the mountains. We are currently facing a "snow drought"—our statewide snowpack is sitting at roughly **35% of normal levels**.

**Why this matters for us in North County:**
Our local water systems are deeply interconnected.
📍 **Chelatchie Bluff** is a vital recharge point for our area. It contributes over **1,000 acre-feet of water** annually to the Chelatchie and Cedar Creek water and aquifer systems.
📍 In our rural area alone, **well over 300 residential wells** rely directly on the health of the Chelatchie and Cedar Creek systems to keep water flowing to our homes.

**The Bottom Line:**
This is about a very real, measurable lack of snow/rain in the Cascades this year. To ensure we all have enough water for essential needs through the dry summer months, we need to be extremely water-conscious starting now. Conservation today ensures we have a reliable supply tomorrow. 🤝

**For more information and to view the full data:**
🔗 **Download the Official May 2026 Water Report:** [NRCS Washington Snow Survey Reports](https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/washington/snow-survey)
🔗 **Statewide Drought Status & Updates:** [WA Dept. of Ecology Drought Response](https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-availability/statewide-conditions/drought-response)
🔗 **Local Conservation Tips:** [Clark Conservation District](https://www.clarkcd.org/)

03/31/2026

**FRDU IS DEAD!** 🥂🚂

As of approximately 3:00 PM yesterday, the Governor officially signed **SB 5820**, rescinding the "Freight Rail Dependent Use" (FRDU) exception. This landmark move forces Clark County back into compliance with the Growth Management Act (GMA)—bringing us in line with every other county in Washington.

This was a poorly designed, poorly executed, and poorly used "carve-out" created for just one county and really - one operator. Ultimately, it was the PVJR itself that paved the way for this repeal; their complete disdain for the residents, cities, and towns along this 33-mile corridor proved exactly why these protections are necessary.

There’s an old saying that fits perfectly: **"Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered."** By overreaching and ignoring the community, the proponents of FRDU ensured its end.

**BIG SHOUT-OUT TO:** * Friends of Clark County
* Friends of Central Vancouver
* The tireless members of the Chelatchie Prairie Coalition

Hundreds of hours of research, letter-writing, and phone calls made the difference. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard for this win.

Of course, there is still more work ahead. Indications are that we’ve "poked the bear," so don't go anywhere just yet. Take a breath, celebrate, and rejuvenate—we need to be ready for the counter-offensive.

** **

Address

Amboy, WA
98601

Telephone

+13605244014

Website

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