Counties
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In the United States side of the border the State of Washington delegates authorities to Local Governments called Counties. There are twelve counties bordering the Salish Sea. Counties must comply with State Law yet Washington is a Home Rule State, where any authority not explicitly exercised by the state is delegated to local governments. Shoreline Management, Flood Hazard Management, Land Use, Transportation Infrastructure are all substantively managed by county governments. Counties are governed by an elected council, and may contain many Special Purpose Districts. Often complex relationships are established among Counties, Municipalities and Districts. Counties raise revenue primarily through property taxes and assessments, liscenses and fees, and excise taxes. The largest costs are for pulbic works, largely transportation, and for law and order. Ecosystem management often occurs through a surface water management authority. Areas within counties may incorporate and form Municipalities which have their own governance.
Puget Sound Regional Council
Four Counties Comprise the Puget Sound Regional Council, are the center of political and economic power and share some transportation planning.
- Snohomish County - includes the east shore of Port Susan Bay Ecosystem and the Stillaguamish River and Snohomish River at the transition from Whidbey Basin to East Sound and the northern extent of The Megapolis. The City of Everett is the county seat.
- King County - The heart of The Megapolis including the Cedar River Watershed and the Green-Duwamish Watershed. The City of Seattle is the county seat.
- Kitsap County - Extensive shorelines in the middle of Puget Sound, with West Sound on the east and Hood Canal to the west. The City of Port Orchard is the county seat, and the City of Bremerton its largest Municipality.
- Pierce County - includes the southern extent of The Magapolis and the East Sound Basin, including the Puyallup-White Watershed, and half the Nisqually River Watershed and some of the northern shorelines of South Puget Sound. The City of Tacoma is the county seat.
Rural Counties
From North to South are eight more rural counties:
- Whatcom County - The Mainland Shoreline of the San Juan Sub-Basin including the Nooksack River. The City of Bellingham is its seat.
- San Juan County - Encompassing the San Juan Islands with the City of Friday Harbor as its seat.
- Skagit County - Lowlands are dominated by the Skagit River and Samish River floodplains. The City of Mount Vernon is its seat.
- Island County - Including the west shore of the Whidbey Sub-basin including Port Susan Bay Ecosystem, and North Puget Sound. The City of Coupeville is its seat.
- Clallam County - Encompassing the Strait of Juan de Fuca Sub-Basin. The City of Port Angeles is its seat.
- Jefferson County - Including the transition from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Hood Canal and the Port Townsend Ecosystem and Quilcene River. The City of Port Townsend is its seat.
- Mason County - Including the Southern extent of Hood Canal and the Skokomish River System, and the western shores of South Puget Sound. The City of Shelton is its seat.
- Thurston County - with shoreline in southernmost South Puget Sound Sub-basin including half the Nisqually River and the Dechutes River. The City of Olympia is its seat and the capital of the state.
Workgroups and Efforts in County by Region
Workgroups
4 workgroups in South Puget SoundOne workgroup in Hood Canal2 workgroups in West SoundOne workgroup in East Sound4 workgroups in Whidbey BasinOne workgroup in San Juan Islands
Efforts
One Effort in South Puget SoundOne Effort in Whidbey Basin
All Workgroups and Efforts in County
Workgroups
- City of Bainbridge Island
- City of Lacey
- City of Langley
- City of Olympia
- City of Port Angeles
- City of Seattle
- Community Farmland Trust
- King County
- Kitsap County
- Local 20/20
- North Olympic Development Council
- Olympic Climate Action
- Olympic Forest Coalition
- Protect the Peninsula's Future
- San Juan County
- Snohomish County
- Snoqualmie Watershed Forum
- Sound Water Stewards
- Thurston County
- Whatcom Million Trees Project
