State biologist named to town emergency panel

A Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife ­biologist will look to maintain the ­chemistry enjoyed by the Town's ­Emergency Management ­Commission since its inception in 2023.

Three-year town resident Jonah Keith was confirmed last week by the La Conner Town Council to fill a commission vacancy created by the death of Duane Carpenter, who had been the advisory panel's chief meteorologist.

Keith brings to the board not only his extensive background in science and marine biology, but also the perspective of a young parent, according to commission chair Jerry George.

"One of the reasons I recruited Jonah is that our commission is old," George told council members prior to their May 14 unanimous vote. "We're all old people. We don't know, because we aren't there anymore, how a disaster feels for a family with children and young people."

Keith was appointed to a term that expires Dec. 31, 2027.

Keith handles a wide range of duties for WDFW, including the collection of field data in the Skagit River by boat and aerial surveys in helicopters.

"Jonah probably knows the Skagit River better than ­everyone," George said.

A father of two children, Keith supervises seven WDFW ­employees at their La Conner office. In ­addition to his supervisory role, Keith analyzes creel data to estimate the ­sportfishing catch of endangered salmonids in the Skagit, Samish and Nooksack ­watersheds.

The year-old commission at one point consisted of six ­members, five with voting ­privileges. It was pared down to five members only, each empowered to vote, following the ­retirement of initial chair Bill Stokes, a former town councilor.

Formed in response to severe saltwater flooding in ­December 2022 that caused nearly $2 million in local property ­damage, the commission since then has expanded its role to ­recommend strategies to protect the La Conner area from a wide array of emergencies and natural disasters, from earthquakes and tsunamis to extreme weather and fires.

Commissioners at present are crafting a Community ­Emergency Management Plan for La Conner, drawing in part upon material developed by Washington state, Skagit ­County, the City of Anacortes and other entities.

Members of the commission have also sought input from leadership at Skagit County Fire District 13, the Swinomish Tribal Community and Shelter Bay.