Anji Scalf is going to run for Greg Brotherton‘s seat. Anji one of the good ones. She’ll be a great replacement for Greg . Looking forward to supporting her in the campaign.
Filed under: Government, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: County commissioner, elections | 2 Comments »
The Washington State Standard is reporting that not only did we finish the year with the warmest year on record but our recent rain will not do much to help the ongoing drought in central and eastern Washington. Why? Because it’s falling as rain and not as snow.
This record warm spell includes all temperature data going back to 1880. These floods, this warming, is exactly what scientists have been predicting for decades. Now we reap what we have sown in fossil fuel use. So what is the government doing? It’s shutting down research on the atmosphere.
The Trump Administration has announced the closing of the greatest atmospheric research lab in the world, at National Science Foundation’s National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the largest federal climate research lab outside Boulder in Colorado. This cynical ploy to rob of us global climate data is directly linked to the fossil fuel industry that underpins this administrations every action. Every drop of gas one buys is funding this destruction of our most valuable commodity, the scientific research to understand the processes of our planet. The announcement was made by OMB chair Russell Voight, the author of Project 2025. His statement said, “This facility is one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country…” without providing any evidence except his own opinion.
The Governor of Colorado stated, “Climate change is real, but the work of NCAR goes far beyond climate science,” Polis said. “NCAR delivers data around severe weather events like fires and floods that help our country save lives and property, and prevent devastation for families. If these cuts move forward we will lose our competitive advantage against foreign powers and adversaries in the pursuit of scientific discovery.”
If you supported Trump and the politicians who make up his sycophant society you are helping support these disastrous decisions that continue to destroy our country and turn us into something resembling the Soviet Union or worse. Clearly our Senators and House members do not support this shut down of NCAR Colorado. Is this the kind of country you want to leave to your children and grandchildren?
This is not Making America Great Again, it’s an attempt to create a totalitarian government based on the beliefs of the fossil fuel industry. Better rethink your support of this maniac and act now to stop him before it’s too late. Send your donations to the ACLU and other organizations fighting for out rights. Contact friends in Red states to make sure they have heard this news and tell them to contact their Federal representatives to overturn this insane dictate.
You can support a green economy now by buying or leasing electric vehicles, walking and biking whenever possible, donating to the national organizations fighting the administration in court and supporting local farmers who strengthen our resilience to the effects of climate change .
Our hope is when this administration is finally out of office, that we can rebuild better the destroyed institutions that they have worked to eliminate in the name of the gas station of yours down the street. But that will take more than words on a blog. It takes every one of us doing something to change the direction of this out of control ship of state.
Filed under: Climate Change, Environmental Activism, Environmental Law, Environmental Science, Global Warming, Government, Olympic Peninsula, Politics | Tagged: Era of Trump, NCAR, Trump Administration | Comments Off on Northwest just finished warmest fall on record, scientists report and NCAR Research shutdown
From Angela at the Puget Sound Partnership’s Strait Ecosystem Recovery Network (ERN)
Here’s the good news in a very soggy week: In less than two weeks, the days will start to get longer! I tell myself this every morning when I open the blinds to darkness.
In this newsletter, you will find news about funding, volunteer opportunities, events, training and conferences, jobs, and more! As always, we welcome your events and successes for our website and future newsletters:
Funding
The Puget Sound Partnership (Partnership) gathers public and private funding opportunities in the Recovery Acceleration Funding Tool (RAFT). The National Wildlife Federation hosts a database for Nature-Based Solutions Funding. If you see an opportunity that feels too big to do alone, contact us! Strait ERN can help coordinate and write regional grant applications. The Partnership also has grant-writing assistance available.
Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program Grants – RFPs RELEASED NOV 19th
This grant program, administered by the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) provides grants and technical assistance for projects that restore and conserve near-shore areas in Puget Sound. Match requirements have been eliminated for 2026 grants! There are multiple grant areas and application dates vary. Learn more and see RFPs as they are released HERE.
Temper of Times Foundation
Small grants can fund production of advertising or materials and distribution that will lead to measurable outcomes for wildland ecosystem conservation and restoration. Learn more HERE.
Date: Proposals due December 15th
MJ Murdock Charitable Trust Strategic Grant Program
The Trust funds conservation, environmental education, natural resource protection, and wildlife preservation projects. The grants can fund capital projects, equipment and technology, or staff. Learn more and apply HERE.
Date: Applications are due December 26th
National Fish Passage Program
This program aims to improve habitat for federal trust species and support infrastructure improvement for communities nationwide. Eligible projects provide benefits to aquatic habitats and infrastructure resiliency. Expected to fund $10M in awards. Learn more HERE.
Date: Proposals due December 31st
Western WA Fish and Wildlife: National Fish Passage Program
This funds projects outside of the Columbia River Basin. Project Summary Forms are due by January 16th. Learn more and apply HERE.
Date: Project Summary Forms due January 16th
Floodplains by Design
Floodplains by Design grants are targeted at reducing flood risks and restoring river functions along Washington’s rivers. The pre-application period for the new grant round opens November 1st and closes January 23rd, 2026. Learn more about the grants HERE.
Date: Pre-applications due January 23rd
Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board Grants
This grant program supports work to identify and remove barriers for salmon and steelhead migration. Learn more about this program HERE.
Date: Applications due January 26th
ESRP Pre-Design (Learning) Program
Regional Pre-Design (Learning) Proposals support restoration of complex ecosystems or improve effectiveness/efficiency of restoration projects. Learn more about this opportunity and apply HERE.
Date: Proposals due February 9th
Streamflow Restoration Competitive Grants
The application period for these grants will be January 15th to March 17th, 2026. Learn more about the grant program and register for a January informational workshop for applicants HERE.
Date: Applications due March 17th
National Sea Grant Law Center
Letters of Interest for small projects that address legal questions related to ocean or coastal laws. Learn more and apply HERE.
Date: LOIs accepted on a rolling basis through August 1st, 2026
Volunteer Opportunities
PSEMP CalendarDo you collect data about the Puget Sound? The Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program (PSEMP) provides a forum for consolidating data-gathering efforts and conversation. Check out their calendar HERE to see their committee schedules. All are welcome at their meetings!
Stormwater Work Group SurveyThe Stormwater Work Group and PSEMP are collecting information on successes and needs for stormwater monitoring. Fill out the 10-15 minute survey HERE.Date: Survey closes December 17th
Volunteer Your Expertise!
The Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead (HSIL) is seeking input for the updates to the Land Development and Cover Implementation Strategy and the Floodplains and Estuaries Implementation Strategy. You can provide feedback via Google Form: Land Development | Floodplains and Estuaries.
Date: Land Development Form closes December 19th
Date: Floodplains and Estuaries Form closes January 9th
Provide Feedback to the Jefferson Land Trust
The Jefferson Land Trust is working on a new five-year Strategic Plan and is seeking community input. Take a 10-minute survey HERE to share your priorities.
Community Events & Learning Opportunities
Sequim-Dungeness Christmas Bird CountJoin Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society for their 50th annual Sequim-Dungeness Christmas Bird Count! Track the birds in our neighborhoods. Learn more HERE.Date: December 15th
Wednesday Morning Bird WalksEvery Wednesday, join a band of birders on a 3/4-mile bird survey along the Olympic Discovery Trail. Bring your binoculars and meet in the Dungeness River Nature Center’s parking lot.
Date: December 17th and every WednesdayTime: 8:30 amPlace: Dungeness River Nature Center, Sequim
Native Plant Sale
The Clallam County Conservation District’s Native Plant Sale is currently open for plant orders. See the selection and place your order HERE.
Date: Pre-orders end January 20th
Shoreline Management Act Open House(s)The Department of Ecology is hosting one more virtual Open House to discuss changes to the Shoreline Management Act. Translation services available. Learn more and register HERE.
Date: December 16thTime: 6:00 to 7:00 pmPlace: Virtual; register for link
North Olympic Land Trust’s Open HouseCelebrate NOLS’s 35th Anniversary at their Annual Open House! Enjoy a celebratory slice of cake and swap stories of 35 years of land conservation. Learn more HERE.Date: December 30thTime: 2:00 to 5:00 pmPlace: NOLS Office, Port Angeles
Winter Birding and IllustrationLearn more about the birds of the Salish Sea with the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. Practice scientific illustration, then head outside to look for birds. Learn more and RSVP HERE.Date: January 10thTime: 10:00 am to 12:00 noonPlace: PTMSC Aquarium classroom, Fort Worden
Floodplains and Estuaries LIO/LE Coffee ChatThe Habitat SIL is hosting a coffee chat to talk about the Floodplains and Estuaries Implementation Strategies. This virtual chat is open to members of LIOs and LEs. Register HERE.Date: January 13thTime: 9:00 am to 12:00 noonPlace: Virtual; register for link
Land Development and Cover LIO/LE Coffee ChatThe Habitat SIL is hosting a coffee chat to talk about the Land Development and Cover Implementation Strategies. This virtual chat is open to members of LIOs and LEs. Register HERE.Date: January 15thTime: 1:00 to 4:00 pmPlace: Virtual; register for link
Alternatives to BulkheadsThis self-paced online course is part of Ecology’s Coastal Training Program. Learn about shorelines and stabilization in this 101 offering. Register HERE.Date: January 13 to February 25Place: Virtual
Blueprints for Community-Led Blue CarbonThe focus for this Blue Carbon Collaborative meeting is small-scale blue carbon restoration projects focused on key single-species efforts. Learn more and register HERE. Date: February 5thTime: 10:00 amPlace: Virtual; register for link
Training and Conferences
Forestry 101 Workshop
Come learn about forest stewardship and health with the Jefferson County Conservation District. Learn more and register HERE.
Date: December 13th
Time: 2:30 to 4:00 pm
Place: Jefferson County Library, Port Hadlock
Roads and Resilience: Integrating State Transportation, Hazards, and Nature-Based Solutions
Join the Shoreline and Coastal Planners Group for a webinar on natural hazard impacts to state roads. Learn more and register HERE.
Date: December 16th
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Place: Virtual
NW Land Camp
NW Land Camp brings together land trust leaders and conservation partners for networking and training. In June 2026, Land Camp will be in beautiful Florence, OR. Mark your calendars and watch for more information!
Jobs
Natural Resources Program AssistantThe Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is hiring an administrative program assistant for their Natural Resources Department. Learn more HERE.
LIO Program ManagerThe Puget Sound Partnership is hiring a Local Integrating Organization Program Manager to lead the Partnership’s LIO Program. The position is largely remote, with some on-site work required. Learn more HERE. News 2025 State of the Sound ReleasedThe Puget Sound Partnership has released the 2025 State of the Sound report. This is an assessment of the results of all our work around the Puget Sound towards ecosystem protection, restoration, and recovery. There is, of course, both celebration of success and the sobering reality of how much more still needs to be done. Read the report HERE.
2024 Puget Sound Marine Waters OverviewThe PSEMP Marine Waters Workgroup has released it’s 14th annual Marine Waters Overview, collecting data from across the greater Puget Sound. Read about and download the report HERE.
Filed under: Environmental Activism, Events, Government, Olympic Peninsula | Comments Off on EVENTS, GRANTS ETC
Senator Murray’s Wild Olympics Bill Advances Through Senate Hearing on Wave of New Sportsmen Endorsements Calling for Permanent Protection of Wild Olympics.
from the Wild Olympics Coalition:
Dear Wild Olympics Supporter,
We’re excited to share the great news that Senator Murray’s Wild Olympics bill advanced through a key senate hearing this week on a wave of new sportsmen endorsements who sent a letter to the Committee calling for swift passage of the Wild Olympics Act. This brings the total number of Sportsmen endorsements backing Wild Olympics to nearly 40. The successful hearing is a testament to the fact that your calls, letters, emails and social media posts continue to power the Wild Olympics forward. But above all it’s a testament to Senator Murray’s tenacity and her commitment to getting her and Representative Randall’s Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild & Scenic Rivers Act across the finish line this congress. So please take a moment to like her facebook post on the hearing and thank her in the comments for fighting to protect the Wild Olympics, and then read her full press release on the successful hearing at the bottom of this email below.
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) advanced her Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act through a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Public Lands Subcommittee, a key milestone in the legislative process toward becoming law. The hearing came after a wave of new endorsements from sportsmen organizations—including the Washington Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and the Washington Council of Trout Unlimited—who sent a letter urging the Committee to pass Wild Olympics to protect hunting, fishing and salmon streams for the future against the increasing threats to public land. The new endorsements bring the total number of sportsmen organizations backing Wild Olympics to nearly 40.The Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which Senator Murray reintroduced in May with U.S. Representative Emily Randall (D, WA-06) would permanently protect approximately 125,000 acres of Olympic National Forest as wilderness and 19 rivers and their major tributaries—a total of 464 river miles—as Wild and Scenic Rivers.
“The movement behind our Wild Olympics legislation continues to grow year after year thanks to the tireless work of our coalition of sportsmen, conservationists, Tribes, businesses, local leaders, timber communities, shellfish growers, and so many others,” said Senator Murray. “Today’s Senate hearing is a significant step forward for our effort to permanently protect key areas of the Olympic National Forest—a crown jewel in Washington state—while preserving world-class recreation opportunities and supporting local economies. As long as I’m in the Senate, I won’t stop fighting to win the support we need to get our Wild Olympics bill across the finish line and protect these treasured areas on the Olympic Peninsula for generations to come.”
The bill’s inclusion in the hearing came after Senator Murray took to the Senate floor in August to block a public lands package that did not include the Wild Olympics bill. On the Senate floor, Murray said about the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: “It is a carefully drafted, it’s a thoughtful piece of legislation and the grassroots support for this bill has only grown over the years. That is exactly the kind of bill which should be included in a bipartisan public lands package. I would invite the Senior Senator of Utah to visit the land this bill covers to help protect our Olympic National Forest… I hope in the future we can work together in drafting a public lands bill that does include legislation like my Wild Olympics bill.” Video of Senator Murray’s remarks on the Senate floor is HERE.
Designed through extensive community input to conserve ancient forests and pristine rivers, protect clean water and salmon habitat, and enhance outdoor recreation, the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act would set aside the first new wilderness on Olympic National Forest in over four decades and the first-ever protected wild and scenic rivers on the Olympic Peninsula. With a strong foundation of overwhelming local support, the bill has made steady progress each successive Congress—passing the House with bipartisan support twice before and passing out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last Congress for the first time in the bill’s history.
“The forests, rivers, and wilderness of our region shape how we live, work, and play. And for communities around the Olympic Peninsula, access to these resources can make or break local economies,” said Representative Randall when the bill was introduced in May. “This bill protects the remote wilderness we treasure while ensuring access where it is essential for livelihoods, recreation, emergency response, and cultural practices. Protecting our natural resources also means protecting local economies, livelihoods, and Tribal Sovereignty. I’m grateful to all who have shaped this bill and Senator Murray for her leadership to secure the future of the community we proudly call home.”
Senator Murray and former U.S. Representatives Norm Dicks and Derek Kilmer spent years gathering extensive community input on the Olympic Peninsula to craft the carefully balanced legislation, which was first introduced in 2012. It would permanently preserve ancient and mature forests, critical salmon habitat, and sources of clean drinking water for local communities, while also protecting and expanding world-class outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking, camping, boating, hunting, and fishing. No roads would be closed, and trailhead access would not be affected.
Senator Murray worked extensively with local and regional timber interests to remove any currently viable timber base from the proposal to ensure the legislation would have no impact on existing timber jobs, as confirmed in a 2012 Timber Impact Study by the respected independent Forester Derek Churchill.
Aberdeen Forest Products Consultant and Former Timber CEO Roy Nott said in his July 10th 2019 testimony before the House Natural Resources Committee, “My own experience as a CEO and Entrepreneur is that our area’s natural treasures—which provide world-class outdoor recreation, clean water and our area’s high quality of living—are what give us a competitive edge over other regions in attracting and retaining the talented people new companies require. Wilderness and wild and scenic river protections would help protect and grow the local jobs that depend on our ability to compete for talent against other regions, and they would enhance our recruitment efforts as we work to grow new businesses in the future. And as a former Timber Industry Executive, I appreciate that (the) final compromise proposal was scaled-back to ensure it would not impact current timber jobs.”
Today’s committee hearing came on a recent wave of other new local endorsements also rallying behind the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Act against the backdrop of increasing threats to public land. The new additions bring the total number of local Olympic Peninsula & Hood Canal region endorsements to more than 800 endorsers, including the Quinault Indian Nation, Quileute, Lower Elwha Klallam and Jamestown S’Klallam Tribes; now nearly 40 local sportsmen organizations and fishing guides; the mayors of Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Westport and other local elected officials; businesses and CEOs; farms and faith leaders; conservation and outdoor recreation groups; and many others. Additionally, more than 14,000 local residents have signed petitions in support.
Below are just a few of many local testimonials in support of the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act:
Chairman Ron Allen, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe: “As stated in the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission’s “Treaty Rights at Risk” report, “Salmon recovery is based on the crucial premise that we can protect what habitat remains while we restore previously degraded habitat conditions. Unfortunately, significant investments in recovery may not be realized because the rate of habitat loss continues to outpace restoration. The resulting net decline in habitat demonstrates the federal government’s failure to protect the Tribes’ treaty-reserved rights.” In an era where we are witnessing unprecedented rollbacks of environmental safeguards on federal public lands, the Wild Olympics legislation would permanently protect some of the healthiest, intact salmon habitat left on the Peninsula. It is our heritage and cultural principles to protect the lands and waters Nature provides, as well as the natural resources she sustains. Therefore, we do continue to support and urge swift passage of the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.”
Chairwoman Frances Charles, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe: “The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (“Lower Elwha”) strongly supports the proposed Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. We believe that it represents a fair compromise between potentially competing interests of preservation, economic use, and recreation. This legislation creates 126,600 acres of new wilderness and nineteen new wild and scenic rivers designations in the Olympic National Forest, the Olympic National Park and Washington State Department of Natural Resource-managed land. For Lower Elwha, the most important aspect of these new designations is the increased protection for salmon habitat. And we appreciate that it expressly acknowledges the fundamental interests and expertise of all treaty tribes in the restoration of fish habitat. This is an important complement to our ongoing successes, along with our federal and State partners, in restoring Elwha River fisheries in the aftermath of dam removal.”
Connie Gallant, Chair, Wild Olympics Campaign (Quilcene): “We are so grateful for Senator Murray and Representative Randall’s leadership at this critical time for our public lands. The local momentum for the Wild Olympics Act has never been stronger and the need for its protections for our ancient forests & salmon streams has never been greater.”
Bill Taylor, President of Taylor Shellfish Farms (Shelton): “The Wild Olympics legislation will help protect our state’s shellfish industry, including hundreds of shell fishing jobs in Hood Canal alone – and many more in related industries like processing, shipping, and sales. It protects the rivers and streams vital to the health of our hatcheries and to the health and restoration of Puget Sound. Our oyster beds depend on the clean, cold, silt-free water that drains off Olympic National Forest into Hood Canal. Protecting these watersheds allows our industry to grow, expand and continue to benefit the economy and ecology of Washington State.”
Ashley Nichole Lewis, Bad Ash Outdoors (Taholah), Sportsmen For Wild Olympics and Member of the Quinault Indian Nation: “Wild Olympics protects the Olympic Peninsula’s ancient forests, free-flowing rivers and salmon streams for the future,” Nichole Lewis stressed. “It will protect fishing, boating and hunting access without closing any roads, but it also permanently protects some of the last healthy upstream salmon and steelhead habitat left on the peninsula.”
State Representative Steve Tharinger, 24th Legislative District (Sequim): “It is easy to see and understand the ecological value of the Wild Olympics idea, conserving clean and free-flowing rivers, but what is sometimes missed is the economic value that maintaining places like Wild Olympics brings by attracting people to the special outdoors of the Olympic region. I want to thank REI and Patagonia for engaging local community leaders like myself to help design the map, and for recognizing that encouraging people to get out and enjoy the special places in the Wild Olympics proposal brings economic benefits to the communities I represent.”
Fred Rakevich, Retired logger and 49-year veteran of the timber industry (Elma): “I am a retired logger who worked for fifty years in the timber industry. I have also fished and kayaked most of the major rivers in the Olympics. I was born and raised in Grays Harbor, but have traveled halfway around the world. In all my travels, nothing impressed me more than the natural beauty of the Olympic Mountain Range and the clear running waters that begin their journey flowing toward the lands below. Timber is and always will be part of the Olympic Peninsula’s proud heritage. But our ancient forests and wild rivers are the natural legacies we will leave to our children and grandchildren. The bill protects our natural heritage while respecting our timber heritage.”
Casey Weigel, Owner & Head Guide of Waters West Guide Service (Montesano) and member of Sportsmen for Wild Olympics: “Through hard work and our passion for our rivers and fishing, my wife and I have grown our small business enough to be able to help 3 other year-round and seasonal local guides support families, who love fishing just as much as we do. I support the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild & Scenic Rivers Act because our rivers and our salmon are our lifeblood and, without them, businesses like ours, the local jobs they support, and the dollars they bring into our local economy would dry up. The Wild Olympics proposal would simply make the current safeguards protecting our rivers on the Olympic National Forest permanent. That’s all it does. It doesn’t change access or cost timber jobs. And if it did, I wouldn’t support it, because my family works in the timber industry. There are many challenges facing our rivers and salmon, with lots of debate and millions of dollars spent trying to help restore clean water and habitat downstream. But one basic, simple piece of the foundation we can put in place now that won’t cost any of us anything, is to permanently protect the healthy habitat on the federal lands upstream against any misguided attempts to develop them in the future. That’s why I am a proud supporter of the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. For Our Future.”
State Senator Mike Chapman, 24th Legislative District (Port Angeles): “I have been very excited about the economic & recreational opportunities Wild Olympics will bring to the Olympic Peninsula. With REI and Patagonia’s support, our corner of the world is now attracting visitors from all over. Wild Olympics is our future, for fresh air, clean water, pristine forests, and future generations!”
Dave Bailey, former President of the Grey Wolf Fly Fishing Club in Sequim, WA & co-founder of Sportsmen for Wild Olympics: “People think that because our salmon streams on Olympic National Forest appear as they’ve always been, that they are safe. Unfortunately, that’s the furthest thing from the truth. There are determined threats underway to sell-off public land, roll back current safeguards and open these sensitive spawning streams to small hydropower development, industrial clear-cutting and more road building once more. That’s bad for fish, game, and sportsmen. This legislation is critical to preserve what we have.”
Douglas Scott, Owner of Exotic Hikes and The Outdoor Society (Hood Canal): “Outside my door, the river, forests and mountains of the Olympic Peninsula beckon me to hike and climb. In the Northwest corner of the contiguous United States, far from the hustle and bustle of the big cities, our glacial-fed rivers, full of salmon and surrounded by majestic eagles constantly inspire millions of locals and visitors to the region. Each year, over four million outdoor recreation enthusiasts head to the region, hoping to find a slice of natural beauty in pristine forests and impossibly gorgeous river valleys. As an author, tour guide and advocate for the Olympic Peninsula, I have witnessed the importance of nature and outdoor recreation in the Pacific Northwest. Thanks to the support outdoor enthusiasts from all walks of life, passing the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act will help ensure that even more of the stunning scenery will be protected and accessible for all. I am proud to Support the Wild Olympics. Come visit and fall in love with the beauty of rainforests, wild rivers, and breathtaking adventures and you will too.”
A fact sheet on the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is available HERE.
Filed under: Environmental Law, Environmental Protection, Jefferson County, legislation, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: Congress, Senator Patty Murray, Wild Olympics Act, wild olympics coalition | Comments Off on Update on Sen. Murray’s Wild Olympics Bill Advances Through Senate Hearing
Another day, another threat from the Trump administration to open public lands, revoke roadless areas to open them to cutting on Federal forests. This press release is from the Sportsmen for Wild Olympics.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 8th, 2025
QUILCENE, WA—September 8th, 2025: Today, Sportsmen for Wild Olympics released a new map with photos illustrating the devastating impacts that developing key roadless backcountry public lands on Olympic National Forest could have on critical headwaters of prime trophy fishing rivers and public access on the Olympic Peninsula. The group is calling on Congress to pass the Wild Olympics Act as a proactive solution to permanently protect these lands.
“This map tells Congress and the Administration: protect the Olympic Peninsula’s public lands—don’t privatize or develop them,” said Ashley Nichole Lewis, a Quinault Indian Nation fishing guide and spokesperson for Sportsmen for Wild Olympics. “It gives our fellow sportsmen and women something to fight for, not just against—a lasting solution to threats we are confronting right now.”
The urgency comes as the Trump Administration announced a shortened comment period ending September 19th on their plans to rescind the Roadless Rule in order to log & develop sensitive spawning habitat on public lands, a key federal safeguard for undeveloped backcountry areas across national forests, including Olympic National Forest. The new map with photos highlights & names the critical ancient forest roadless headwaters & salmon streams on Olympic National Forest that are now threatened by the Trump Administration’s plan to lift protections for these backcountry public lands prized by Olympic Peninsula sportsmen for the clean water, critical habitat & access they provide.
What is the Roadless Rule?
The Roadless Rule, established in 2001, protects undeveloped areas of national forests from new road construction and logging. These “roadless” areas are often rugged backcountry landscapes that provide crucial habitat for fish and wildlife, protect water quality, and offer remote hunting and angling opportunities. Removing these protections opens the door to industrial development in some of the last remaining intact, healthy forest lands in the country.
“Rescinding the Roadless Rule is yet another attempt to hand over our essential public resources to special interests—at the expense of salmon, clean water, and future generations,” Lewis said.
The coalition—comprising thousands of local and regional hunters and anglers, and over 30 leading sportsmen organizations—has already punched well above their weight earlier this year playing an outsized role in the national backlash opposing the unprecedented threats to public lands coming from both Congress and the Administration. Lewis says these threats highlight exactly why the group supports the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, recently reintroduced by Senator Patty Murray and Representative Emily Randall.
“The different public land sale efforts in Congress and the new plan to strip protections from 59 million acres of core forest headwaters nationwide—including lands on the Peninsula—show that they will use any tactic to privatize or exploit our public lands,” Lewis said. “This map shows what that would actually look like. Congress & the White House must reverse course and pass Wild Olympics to permanently protect these critical salmon streams instead.”
The Wild Olympics Act, developed with years of local input, would enhance hunting and fishing access while permanently protecting some of the last, best intact salmon-spawning habitat left in the Lower 48. Importantly, it would not close existing roads or cost timber jobs. It has broad local support with over 800 local endorsements.
The new map & photos show how the Wild Olympics proposal would protect key areas such as South Quinault Ridge, Moonlight Dome, and other core ancient forest headwaters & rivers vital for hunting & fishing on the Peninsula —areas the Administration now plans to open for logging by rescinding the Roadless Rule.
(The steep forested slopes of the Moonlight Dome Roadless Area forms the critical headwaters for both the East and West Forks of the Humptulips River (seen ok the left), one of the top ten Trophy Fishing Rivers in Washington State).
The map also reveals that 300,000 acres of Olympic National Forest have been identified as eligible for sale under different plans by the Administration and some members of Congress during earlier drafts of the budget bill passed earlier this year. While the land sale provision was struck from the budget, proponents continue to push this idea forward.
The unprecedented threats to public lands recently sparked Senator Murray to throw down the gauntlet in the Senate, announcing she will block any public lands legislative package that comes out of Utah Senator Mike Lee’s Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee unless it includes her Wild Olympics bill, a move that galvanized local supporters to pull out all the stops to get it done this Congress.
Lewis hopes the map inspires more hunters and anglers to join the thousands who have already signed their petition.
“The outdoor community is powerful. Our fishing and hunting guides are pillars of this community. The same places we work the hardest are the ones we return to after the day is done—because we love them. Let’s use that collective power to ensure a single pen stroke can never take our public lands away. Let’s pass the Wild Olympics Act.”
###
HOW TO FIGHT BACK.
1) Sign the WildOlympics.org/wild-olympics-petition/ telling Congress ancient temperate rainforests of the #WildOlympics aren’t for sale & to permanently protect Olympic Peninsula #publiclands & rivers against travesties like this in the future.
2) Those who can afford it PLEASE WildOlympics.org/DONATE to fuel our fight. We helped defeat this four years ago. Help us defeat it again & pass the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild & Scenic Rivers Act to permanently protect ancient forests & salmon streams once & for all.
3) SUBMIT A COMMENT AT PORTAL LINK Comment Period Ends Sept 19th. Tell USDA to uphold the Roadless Rue to protect Olympic Peninsula Ancient Forests & critical salmon nurseries that were already centuries-old when our nation was born.
For more information, including a rolling list of articles from sportsmen outlets covering the threats to public lands, visit: SportsmenForWildOlympics.org/threats
Waters West Guide Service (Montesano)
Bad Ash Outdoors (Tahola)
Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association
Northwest Guides & Anglers Association
The Washington Wildlife Federation,
Izaak Walton League (Gr. Seattle Chapter) Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, (Washington Chapter)
Association of Northwest Steelheaders,
The Gray Wolf Fly Fishing Club (Sequim)
SAGE Fly Rods
Doug Rose Fly Fishing (at request of family)
Bad Ash Fishing (Tahola)
Washington Council of Trout Unlimited
Little Stone Fly Fisher (Port Townsend)
Johnson Guide Service (Sequim)
Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics (Forks)
Able Guide Service (Seiku)
Mike Z’s Guide Service (Forks)
Brazda’s Fly Fishing
Angler’s Obsession (Forks)
Sea Run Pursuits
Peninsula Sportsman Guide & Outfitting Service (Port Townsend)
Waters West Fly Fishing Outfitters (Port Angeles)
The Wild Steelhead Coalition
Piscatorial Pursuits (Forks)
Able Guide Service (Sekiu)
LimbSaver
Oly Women On The Fly
WA Council of Fly Fishers International
Puget Sound Fly Fishers
Coastal Cutthroat Coalition
Filed under: Clallam County, Environmental Protection, Government, Jefferson County, legislation, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: Era of Trump, Roadless Rule, Trump Administration, Wild Olympics Act | 3 Comments »
From Ai today.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” includes several exemptions and protections for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribal communities, particularly related to Medicaid and SNAP (food assistance) programs:
These provisions aim to uphold federal trust and treaty obligations to tribal nations, recognizing the unique circumstances of tribal communities and their reliance on federal health and nutrition programs. The exemptions help protect thousands of Native Americans from losing critical benefits due to work requirements or administrative changes included in the broader bill[1][3][5][8].
Sources
[1] Big, Beautiful Bill Act passed, Native American benefits protected https://knpr.org/politics/2025-07-03/big-beautiful-bill-act-passed-native-american-benefits-protected
[2] Final Reconciliation Bill Permanently Expands LIHTC, NMTC and … https://www.novoco.com/notes-from-novogradac/final-reconciliation-bill-permanently-expands-lihtc-nmtc-and-oz-incentive-but-does-not-include-htc-provisions
[3] House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Including AI/AN Protections for … https://www.nihb.org/house-passes-reconciliation-bill-including-ai-an-protections-for-tribal-medicaid/
[4] [PDF] 1 This Act may be cited as the ”One Big Beautiful Bill 2 Act”. 3 4 The … https://rules.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/rules.house.gov/files/documents/rcp_119-3_final.pdf
[5] Senate Passes Reconciliation Bill with Exemptions for American … https://ncuih.org/2025/07/02/senate-passes-reconciliation-bill-with-exemptions-for-american-indian-and-alaska-native-people-from-community-engagement-requirements-for-snap-and-medicaid/
[6] What’s in Trump’s Big Policy Bill? – The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/30/upshot/senate-republican-megabill.html
[7] [PDF] The One, Big, Beautiful Bill – House Ways and Means Committee https://waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-One-Big-Beautiful-Bill-Section-by-Section.pdf
[8] U.S. Senate Votes to Approve ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ – Native News Online https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/u-s-senate-vote-to-approve-big-beautiful-bill-heads-back-to-the-house-for-vote
[9] H.R.1 – 119th Congress (2025-2026): One Big Beautiful Bill Act https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1
[10] Senate GOP Passes Sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill Act | Insights https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2025/07/senate-gop-passes-sweeping-one-big-beautiful-bill-act
Filed under: legislation | Tagged: Government Legislation, legislation, tribes | 4 Comments »
Jefferson County Public Works has announced that glass collection will resume on July 15 with two drop off locations: the County transfer station off Jacob Miller Road and the Quilcene Rural Drop Box just south of the US Forest Service Ranger Station on Highway 101.
Says Al Cairns, Solid Waste Manager, “We chose these two staffed sites for glass drop-off to lower the rate of contamination in order to gain a higher commodity value and reduce the cost of the overall recycling program. Unstaffed sites have seen contamination rates of up to 30% and illegal dumping outside of the bins at those sites totaled 41 tons in 2024 which also adds to recycling program costs.”
According to Cairns, glass is the most expensive material type to recycle because of the high transportation costs due to material weight and because the commodity value is low. “At an average value of $15 per ton, recycled glass doesn’t even cover the transportation costs to get it to the buyer in Seattle. When the loads are highly contaminated the value drops even more. Presently the cost of recycling glass and the other materials accepted as part of the County’s recycling program are part of the rate paid for garbage disposal at the County’s solid waste facilities. We have a responsibility to those customers to reduce costs for the programs funded with the tipping fee.”
Filed under: Environmental Protection, Government, Jefferson County | Tagged: recycle | 3 Comments »
From the Puget Sound Partnership: The 2025 Session of the Washington State Legislature has adjourned Sine Die on April 27. A robust budget deficit and debates about state spending and revenue dictated the session’s flow and outcomes, especially in the final weeks. Due to concerns about implementation costs, many bills aligned with Puget Sound recovery failed to pass and many more were trimmed back to reduce the associated workload. And the final budget included a series of budget cuts that will slow the work of Puget Sound recovery. At the same time, several new policies and budget items survived the legislative process and will provide benefits to Puget Sound recovery, including:
This online newsletter contains subpages for each of the Action Agenda topic areas listed at the top of the page. Each page includes a narrative description of themes and an interactive bill watchlist. The final budget page also includes a full breakdown of budget details.
Read the whole thing at
https://legislativenewsletter-wa-psp.hub.arcgis.com
A point of view from the Washington Policy Center (a conservative group), but worth noting for it’s summary, which seems pretty balanced in it’s analysis…(would welcome a critique of their POV)
Climate and Environmental Spending: Ambitious but Costly
The budget allocates $1 billion in spending to climate and environmental programs, and does not change significantly from the previous budget. The Climate Commitment Act (CCA), which imposes a tax on CO2 emissions, is projected to generate approximately $1.6 billion in revenue according to the department of Ecology. The additional tax is passed onto consumers through higher fuel and energy prices.
Washington Policy Center’s research estimates that the tax on CO2 emissions adds 40 cents per gallon to gasoline prices, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income households. While the budget funds rebates for low-income families, these are insufficient to offset the regressive nature of the tax. Furthermore, the effectiveness of these investments in reducing emissions is poor, according to the Department of Ecology’s own research. Policymakers should prioritize effectiveness and consider redirecting funds to more immediate priorities, such as infrastructure or tax relief.
Fiscal Sustainability and Taxpayer Impact
The budget’s 6.5% spending increase outpaces the state’s economic growth rate (projected at 4.5% annually). This trajectory risks depleting overall reserves, projected to drop from $3.2 billion to $2.2 billion by 2027, but does add money to the state’s rainy-day fund. The four-year budget outlook shows a potential multi-billion shortfall unless revenues grow unexpectedly, or spending is curtailed. This raises the specter of future tax increases, particularly given Washington’s already high sales, property, and business taxes.
The budget’s reliance on one-time revenues, such as federal grants and the revenue from CCA auctions, masks structural imbalances. When these funds dry up, taxpayers may face pressure to backfill programs rather than cancel them. Washington Policy Center recommends adopting a sustainable growth model, such as tying spending increases to inflation plus population growth, which would cap biennial increases at 5-6%. This approach would preserve reserves and reduce the need for future tax hikes.
Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity for Reform
The 2025-27 conference budget reflects prioritizes spending over fiscal discipline. While investments in education, health care, and climate programs address pressing issues, their scale and structure raise concerns about affordability, efficiency, and long-term consequences. Taxpayers, already grappling with high costs of living, deserve a budget that maximizes value through competition, innovation, and accountability.
Despite record revenues, the budget proposal offers little in the way of tax relief for Washington families and businesses. The state’s tax burden has risen steadily in recent years, driven by increases in property taxes, sales taxes, and a controversial new capital gains tax. With billions in increased in spending over the next four years, lawmakers could easily afford to return some of that money to taxpayers-or at least pause new tax hikes.
Read their analysis of the whole budget items (more categories they analyze) at
Filed under: Environmental Law, Environmental Protection, Government, legislation | Comments Off on Legislative Roundup
The master of bi-partisan politics and perhaps the greatest politician this state ever had the honor to call one of its own, Ralph Munro, passed yesterday at the age of 81.
I had the good fortune to interview Ralph and spend a few hours with him a decade ago. He was a gentle, always upbeat and positive person. But his accomplishments are one of the greatest list of public service achievements we have ever seen.
Ralph was Secretary of State for five terms. During that time, he instituted vote by mail and voter registration (Motor Voter) when getting a drivers license or renewal.
But Ralph was also the person that Governor Dan Evans called on to go down to California and see about the Vietnamese refugees after Democratic governor Jerry Brown did not want them relocated there. Munro helped to bring them here to resettle in Washington State.
He was a champion of developmentally disabled children and helped get the first law in the country passed to support their needs, called the “Education for All” act. He befriended a 7 year old with developmental disabilities, eventually becoming his legal guardian.
He was a champion of environmental causes. He personally was responsible for ending the Orca hunt and capture in Puget Sound.
He was well respected by Puget Sound tribes. He allowed the tribes to do archeological digs on his property and was honored by them.
And on a personal note, he was the only Republican that I have ever voted for.
My sincere condolences to his family and friends. We will miss him. I doubt, given the current political system that we will ever see anyone like him again in Washington politics.
Filed under: Environmental Activism, Environmental Protection, Government, Politics | 1 Comment »
Governor Ferguson has had his first major controversy, over a relatively little known agency called the Fish and Wildlife Commission. While this commission is small and not well known, it is crucial in setting the direction for the department of Fish and Wildlife. As their web site states: The Commission establishes policies to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities compatible with healthy and diverse fish and wildlife populations. The Commission consists of nine governor-appointed members that serve six-year terms, hold meetings and hearings around the state and offer opportunities for the public to weigh in on fish and wildlife issues.
What just happened? The issue revolves around a surprising decision by Governor Ferguson to remove Dr. Timothy Ragen from the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission without justification after he was reappointed by outgoing Governor Inslee. Dr. Ragen is respected around the world for his expertise in marine mammals and marine science and served as the former Executive Director of the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission. Most recently, he has been serving as a pivotal expert on Washington’s Fish and Wildlife Commission that oversees decision making on numerous statewide fish and wildlife policies, including Washington’s approach to killer whale recovery. Despite his expertise and strong backing from the public, no public explanation has been provided for his removal.
The question this raises of course is who wanted Dr. Ragen off the commission and why? Perhaps we need to look no further than Dr. Ragens’ support for science that calls into question the benefit of hatchery salmon and how they impact native species. Or perhaps even just “follow the money”. This issue has been at the forefront of the debate over hatcheries for over a decade. This blog has reported on it for many years. Simply search on “hatchery salmon” and look through the search results.
In a letter from the Wild Fish Conversancy to the Governor, they stated: “To date, there has been no public rationale provided for why Tim Ragen was removed from the Commission. Given the strong support for his nomination, we believe it is important for the Governor’s office to offer clarity on this decision and the requests for Tim’s reappointment. A public response would help ensure transparency and provide those who signed the letter with a clear understanding of how decisions are being made.“
The two groups who could want his removal are the sports fishermen and the Tribes. Both have fought to have the state ignore the mounting science that shows that hatchery salmon are detrimental to the native stocks.
In defense of Dr. Ragen, an open letter, signed by 74 noted scientists, addressed to Governor Ferguson, stated the following:
So in one of his first acts, Governor Ferguson has chosen to side with anti-science forces rather than support wild salmon recovery based on science.
We’ll see if the letter changes anything. As the song goes, “Same as it ever was.”
Filed under: Environmental Activism, Environmental Law, Government | 2 Comments »
Last week an editorial in the Port Townsend Leader by a prominent south county Democrat was in support of the county moving as fast as possible to let the developer of the Pleasant Harbor Master Planned Resort (MPR) allow the project to go forward. The author also chastised the county for slowing the process because of perceived incompetence. I asked Barbara Moore-Lewis, who has been leading a non-profit called The Brinnon Group who are people in opposition to the MPR to comment on the editorial. The Brinnon Group have been active since the early 2000s, when this MPR first surfaced. Here’s what she had to say:
All Jefferson County residents are expected to obey the state and county zoning rules. But some seem more equal than others. A good example of some that seem to be more equal than others may be to look at the proposed Pleasant Harbor Master Planned Resort.
The state’s Growth Management Act tries to keep large developments out of rural areas, to keep them rural. The one exception is a Master Planned Resort:
A master planned resort (MPR) is a self-contained and fully integrated planned unit development of urban density in a non-urban area, in a setting of significant natural amenities, with primary focus on destination resort facilities consisting of short-term visitor accommodations associated with a range of developed on-site indoor or outdoor recreational facilities. An MPR may include only those residential uses within its boundaries that are integrated into and support the on-site recreational nature of the resort. RCW 36.70A.360. A good functional example is the development at Port Ludlow.
The first development agreement for the Pleasant Harbor MPR was signed by the county and developer Statesman in 2018.
The Brinnon Group appealed the agreement to the Kitsap Superior Court. The court directed the county to rewrite the agreement to conform with RCW 36 requirements. The original agreement allowed the construction of residential units, which would be a revenue stream for the developer. The developer had 45 years to complete other recreational and infrastructure elements, which would be money out of pocket. The revised agreement required millions of dollars in recreational amenities and infrastructure to be built before the revenue-generating residential units. This included steps such as changes to highway 101, which might cost $3M.
The developer gave the county a development proposal in 2016 that included the company receiving about $36M from state taxes and $2M from the county. It included plans for a 9 hole golf course that did not appear to have been designed by a professional. In 2018 the MPR’s water rights expired. The water rights had been issued with the provision that the MPR would be completed in 2018. It was unclear whether the developer had the funding to proceed.
Between 2019 and today the developer has made intermittent attempts to make progress on the development. There has been extensive logging, possibly for income.
One recent proposal is for a facility to manufacture modular construction parts. The area is not zoned for manufacturing. It appears that these modular parts will be sold for non MPR construction, as a separate corporation has been set up for the manufacturing.
There is no proof that the MPR will make money for the county. Washington state published an analysis of MPRs that stated that only 1 out of 10 is profitable. An Oregon study concluded the infrastructure cost was higher than the income to government in similar resorts. Jefferson County residents have asked the county to institute bonds for the developer to protect county taxpayers. The county has ignored these requests. The county has never done an independent analysis of the costs and benefits of the MPR.
Costs of a failed MPR will not only be borne in Brinnon, but by all Jefferson County taxpayers. The current possibility of bankruptcy in Cle Elem shows the effects of a development agreement that goes sideways.
Will Jefferson County withstand pressure from the developer and follow the law? Will the county allow development that does not conform to the court order? Will the county allow manufacturing that is not allowed by the zoning? Will the county put taxpayers at risk for infrastructure costs? Or are some of us more equal than others?:
Find out more about the Brinnon Group at:
Filed under: Government, Jefferson County, Projects | 4 Comments »
Peter Bahls and his organization the NW Watershed Institute, have pulled off another successful land transfer that they’ve been working on for years in the waning days of public lands commissioner Hilary Franz’ administration. But the agreement may also find itself strapped for funds if the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) is reversed in the next election or a Republican takes office to replace Franz. Your vote is important to passing this . Our website is supporting King County Commissioner and former State Representative Dave Upthegrove as the next land commissioner because of issues such as this.
QUILCENE — The Dabob Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area has been expanded by 3,943 acres to include more than 11,000 acres around the bay.
Hillary Franz, the state Commissioner of Public Lands, signed an order on Sept. 23.
“Dabob Bay is a unique and special landscape, and I am incredibly happy to protect and preserve public lands there so that future generations get to enjoy its beauty and ecological importance,” Franz said. “This further expansion is a testament to years of hard work from stakeholders and staff to find a solution that protects these rare ecosystems while still supporting local services in east Jefferson County.”
To read the whole story, go to:
https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/dabob-bay-conservation-area-expands-by-nearly-4000-acres/
support local journalism subscribe to the Peninsula Daily News.
Filed under: Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Activism, Environmental Law, Environmental Protection, Forestry, Government, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: dabob bay, DNR, Environmental Protection, Hilary Franz, Hood Canal, Mike Chapman, peter bahls, Port Gamble S'Klallam tribe, Taylor Shellfish | Comments Off on Dabob Bay conservation area expands by nearly 4,000 acres
Dave is running for Washington State Lands Commissioner, filling the position that is being vacated by Hilary Franz. I’ve know of Dave Upthegroves’ work in the legislature on behalf of environmental concerns since the mid 2000’s when he was a keynote speaker at People For Puget Sound’s Environmental Lobby Days. Dave has been a staunch supporter of environmental legislation. One of the great things about living here on the Peninsula is you get a chance to actually meet and talk to candidates for significant statewide office. Olyopen supports Dave. He’ll make a great Lands Commissioner.
Hope you can make it or at least donate to Dave’s campaign.
Meet Dave Upthegrove!
February 3, 2024 | 3-5 pm
Sons of Norway – Port Angeles
131 W 5th St
Port Angeles, Washington 98362
Filed under: Events, Government | Tagged: candidate, Commissioner of Public Lands, Dave UptheGrove, elections, Port Angeles | Comments Off on Event: Meet the Candidate! Dave Upthegrove
Commissioners:
Having spent eight years in the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee including a number of years as it’s chairman, along with volunteering hundreds of hours in helping write the existing SMP, I am urging you to require standard conditional use permits for future geoduck applications.
There is currently no real permitting nor oversight on geoduck operations in the county, with the county relying on the State and Federal Government to do whatever it feels necessary to manage and control these operations. We have no idea how much shoreline is being handed over to commercial operations, what damage is being done, nor do we as tax payers of this county have the opportunity to speak in favor or not of new operations that will lock up our shorelines for generations to come. It’s really an outrageous situation.
I join the residents of Squamish Harbor and Discovery Bay in calling for a fair process for evaluating future geoduck proposals. We urge the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to require, in its update of Jefferson County’s SMP, a standard Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process for all future applications for geoduck cultivation, whether for “new,” “expanded,” or “converted” tideland.
I personally, along with others in this county have seen many consequences of geoduck operations, including: illegal harvesting (documented and admitted); unauthorized expansions; hundreds of loose tubes strewn in shallow water and on beaches; hazards to recreation; underwater loose tubes of unknowable quantity; marine life trapped in nets; harvest operations in native eelgrass; vanishing eelgrass and sand dollar populations; beaching a boat in and trampling a fish stream; and many more practices of environmental concern.
The late Michael Adams, who chaired the MRC for years and was a small time commercial oyster farmer, documented numerous illegal intrusions onto his beaches. Often these were done at night and he told me he had been threatened by the people engaged in it.
Previous legal cases have gone against the industry time and time again.
For over two decades, citizens have been ignored by Washington State Agencies and most Counties as shellfish aquaculture lobbying paved the way for the unlimited proliferation of this industrial conversion of our shorelines. Citizens have had to go to court to get their voices heard. Many of the cases against Taylor, for example were won by the plaintiffs.
A case in 2019 brought against the Army Corp of Engineers was very instructive on this issue. The Corps lost the case. Federal Judge Lasnik stated in his findings that the Army Corps of Engineers in our Corp district, “The Court finds that the Corps has failed to adequately consider the impacts of commercial shellfish aquaculture activities authorized by NWP 48, that its conclusory findings of minimal individual and cumulative impacts are not supported by substantial evidence in the record, and that its EA does not satisfy the requirements of NEPA and the governing regulations.”
While citizens have been pointing out the limited scientific findings that the Corps and the shellfish industry have used to gain permitting, the Judge noted: “There is no discussion of the impacts on other types of aquatic vegetation, on the benthic community, on fish, on birds, on water quality/chemistry/structures, or on substrate characteristics. There is no discussion of the subtidal zone. There is no discussion regarding the impacts of plastic use in shellfish aquaculture and only a passing reference to a possible side effect of pesticide use.”
So a Federal Judge has found that the ’science’ being presented to you the county representatives, is apparently a fraud. Internal records surfaced during this court case actually showed that the Corps had purposely removed key findings supporting the plaintiff’s case from their documents before sending them to the court in discovery.
This is a map of existing shellfish farms in other counties to the south of us. The number, I understand, is over 700. Is this what we want Jefferson County to look like?
Why A Standard CUP is Important
The three most important features of a standard CUP are:
• The decision is made by a neutral hearing examiner;
• The decision is made only after a public hearing before the hearing examiner; and
• The decision is made based only on the record, both written and testimonial.
These features ensure that all parties are treated fairly and that all parties can see and contest the information presented. A standard CUP avoids the suspicion that decisions are influenced by private conversations and unsupported assertions.
For more than two years, the requirement for a standard CUP for all future geoduck applications was in the Planning Commission’s draft, which was preliminarily approved by the state Department of Ecology (ECY). The same CUP requirement is in Kitsap and Clallam county SMPs, as approved in final form by ECY. Jefferson lies in close shoreline-proximity to these counties, sharing Hood Canal, Discovery Bay, and other waters of the Salish Sea. Notably, all of Hood Canal, including its tidelands and shoreline, and most of Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca are Shorelines of Statewide Significance, under the state Shoreline Management Act. By adopting the standard CUP process, Jefferson County will harmonize with Kitsap and Clallam counties in how they review commercial geoduck operations in our common waters.
Why the Planning Commission Recommendation is Misguided
In late October 2023, a new recommendation was proposed, which, after an initial stalemate, was adopted by the Planning Commission in November (by a 5-4 vote). It requires a standard CUP only for “new” geoduck operations. It prescribes a “discretionary” CUP for “expansions” and “conversions” of existing shellfish tidelands. A discretionary CUP allows county staff to make the decision, after public comment but with no public hearing. Alternatively, staff, in its sole discretion, may (but need not, for any reason) refer the case to the hearing-examiner process.
This scheme is arbitrary and discriminatory. It favors existing shellfish farmers over newcomers and over the citizenry, even though the environmental effects are identical. It is subject to evasion, for example by first farming oysters on a new plot and then converting to geoducks. Also, of great concern: all (or possibly nearly all) existing shellfish farmers in Jefferson County are operating with no county shoreline permit whatsoever, so there is no baseline. The County simply doesn’t know how many acres might be converted or expanded under a discretionary CUP.
Advocates for the Planning Commission recommendation like to argue that the industry is already subject to federal, state, and local oversight, so the need for county regulation is lessened. I and others have first-hand experience with federal oversight, and it is entirely lacking. A citizen can’t even get basic information about a shellfish farm without filing a FOIA request, which can take a year for a response. It took more than two years to find out what happened to very well documented harvesting violations. (Answer: the violations were admitted but there was no consequence.) Other state and other local regulations relate to different subjects.
As County Commissioners, you need not decide whether commercial geoduck farms are “good” or “bad.” Rather, it’s the job of the BOCC to adopt a fair process for making such a decision on a particular application for a particular site. That process is the standard CUP process, and we urge you to require it for all future applications for geoduck cultivation.
Al Bergstein
Former Chair of the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee and former member of the SMP citizens advisory committee for Jefferson County
Port Townsend
Filed under: Aquaculture, Environmental Activism, Environmental Law, Environmental Protection, Government, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula, Shellfish | 6 Comments »
Some of the most significant oil spills in Washington State’s history happened in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Salish Sea. Rescue tugs were stationed around 1999 during winter only months to protect the Strait. During the late 2000s, environmental activists led by People For Puget Sound pushed for a permanent rescue tug to be stationed at Neah Bay (and also at the East end of the Strait). With the support of then Representative Keven Van de Wege the State finally approved the tug at Neah Bay. The East end of the Strait still remains extremely vulnerable.
The Port of Neah Bay plays a pivotal role as a harbor for Emergency Response Towing Vessels (ERCivTVs) responding to distressed or disabled vessels, and as a designated harbor of refuge. The heavily trafficked Strait of Juan de Fuca sees various types of vessels passing through: cargo, passenger cruise, oil tankers, vehicle, fishing, and privately owned.
From 1999 to 2016, the stationed Neah Bay rescue tugs responded to 57 disabled vessels or those with reduced maneuvering ability. These incidents could have resulted in accidents or groundings leading to oil spills. The rescue tug is important to preventing spills, which would be extremely damaging to the area’s environment, economy and cultural resources, according to the Washington Department of Ecology.
This (ERTV) stands ready 24/7 on the northwestern Olympic Peninsula point in the Port of Neah Bay to quickly respond. However, challenging tides affect its readiness and the ability of this deep-draft vessel to navigate the channel.
That’s about to change with a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project to make navigation improvements by deepening the harbor entrance channel. A hydraulic pipeline dredge will deepen the 4,500-foot entrance channel to -21 feet from its current depth, allowing unrestricted access for ocean-going tugs, barges, and larger ships transiting Neah Bay during low tide.
The Corps of Engineers is expected to remove up to 30,000 cubic yards of never-before-dredged sediment material from the channel that’s expected to take two months to complete, pending weather conditions.
“This project will help to ensure that the rescue tug based at Neah Bay is ready to respond to marine emergencies on Washington’s coast,” said Rich Doenges, Southwest Region director for the Washington Department of Ecology. “We think the channel deepening represents a necessary step to prevent impacts to our state’s sensitive coastal environment and preserve our Pacific shorelines.”
The project falls under the Corps of Engineer’s civil works mission’s Continuing Authority Program (CAP) Section 107. It authorizes the Corps of Engineers to make navigation improvements for the non-federal sponsor, in this case the Makah Tribe. The $3.3 million project is mostly federally funded due to a cost-share waiver for Native American Tribes.
Seattle District Project Manager and biologist Juliana Houghton emphasized how the dredged material is perfect for reuse and will help fortify a nearby beach.
“We’ll place the beneficial use dredged material in an area along the shoreline that needs rehabilitation because of a lack of naturally occurring stream sediment,” she said. “The goal is to restore intertidal habitat by depositing the dredged material as beach nourishment.”
Deepening the Neah Bay entrance channel will reduce the emergency response tugs operating costs by minimizing the need for vessels to remain outside the bay in deeper waters during low tide. This will save an estimated $81,000 annually in fuel by reducing transit time during tidal changes.
The project first gained traction in the early 2010’s when the non-federal sponsor Makah Tribe contacted the Corps of Engineers Seattle District requesting a study to determine if navigation improvements for the Port of Neah Bay entrance channel were feasible.
“This project has been a long collaborative partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and we’re thrilled to see these improvements enhance the protection of the valuable Neah Bay ecosystem and improve safety for larger commercial and fishing vessels entering the port,” said Makah Tribe Chairman Timothy Greene, Sr.
Throughout the planning process Corps of Engineers officials coordinated, consulted and worked with federal, tribal and state agencies, including Environmental Protection Agency, National Marine Fisheries Services, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Makah Tribe, Washington’s State Department of Ecology, State Historic Preservation Office and Clallam County.
For more information about the US Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District, visit the district’s website at https://www.nws.usace.army.mil/ and follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/USACENWS/ and on X (previously Twitter) at https://twitter.com/SeattleDistrict.
Thanks to Louis.R.Velasco@usace.army.mil for the Press Release on this topic. Feel free to reach out to him for additional information as needed.
Filed under: Around the Salish Sea, Environmental Protection, Government, Olympic Peninsula, Straits of Juan de Fuca | Tagged: Army Corps of Engineers, Civil Works, Continuing Authorities Program, Dredging, makah tribe, Neah Bay, oil spill prevention, Olympic Peninsula, partnership, Washington State Department of Ecology | 1 Comment »
Washington Audubon has announced it’s critical policy priorities aimed at safeguarding our environment and promoting sustainable practices. In the upcoming 60-day session, they are focusing on the three priorities on the Audubon Washington legislative agenda, as well as the three priorities on of our partners at the Environmental Priorities Coalition (EPC).
As a member of the EPC, Audubon also advocates for the three EPC environmental priorities this year: Hold Oil Companies Accountable, 100% Clean School Buses, and the WRAP Act.
You can support these issues by writing a letter of support at this link:
Filed under: Environmental Activism, Environmental Law, legislation, legislature | Tagged: Climate Commitment Act, Environmental Priorities Coalition, Sagelands Stewardship, WRAP ACT | Comments Off on Washington Audubon’s 2024 Legislative Agenda
Well worth an hour to hear from a key State Commissioner. Click anywhere on the photo below to be taken to the signup page. The RSVP link does not work in the image.
Filed under: education, Environmental Activism, environmental education, Environmental Law, Environmental Protection, Events, fisheries, Government, Olympic Peninsula, wolves | Tagged: Commissioner, discussion, fish, politics, wildlife | 2 Comments »
State Senator Kevin Van de Wege has announced his candidacy to run for the Commissioner of Public Lands in the Department of Natural Resources. Hilary Franz, who is the current head, is running for governor. She’ll be stepping down from that role.
I was part of the People For Puget Sound team that is mentioned in the article that awarded Kevin the Environmentalist of the Year for Puget Sound. He deserved it for shepherding the Rescue Tug at Neah Bay to pass, an issue that took over 10 years to get funded.
As to heading DNR, I think that Kevin will instantly get the respect of the firefighters, but likely will not be the voice of carbon capture that Ms. Franz has been. However, Ms. Franz has elicited a lot of controversy from the environmental community on the Peninsula over that issue among others and will not be missed. It will be interesting to see who supports her from this area over the AG, Bob Ferguson. Certainly, this blog has already stated that we support Ferguson, as Ms. Franz has on numerous occasions pleaded ignorance of controversial issues that she herself has signed off on.
Van de Wege on shown himself willing to listen to opposing sides to his opinions and has made course corrections in the past, most notably on the fire retardants issue that has been before the legislature over the last decade. He originally was opposed to banning the chemicals but after being shown the international studies and understanding he wasn’t being asked to go out on a limb alone on this, he reversed course and championed the issue. For those reasons we support his effort and endorse him for the upcoming election.
There is a lot of rumor going around about who will run for Kevin’s office and other possible changes to the makeup of the Democratic representation here on the Peninsula. More to follow as we get solid stories to share.
District 24 senator eyes state lands role | Peninsula Daily News
Filed under: Government | Tagged: Carbon capture, DNR, election, Hilary Franz, Senator Kevin Van de Wege | 2 Comments »
This blog predicted years ago that Hilary was going to do this. We cannot support a run for governor by her. Why? Her track record of allowing the destruction of beaches by rampant geoduck aquaculture across the Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound; her feigned lack of knowledge of her office’s involvement in supporting tribal interests to take over the waters of the Dungeness Spit Wildlife Refuge for commercial aquaculture purposes, against the wishes of the scientists of the refuge.(Hilary had signed the agreement). And many more. We will be supporting her competitor, Bob Ferguson who has demonstrated over and over again the ability to do the right thing for the state. We hope you will too.
Filed under: Government, Olympic Peninsula | 2 Comments »
