Ecology cites PT mill for its 2025 discharges 

Posted on October 20, 2026 by OlyOpen

By Christy Carley -Peninsula Daily News

PORT TOWNSEND — The state Department of Ecology has issued a notice of violation to the Port Townsend Paper Company for two unauthorized wastewater discharges in November 2025.

The paper mill has 30 days to respond to the notice, which was issued on Oct. 14.

One of these appears to be a second leak caused by diesel pumps, not becoming activated during a maintenance outage. -Olyopen

The rest of the story at the Peninsula Daily News. Support local journalism subscribe to the PDN.

https://peninsuladailynews-wa.newsmemory.com/?publink=4d6032c5b_13522c0

Filed under: Environmental Protection, Jefferson County, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

Protection Island: 1st Public Meeting with Randall’s staff.

Posted on September 25, 2026 by Al Bergstein

Read the whole article on my new Substack site: https://olyopen.substack.com

Citizens showed up to be treated to a Zoom rather than a real person in attendance. Photo courtesy of Darrell Smith.

On Wednesday, Sept 23rd, the opponents of the land transfer proposal that U.S. Representative Emily Randall is getting ready to introduce into Congress, finally got an opportunity to talk directly to her staff about their points of view. It did not go well.

Staff members had originally said they would have one person there, so people came expecting to hear them and instead were only allowed a “Zoom” call, and Representative Randall decided not to attend at all. (Congress is currently out so she was in the area). If the staff would have simply started by saying they would not be in attendance, perhaps a larger audience would have attended online.

Her staff gave a short overview of the “process” that the draft bill is going through at the moment, stating that:

  1. It was a process started in 2025. (it was not made public until spring 2026).
  2. It was already going through the backchannels of Congress to prepare for Randall to present it to Congress.
  3. “There is a long way to go”. One staffer said.
  4. Finally, “It’s only the start of the process and you still have an opportunity to put your feedback into it.”

The last sentence received a roomful of boos from the 30 or so people in attendance.

I think that the staff member did not fully understand that a bill that was being discussed behind closed doors for over a year by Ron Allen of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and the Representative of hundreds of thousands of constituents who have not had a chance to comment on it , was not at a point anyone would call, “the start of the process”. The bill is very far along the “process” and Representative Randall still has not held a public meeting with her present to discuss it at all. Once proposed into Congress, the public will have little opportunity to realistically kill this proposal as the meetings are likely to be held in Washington D.C. and Randall is making no promises yet to hold meetings throughout her district.

There is also the small fact that Chairman Allen has donated over $1000 for the last two years, along with the Jamestown S’Klallam donating over $9000 to her campaign. This makes the whole sordid issue seem like a back room deal done for money and votes. No one other than the Tribe has asked for this transfer to happen. Other S’Klallam Tribes apparently were not consulted nor have weighed in as to why they are getting nothing out of this, odd because it is part of the “usual and accustomed” land from the 1855 Treaty that all of them share.

Ron Allen himself has said that other tribes like the Makah and Lummi have been looking at this to decide whether to ask for other National Wildlife Refuges. When asked whether Representative Randall was in talks with them as well, since the Makah, Quinault, Hoh and Quileute are in her district, her staff did not reply.

The meeting was hosted by Lorna and Darrell Smith. Lorna was one of the original people who worked with Eleanor Stopps to create the wildlife refuge in the 1980s. Without their work, the Tribe would have no opportunity to ask for it back, as it would have become a white man’s subdivision.

Many people got up to ask questions of Randall’s staff. Very few questions were answered. No one asking them was in support of the transfer. One surprise guest was Marcia Kelbon, who is the independent running for the State House position given up by Steve Tharinger. Mrs. Kelbon stated she was opposed to the land transfer. It was gratifying to see a person running for state Congress come out and state a position on the issue.

What is Randall thinking? Neither Clallam nor Jefferson County commissioners have come out in support of this, mainly due to the extremely negative public feedback on this proposal. And Senator Murray and Cantwell have yet to weigh in.

This entire exercise is a P.R. disaster for the young, naive Representative Randall. While she has been anointed the Representative of the 24th district, she is a shadow of the former representative, Derek Kilmer. Kilmer had better political instinct than to take on an issue like this without getting significant public input first. Unfortunately, no one was willing to run against Randall, so the Democrats gave us no choice but to not vote or support her.

Filed under: Environmental Law, Environmental Protection, First Nations, Jefferson County, legislation, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

A word from Eleanor Stopps’ Granddaughter about Protection Island

Posted on September 21, 2026 by Al Bergstein
Eleanor Stopps. Named Citizen of the 20th Century in Jefferson County and creator of the Protection Island Wildlife Refuge

Donna Armstrong, Eleanor Stopps granddaughter sent this to me for publication.

Protection Island is more than a place on a map. It is an island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca that provides nesting habitat for tufted puffins, rhinoceros auklets, pigeon guillemots, and many other species. After failed farming and development attempts, parcels were purchased for the purpose of creating a public wildlife refuge. In 1974, Eleanor Stopps (my grandmother) and Fayette Krause of The Nature Conservancy helped create the 48-acre Zella Schultz Washington Seabird Sanctuary.

Over the next decade, Eleanor, Lorna Smith, and many individuals and organizations volunteered to acquire private lots. One example was the “Adopt a Seabird” campaign, which raised $50,000 to purchase 23 lots. I was eight years old when I adopted a seabird.

Now, U.S House of Representative Emily Randall will be sponsoring the Jamestown S’Klallam Land Transfer Act of 2026, which proposes transferring ownership of Protection Island and Dungeness Spit National Wildlife Refuges into trust through the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.

Eleanor, Lorna, and many others worked tirelessly for years with elected officials and public agencies. In 1982, Congress established Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge, with conservation purposes that included protecting wildlife, scientific research, education, and interpretation.

Since then, Protection Island has been stewarded through collaboration among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, conservation organizations, scientists, and the public. In August 2024, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe joined this framework through a co-stewardship agreement, creating opportunities to include Tribal knowledge and perspectives. When environmental challenges arise, this model brings Tribal partners, public agencies, scientists, and managers together for solutions.

Representative Randall’s proposal would repeal the 1982 law and remove Protection Island from national refuge status and the protection that provides. I am firmly against taking this action and I am sure my granddmother would have been also. Protection Island exists today because Eleanor, Fayette, Lorna, and many others gave their time, resources, and determination to establish it from private land. That history is part of public trust, future generations can believe in a democracy that can still work for them.

To learn more, visit the protect refuges website https://protectrefuges.org and People for Protection Island & Dungeness NWR on Facebook People For Protection Island & Dungeness NWR | Facebook

Editor’s Note: Eleanor Stopps was named Citizen of the Century by Jefferson County for her efforts.

Zella Schultz & Eleanor Stopps

Filed under: Environmental Activism, environmental education, Environmental Protection, Jefferson County, Protection Island, Straits of Juan de Fuca | 1 Comment »

State of Washington DOE fines Port Townsend Mill record fine

Posted on September 17, 2026 by Al Bergstein
PTPC Aerator Ponds (courtesy of Google Earth)

The Seattle Times is covering the story of the Washington State Dept. of Ecology (DOE) issuing the largest fine ever to the Port Townsend Paper Company (PTPC) for it’s Glen Cove paper mill. The violations that occurred related to the aeration ponds malfunctioning and the actual removal of some of the aeration equipment comes in the wake of the disasterous rupture of a badly maintained tank at a Longview mill that killed 11 and injured more.

This could be the reason for the increasing reports of excessive mill odor reported on Next Door for many months by local residents around the Port Townsend neighborhoods.

After decades of local complaints to DOE it appears that the cozy relationship with the mill owners may be over. As usual that took a disaster with deaths and serious injuries. The Mill<>DOE relationship led to one event in which the mill was given advanced notice of State air quality monitoring, which not surprisingly allowed it to shut down for “maintainence” the week of the monitoring . While Mill shutdowns are scheduled long in advance, the timing of this by both parties was suspect.

The inspections that led to the fines happened almost a year ago, which makes one wonder how long a pollution violation may go before DOE actually does something about it.

The Times quotes DOE as saying, “Other portions of the aeration system were malfunctioning or had been removed.”

These aeration systems are critical to reducing the smell that permeates the area. During periods of calm winds the smell can move into large areas of Port Townsend, causing many people to report headaches and other unusual ailments that were not present prior to the air pollution cloud moving uptown. The pollution is also highly variable to the prevailing winds, which usually blow the smell out to the Bay. When the winds shift from the South or simply stop altogether the reports of the smell increase.

The mill is important to the town and county due to the hundreds of jobs at stake. Paper mills have been shutting down for decades, leaving a legacy of highly toxic soils. Many are Superfund sites. In Port Angeles, the Federal government has simply been up fences and cleanup is just in the discussion phase as it has been for over a decade.

The full article can be found on the Seattle Times web site. Please support the Times with your subscriptions as it remains one of the only local independent newspapers in the Pacific Northwest.

WA fines Port Townsend paper mill for chemical spill, poor maintenance

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/wa-fines-port-townsend-paper-mill-for-chemical-spill-poor-maintenance/

Filed under: Environmental Protection, Jefferson County, Port Townsend | 1 Comment »

Jefferson County Commissioners Debate & Kill Draft of Wildlife Land Swap Letter

Posted on August 3, 2026 by Al Bergstein

The Jefferson County Commissioners today published a draft of a new version of the letter about their level of support for the proposal to transfer the two National Wildlife Refuges into the sovereign nation of the Jamestown S’Kallam tribe. The final letter would have been sent to U.S. Representative Emily Randall, the politician who has bought into this proposal on behalf of the Tribe, and who has done zero public engagement on this issue. The Commissioners debated the issue and ultimately, after debate, the Commissioners decided not to send the letter and simply pass along the written comments to Representative Randall. This is a positive step, allowing Randall to go get the public input she should have done all along. Randall’s junior status as a Representative has been on display during this entire process, and we are hoping she has learned something from this.

The draft letter significantly tempered their support, clarifying a few key points. For sake of the public understanding the debate, here’s points from the draft letter:

Public Input:

“One central piece of input we’ ve gotten from residents of Jefferson County is a desire for more public engagement about this proposal.” – That is perhaps an understatement.

Importance of the lands in question:

“These sites are not only central to the Tribe’ s heritage but are also integral to the ecological health and quality of life for our entire region.”

Is title transfer necessary?

“…there is concern about losing protections provided with oversight by the USFWS.” Finally the Commissioners are recognizing the very real concerns that moving these lands into sovereign nation status would possibly create.

Hope instead of concrete assurances from the Tribe:

“It is our sense (emphasis mine) that if the island were transferred into trust, the Tribe would continue to manage it to a standard that would meet or exceed federal requirements.” There is absolutely no guarantee that is being given nor could one be enforced if promised once the lands are transferred. It is all based on faith that nothing would ever change. The very fact that this transfer is being considered now is proof enough that some future tribal council would decide on a very different use of Protection Island and Dungeness Spit.

Admission of commercial concerns:

“However, we’ve also heard concerns from several constituents that the Tribe may take a more business- forward approach in managing Protection Island and, in neighboring Clallam County, Dungeness Spit Refuge lands.” Never heard the use of “Business-forward” to describe actual conversion of tide lands into an aquaculture farm before. Also they heard from constituents as if this is a secret project of the Tribe. The Tribe has been very open about this and it has been known publicly for many years. Are the Commissioners that out of touch? Or are they wanting to blame the opposition to the transfer for somehow bringing the Commissioners new information? The answer is “yes” they are trying to blame opponents of the transfer. They did so in the next paragraph:

The Opposition:

“…we have observed a recurring argument among some opponents who use the phrase “public land in public hands” to justify federal retention. Within the context of our region’ s history, there is a certain irony and arrogance in this framing. It overlooks the historical reality of colonization and the systemic dispossession of Indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands. To claim these areas are only ” public” when under federal control ignores the thousands of years of stewardship practiced by Tribes prior to European arrival.”

The opposition doesn’t claim that the lands are “public lands”, they are public by definition. The legal national definition of “public lands” which the Commissioners themselves should be aware of is this Statutory definition: Under 43 U.S.C. § 1702, “any land and interest in land owned by the United States within the several States and administered by the Secretary of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management… except... Outer Continental Shelf; and lands held for the benefit of Indians, Aleuts, and Eskimos.”, as stated in the U.S. Code. General federal usage: Commonly refers to all real property owned collectively by the American people and managed by various federal stewardship branches.

The opposition doesn’t appear to be ignoring the historical reality, and anyway, what does that have to do with the proposed transfer of these lands to the Tribe? Does the historical reality dictate that we give back the Wildlife Refuges we fought so hard to create by keeping them from “business forward” real estate development? If there is any irony to be found at all in this it is that the Tribe, who claims to have the protection of these wildlife refuges as their reason for doing it, are already engaged in putting a commercial oyster farm of up to 80000 bags of oysters against the very shores of the Dungeness Spit, burying the bottom where many of the birds we are protecting feed.

Who are these two refuges supposed to be for? They were established to recognize that before the Europeans arrived, and actually before the tribes arrived, this island and Spit were “owned” by the wildlife on them. The birds. The American public are currently protecting the habitat of these animals for all of humanity, not just for a “business-forward” entity, no matter who they are or however many generations they have been here.

Given the definition of the Commissioners in this ill worded paragraph, then *all* lands in the U.S. are not public or somehow deserve to be given back to all tribes because we took them all.

The Commissioners should strike that paragraph. It serves no purpose other than add fuel to the idea that somehow anyone opposing this is anti-tribe or racist. The opposition simply wants this co-management to continue.

Finally

“For these reasons, Jefferson County urges the delegation to carefully consider these complexities before advancing the Act.” As usual, when confronted with public opposition, the politicians decided to simply ask for more information and public input by Representative Randall.

To the public and Commissioners, let me simply state that I know the opposition people quite well. Virtually all of them have worked for and possibly even donated to your campaigns. Most of them own homes and businesses in Jefferson County. They pay taxes to this county. They appreciate that you listen to them as well as you listen to the Tribe, a sovereign nation demanding something that no one but them has asked to be given away.

Here is the DRAFT letter

Filed under: Around the Salish Sea, Environmental Law, Environmental Protection, Government, Jefferson County, legislation, Protection Island, Straits of Juan de Fuca, Washington State | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

WA shellfish growers worry for future after Hood Canal closure – Seattle Times

Posted on August 1, 2026 by Al Bergstein

A toxin, Alexandrium catenella cells have been found in shellfish in Hood Canal. It’s closed down shellfish harvesting during this summer. The question is, “Is this the new normal”?

“We start to have to plan around this more and think about — going forward — what our business model would look like if we weren’t selling in the hot months anymore at all,” Wight said.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/wa-shellfish-growers-worry-for-future-after-hood-canal-closure

Behind a paywall.

Filed under: Climate Change, Environmental Science, Jefferson County | Comments Off on WA shellfish growers worry for future after Hood Canal closure – Seattle Times

Meeting held to discuss Protection Island

Posted on June 16, 2026 by Al Bergstein

A large crowd of people gathered at Cape George on Sunday to hear Lorna and Darrell Smith discuss both the history of Protection Island and why they are concerned about the proposed Jamestown S’Klallam Land Transfer that the tribe recently has made public.

In the 1970s and early 1980s Lorna Smith was a key person in the work done to make Protection Island a national wildlife refuge. She acted as the liaison between the Seattle Audubon Society and the two women from Jefferson County that led the battle to get the island designated as a refuge, Zella Schultz and Eleanor Stopps, The thousands of letters of support from both native and non native Americans convinced even normally reticent politicians such as Senator Slade Gorton to help push the legislation through Congress and convince President Ronald Reagan to sign it. It was supported by all members of the Washington delegation and the Republican governor, John Spellman.

Also in attendance on Sunday were two granddaughters of Eleanor Stopps who share Lorna’s concerns. This reporter, who also worked with Audubon photographing the spit in the late 70s, also was in attendance.

The Smiths spent the first hour discussing the rich bird heritage of the island and the Spit, before pivoting to the proposed land transfer and the many questions that need to be answered about this proposal.

The Tribe currently is paid approximately $800,000 a year by the federal government to co-manage the Spit and the island. A month ago the Federal Government authorized over $76 million to support the refuges of the country. Money is there. There is no imminent threat of the government cutting off funds. That would have to be authorized by Congress.

The tribe has already begun requesting the ability to lay 80,000 bags of oysters on the bottom of Dungeness Spit’s inner bay, much to the dismay of bird supporters, who worry that this may cause continued loss of fish and other animals the birds feed upon. Currently, there is a lawsuit moving through the courts to stop this from happening.

In March, tribal Vice Chair Loni Greninger testified in Congress that the co-management has been very successful from both the point of view of the Tribe and the government. So if the working arrangement for co-management is successful, why should the Tribe give up $800k and why should Americans give up one of their 570 national wildlife refuges to the Tribe to become owned by them? How much is the Spit and the island worth to the Tribe and why? The answer might be found in the tribe’s lucrative aquaculture industry, wholly owned by them. While the tribe in their proposal denies having any plans for anything other than the vague term, “conservation” the actual answer to this question might have come from Vice Chair Greninger’s comment to the Port Townsend Leader on April 22nd edition. In it she stated:

“If we’re able to have that fuller ownership instead of co-management, then I don’t have to rely on any other government and their rules and regulations,” she said.

This is exactly what is feared by those who fought so hard to protect this island and Spit. With the tribe in full ownership, we will have no say as to what happens to it, nor if future tribal leaders decide to utilize these environmental treasures for economic gain. While it is understandable that the Tribe once used to forage for seafood there, the differences between subsistence shellfish harvest and modern mechanized aquaculture, with the ability to liquify the bottom with air compressors to get to geoduck, or spread thousands of bags of oysters across hundreds of acres at a time is a far cry from how it once was done.

There is every reason to continue to have the tribe manage the refuges. There is little incentive for Americans to simply hand them over to satisfy a demand. Why is Representative Emily Randall and Senator Maria Cantwell so hellbent on getting this done?

The birds are currently protected, as is the unique ecosystem they rely upon. Why should Americans relinquish this to a tribe that is engaged in the business of oyster, geoduck, crabbing, fish farming and fishing when they themselves are admitting that they want to set their own rules for the use of Protection Island? If the Tribe does get it, will we be on the outside looking in and have no input into protecting birds that live there? Many of us are waiting for more answers.

Filed under: Aquaculture, Around the Salish Sea, Around the Sound, Clallam County, Endangered Species, Environmental Activism, Environmental Law, Environmental Protection, First Nations, Jefferson County, legislation, Washington State | Tagged: , , , , | 3 Comments »

Port Townsend Paper Mill – Thoughts on Safety

Posted on June 5, 2026 by Al Bergstein

In the wake of the terrible tank explosion and deaths in Longview, I have read the call from David Ginsberg for a variety of recommendations on the local mill safety and pollution. Additionally, I have read the letter from the mill management, which, according to the Port Townsend Leader was published by the mill on June 1st but is not on the mill’s web site despite a newer post, unrelated to the explosion, is there.

I worked at the mill during COVID in their IT department, helping get remote access available for everyone to work from “home” and also I was in charge of upgrading hundreds of their computers. In my job, I met a lot of the workers, as I had to go to their workstations, both in the offices and the dozens of production environments to remove and install new computers. I often ate lunch with them, and a number of them became friends. Many drive long distances to work here, because our housing situation is not good for the middle class workers that would likely love to live closer to the mill. Some of them would have agreed with David’s call for actions, and some would likely not. It’s a mixed bag of people and perspectives, just like the U.S. today.

The mill is inherently a dangerous place to work. Mill management does take safety seriously from what I encountered. I had to take training, wear steel toed boots, eye and ear protection when I went into the main plant. There are extremely high speed paper making machines that sometimes break down. When they do, it can be a roll of the dice if anyone happens to be near the break down, and it could be deadly if someone was in the vicinity. The mill has been very lucky up to now. But other non-lethal injuries are fairly common and the mill closely tracks them. There are also forklifts roaming around, moving huge rolls of paper. The mill is a very old industrial site, but it has continued to be upgraded for various technical improvements over the decades. Nevertheless, anyone walking around there needs to be very vigilant.

Chemical tanks at Port Townsend Paper Mill. Unclear which of these may be holding the same kind of chemicals that exploded at Longview. Parking lot in upper center. Walkway to work passes by the top circled tanks. Image courtesy of Google Earth.

Every day when I came to work, I am pretty sure that I and the other workers, walked right by three large tanks, that seem to be the same tanks that were involved in the Longview explosion. The tanks are nondescript large tanks that had no discernible markings or safety warnings on them (that may have changed). I assume this because of the photos I’ve seen of the tank that exploded. The pulp “cookers” here at the mill are next to the tanks. None of us likely understood the risk, because I know that if I would be working there today, I would walk the long way around from the parking lot to get to work. However, that way is not the “safe” way, protecting people from the constant truck and forklift traffic. The walkway from the parking lot to the main offices and mill itself goes right by these tanks. Is it really the best idea to have workers constantly walking past them? Could a simple mistake cause a catastrophic explosion? Or are these not the tanks in question?

The mill management is different from the mill ownership. Management is local. Ownership is by Atlas Holdings, from Greenwich Connecticut, apparently some kind of holding company that invests in paper mills. This blog published a short overview when they took over the mill. Profit margins on paper mills are slim, according to CSIMarket https://csimarket.com/Industry/industry_Profitability_Ratios.php?ind=111 Their industry profit margins appear to be 3 to 4%. About as much as Safeway or QFC likely makes. Can Atlas guarantee that they have done everything that could be done for worker safety?

The mill operates under a variety of safety and EPA laws, many federal, some state created, but I don’t know if any are locally created. A variety of environmental laws have been relaxed or eliminated under the two Trump administrations. I’m unclear if any specifically were related to mill safety, but I have read that there is no state nor federal inspection requirements for the tanks that hold these dangerous chemicals. I would love to understand what laws are applicable. If there are none, there should be.

The mill memo mentions that they have carried out inspections and are working on “scheduling further non-destructive testing to reassess tank conditions in 2026.” The county emergency management department also said they are working with the mill and preparing for a July meeting. Given all that has happened, the mill should be very open and forthcoming with their plans and the results. Unfortunately, there is no apparent legal requirement for them to do so. Additionally, all of us should be demanding the State take a much more active role in tank inspections.

In Mr. Ginsberg’s letter, there was a laundry list of other issues dating back a long time. While I agree with his general assessment that there are other issues that need addressing, now is the best time to focus on tank safety. It is in the public eye, and the state will likely be working on improving this one issue in the months ahead. Let’s focus on this and not try to “boil the ocean” of other issues that Ginsberg raises.

It’s a great time for anyone concerned about safety, whether the mill workers themselves or the community at large, to come forward and make your voice heard. Write emails, letters or go to city or county council meetings. The way the news cycle works, the State and Atlas Holdings will be counting on this to fade as an issue quickly. This chance may not come back again until another disaster strikes. We are all hoping it doesn’t happen here.

Filed under: Environmental Activism, Environmental Law, Environmental Protection, Jefferson County | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

The end of the Black Point Resort?

Posted on May 20, 2026 by Al Bergstein

The twenty year saga of the Pleasant Harbor Marina and Golf Resort may have finally been dealted a death blow in court this last week. The County Hearings Examiner has ruled against the developer and county.  See attached.

The developer must build infrastructure and recreational features before he can sell lots to raise money. This was always an underlying requirement that for years the developer attempted to modify with legal challenges to the county.

Building roads, sewer and water systems, reworking the intersection with Highway 101 and building out the golf course are expensive enough, but the conference center + 208 hotel rooms would seem to make the whole venture financially infeasible.  Hard to think of a bank or traditional lending source that would touch this proposal.

The project has cost the county hundreds of thousands of dollars in time, labor costs and legal challenges by the developer to not pay what they considered costs that they said they shouldn’t pay. The county finally settled out of court to avoid even more costs.

This county’s commissioners made a massive costly mistake in approving this project in the late 2000s. There was a significant vocal opposition to it, posing the very issues that have brought us to this sad end. Other than outright killing the proposal, the county expected that the developer would build out the infrastructure before he sold lots. That didn’t happen. There has been logging on the site, but little else that would qualify in the mind of the hearing examiner.

The Olympic Peninsula Environmental News has covered this sad situation since the beginning. You can search the site for background stories if you wish.

We are very grateful for the continued work of the Brinnon Group, who has spent thousands of hours and funds fighting this. You can help offset their costs by donating what you can.

https://www.brinnongroup.org/take-action

Filed under: Environmental Protection, Jefferson County, Jefferson County, Land Development | Tagged: , , | 5 Comments »

Update on Sen. Murray’s Wild Olympics Bill Advances Through Senate Hearing

Posted on December 12, 2025 by Al Bergstein

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: , , , | Comments Off on Update on Sen. Murray’s Wild Olympics Bill Advances Through Senate Hearing

Glass Recycling Returns

Posted on July 5, 2025 by Al Bergstein

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: | 3 Comments »

Thoughts on Pleasant Harbor Master Planned Resort

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Al Bergstein

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:

https://www.brinnongroup.org

Filed under: Government, Jefferson County, Projects | 4 Comments »

Black Point Update: Statesman Group may not get water for project

Posted on March 18, 2024 by Al Bergstein

The never ending project at Black Point by the Statesman Group (aka Pleasant Harbor Development) appears to have run into another snag. The Pleasant Tides Property Owners Association (PTPOA) originally was asked by Statesman to provide supplemental water through their water district. However, according to their latest newsletter, the PTPOA lawyers cannot find a legal way to provide that without jeopardizing their non-profit status and federal IRS status as a Home Owners Association (HOA).

The Statesman group is apparently attempting to find other, legal ways for them to accomplish this, but it increasingly looks like Statesman is going to come up short on their plans for providing relatively low cost water, or any supplemental water, to their project.

As many know, this project has been challenged by a number of residents and groups in our county since the very beginning, and despite that, our County Commissioners (Democrats at that too), went along with the highly controversial project plan. None of those former commissioners say they would do it again. And yet, here we are, almost 20 years down the road, with many unanswered questions about how this project will ever successfully come to completion.

In February, the Hood Canal Enviromental Council requested a denial of the project by Jefferson County. They stated, in a letter to the Board of County Commissioners and James Kennedy (prosecuting attorney) that: The plan for 216 single-family residential lots, without the required MPR project features, is inconsistent with the 2019 Development Agreement amendments. That is still a developing story.

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Water reserves low in Olympics – Sequim Gazette

Posted on February 9, 2024 by Al Bergstein

Our snow pack is not in great shape to provide us fresh water this year.

Water reserves low in Olympics

Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Sequim Gazette.

Washington SNOTEL Snow/Precipitation Update Report (usda.gov)

Filed under: Clallam County, Climate Change, Environmental Science, Jefferson County, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula, Port Townsend | Comments Off on Water reserves low in Olympics – Sequim Gazette

Hood Canal Environmental Council Requests Denial of Black Point Project

Posted on February 8, 2024 by Al Bergstein

The Hood Canal Environmental Council (HCEC) has requested that Jefferson County deny the current subdivision proposal by the Statesman for Pleasant Harbor Development. They also request that the County prevents any further sales of properties until all terms are met.

This project, which has been contested for almost 20 years, has seemed to be an ever changing situation. Lawsuits by the developer, counter suits, years of negotiation over payment for services by the county, then the county settling for far less than their billed services. One would have to ask when the citizens of this county will ever see the promised outcomes that Statesman put forward back in the mid 2000s. Certainly if the opponents to it have there way, never, but even if Statesman gets their way, when are we expected to see anything more than a clearcut in this location?

Let’s remember that two full cycles of County Commissioners have moved this forward, against the wishes of many in this county. Is it time for them to admit that this is never going to happen and kill it? One way or another all of us in Jefferson County are paying for the lawsuits that this has incurred on us. Pretending that it’s a zero sum game is just not reality. Anyway, read it and make up your own mind. If you have strong feelings, one way or the other, now seems a good time to throw your thoughts into the disucussion at the County Commissioners meeting.

Here is the letter from the HCEC.

Cristina Haworth, AICP
Jefferson County Board of Commissioners
Josh D. Peters, AICP
Jefferson County Community Development Director
James Kennedy -Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney

RE: Master Planned Resort at Black Point

Greetings:

For more than 50 years the Hood Canal Environmental Council (HCEC) has been active in protecting Hood Canal. As part of this legacy, we have offered input on Jefferson County plans for a Master Planned Resort (MPR) at Black Point. We share the concerns of the Brinnon Group expressed in the February 2, 2024, letter from attorney Richard Aramburu to you (attached).

We hope that Jefferson County intends to follow statutory law, court decisions and its own agreements in matters dealing with land use and protecting Hood Canal. Recent plans submitted to the county to develop the Black Point MPR do not comply with the 2018 Kitsap Superior Court decision or the 2019 Amended Development Agreement.

HCEC endorses the recommendations in the recent letter from attorney Aramburu, that Jefferson County should take the following actions:

1.                  Decline to review the current subdivision proposal submitted by Statesman for Pleasant Harbor development. The plan for 216 single-family residential lots, without the required MPR project features, is inconsistent with the 2019 Development Agreement amendments because it approves residential development without any permits, plans or showing of financial ability to fund or deliver the fanciful amenities, such as a “tea house in the trees” and a full-size NHL hockey rink.

2.                  Return any proposed subdivision plans to the applicant and decline further review until the submittal of plans is consistent with the Amended Development Agreement and Jefferson County codes.

3.                  Determine the subdivision application is not complete because it does not contain all required features and documentation.

4.                  Prevent sales or advertisement for sales of properties within the Pleasant Harbor MPR, through the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney, until all terms of the Development Agreement and Jefferson County platting ordinances are met.

HCEC welcomes dialogue with you over these concerns.

Sincerely, Phil Best – President
Hood Canal Environmental Council

Filed under: Environmental Activism, Environmental Protection, Jefferson County, Land Development | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Jefferson County shorelines needs your help now

Posted on January 12, 2024 by Al Bergstein

Jefferson County is updating its Shoreline Master Plan and is being heavily lobbied by the shellfish industry to allow for the approval of additional geoduck farms in our tidelands without public input.  Neighboring counties–Kitsap and Clallam–allow for public input but Jefferson hasn’t yet committed to this.  Find out what’s at stake as this multimillion dollar export business looks to expand here.   Local environmental activists will talk about their work and how you can get involved.

With a growing multimillion dollar marked in Asia, the shellfish industry is eyeing Jefferson County’s tidelands for increased geoduck cultivation. Geoduck cultivation involves the intense use of plastics—some seven miles and eleven tons of tubing per acre.  Each tube fosters a wholly unnatural density of the large clams that are then “harvested” using hydraulic hoses to liquify the tidelands down to three feet.  Then the whole process starts over again.  Geoduck cultivation raises many environmental concerns, among them: competition for marine nutrients, displacement of tideland marine life, and plastics pollution.  Sierra Club is asking the Jefferson County Commissioners to require a thorough review and public input before issuing any permits to farm geoducks.  A standard “Conditional Use Permit”, as is required in neighboring Kitsap and Clallum counties, should be the norm.  

 When:  Thursday January 18, 7PM on Zoom

https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=7013q000002Hy4YAAS

Filed under: Admiralty Inlet, Aquaculture, Environmental Activism, Environmental Protection, Events, Jefferson County | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Tidelands to Timberline Classes – Registration Open

Posted on January 1, 2024 by Al Bergstein

Tidelands to Timberline classes

Lottery registration is now open for Jefferson Land Trust’s 2024 Tidelands to Timberline Northwest Naturalist Course (April 19 – June 7). This eight-week, field-based course offers committed participants the chance to become intimately familiar with the natural history and ecosystems of the northeast Olympic Peninsula and absorb the knowledge of some of the greatest naturalists in our area. In addition to six to eight hours every Friday, the course’s curriculum asks participants to spend an additional three to 10 hours per week learning about our local natural history — a commitment of 15 hours per week.

In an effort to make access to this popular course as equitable as possible, 2024 course participants (limited to 18) will be randomly selected from a list of those who wish to register and who are prepared to commit to the course.

To learn more and enter the lottery by midnight January 14, click here.

(https://act.saveland.org/event/northwest-naturalists-program-2024/e533104_)

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September 2023 Events at Fort Flagler

Posted on August 14, 2023 by Al Bergstein

Friends of Fort Flagler

Wednesday, Sept. 6th @ 9:00am 10:30am

Program: River Otter Beach Walk/Talk

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/616275967007Location: East Beach past Wansboro BatteryJoin us to learn about these cute and curious creatures that live throughout the Puget Sound.  We’ll be taking a beach walk on East Beach past the Wansboro Battery and discussing the river otter’s life cycle, behavior and where you might find them.  If we’re lucky, we may even see one!  Bring comfortable shoes, warm clothes and a rain jacket. Presenter: Jennifer Riker has a deep passion and love for the Pacific NW and all the beauty and wildlife that can be found here. She is a social worker that has also volunteered as a mountain steward with the Mt Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest and volunteered at the zoo in Seattle Jennifer loves learning everything she can about her beautiful home and all the wildlife that she is fortunate to co-exist with and continues her education taking many classes at North Cascade Institute on plants, birds, dragonflies and is a naturalist for the Mountaineers.  

Saturday, Sept. 16th @ 9:00am – 1:00pm

Program: International Beach Clean Up – Beach Grass Removal

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/691931254007Location: Lower Campground, upper part of spit next to playground.Join us to help restore our beach to a natural state.  Protecting our beaches includes removing invasive species that are choking out our natural grasses.  Friends of Fort Flagler is organizing an invasive beach grass removal on September 16th from 9am and 1pm. The Park will be giving free day passes to any volunteer who does not have state park passes. Please bring garden or work gloves and come ready to pull grass.  If you have garden hand forks and shovel, please bring as well.Naturalist Lead: Lynn Schwarz For more information about future events, volunteering, members or donations visit: //friendsoffortflagler.org/

Filed under: Admiralty Inlet, environmental education, Jefferson County, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula | Comments Off on September 2023 Events at Fort Flagler

Rat Island experiencing an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Al Bergstein

Bad news for the Caspian Terns on Rat Island

Friends of Fort Flagler has been sponsoring trained docents to help protect the Caspian Tern population that is currently nesting on Rat Island. Recently a number of dead birds have been sighted and test results provided to Fish and Wildlife have confirmed that the birds are carrying Avian flu.

Here is the press release from Friends of Fort Flagler

Avian Flu in Jefferson County

Keep your dogs on leash and away from the shoreline! We are experiencing an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is closing public access to Rat Island near Fort Flagler State Park. Dozens of Caspian terns have died in the area and there are more that appear sick. Samples from bird carcasses were collected and have tested positive.

The HPAI virus occurs naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect poultry and other bird and animal species. The virus is contagious among birds through saliva, nasal secretions, feces, and contaminated surfaces.

WDFW is asking the public to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and/or seals as a preventative measure. Also do not attempt to transport them to a veterinarian or a private property for treatment. Moving sick animals can spread the virus to areas where it did not exist before. Please keep pets away from bird carcasses or sick birds to avoid exposure to HPAI.

Public access to Rat Island had recently been discouraged to reduce disturbance to the tern colony and harbor seal pups present there, and shellfish harvest is closed around the island, but extreme low tides have led to more foot traffic to the island from Fort Flagler State Park. Staff are posting “closed” signs and information on HPAI around the island, the campground, and the boat launch. Keeping humans out of the area is a preventative measure and helps prevent the spread of the virus.

Please help spread the word about this closure and not touching sick or dead wildlife.

Friends of Fort Flagler

Filed under: Admiralty Inlet, Environmental Protection, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Events: Septic System Training

Posted on May 30, 2023 by Al Bergstein

Septic System Classes Offered

(Port Townsend, WA) – Taking care of your septic system is an important part of protecting public health as well as our beautiful and valuable water resources. It can also save you money by extending the life of your septic system and prevent costly repairs. Jefferson County Public Health is offering free combined Septics 101 & 201 classes to homeowners about septic system operation, maintenance, and inspection. Classes are free, but registration is required. Space is limited. Please contact 360-385-9444 or visit the links below to sign up.

  • Quilcene Community Center (294952 US-101, Quilcene)
    Thursday June 1, 9-2:30

Register for the Quilcene class at septicdiy1.brownpapertickets.com or call 360-385-9444

  • Tri-Area Community Center (10 W Valley Rd, Chimacum)

Friday June 2, 9-2:30
Register for the Tri-Area classes at septicdiy2.brownpapertickets.com or call 360-385-9444

  • Tri-Area Community Center (10 W Valley Rd, Chimacum)
    Thursday June 8, 4-8:30

Register for the Tri-Area classes at septicdiy2.brownpapertickets.com or call 360-385-9444

Course Descriptions: 

  • Septics 101- Basics of septic system operation and maintenance. Topics covered include: How does your septic system operate?  How do you maintain it? How do you landscape your yard without interfering with the smooth function of your septic system? What about garbage disposals? What impact does a working or failing system have on our drinking water, ground and surface water?
  • Septics 201 – Step by step inspection of the septic system and reporting the results. 

After completing the classes, homeowners may be able to complete required septic system monitoring inspections at a more reasonable cost. All training courses for the program are offered free of charge to the attendees.  Many resources about caring for a septic system are available for homeowners at https://jeffersoncountypublichealth.org/650/Septic-Systems.

To view this on social media, visit:

Facebook— https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=558457596465174&set=a.163387039305567

Instagram– https://www.instagram.com/p/CsXGlNLh_b-/

Liz Anderson

Gender Pronouns: she/her/hers

Web/Digital Communications Specialist

Jefferson County Public Health

615 Sheridan Street

Port Townsend, WA 98368          

Main: 360-385-9400

Direct: 360-385-9405

landerson@co.jefferson.wa.us   | https://jeffersoncountypublichealth.org/

Filed under: education, Events, Jefferson County | Comments Off on Events: Septic System Training

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