Environmental Voter Guide

Posted on July 14, 2026 by Al Bergstein

The Voters’ Pamphlets are out and soon you will get your ballot. Here are my recommendations for environmental focused voters. There are some surprises.

Federal Representative – Macy Jones – No Party Affiliation.

Representative Emily Randall has shown that she does not represent environmental interests in our two counties. She is the main backer of the giveaway of our federal lands, The Dungeness Spit and Protection Island, to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. No one other than the tribe has asked for this and Randall is acting on behalf of the Tribe and not the other voters of these counties, including the grandchildren of the woman who saved Protection Island, Eleanor Stopps and the other woman who was instrumental in this, Lorna Smith. This reporter also was there at the beginning of the efforts and does not accept the idea that the Tribal Corporation will do a better job than they are doing now, as co-manager of the tribe. If you want to send a message to Ms. Randall, vote for the woman who does not represent a political party, Macy Jones. She is in support of many of the same things the Democrats are in favor, she is against foreign wars, she supports fully funding schools, more infrastructure, more spent on healthcare, senior care, environmental protection, food security and strong local economies. She is currently a Grange member (as my late wife was), specializes in elder care, and is enrolled in Peninsula College. Read her information in the Voter Guide.

Representative Emily Randall was one of two Democrat votes that missed a key vote that would have saved PBS and billions in foreign aid in June 2025. She has never explained her absence from that vote, despite numerous local Democrats asking why she missed this vote. To be clear, the PBS and foreign aid vote would have LOST if she had been there to vote against it. That is why I am not supporting a Democrat in this role because I believe we need to send someone back to Washington D.C. who will represent our needs and not the specialized interests of the current Democratic Party. It is worth shaking things up to actually accomplish the goals we seek. Rep Randall is not that person. I am willing to take a chance on Macy Jones. I hope you will too.

Legislative District 2 – Adam Bernbaum – Democrat

Adam has done a good job in his first term. I have worked with him on a few issues and he has been very open and willing to discuss issues he is not familiar. He is vice-chairman of the Transportation Committee in the House, and has done significant community service. He has supported expanded access to childcare, rural housing, and infrastructure upgrades. He is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, Firefighters, Nurses and Educators. He is a Democrat worth sending back to Olympia.

Legislative District 24 – Marcia Kelbon – Independent

I spent an hour interviewing Mrs. Kelbon. She is a former business woman, patent attorney, and US Navy Civil Engineer. She comes out of the Republican Party but is no longer supporting the policies of Donald Trump. She has a long local history of being on the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, North Hood Canal Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity and a Girl Scout leader among other groups. She has been a foster parent and supports the foster community and knows its needs. She is a well respected member of the South Jefferson County community. She rides a Harley. She is willing to wait on deciding about the issue of giving away Protection Island and Dungeness Spit and is inclined not to support this land transfer at this time. She is wanting to promote business (which is needed to generate more jobs here!) and she emphasized to me that she would love to find a solution to homelessness. She is supportive of all people’s personal persuasions, and does not want government involved in peoples personal lives. I was very impressed with Mrs. Kelbon and for the first time since voting for Secretary of State Ralph Munro in the last century, I’m willing to support an ex-Republican over a Democrat. That should say all you need to know. Can she win the general election? I don’t know, but I am fed up with seeing cuts in Foster Care and youth mental health by a Govenor who told me to my face two years ago it was a priority of his. Also, our public schools continue to rank near the bottom of all states, despite decades of Democratic dominance. Mrs. Kelbon will bring an ability to consider both Parties positions, which may be worth debate, rather than dominance.

If you really can’t stomach voting for a former Republican, shame on you. I hear so many people in Washington state always raving about former governor Dan Evans and Ralph Munro. You would think that people would be willing to entertain a moderate Republican. But if you need another candidate to vote for, choose Mark Hodgson. He seemed in the debates to be the most likely to not follow party line of the Democrats, which is what is needed. He was on the Port Angeles City Council, was raised in Port Angeles and has been endorsed by former Senator Kevin Van De Wege, and former Representative Mike Cooper.

UnOpposed candidates. – No recommendation.

Jefferson County Commissioners District 3 – Anji Scalf

Anji has deep roots in the community. Her family has been here serving the county honorably for decades. She has been an ED for a chapter of the Chamber of Commerce, has a degree in environmental science and early childhood education and public administration. She has been a volunteer for the Fairgrounds Association, and 4-H. She has a long list of endorsements including from former County Commissioner Kathleen Kler, and John Austin.

Judicial Non Partisan Offices

State Supreme Court – Position 1 – Colleen Melody

Former Civil Rights lawyer, pro bono lawyer for immigrants and veterans. Former UW teacher. Graduated from UW with high honors.

State Supreme Court – Position 3 – Mike Diaz

Experienced jurist whom Governor Inslee twice appointed to bench, first in Superior Court and then the Court of Appeals. Has over 200 opinions, and on the superior court oversaw 45 trials. Has helped volunteer with the legal clinic of El Centro de la Raza.

State Supreme Court – Position 5 – Theo Angelis

Appointed by Governor Ferguson. Distinguished jurist. Strong human rights record.

State Supreme Court – Position 7 – Deborah Stevens – Current Chief Justice.

Re-elect her. She is doing a great job.

Filed under: Clallam County, Environmental Law, Government, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: | 4 Comments »

Tribes seek ownership of National Wildlife Refuges in the Salish Sea

Posted on June 23, 2026 by Al Bergstein

Exclusive to the Olympic Peninsula Environmental News

Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge

In a surprising statement Monday in a meeting of the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners, Jamestown S’Klallam Chairman and CEO Ron Allen stated that a number of tribes in the Salish Sea and coastal waters seek to transfer ownership of National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) and incorporate them into their tribal reservations.

This proposed transfer of numerous public lands to private entities like the tribes, is unusual and raises questions about the process of transfer of public lands out of public hands.

Chairman Allen came to the meeting to discuss the proposed “Land Transfer of Dungeness Spit and Protection Island”, and was commenting on this transfer to the three County Commissioners (and public in attendance) when he mentioned that this land transfer is only part of a larger effort by all the tribes to take back public lands that are National Wildlife Refuges. He said that the Makah tribe was seeking land transfers of three properties off the coast, the Nisqually were looking to transfer one adjacent to theirs, and the Lummi Nation or Swinomish (he wasn’t sure which) were looking to transfer the San Juan Islands Wildlife Refuge.

“…Because we know (the) Makah’s going to go after the three (refuges) on the coast. And we’re pretty certain that (the) Lummi or “Swin” (Swinomish) will go after the San Juan (reserve)… We know that that once we get this done they’re gonna go after the other three or four.” Allen said.

He went on about the Nisqually Tribe: “…There’s other tribes doing exactly the same thing just like this…. They’re (The Nisqually Tribe) are always pursuing the refuge in their area in Nisqually Valley area.” It is likely that what Chairman Allen was referring to was the current Nisqually Clear Creek Land Transfer Act of 2026 which is sponsored by Representative Marilyn Strickland and Senators Cantwell and Murray. The tribe is in the process of having U.S. Fish and Wildlife transfer buildings at the hatchery which sits on tribal land to the tribe. It is not seeking to transfer the Billie Frank National Wildlife Refuge to them at this point, but Allen’s comments raise questions about the future of the refuge.

There are six maritime National Wildlife Refuges in Washington State managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. They are considered the Washington Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Complex:

They include:

The Jamestown S’Klallam currently have been in a co-management agreement with Fish and Wildlife, being paid approximately $800,000 for their work on Protection Island and Dungeness Spit. It is unclear if the Trump administration would be in favor of granting these annual funds if the properties were no longer owned by the Federal Government. It is agreed by all parties that they have been doing exemplary work for the government, and their ability is not being questioned. There have been no calls from the Trump Administration, the Federal government nor the State government to transfer these two particular lands. The request has come only from the Tribe and not from the public. Many public comments ask that nothing change in the relationship.

Washington U.S. Representative Emily Randall (D) has been in talks with the tribe for months if not years, and has openly acknowledged her support of the goal of a land transfer of Dungeness Spit and Protection Island to the Tribe. At a recent public meeting Representative Randall seemed taken aback at the level of public concern over the transfer. The public has only been aware of this land transfer since April. The Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners, City of Sequim and Clallam County Commissioners meetings have been the only local way for the public to comment in person despite this being a federal issue. The Clallam County County Commissioners meetings have been very contentious. The lack of federal sponsored meetings from Randall on the subject is unusual, given the outpouring of negative comments at both counties meetings.

The Trump Administration has been giving up public lands like these refuges as part of their announced Project 2025, which calls for government to get out of the vaguely worded business of “conservation”. In Texas, the administration is in the process of giving away part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge in south Texas to SpaceX in exchange for other properties by SpaceX. A lawsuit has been filed on June 10th to stop this transfer.

Chairman Allen said that they took a big ad in the Peninsula Daily News and Port Townsend Leader because they wanted to be as transparent as they possibly could be …but he added, “Congresswoman Randall asked us to kind of back off on it and we said, okay, that’s fine.” (emphasis mine) This raises the question of whether Congresswoman Randall asked the Tribe to not advertise their intentions to the public.

Washington Senator Maria Cantwell has also been in discussion with the Tribe but has not yet fully committed to the transfer and would like to see more public input, according to a person who discussed it with her staff. However she has not held any public meetings on this. There has been no mention of the Governor being involved in the discussions at this time, but it could be deduced that this kind of large scale planning would have been mentioned at some point to him.

This reporter has seen the draft bill that has been written by tribal lawyers that is assumed to be entered into the U.S. Congress at some near future date. The draft bill does not contain any legally binding language that would protect the island, spit, nor the nearshore waters that are owned by DNR from the tribe using it for commercial aquaculture. The concern by the environmental community is that the rare protected species on the island feed off the marine flora and fauna of the waters and beaches around the island. Creating a monoculture “farm” could impact the amount of food available for the birds. The current tribal council and Chairman Allen claim they have no plans. But it is easy to petition the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to open privately held shoreline to commercial use. DNR have a long history of supporting aquaculture and the State of Washington legally views aquaculture as a desired commercial priority. Once it becomes part of tribal lands, it would also be exempt from state or federal oversight as negotiations would be nation to nation based on treaty law.

The Protection Island National Wildlife Reserve was created in 1982 after almost 20 years of work by bird lovers Zella Schultz, Eleanor Stopps and the coordination with Seattle Audubon. It is the breeding ground of most of Puget Sound’s glaucous wing gulls as well as rare Tufted Puffins and Rhinoceros auklets. It’s creation was supported by virtually all the Washington State federal and state senators and representatives, including Senators Warren Magnuson, Henry Jackson and Slade Gorton along with Republican governor John Spellman.

The tribe has admitted that they look forward to writing their own rules for use of the island. In an interview in the local Port Townsend Leader Tribal Vice Chair Loni Greninger 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. I can take my deeper regulations from an ancestral standpoint and be able to infuse that and implement it.”

Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website.

Filed under: Clallam County, Government, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula, Straits of Juan de Fuca, Washington State | Tagged: , , | 12 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 »

Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Proposes Land Transfer of National Wildlife Refuges

Posted on May 18, 2026 by Al Bergstein

This was in the weekend edition of the Peninsula Daily News. Please read the previous posts here to understand our opposition to this proposal.

Filed under: Jefferson County, legislation, Olympic Peninsula, Straits of Juan de Fuca | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Proposes Land Transfer of National Wildlife Refuges

Future of Protection Island deserves more public scrutiny before transfer – Port Townsend Leader

Posted on May 15, 2026 by Al Bergstein

This week I wrote an Op-Ed piece that was published in the Port Townsend Leader. In case you don’t have access to the Leader I have included what I wrote below with minor updates. Unfortunately, the Leader only allowed a 700 word limit on the editorial. Obviously, there are many more words to be said about this proposed transfer. A few of them would be: if you agree that more needs to be clarified, and that the process ought to be slowed down, please contact our city, county, state and federal representatives and make your point of view known.

Your comments might be to oppose or simply slow the process to make sure that the island is never to be used for any commercial activity. That is currently not a part of this discussion between the Tribe and the State and Federal Government.

I want to clarify that I do not support efforts I’m hearing about in Clallam County from a group who oppose this and appear to be anti-Tribal in nature. I am not anti-Tribe.

You might ask: Why should I have any credibility to discuss this issue at all?

I have worked for the Tribe, creating two films over 5 years. I worked closely with the late Tribal Elder, Marlin Holden, a close friend, for “Treaty Resources: Legacy of Our Ancestors” that is viewable at the Tribe’s library. I have interviewed the late Kurt Grinnell and Ron Allen. I have presented in front of the Tribal Council a number of times. I was trusted by the Tribe to video tape tribal meetings, something I was told had never been allowed by anyone outside the Tribe. As a member and chair of the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee I supported efforts led by the Tribe and other aquaculture companies to reestablish Olympia Oysters in Discovery Bay. The Tribe has done an outstanding job under Ron Allen and Kurt Grinnell’s leadership to forge new economic engines for the Tribe and Clallam County’s benefit, including an active aquaculture industry that sells geoduck to China along with oysters and clams regionally.

Promotional poster for Legacy of Our Ancestors

I produced a second film, paid for by the Tribe about the Dungeness River Management team on the restoration of the Dungeness River, called “Working for the River”.

Promotional poster for “Working for the River”

But I also was there at the efforts to create a wildlife refuge at Protection Island. In late 1970s, I was a professional photographer who volunteered for Seattle Audubon, the organization leading national efforts organized by Jefferson County locals Zella Schultz and Eleanor Stopps over a 20 year period. I traveled to John Wayne Marina where Fish and Wildlife staff took me to the island to photograph. The island had been under threat of having 800 lots developed, with no protection for the rare bird habitat that did and does exist there. Through all the efforts by Zella, Eleanor, Lorna Smith, Hazel Wolf and thousands of others, Congress finally established the Refuge, especially with the help of Republican Slade Gordon and Governor John Spellman, Democratic Senators Scoop Jackson and Warren Magnuson & Governor Dixie Lee Ray, along with the entire Washington State delegation who convinced the Reagan administration to sign the bill, the only such refuge established during his eight year presidency.

I have read a lot of what the Tribe wants to do with Protection Island. On the surface, with little detail, it seems benign. I have read a draft of a possible Congressional Bill that would establish the handover. But I am very troubled by the possible use of this island refuge for commercial aquaculture. Destroying the nearshore for commercial purposes would impact the habitat that these birds need to feed and survive. My concern is that we are rushing into an irreversible action with very little forethought and this legal business decision is not clearly defined at the moment. Now is the time to do the right thing and ensure that Protection Island is protected for *all time and all people* of the United States. That is what currently exists.

To hear more on this issue, I will be on KPTZ (91.9 locally on the Olympic Peninsula and kptz.org online) at 9PM Sunday May 17th on Phil Andrus’ “Cats in our Laps” show for one hour to discuss this in even more detail and answer questions from Phil. The show will be podcast later.

With that background, here is the 700 words that were published today in the Port Townsend Leader. I have expanded on this original letter today slightly to include a few issues that I was forced to edit out due to space constraints.

If I told you that a prized National Wildlife Refuge was going to be handed over to an aquaculture company, what would be your reaction? If I told you it was going to be handed over to The Jamestown S’Kallam Tribe, would your reaction be different? Would it be different if you knew that the Tribe runs an expanding aquaculture company?

What if I told you that in a few years, you will not have any say in what the aquaculture company does with the Refuge? That is exactly what is happening.

Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge is being considered for transfer to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe to add to their reservation. Protection Island is currently owned by all of the citizens of the United States. Why does the Tribe want it for their exclusive use? And what is the importance of Protection Island?

The U.S. Department of the Fish and Wildlife has this to say about Protection Island:

Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge provides some of the last remaining undeveloped habitat for many burrow-nesting seabirds in the Salish Sea, but is of particular importance to the rhinoceros auklet. Scarred by over a hundred years of farming and grazing, and carved up for a summer home subdivision in the late 1960’s, it was finally recognized in 1982 with a National Wildlife Refuge designation before irreversible damage occurred. 

It supports thriving wildlife populations, including what is thought to be the third largest rhinoceros auklet colony in North America, one of the last two breeding sites for tufted puffins in the Salish Sea, and the largest glaucous-winged gull colony in Washington state.

Over the last year, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe have been working in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Representative Emily Randall to transfer the title of the island, with its nesting habitat, to the Tribe. At this time, the proposal does not specify the aquatic lands, which remain with the State, but mentions a path to the state relinquishing them to the Tribe in the future.

There is a draft bill that will soon be introduced to make the transfer happen. This work has been done by the Tribal attorneys without any public input. It oddly goes along with the Trump administrations goals of getting the United States of out management of Federal Lands. Project 2025, specifically the “Mandate for Leadership” document, proposes restructuring federal land management by prioritizing energy production, expanding logging, and increasing state or private control over public lands. (highlight is mine). Key proposals include Chapter 13 (Interior Department) for dismantling conservation agendas…

We have already transferred the Dungeness Spit Wildlife Refuge to the Tribe with an understanding that the Tribes aquaculture business was going to drop 80,000 bags of oyster spat on the bottom of the bay. This transfer was opposed by the wildlife biologist that worked at the Spit at the time that the transfer was proposed.  There is currently a lawsuit in progress to challenge the process that was used to do this transfer.

Question: “Is the proposed transfer of Protection Island really the best thing for us to do?” 

Protection Island refuge was established after a national campaign led by two local women, Eleanor Stopps & Zella Schultz, and the work of the Seattle Audubon Society led by Helen Engle and  Hazel Wolf  one of the legendary environmental leaders in our state. It was a work that took tens of thousands of volunteer hours with help from National Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy. (You can listen to an interview I conducted with Eleanor Stopps in 2010 for my film “Voices of the Strait” at the following link.)

https://on.soundcloud.com/uV2PCxSpOmPDvmMeVX

Transferring the Island to the Tribe means that it becomes part of it’s reservation and sovereign territory of the Tribe, no longer forced to follow the rules and regulations of the US Wildlife Refuge Acts of 1966 and 1997 There is no provision made for any public input into future tribal decisions on the use of the island, or it’s shores. There are vague references to the tribe continuing “conservation efforts” without specifying what they are. It will be up to the Tribe in concert with the State Department of Natural Resources to decide if they want to use the island’s shoreline for commercial aquaculture. DNR has been promiscuous in its granting of aquaculture permits. Can we trust that this commercially driven Tribe will make the right decisions on behalf of our Refuge when we will have no voice in decisions moving forward?

Also, the great work that the Tribe has done in restoring environmental places like Jimmy Come Lately Creek, the Dungeness River and other locations was done with Federal and State grants or funds. If the Federal Government is attempting to rid itself of Federal lands like this, who is going to pay for the ongoing management the Tribe claims they will do?

There are many who trust Ron Allen. What about future Tribal leaders after him? 

What protection do we have if the Tribe’s plans dramatically shift towards commerce than protection? Can we effectively veto or alter the Tribes’ activities on the island? How? The act of moving this crown jewell of wildlife will place it beyond the jurisdiction of local or state officials forever. In fact, it makes enforcement by the Federal government a nation to nation affair that leaves our voices out of the regulation process.

I suggest we start by stopping. There is no need for speed in this process. If Republicans want to get rid of Wildlfe Sanctuaries and Democrats want to support whatever the Tribes want, none of that will change with another year or two of public input. Pause this transfer while we figure out how all of us and not just one Tribe, will have a voice in the future of Protection Island if we relinquish control over it to the Tribe.

Listen to me Sunday night on KTPZ.ORG at 9PM Pacific

Original Leader article

https://ptleader.com/articles/columns/future-of-protection-island-deserves-more-public-scrutiny-before-transfer/

Filed under: Clallam County, Endangered Species, Environmental Activism, Environmental Law, Environmental Protection, First Nations, Government, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula, Straits of Juan de Fuca, Washington State | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Future of Protection Island deserves more public scrutiny before transfer – Port Townsend Leader

Good news! E-Bike Rebates continue!

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Al Bergstein

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) are relaunching WE-bike on March 30. This e-bike rebate program makes e-bikes and certain cycling accessories more affordable for people in Washington state.

People living in Washington ages 16 and up can apply for rebates between March 30, 2026, and March 29, 2027. The program will randomly select applicants monthly starting April 13. Applicants only need to submit one application to be considered for the monthly selections.

Rebates alone will likely not fully cover e-bike purchases. Recipients can reduce the overall cost of e-bike purchases at participating bike shops by $300 or $1,200, depending on income eligibility. They can put rebates toward qualifying models of all three classes of e-bike.

To apply for a $300 rebate, you need to live in Washington state, be at least 16 years old, and have a working email address.

To apply for a $1,200 rebate, you also need to have an income at or below 80 percent of the median for your county. In Jefferson County the Median income is $74,048. 80% of that is $59,238. So many younger people likely could apply for this rebate here in the county.

Qualifying e-bike types

The rebate can be used for qualifying e-bikes, e-cargo bikes, and adaptive e-bikes.

E-bikes have batteries, working pedals and a motor. E-cargo bikes are for carrying cargo or multiple people. Adaptive e-bikes provide extra support or stability.

WE-Bike helped nearly 3,000 Washingtonians purchase e-bikes and related safety accessories in our 2025 pilot program.

University of Washington researchers learned rebates motivated people to buy e-bikes they couldn’t or wouldn’t have otherwise, especially people in lower-income households. Nearly half of rebate recipients surveyed said they used e-bikes to travel to new destinations. In all, we offered rebates to 6,861 out of 37,751 applicants from all 39 Washington counties.

Program funding

This grant program is entirely funded through Climate Commitment Act revenues. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs and improving public health.

Other ways to try e-bikes

E-bike lending library pilot program

While many people are interested in e-bikes, not everyone will be able to receive a rebate through the WE-Bike program. People also may not be ready or able to purchase e-bikes for various reasons.

Programs like e-bike lending libraries can help more people try out e-bikes.

Eligible organizations and businesses in Washington state may apply for funding to create lending library programs for employees or communities.

Here’s the website:

E-bike rebate program

Filed under: Alternative energy., Alternative Transportation, Bicycles, Clallam County, Jefferson County, legislation, Mason County, Washington State | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Good news! E-Bike Rebates continue!

Upcoming Events from Friends Fort Flagler

Posted on January 31, 2026 by Al Bergstein

Common Garden Pests and their Prevention/Curative Strategies Via Zoom

February 25, 2026  2 – 3:30 PM 

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Common garden pests can challenge even the most experienced gardeners, but effective management doesn’t have to come at the expense of our environment. This online presentation explores common garden pests found in the Puget Sound region and highlights prevention and curative strategies that protect plants while keeping waterways clean and healthy. Attendees will learn environmentally responsible approaches that reduce chemical use, safeguard soil and pollinators, and help preserve the health of Puget Sound for generations to come.

Brandon Hudson is a respected agronomist with KIS Organics. He has been an agronomist for nearly four decades of cultivation experience. Raised in a farming family in East Tennessee, he grew up immersed in sustainable agriculture and plant science from an early age. Over the course of his career, he has worked across a wide range of cultivation systems—from hydroponics to fully organic living soil—ultimately dedicating himself to soil-based, biological growing methods that allow plants to reach their fullest natural expression.

Today, Brandon resides on Marrowstone Island, Washington, where he consults with organic farmers, gardeners, and commercial cultivators throughout the country. At KIS Organics, he provides soil testing, plant diagnostics, and farm-system guidance, drawing on years of hands-on experience including his previous role managing propagation and greenhouse operations at a large commercial hemp farm. Through education, research, and personalized consulting, he continues to help growers transition to regenerative, data-driven practices that improve soil health, crop quality, and long-term sustainability.

Discover the World of River Otters@WWII Rec Center

March 7, 2026  2:00 – 3:30 PM

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Playful, intelligent, and endlessly curious, river otters are among the most captivating residents of Puget Sound. Join us for an engaging program that explores the hidden world of these remarkable mammals — from their family life and denning habits to their hunting strategies, play behaviors, and the ways they communicate with one another.

Our speaker, Sara Penhallegon, will share stories from the field and provide a behind-the-scenes look at what happens when otters face challenges in the wild. Learn how injured, sick, or orphaned otters are cared for and rehabilitated, and how community members can help these incredible animals thrive.

🎙️ About the Speaker: Sara Penhallegon

Sara Penhallegon is the Founder and Executive Director of Center Valley Animal Rescue (CVAR) in Quilcene. She has worked with licensed wildlife rehabilitators since 2000 and became a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator herself in 2012 — the same year CVAR became a fully permitted wildlife rehabilitation facility.

Under her leadership, CVAR has become a trusted resource for caring for injured and orphaned wildlife, with special expertise in the rehabilitation of wild mammals and wild birds. Animals arrive at CVAR for many reasons — vehicle strikes, domestic animal attacks, habitat disruption, or early separation from their parents — and Sara’s team works tirelessly to provide safe recovery, proper housing, and eventual release back into the wild.

To learn more about Center Valley Animal Rescue, visit: https://centervalleyanimalrescue.org/

Fort Flagler State Park, WWII Rec Center

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Earth Day – Beach Clean-up and Invasive Grass Pull 11:30-3:30

April 4, 2026  11:30 – 3:30

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Join us to help remove debris and invasive sea grass from our beach. This will help protect our marine life and native species grasses and enhance the health of our park. Your contribution makes a tangible difference!

Fort Flagler State Park, Lower

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Easter Egg Hunt at Fort Flagler Lower Campground @ 10am

April 4, 2026 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Join the fun and bring your children aged 2 to 14 to FoFF’s Easter egg hunt. We’ll meet at the Lower Campground by the bathroom. Children will be grouped into three age groups so the young ones have better odds (no child will come away empty-handed). Please feel free to bring baskets for the egg hunt.

Fort Flagler State Park, Lower Campground by playground

Discover How Your Backyard Composting Helps Our Parks – Zoom Presents

April 8, 2026  2:00 – 3:15 PM

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Join us for a special virtual presentation with Laura Tucker from Jefferson County Environmental Health, a knowledgeable educator who has led composting classes across the county. Laura will share simple, effective ways that individual composting can make a big difference—not only in your own garden, but throughout our state parks and surrounding natural areas.

Learn how composting reduces landfill waste, cuts harmful greenhouse gases, and builds healthy soil that supports native plants. Healthy soil, in turn, creates stronger habitat for pollinators, birds, insects, and the wildlife that depend on them. Laura will also explain how home composting helps limit invasive species, protects water quality, and reduces the pressure on fragile park ecosystems.

Whether you’re a seasoned composter or just curious about getting started, this session will show how small actions at home contribute to a healthier environment for everyone—including the beaches, forests, and wildlife we all enjoy in our Washington State Parks.

Bats of Washington State and Marrowstone Island – Zoom Presentation

April 22, 2026  2:00 – 3:30 PM

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Are you curious about the bats of Washington and the species that live right here at Fort Flagler and on Marrowstone Island? This introductory talk will explore Washington’s native bat species, with a special focus on those most likely to be found in and around Fort Flagler State Park. Learn where local bats roost and forage, how the park’s forests, open fields, and shoreline support bat habitat, and why bats are such an important part of the island’s ecosystem. We’ll also discuss current conservation challenges facing bats in Washington and what FoFF members and park visitors can do to help protect these often-misunderstood nocturnal neighbors.

Nick Moore (He/Him) is the Assistant Species Lead in the Wildlife Division at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, where he supports science-based species conservation and recovery efforts across the state. He works closely with agency staff, partners, and stakeholders to advance effective wildlife management and habitat protection. Nick has an educational background in wildlife biology and natural resource management, which informs his collaborative, data-driven approach to conserving Washington’s native wildlife for current and future generations.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Native Bee Habitat Walk

May 2, 2026  8:00 AM

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Timing is everything for native bees. Observing them during the period in which they construct nests, mate, and provision natal cells can be the most illuminating time to observe them. Kris, a native bee enthusiast with the Washington Native Bee Society, will lead a tour of some of Fort Flager’s most active bee habitats. With a little luck, she hopes to share them while they exhibit some of these fascinating behaviors, helping to inspire your future observations, in the wild or your backyard.

Kris Ethington is a citizen scientist, native bee enthusiast, and photographer. Her curiosity for the natural world began with learning to garden for butterfly habitat in southern California. She has participated in Monarch parasite and migration citizen science studies and led environmental outreach programs. She pursued a certificate in landscape design before leaving CA and served as a garden ambassador for the California Native Plant

Society after designing and re-planting her landscape with mostly native plants. It was in this garden that she became a garden naturalist, photographing plant/pollinator interactions and documenting her observations through iNaturalist.org for expert identification and scientific research. After retiring to Port Townsend in 2021, she applied these skills to gain knowledge of Washington’s wild bee populations and explore their nesting habitats. Her bee surveys have covered over 16 sites in east Jefferson County spanning three years. As an active member of the Washington Native Bee Society, Kris contributes to its advocacy and conservation efforts by creating regional awareness through educational outreach.

Fort Flagler State Park, Beachcomber Cafe

Explore the Layers of Time: Geology Beach Walk at Fort Flagler

May 17, 2026  8:00 – 11:00 AM

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Join us for a fascinating geology talk followed by a beach walk of 2 miles round trip at Fort Flagler State Park, timed perfectly with a minus tide to reveal hidden natural features and ancient stories embedded in the land. Led by Professor Ralph Dawes and assisted by Carol Serdar and Scott Minor from the Quimper Geological Society (QGS). This walk begins at the lower campground and proceeds to Marrowstone Point and follows the beach trail westward along the base of the bluff.

This walk is a unique opportunity to witness Fort Flagler’s geologic wonders up close and to learn how tides, glaciers, and time have sculpted the landscape we see today. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes suitable for uneven, rocky beach terrain, and bring your curiosity for this one-of-a-kind coastal adventure!

Ralph Dawes: Originally from Edmonds, Washington, he has a degree in literature from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, OH, and degrees in geology from WWU (BS) and the UW (MS, Ph.D.). He taught at Wenatchee Valley College for 26 years and now lives at Cape George with his wife, Cheryl Dawes. He is passionate about sharing how the geologic history of the Pacific Northwest gives insight into the landforms, landslides, floods, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. In recent years, he has been involved in research on volcanic rocks near Wenatchee and glacial landforms in north central Washington. Keeping it local, he is now transferring his focus to unanswered questions about the geology of the Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound.

Carol Serdar Tepper: Born and raised in southern Puget Sound, Carol’s master thesis included a description and analysis of a large landslide and related salmon impacts. She is a Licensed Geologist; retired from Washington State regulatory work (surface mine reclamation, landslide mapping, forest practices regulatory, and water quality compliance); and formerly WA State Secondary Science Teacher, 10 years which included developing a middle-school science curriculum based on Pacific Salmon life history and habitat. Carol gleefully retired from state service with 32 fun-filled years in February 2022.

Scott Minor: BSc at UC Santa Barbara and MSc in Geology at the Univ. of Colorado. Retired Research Scientist at USGS—Denver. Focus on geologic framework, fault kinematic and paleostress histories of strain transfer and accommodation zones of the Rio Grande rift. Experience with fault-related fluid flow within poorly consolidated sediments as well as geologic mapping and geologic framework characterization.

Fort Flagler State Park, WWII Rec Center

Decode Your Plants: A Hands-On Guide to Visual Plant Diagnosis

May 30, 2026  2:00 – 3:30 PM 

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Decode Your Plants: A Hands-On Guide to Visual Plant Diagnosis 5/16@4PM

Learn how to use a dichotomous key to visually diagnose plant health issues by observing leaf color, growth patterns, and other tell-tale signs. This practical, easy-to-follow approach empowers growers to identify nutrient deficiencies and plant stress with confidence. The session will also cover trusted sources for organic nutrients and soil amendments, giving you tools to correct problems naturally and keep your plants thriving.

Brandon Hudson is a respected agronomist with KIS Organics. He has been an agronomist for nearly four decades of cultivation experience. Raised in a farming family in East Tennessee, he grew up immersed in sustainable agriculture and plant science from an early age. Over the course of his career, he has worked across a wide range of cultivation systems—from hydroponics to fully organic living soil—ultimately dedicating himself to soil-based, biological growing methods that allow plants to reach their fullest natural expression.

Today, Brandon resides on Marrowstone Island, Washington, where he consults with organic farmers, gardeners, and commercial cultivators throughout the country. At KIS Organics, he provides soil testing, plant diagnostics, and farm-system guidance, drawing on years of hands-on experience including his previous role managing propagation and greenhouse operations at a large commercial hemp farm. Through education, research, and personalized consulting, he continues to help growers transition to regenerative, data-driven practices that improve soil health, crop quality, and long-term sustainability.

Fort Flagler State Park, WWII Rec Center

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Anji Scalf launches campaign for county commissioner in district 3

Posted on January 5, 2026 by Al Bergstein

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.

Scalf Campaign Press Release Jan. 5th 2026Download

Filed under: Government, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: , | 2 Comments »

Sportsmen Fight Trump Plan To Log Roadless Headwaters on Olympic Peninsula Public Lands

Posted on September 8, 2025 by OlyOpen

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


Sportsmen For Wild Olympics Members Include:

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: , , , | 3 Comments »

Port Ludlow and Mats Mats Bay closed for shellfish harvest

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Al Bergstein

Jefferson County, WA. Recent shellfish samples tested by the Washington Department of Health (DOH) have found high levels of the biotoxin that causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). Therefore, DOH has closed Port Ludlow and Mats Mats Bay for the recreational harvest of all species of molluscan shellfish including clams, oysters, mussels and scallops. Jefferson County Public Health has posted Danger signs at public access points in the area. Crab and shrimp are not included in the closure. Even if the crab meat is safe, toxins can accumulate in crab gut and butter (the white-yellow fat inside the back of the shell). Clean crab thoroughly and avoid eating the crab butter and guts. 

Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning can be fatal. Illness is caused by eating shellfish contaminated with toxins from the naturally occurring marine plankton Alexandrium. The biotoxin is not destroyed by cooking or freezing. Symptoms of PSP can appear within minutes or hours and usually begin with tingling lips and tongue, moving to the hands and feet, followed by difficulty breathing and paralysis. Anyone experiencing any of these symptoms after consuming shellfish should contact a health care provider immediately. For extreme reactions, call 911.

To find out which areas are safe to harvest shellfish in Washington and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) harvesting seasons and rules, please check the map at www.doh.wa.gov/ShellfishSafety.htm or call the Biotoxin Hotline at 1-800-562-5632. For the latest information on regulations and seasons, visit wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/shellfish-beaches or call WDFW Fish Program customer service at 360-902-2700.

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Port Townsend City Council Election- Vote for Fred Obee

Posted on July 20, 2025 by Al Bergstein

There is only one voting choice to be made on the primary ballot: city council. My choice is Fred Obee. Fred has a long history in this community and has a lot of experience following the City Council.

The fact that Dylan Quarles is a young, inexperienced person in local politics along with some of the city council members and mayor coming out in favor of him, make me wonder if he is simply being viewed as a rubber stamp for their ongoing spending habits, which have been called into question by many people in this city.

Fred did very well in the recent League of Women Voters debate. (listen to it on KPTZ.ORG)

Fred will be a critical voice on the council and will stand up against the go along, get along nature of the current city council.

I look forward to Dylan spending more time around the politics of this city and continuing to participate in the issues.

Vote for Fred Obee.

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Posted on May 5, 2025 by Al Bergstein

This just in from the Puget Sound Partnership’s Strait Ecosystem Recovery Network (ERN). Want to create a rain garden? Or other neighborhood storm water program? Get together with your town or county peeps and apply!

The RFP for the Neighborhood Stormwater Education and Assistance grants will open on May 7th and there are informational webinars on the horizon. These funds can support projects including:

  • Developing tools, resources, or programs to educate landowners and influencers (real estate agents, Homeowners Associations (HOAs), land use consultants, contractors, and others) about stormwater practices; 
  • Providing technical assistance such as pre-application and compliance support and incentives for landowners, developers, and residents to implement and maintain green stormwater infrastructure; 
  • Community outreach events, such as restoration plantings or Low Impact Design (LID)/Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) educational seminars and trainings; 
  • Developing long-term plans, agreements, and funding mechanisms for developing and maintaining stormwater infrastructure within local individual catchments (including systems owned by HOAs); or 
  • GSI training and/or certification programs aligned with community affordable housing, workforce development, and environmental justice goals
Neighborhood Stormwater RFP Opening Soon

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Cold Water Connection Campaign Reopens Rivers for Olympic Peninsula Salmon and Steelhead

Posted on April 29, 2025 by Al Bergstein

From a NOAA Press Release:

With $19 million in NOAA funds, nonprofit and tribal partners plan to remove 17 barriers blocking fish passage on critical spawning rivers originating in Olympic National Park, Washington.

The cold water rivers of Western Washington descend from the glaciers and snow-capped mountains of Olympic National Park. They hold some of the last, best freshwater habitat for salmon and steelhead in the lower 48 states. Despite a warming climate, their high-elevation headwaters are predicted to remain cool enough for salmon and steelhead for at least the next 50 years.

However, the region’s roads—some a legacy of the logging industry—crisscross the watersheds. They often force streams to flow underneath them through small, poorly designed tunnels called culverts that block fish passage. There are more than 4,000 culvert barriers on the Olympic Peninsula. Salmon and steelhead are often unable to reach the historical habitat they need to spawn and produce the next generation.

In response to declining fish populations on the Olympic Peninsula, NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation is supporting the Cold Water Connection Campaign. This partnership will reopen 125 miles of critical spawning and rearing habitat over the next 10 years. With $19 million in funds through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, project partners plan to:

  • Remove 12 high-priority barriers in the Hoh, Quillayute, and Quinault watersheds
  • Finalize designs for 5 additional culvert replacements
  • Expand the ability of tribes to perform restoration work 
  • Inject money into the regional economy by hiring local and tribally owned contracting companies
  • Mitigate flood damage risks by installing culverts built to handle high flows from the region’s increasingly heavy rain storms

“We are running out of time to recover and protect these salmon and steelhead populations,” says Luke Kelly, Western Washington Program Director for Trout Unlimited. “We need to pull out all the stops now, so it’s been great to see all of our government, tribal, nonprofit partners, and private landowners coming together to get this done.”

Cold Water Connection Campaign partners include:

The campaign has support from local, state, and federal agencies including NOAA. In past years(PDF, 8 pages) project partners have also repaired instream and riparian habitat damaged by road building and destructive logging practices.

Also;a new short video looking at the Cold Water Connection Campaign on the Olympic Peninsula . It really celebrates the extensive work the partners have done to make sure they are prioritizing the most impactful barriers for removal, and the benefits this work provides to local communities above and beyond the important benefits to fish and coastal watersheds.

You can watch it here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YhmFosupPM

Read the whole press release here before the Trump administration pulls it down:

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/cold-water-connection-campaign-reopens-rivers-olympic-peninsula-salmon-and-steelhead

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PT Marine Science Center Job Opening

Posted on February 23, 2025 by Al Bergstein

Volunteer Program Coordinator Job Opening

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Dabob Bay conservation area expands by nearly 4,000 acres

Posted on October 6, 2024 by Al Bergstein

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: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Dabob Bay conservation area expands by nearly 4,000 acres

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 »

Open Letter to the Jefferson County Commissioners regarding Shoreline Master Program

Posted on January 19, 2024 by Al Bergstein

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 »

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 »

Brinnon Pleasant Harbor Update

Posted on September 17, 2023 by Al Bergstein

The never ending saga of the proposed but never built Pleasant Harbor Master Planned Resort. The Brinnon Group, the main local organization opposing this planned community, recently published this on their web site: 

Our attorney has written a letter to the county commissioners about an agreement they have signed with the developer. The agreement includes the developer’s payment of past due fees and a new arrangement for the developer to pay for a county planner to process MPR county permits. The letter points out that the developer has not done the things legally required to be able to apply for county permits.

EXERPT from the County Agreement“…no residential development in this MPR can proceed without construction of the recreational facilities described above, in particular the construction of the golf course, recreational center with hotel rooms, community center, a pool, water slides and other such facilities. It is notable that in the 4 1⁄2 years since the Superior Court’s decision, there has been little or no progress on the required recreational features of the Master Planned Resort. As far as we known, no permit applications have been submitted for the golf course, recreation center, hotel, or any of the other required recreational elements. These features must be built out prior to the construction and sale of residential lots, finished homes or condominium units.

The question has to be asked at this point, now over 15 years since the Canadian developer started applying for this project, that other than clear cutting areas of the site, (from which they likely made money selling the timber), why has there  been no movement that is visible to uphold their end of the contract. They were contractually supposed to build out infrastructure before building residential development. It certainly seems that the county commissioners of that era, who were warned by many in the community, failed in their duties to protect the county. It appears all the county has got for this agreement is a costly long running lawsuit. Should the county rescind the agreement for breach of contract? It would be an interesting question. 

It is hard to understand what the Canadian developer actually wanted to do with this property. They claimed they wanted to develop it, but were they ever financially capable of doing that? It’s not like the county has not given them time and resources to get this underway. 

Background from the Brinnon Group website: 

“Before land sales can take place, infrastructure and recreational amenities must be complete. Four years ago, the developer attempted to move forward with its plans without committing to completing facilities that would qualify it for an MPR, but the Brinnon Group successfully sued in Superior Court to require that infrastructure must be complete before land sales can occur.  Now the developer is once again promoting sales of property in the MPR without completing any of the work required by its terms of approval. Sales brochures have been sent through the US mail to local residents in Western Washington, including referencing advertising on various internet sites.The Brinnon Group has filed complaints with the Washington State Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau seeking orders to cease deceptive sales activity until site work and amenities are complete. The full complaint is on the Brinnon Group website. Though the sale material conveys the impression the MPR is move-in ready, in fact there are not even permit applications, much less completed facilities for any of the elements required for the MPR. Indeed, the essential of development, sewer and water facilities, are not even in the planning stage, though Stateman promises ”indoor pools, hockey and skating, indoor soccer and other training facilities” to prospective owners. It also fancifully promises a “health center” offering “an approved surgical operatory” for various procedures including “plastic surgery, urology and gynecology.” The developer appears to lack basic financing for this substantial venture; indeed, it asked local and state governments for some $37million in grants and loans for the project a few years ago.

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

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