Voting guide for Environmental Supporters

Posted on October 20, 2026 by Al Bergstein

It’s time to get out the vote. As the midterm it’s a smaller slate, but the main action is in the Washington State Supreme Court, seeing a lot of judges needing to be re-elected or to fill a seat that has been vacated. Let’s start with the Initiatives.

IP26-645 Trying to overturn the Millionaires tax – VOTE NO

As it states in the voters pamphlet: This measure would decrease funding for public K-12 education, higher education and healthcare. Need we say more?

IL26-001 Would repeal laws establishing children’s rights. VOTE NO

If passed it would remove commonsense protections for child abuse victims. It requires schools to hand over sensitive information to parents who may be under criminal investigation for rape or other abuse of a child. Additionally, it would remove the legal requirement for a school to immediately notify parents when a crime is reported by a child. It would also put LGBTQ+ children at increased danger of violence and homelessness by outing them to potentially abusive families. The WA State Nurses association opposes this bill.

IL26-638 Would prohibit “biologically male” students from competing in certain school athletic activities, even if they are identifying as female. VOTE NO.

It would require verification of biological sex by the students’ healthcare providers. The requirement is only for boys, not girls. Washington state Nurses association, Planned Parenthood and many doctors oppose this. Many girls without a primary care physician would be subject to genital examinations by total strangers.

Representative District 6 – Emily Randall – Vote for her or leave it blank. As disappointing as Emily Randall has been as a U.S. Representative in her first term, we do not want a Republican with no experience and a supporter of Donald Trump to become another House seat. Fox actually went to the Immigrant detention center and argued with protestors. She supports the ongoing kidnapping and deporting of innocent people who have given this country their tax dollars and worked hard to try and establish a home away from violence.

Randall was one of only 4 Representatives to not show up to stop the bill to end PBS and billions of dollars of foreign aid with no excuse for where she was that night. Randall is supporting giving away our wildlife refuges to Tribal interests, locking the public out of a voice in protecting our most crucial environmental lands. She does not deserve to be returned to office. Vote for her if you will, but leave it blank if you wish. She’s likely to win in a landslide so I doubt any vote is going to count much.

These two incompetents should have a real opponent. Unfortunately this is what the Democratic and Republican parties have chosen to shove at us. Pathetic.

Legislative District 24 – Take your pick: Kaylee Kuehn or Marcia Kelbon. I am endorsing both for different types of voters.

Kaylee Kuehn: Democrats will be voting for Kaylee. She is a very nice person, my interview with her is on this site, my concern is that she is very inexperienced in general, with very little background that would recommend her for the position. She is supported by the unions, so you should expect essentially the same votes as all the other Democrats. She did say she does not support giving Protection Island and Dungeness Spit to the Jamestown S’Klallam, favoring the status quo. She says she is in favor of tax overhaul and universal health coverage. So those are some of the positives. If you are a Democrat that expects the status quo in Olympia, continuing the work that Steve Tharinger was successful at, then Kaylee will probably provide you with that. Given the nightmare budget scenario the State is facing, whoever wins will be looking at significant budget cuts to bring back to the district.

Marcia Kelbon – Independent – Marcia has broken from the Republican party, as her views overlap with Democrats when it comes to a woman’s right to choose, and LGBTQ+ rights. (Her interview is also on this site). By her own admission she was a Democrat for part of her life and a Republican in the past more from a pro business perspective. She did not vote for Trump in primaries and she hoped he would be something better than he was. Her pro business stance is aligned with talking point from both parties in our district. She is what used to be called a Moderate Republican, one who went to the legislature to promote business issues and sometimes supported environmental ones as well. We all know what happened to that party and those voters, who are now called “independents”. But Marcia is a very smart, experienced woman, with a great resume of significant achievement. She is critical of the laws such as the Growth Management Act, and Climate Commitment Act, Democratic achievements that are worthy of being questioned or modified at this point (i.e. is the GMA, done in the early 1990s, really still valid for our counties in 2026? Is the CCA actually reducing CO2 or is it raising taxes on gas and spending it on minor issues, like being used to fund electric ferries? Should they be modified?). She opposes giving the wildlife refuges to the tribes.

My recommendation on Marcia is that if you are a moderate Republican or true Independent who doesn’t support either party, then Marcia is a solid vote for you. If she gets elected, she will likely find herself on the outs by both parties, might have a hard time finding committee assignments, but could be an effective independent vote at times. I doubt she will vote for tax increases. She is more likely to support the timber industry. But she is very likely to vote to support women’s issues, healthcare, alternative energy and other areas that are more traditionally thought of as ‘liberal’.

State Representative District 24 Position 1 – Adam Bernbaum (D) Adam has done a solid job as first term Representative. It’s worth giving him another term to expand on his insight into the way laws are crafted. He is supported by Planned Parenthood, Washington State Labor Council and others.

Judges for the Supreme Court:

Colleen Melody – Yes.

Jamie Michelle Hawk – Yes.

Birk or O’Donnell take your pick – Both highly endorsed by powerhouse supporters. Both rated “Exceptionally well qualified” which is a big deal, according to my wife, who was a lawyer who at one time headed that committee!

Theo Angelis – Yes

Deborah Stevens – Yes.

Clallam County PUD: Randy Brackett

Endorsed by the Olympic Climate Action. Sophisticated understanding of the intertwining of science, technology, economy, politics, and culture. Supports reasoned, incremental development of clean tech, local generation & storage. Wants to be an agent for positive change at the Bonneville Power Administration

Jefferson County PUD Dist 2

Keith Kisler

Keith is a fourth generation farmer and co-owner of Finnriver Farm. He’s been living here for 30 years. He’s endorsed by virtually everybody that counts.

Jefferson County Commissioner

Anji Scalf

Raised in Jefferson County, Anji is the right choice. Her opponent is a hard right conservative.

Filed under: Clallam County, Environmental Law, Government, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: | Leave a comment »

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 »

PT Mill: Leak was far worse than originally reported

Posted on October 12, 2026 by Al Bergstein

The Seattle Times reported yesterday that the supposed minor leak at the Port Townsend Paper mill was far worse than originally reported. A mill worker became a whistle blower with photos to prove it. He was fired for his efforts. The Times story should shock the complacent in this town.

This blog has reported for over a dozen years of the lack of real oversight by the Washington Department of Ecology, which seems to take an approach that it is in coordination with the mill. Some years ago, an effort promoted by local concerned citizens to do random air sampling to determine whether we were being exposed to toxic chemicals from the smell we all smell at times, found the WDOE sharing that they were going to monitor the mill air during a certain week, and surprise! the mill shut down for maintenance that week. Since the Longview mill tank rupture there has been virtual silence on whether the same tank(s) here may be at risk. A recent sighting of a large crane near one of the tanks led some to wonder if work was being done on it. All this is enough to convince many of us there is little use in expecting the DOE to take our side in an issue. And then there is the Port Townsend Leader, which seems unlikely to report anything seriously criticizing one of the largest employers in the area and the advertising revenue it may represent. The story mentions that U.S. Representative Emily Randall is “looking into it”, and of course that makes us wonder how much money the company may have contributed to her reelection campaign. It’s all of a piece. We who live here are left feeling like victims of a corrupt system, and you can read those thoughts on social media week by week. We wonder whether eating crab from the Bay was safe over the last months. Could Ecology even properly test crab for those chemicals? Doubtful.

The following story is behind a paywall. You can either subscribe to the Times (I hope you do, we need this local reporting) or go the the library to read the whole story for free.

WA paper mill reported minor spill; fired worker warns it was far worse
A company report, accepted by state regulators, said that in late November a hole opened within the bowels of a pulp and paper mill and, briefly, poured a small stream of untreated wastewater into the city’s bay….Washington’s Department of Ecology didn’t investigate. That is, until months later, when John Tippins, a veteran millwright, gave inspectors at Ecology dozens of his own photos and videos from the November spill. He described the episode as “catastrophic,” the worst he had seen. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

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

WA public lands commissioner scales back order protecting older forests

Posted on September 26, 2026 by Al Bergstein

The Seattle Times reported on the 24th about the change in rules for older forests, due to the extreme budget problems Olympia is facing. The head of DNR is caught between the legal requirements of his job as currently legislated and the demands of environmental activists wanting to protect remaining older growth forests. The money from this logging helps cities like Port Angeles meet their budgets for critical local services. It will be up to the legislature to fix this problem starting in January. If you care about this, you should write your state Senator and Representatives now.

“Without the (legislative) tools Upthegrove is pursuing, the roughly 55,000 acres could be included in timber sales after 2030. Staff estimates based on similar forests suggest that with no change to state policies, managing these 55,000 acres in ways other than traditional harvest would result in tens of millions of dollars lost.“

Read the whole story in the Seattle Times. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Times.

WA-Public-Lands-Commissioner-Story

Filed under: Clallam County, Environmental Activism, Environmental Law, Environmental Protection, Jefferson County, legislation, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on WA public lands commissioner scales back order protecting older forests

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 »

New Canadian Tariffs Crush State Businesses

Posted on August 26, 2026 by Al Bergstein

Trump’s insane tariff battle hurts the very businesses who love his deregulation.

Today’s Seattle Times has an article detailing the crushing blow to Washington State businesses due to King Trump’s personal vendetta with our Canadian neighbors.

Washington State does a huge business with Canada, from exports of a wide variety of products to tourism. Canada is our number two trading partner (China of course is first but much a lot of that trade is made up of Boeing planes). Many of these tariffs hurt industries that have loved having Trump’s deregulation to do away with environmental concerns. It appears that Trump has bit the hand that has fed him.

Times columnist Danny Westneat stated in his article on the tariff war:

Last year, Canadian visitors to Seattle plunged by 600,000, from 1.7 million in 2024 to 1.1 million, Visit Seattle announced last month. Canadian tourist revenue dropped by $215 million just in Seattle, the group estimated.

We just were recovering from that previous fiasco in the last months, but now it may be even worse than that.

A separate article behind the Times paywall points out that the hardest hit agricultural industry is shellfish, and the largest shellfish grower is Taylor Shellfish. This blog has documented over the last twenty years the lobbying against regulations on their industry, including undermining Marine Resources Committees in the north Sound while buying their support by offering to help with the restoration of Olympia Oysters. Their employees showed up to jeer anti-net pen lecturers and a manager of their Jefferson County operations attacked anti-net pen leaders like Alexandra Morton. The company has fought lawsuits by local landowners in the Hood Canal and Puget Sound that have attempted to slow their relentless conversion of virgin bays and shorelines into industrial monoculture aquaculture farms. The industry has spent a minimum of tens of thousands of dollars lobbying in Olympia and Washington D.C. with success. As significant employers in these small rural counties they have supported both Democrat and Republican politicians who hew to their demands in Olympia. I have no doubt that they supported and were thrilled at Trump getting elected a second time. They likely saw his new regime as one that would finally eliminate environmental regulations entirely. And that has been happening.

Now, they unfortunately have found out the cost of that support.

Trump’s insane decisions have not only affected the shellfish industry but might also sink our local paper mill. While I am not clear how much of their output gets shipped to Canada, they are owned by a Wall Street firm (Atlas Holdings) that has also owned a Canadian paper mill that is a sister company to Port Townsend Paper. Crown Packaging is a large corrugated packaging facility in British Columbia. Additionally, there may be sawdust supply that comes from mills in Canada by barge, given the strength of the U.S. dollar to purchase Canadian raw materials at a discount to U.S. ones. The mill in Port Townsend runs on a slim profit margin, and a huge tariff could conceivably see the closure of the mill.

According to the Times article, Washington State sells $460 million in paper and paper board goods to Canada.

The closure of the Port Townsend mill would be an economic disaster to the town and the Peninsula. Many of the mill employees live out of town, due to high costs of living in Port Townsend. Their incomes help prop up not only P.T. but also the towns they live in, like Sequim and Port Angeles.

So we wait to see whether Trump wakes up tomorrow and is given a sound tongue lashing behind closed doors in the White House and changes his mind. He seems to take great relish in attacking “Blue” states like Washington, giving us far less FEMA support for our wildfire victims, the majority of whom likely voted for him, since they live in districts that went heavily Republican in all three of the last elections. While he thinks he is simply hurting Canada, the real victims are his supporters in industries across this state.

Filed under: Around the Sound, Clallam County, Government, Jefferson County, Jobs, legislation, Politics | Tagged: , | 3 Comments »

How a WA lab tests shellfish for dangerous toxins

Posted on August 25, 2026 by Al Bergstein

The Seattle Times covers an incredibly important but little known lab that checks local shellfish for toxins. Given the recent closing of virtually all shellfish harvesting in the Hood Canal and nearby, this is worth reading. One of the scientists in the lab is quoted as saying that the recent closure was the worse outbreak he’s seen in 25 years. Another small example of the issues we face with global warming from our never ending use of fossil fuels.

The story is behind the Seattle Times paywall, but I recommend supporting the work of the Times.

Here at the Washington State Department of Health’s humble (read: small) public health lab, scientists process hundreds of samples of shellfish each week to help keep people safe from illness. If you like to shuck ‘em, enjoy a chowder or geoduck ceviche, these are some of the people you can thank. And their work is becoming more important as Washington warms due to climate change.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/how-a-wa-lab-that-tests-shellfish-for-dangerous-toxins

Filed under: Climate Change, Environmental Science, Global Warming, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula, Shellfish, Washington State | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

Event: Stream Stewards – Salmon Biology & Restoration

Posted on August 23, 2026 by Al Bergstein

Here’s a great volunteer opportunity to get you outside and into the stream of things! Watching salmon counting in the stream was a fun morning. Plus you’ll see places you rarely get to see without being part of one of these trainings. Check it out

The Stream Stewards Program, originally developed by Washington State University’s Jefferson County Extension and now hosted by the Salmon Coalition, provides Jefferson and Clallam County residents with the opportunity to turn environmental knowledge into action. Through this 5-week course, participants learn about connections between our lands and waters by diving into topics such as stream ecology and restoration, salmon biology and habitats, managing urban watersheds, riparian forests, tribal roles in restoration, and fisheries management. You will connect with local natural resource experts in classroom sessions and field experiences and learn about opportunities to get involved in local efforts to steward and restore our local watersheds.

Upon completion, volunteers are asked to commit to 20 volunteer hours to an organization of their choice over the following year. Volunteer hours can be applied to a wide range of opportunities that work toward the larger goal of improving local ecosystem health. From getting involved in a citizen science project to engaging in public outreach, volunteers can connect with opportunities that fit their skills and interests. Through this program, we hope to connect you to many of these organizations that host volunteer opportunities.

Throughout the training, organizations will provide participants with information about local projects and offer exciting opportunities to plug in and make a difference on the Olympic Peninsula.

The 5-week course fee will be $100 and classes will take place every Wednesday in September from 9am – 2pm at various locations in Jefferson and Clallam Counties.

Want to just take one or two of the classes? We have now opened up single session registration. You can register for one or multiple sessions individually. Each single session is $25.

Filed under: Clallam County, education, Environmental Activism, environmental education, Environmental Science, Events, Jefferson County, Salmon | Tagged: | Comments Off on Event: Stream Stewards – Salmon Biology & Restoration

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.

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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

Filed under: education, environmental education, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: | Comments Off on Upcoming Events from Friends Fort Flagler

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.

Filed under: Jefferson County | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on Port Ludlow and Mats Mats Bay closed for shellfish harvest

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.

Filed under: Olympic Peninsula, Port Townsend | Tagged: | Comments Off on Port Townsend City Council Election- Vote for Fred Obee

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

Filed under: Clallam County, Endangered Species, First Nations, fisheries, Jefferson County | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on Cold Water Connection Campaign Reopens Rivers for Olympic Peninsula Salmon and Steelhead

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