Olympic Peninsula Environmental News

“The Walrus and the Carpenter, went walking hand in hand. They cried like anything to see such quantities of sand…”
Lewis Carroll.

The jury is out on the latest initiative that was unveiled yesterday. The State, NOAA and the Shellfish industry execs teamed up to offer an interesting way to gain expansion of shellfish beds in Puget Sound. The ‘oysters’ this time, unlike those that got ate in the Carroll poem, are the local opposition to the expansion of geoduck farming, along with some environmental supporters, who may find, in the end that they got ate by the two ‘friends’ who put out their hands to ‘take a little walk’ in Shelton. But just like the original poem, the government and industry, which is who the Walrus and Carpenter were meant to symbolize, are still around with us.

The announcement gave something for everyone, as they say. In exchange for $200,000 in federal funds to help restore two kinds of species, (which means about 5 to 10 jobs, I would assume, and likely primarily in the abalone efforts), the shellfish industry will have the ability to accelerate the permitting process, especially for expansion of farms.

In case you haven’t been paying attention, the Feds believe that our pristine waters should be converted into the next megafarm for shellfish. They’ve said so publicly. While we all support a native industry that provides food, the expansion of “big aqua” farming methods in our area has alarmed many people, especially those living along the shores that find a ‘farm’ in the backyards where none existed previously. Then there’s the issue of destruction of habitat, in converting a diverse shoreline environment to a monoculture activity.

The state is going to give faster permitting, in exchange for water quality projects in the areas of the industry (the industry has always been a strong ally of the environmental goals of cleaner water in Puget Sound). But to be clear, the only thing ‘slowing’ the process of geoduck expansion are environmentalists and shoreline homeowner opposition. So look for less ability for these groups to put anything in the way of the growers.

We will also see expanded efforts to support the restoration of Olympia Oysters and pinto abalone. Pintos are turning out to be almost impossible to restore. The Olys are somewhat better. We have a couple of Oly projects going on in Jefferson County, one down on the base of Discovery Bay.

Curt Puddicombe, a contributor to this blog via many responses to our articles over the years, is quoted in the story referred to in our link. I’ve found Curt to be a very well informed environmentalist, and he is extremely concerned with a wide front of issues that the expansion of geoduck in particular raises.

To help newer readers understand, the Geoduck is farmed here almost entirely for a high priced Chinese market for aphrodisiacs at the dinner table. Nothing wrong with that. It’s an amazing international market that requires lightning fast 24 hour a day marketing and sales efforts, ending with the ducks on planes bound for China within hours of harvest.

We have a booming industry both in the tribes and the non-tribal groups. But this is big business. Not to be confused with subsistence local food sources. And the beds just can’t be setup on any beach. You need a specific beach that supports them. The South Sound is particularly suited, and that is what concerns local people who are seeing more and more shoreline converted to a farm that can be and is, often harvested by generator equipped boats in the middle of the night, especially in the winter during night tides.

The Olympian article is here:

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/12/09/1907607/initiative-to-boost-shellfish.html

If you Google “Shellfish aquaculture Puget Sound” you’ll likely find 50 or more other articles from yesterday.

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And closer to home, wave erosion (which can bee a predicted outcome of global warming) and a lack of new sediment feeding the Ediz Hook spit caused bank failure on several hundred feet of the side facing the Strait, so gravel and cobble is being dumped to counteract the erosion.

Rocks, gravel spread to slow erosion on Ediz Hook in Port Angeles http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20111205/news/312059998/rocks-gravel-spread-to-slow-erosion-on-ediz-hook-in-port-angeles

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200-year planning: City engineers and developers are beginning to revise building plans to allow for new projections for higher sea-level rises on the B.C. coast. In Vancouver, the company building a significant development along the Fraser River in the southeast part of the city is planning to raise its land about two-thirds of a metre. Dikes along the river in Richmond are also being planned to go higher. Builders revise plans as higher sea levels predicted http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/builders-revise-plans-as-higher-sea-levels-predicted/article2259740/

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Joan Thomas, one of the most influential environmental leaders in our state in the last fifty years, has passed. Joan helped create the Shoreline Protection Act. She will be missed. 

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016927844_thomasobit04m.html

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Saturday, December 3 from 3:00pm-5:00pm at the Museum at the Carnegie.  207 S. Lincoln St., Port Angeles, WA

This has been an exciting year with the beginning of the removal of the Elwha Dam.  The Olympics peninsular is a spectacular place and its protection is a key part of restoring the health of the Puget Sound/Straits.  Another big step is being proposed by Representative Norm Dicks and Senator Patty:  the Olympic Watersheds Protection Proposal.

Their local offices are holding a series of four public workshops to allow citizens and communities to provide additional feedback on the proposal.

The Olympic Wilderness proposal was crafted after more than a year was spent gathering input from local stakeholders and submitted to the offices of Representative Dicks and Senator Murray and would:

• Designate roughly 130,000 acres of new wilderness on Forest Service Land.
• Add 23 rivers within public land ownership to the Wild and Scenic River System.
• Provide the opportunity for Olympic National Park (ONP) to purchase up to 20,000 acres through a willing buyer, willing seller process for addition as a preserve to the Park.  Currently, ONP cannot purchase land within their General Management Plan without Congressional Action.
• Protect hunting, fishing and recreational access.

Please attend one of the public workshops and give your opinion about the plan.

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This editor has been spending an inordinate amount of time lately dealing with his father’s estate. My dad passed away in early November, and things have been a bit intense.  I’m looking forward to getting back in the swing of things in January. In February, we celebrate the beginning of the 6th year of this web site!  I have a number of changes I’d like to implement to make this even more useful to those of us out here on the ‘upper left hand section of the map.’ Stay tuned.

I invite any of you that can’t remember to check the site daily, to sign up for RSS feeds  of the posts. This is an easy way to ‘get them pushed to you’ rather than wait for me to send them out. An instructional on RSS feeds is on the site, as well as many are on Youtube and Vimeo.

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The Clallam County Republican Party doesn’t like the proposal designating 134,000 acres of Olympic National Forest as wilderness area and adding 37,000 acres of state trust lands and private timber company land to Olympic National Park as a wilderness area if the owners agree to sell. That’s because it’s “a not-so-subtle invasion of both public and private property rights.” 

Anti-Wild Olympics resolution presented http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20111201/news/312019997/anti-wild-olympics-resolution-presented
See also Public forum on draft wilderness plan today in Port Townsend http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20111201/news/312019988/public-forum-on-draft-wilderness-plan-today-in-port-townsend

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Yesterday’s story about King County allowing developers who destroy wetlands to purchase “mitigation credits” instead of restoring wetland functions cited support from homebuilders Quadrant Homes and the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties and the conservation group People For Puget Sound. Why the latter? Quote: ‘“While the first preference is for projects to do no harm and then to mitigate onsite, we are pleased that King County has proposed this innovative and forward-thinking plan which will address losses of storm water infiltration,” Executive Director Tom Bancroft said in a statement.’ OK, I don’t get it: You mean, “if you can’t fight ‘em, join ‘em?’ Why not just go to the mat protecting wetlands?  County executive proposes new wetlands process

http://snovalleystar.com/2011/11/30/county-executive-proposes-new-wetlands-process

Editor’s Note:

I was a board of directors member from 2006 to 2011 with People For Puget Sound. I no longer am a member of the organization but I have a bit of background here.

I think that Executive Director Tom Bancroft is showing his lack of understanding of the history of the Master Builder’s Association and the history of the county rolling over to the needs of the MBA.. When someone like Tom comes into town from the east coast, it may seem easy to jump on a bandwagon like this. And so it goes. Another environmental organization sells out to gain a modicum of support when it doesn’t need to. This is no different than the decades of east side neglect that Ron Sims implemented while we watched what little wetlands that existed over there wiped out. Dow now continues that and has got a new comer like Tom to back it.  “Mitigation credits” are just another  diversion from solving the real problem, which is making wetlands off limits to developers. You won’t reclaim these wetlands. It rarely ever works.

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From a quick overview by the Arlington Times. Look for more to come. I’ve edited it down to environmental issues. There are a huge list of social services cuts as well. It will be a brutal year next year, and many years to come.

I hope all you who have been screaming for smaller government will now go back to your caves. We are getting smaller government. The unintended consequences of these cuts remain to be seen, but count in less salmon, and less of everything that folks expect from our government.

http://www.arlingtontimes.com/opinion/133976768.html

The governor invited us to read the list of cuts at http://www.ofm.wa.gov. What follows is a sampling, re-worded in some cases to combine titles with effects.

Eliminate the international marketing program that helps Washington farmers and ranchers to sell crops on international markets. ($1.5 million)

Close the Samish and Nemah hatcheries which will halt production of fall Chinooks in the Samish-Nooksack region. ($1.6 million)

Reduce summer chum recovery efforts in hood Canal and Grays River along with salmon monitoring activities. ($1.2 million)

Terminate sampling of Pacific herring and sole for toxic contaminants. ($714,000)

Reduce shellfish harvest and management including seeding. A 20 percent reduction in harvest is expected. ($536,000)

Eliminate ballast water inspections for ships in Puget Sound and the Columbia River. This invites the spread of invasive species such as zebra mussels. ($352,000)

Reduce support for state parks by 10 percent. ($11.7 million)

Reduce environmental health protection that monitored water systems and on-site septic systems. ($1.3 million)

Eliminate state funds for domestic violence programs that serve about 16,700 individuals. ($9.4 million)

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Another viewpoint on how things have changed, and not for the better, in our Sound. A true pioneer of local Puget Sound harvesting weighs in.

Hanna Raskin in Seattle Weekly reviews Shiro Kashiba’s new book about his life and times as Seattle’s premier sushi chef, Shiro: Wit, Wisdom & Recipes from a Sushi Pioneer. Raskin writes: “He pulled kelp from the Puget Sound; dug up geoducks and rescued the salmon roe and crab guts that Pike Place vendors trashed. He treated the mountains and ocean as his pantry. But today, he writes, the region’s supply of mushrooms, clams and clean water has dwindled.”

Seattle’s First Sushi Chef Releases Memoir
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/voracious/2011/11/seattles_first_sushi_chef_rele.php

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Appears that there has been a lot of groundwork laid to bring on board a lot of the stakeholders in this proposal. This is a wide range of interests. Good to see. This is the kind of cooperative thinking we need more of in this world.

Statement by Connie Gallant, Chair, Wild Olympics Campaign, and President of RV Consumer Group, Quilcene, WA :

” The Wild Olympics Campaign will support the draft compromise proposal announced today by Representative Norm Dicks (D-WA) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). To honor the exhaustive, two-year community input process we have employed since day one, the Campaign has had to make concessions along the way in drafting our proposal to address different community needs and concerns. More than 4,500 local residents from the four counties of the Peninsula have signed a petition supporting the Wild Olympics proposal. Additionally, nearly 200 local businesses, farms, faith leaders, hunting and fishing interests, elected officials, conservation and civic groups in the four counties of the Peninsula have endorsed the Campaign. We view the compromise draft put forward by Congressman Dicks and Senator Murray as another logical step of that community input process. While their draft proposal does not include everything we had hoped for, we will honor and support their draft proposal and the public input that led to it. It will provide permanent protection for the Peninsula’s most priceless natural treasures; our towering ancient forests, free-flowing rivers, critical fish and wildlife habitat and our clean water. Representative Dicks’ and Senator Murray’s draft plan offers a down payment on the Peninsula’s economic future, and a gift for generations to come.”

Statement by Tim McNulty, Olympic Park Associates, Wild Olympics Coalition member, author, Olympic National Park: A Natural History, Sequim, WA:

” Based on conversations we had with Olympic Peninsula Tribes and sportsmen around the Peninsula, it was clear that Olympic National Park expansion would limit Tribal treaty rights and adversely affect subsistence hunting in areas that might someday be acquired by the Park. Therefore, we understand and support the decision by Congressman Dicks and Senator Murray to adopt a “National Preserve” designation in place of Park additions. National Preserves are a widely used designation in Alaska and many states in the lower 48. They are administered by the Park Service and are managed in similar ways as a National Park, but they would allow Tribal and non-Tribal hunting to continue while providing for old-growth forest recovery and protecting critical salmon and wildlife habitats from development.”

Statement by Bill Taylor, President, Taylor Shellfish, Shelton, WA:

“The two largest shellfish hatcheries that supply seed to the West Coast industry are located on Hood Canal. Well over 150 jobs are provided in Hood Canal alone by the industry, not including the indirect jobs such as processing, sales and shipping. By protecting Olympic Peninsula forest and river watersheds we ensure clean and safe water so that shellfish companies can continue to grow and further benefit the economy and ecology of Washington state.”

Statement by Doug Rose, Outdoor Writer and Flyfishing Guide, Forks, WA. Founding Member of Sportsmen for Wild Olympics . ( http://www.SportsmenForWildOlympics.org )

“As an outdoor writer, fly fishing guide, and avid duck and grouse hunter, I welcome the additional protections that are being proposed. They will help protect the water quality that anadromous fish require, and preserve the upper basin spawning grounds of species like cutthroat, summer steelhead and bull trout. The National Preserve option means I will still be able to hunt in all of the areas under consideration, and I will be able to bring my black Labrador retriever, Ruby.”

Statement by Roy Nott, President & CEO, Paneltech, Hoquiam, WA:

” This plan would protect our economic future. The son and grandson of Pacific County loggers, I was proud to take a well-paying job in the northwest logging industry when I finished college. During a long stint with ITT Rayonier, I developed the company’s northwest forest business plan and managed its timberlands operations in Forks before I was sent east. But the magnificent forests and rivers of the wild coast eventually drew me back “home,”where I helped start Paneltech,a company that now employs 50 people at the Port of Grays Harbor. This area badly needs new family wage jobs. Some will come from our commercial forests. But we also need to attract more entrepreneurs that create more value added jobs. They will need uniquely-skilled people, the kind drawn here, as I was, because our ancient forests and river watersheds provide clean water, healthy salmon runs, world-class hunting and fishing and an unrivaled quality of life.

“This plan will permanently protect these natural amenities vital to our economic future. But the plan also shows great sensitivity toward private property and the commercial timber base. Most public lands considered in the proposal are already off limits to logging. It gives timber landowners an option to sell certain lands to the Park, but only if they want to. A healthier timber industry adding more value locally can contribute toward the restoration of our area’s economic vitality. But we also need new companies with new ideas, new value-added jobs and new sources of raw material. With this plan, we can have both.”

The Wild Olympics Campaign, a group of conservation and recreation organizations, including the Olympic Forest Coalition, Olympic Park Associates, Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society, and the North Olympic Group-Sierra Club, has been working for permanent protection of key watersheds for salmon recovery, local water quality, the restoration of Puget Sound and the Hood Canal, world-class outdoor recreation, and a sustainable economy for the past two years.

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Jim West and Jennifer Lanksbury of WA Dept. of Fish and
Wildlife will discuss how pollutants get into the food web and
why they are a problem for humans and wildlife, with special
attention to what is known about contaminants in Jefferson
County marine waters.

Inspiring Conservation of the Salish Sea
Toxic contaminants in Puget Sound Food Webs
With a special look at Jefferson County Waters
Admission by donation.
Info: 360.385.5582 e-mail info@ptmsc.org or visit http://www.ptmsc.org.
A Discover Pass is NOT needed to visit our exhibits or
attend our events, although purchasing one supports Washington State Parks

date: Thursday, november 17
Time: 7 p.m.

location: Natural History exhibit Port Townsend Marine Science Center.

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The bad idea to charge an annual fee is falling victim to it’s own bad planning. The $30 annual pass to visit Washington state parks isn’t generating the kind of revenue hoped for. Part of the problem may be not being able to transfer the pass from one car to another.

Discover Pass funds coming up short

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/11/13/1874728/coming-up-short.html

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Unknown yet as to whether this is a good outcome or not.

Washington Department of Ecology news

      OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) today offers for public review and comment, the next generation of permits to increase environmental protections against polluted runoff in Western Washington.

      The state’s most populated urban areas are required to have this permit under the federal Clean Water Act.

      Polluted runoff is the biggest threat to urban-area lakes, rivers and Puget Sound.

      The permits, required to be updated every five years under the federal Clean Water Act, are designed to gradually increase environmental protections over time with each new update. They prevent and control rainwater runoff.  Runoff from hardened surfaces in populated areas picks up chemicals and bacteria and carries it downstream into our waters. 

      Most of the time, stormwater is not treated, even when it goes into a street drain.

      Ecology Director Ted Sturdevant said: "These permits will shape how we deal with our number one pollution problem until almost 2020. We need to chip away at the existing problem, prevent it from getting worse and recognize that local governments are strapped for resources. This draft permit tries to achieve that balance."

      Gerry O’Keefe, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Partnership, said: "Puget Sound is a giant basin that collects huge quantities of stormwater. The Department of Ecology and local governments are important partners in preventing and managing this pollution that threatens the health of Puget Sound and the life in it."

      Dennis McClerran, regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said: "Local governments in Washington have made real progress in building effective stormwater-control programs over the last permit cycle. Our task will be to keep up this pace during a challenging economy, so we safeguard our investment in protecting all of our downstream waters, including Puget Sound. "

      Dave Williams, director of state and federal relations for the Association of Washington Cities said: "Ecology is working with local governments and listening to their feedback. Local governments have definitely had a seat at the table."

      To provide economic relief for local governments, Ecology will maintain the status quo and re-issue the current Phase I and Phase II permits in Western Washington for an additional year.  Phase I refers to the state’s most populated areas. Phase II are the next-most populated areas. The new permits will not go into effect until 2013, and new permit requirements will be phased in over the five year life of the permit. 

      Highlights of new Western Washington stormwater permits

      The new proposed permits include provisions for a regional, coordinated stormwater monitoring program. Ecology collaborated with a group of local governments and other interested parties to design a Regional Stormwater Monitoring Program for Western Washington. 

      Ecology’s Bill Moore, who oversees the state’s water quality permits said:  "Monitoring is important to stormwater control because you can’t manage what you can’t measure. It’s our feedback loop – it tells us if our steps are helping, if they are effective. It helps us treat and control runoff effectively, and gives us the most for our limited money."

      In the updated permits, local governments have the option to do their own monitoring, or they can join a regionalized stormwater monitoring program designed to minimize costs. Ecology would administrator the program.

      New low-impact development requirements

      Another key part of the updated Western Washington Phase II permits will be the requirement for low-impact development (LID) where feasible.  LID systems strive to mimic the natural environment so water can be taken up by trees or soak into the ground.

      In the proposed permits, LID projects will need to target runoff problems caused by existing development so current pollution problems do not grow. They also must apply to new development – where pollution prevention is less expensive than cleanup.

      Ecology worked with local governments and interested parties to define where LID is feasible in the Western Washington permits. The proposed permits provide specifics that will help determine feasibility of a LID technique at a project site.  For example, if the soils drain very slowly, a LID measure that tries to get runoff to soak into the ground is not advisable, and does not have to be used.

      The Western Washington Phase II draft permit will also match up with the Phase I permit by requiring management of runoff at sites that are less than one acre.

      Ecology proposes that the Phase I cities and counties, begin implementing the LID site requirements by Dec. 31, 2015, and proposes a date of December 31, 2016, to update broader development codes.

      Phase II communities would have until Dec. 31, 2016, to adopt the site-scale standards. They would have until Dec. 31, 2017, to update broader development codes to allow LID.

      Ecology’s public process to develop the permits has been extensive.  The agency began working with local governments in 2007 and has used their feedback to develop the new permits.

      Additional communities may be subject to stormwater permits

      Over the next several months, Ecology will be evaluating whether or not five additional Western Washington jurisdictions should be subject to the permit. They are:  Snoqualmie, Lynden, Clallam County (Port Angeles Urban Growth Area – UGA), Island County (Oak Harbor UGA), and Lewis County (Centralia UGA).

      Ecology invites public comments on the proposed Phase I and Phase II Municipal Stormwater General permits until 5 p.m., Feb. 3, 2012. Find copies of the draft permits, fact sheets and information about upcoming workshops at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/municipal/2012draftMUNIcom.html.

      Ecology will consider all comments in developing final permits. It expects to issue final permits in June 2012. 

      Along with the proposed Western Washington stormwater permits, the state also issued an updated proposed permit for Eastern Washington.

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Congratulations to Powell Jones, the new Dungeness River Audubon Center director, who had previously served as its education coordinator.

 http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20111026/NEWS/310269994/dungeness-river-audubon-center-gets-new-director

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We could lose the surf smelt and sardines? Bad news.. as our natural history vanishes and presidential candidates are saying that they want to close the EPA if elected, we seem, as a nation, to want to pretend all this isn’t happening.

As reported by the Associated Press, SeaDoc Society this year “counted 113 species that are listed as threatened or endangered, or are candidates for listing in either the U.S. or Canada — compared with 64 species in 2008. The snowy owl, cackling goose, Pacific sardine and surf smelt are among 49 species that use the Salish Sea that have recently been flagged for special conservation attention, whether by the Canadian province, Washington state, or the U.S. or Canadian governments.”

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Study-more-species-in-Wash-B-C-need-protection-2236825.php

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Want to participate in the process? Here’s how..

The Conservation Futures Citizen Oversight Committee members make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on the selection and funding of open space projects to involve wildlife habitat, working forests, farms and places with cultural or historical significance. The Board of County Commissioners seeks representation on the committee from each commissioner district and a broad spectrum of interests. There is currently one committee vacancy for a citizen to represent an “interest.” Examples of interests include parks and recreation, user groups, agriculture, forestry, conservation organizations and real estate. Other interests not listed here may also be represented. The committee meets at least quarterly. Interested individuals should submit a letter or email to the Office of the Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368 or jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us no later than 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 30, 2011. This is a non-paid position. For more information, contact Tami Pokorny, Jefferson County Environmental Health Dept. at Ph: (360) 379-4498 or email tpokorny@co.jefferson.wa.us.

View the Conservation Futures Program Web site at www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commissioners/Conservation/conservation.asp.

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