Court rules to allow commercial troll fishers to continue to over-harvest depleted salmon stock

June 23, 2023— In a shocking ruling against Endangered Species protection, a Ninth Circuit Court approved a request by NOAA Fisheries, the State of Alaska, and the Alaska Trollers Association that will allow commercial troll fishers in Southeast Alaska to continue over-harvesting depleted Chinook salmon, jeopardizing the recovery of both wild chinook and critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales.

The lower Court decision was set to close the fishery beginning on July 1st, in just ten days. Now, despite numerous environmental violations and ongoing harm found by a federal District Court, the stay will allow the fishery to continue operating while the Ninth Circuit considers the case on appeal.

“The economic, ecological, and cultural cost of losing Southern Resident orcas and wild Chinook is unfathomable. It is unfortunate that the Ninth Circuit determined the short-term economic interests of Southeast Alaska commercial harvesters should be prioritized over the long-term interests of all current and future generations of First Nations, Tribal Nations, and communities throughout the Pacific Northwest who depend on these iconic species,” said Emma Helverson, Executive Director of Wild Fish Conservancy. “We are incredibly disheartened by this decision to continue the fishery while California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia are enacting closures or severe constraints on many of the same populations due to continuing Chinook declines. We strongly advocate for consumers to avoid purchasing Chinook caught in Southeast Alaska.”

In March, a federal District Court issued a final order in a lawsuit brought by Wild Fish Conservancy against NOAA Fisheries requiring the Southeast Alaska commercial troll fishery to remain closed in the summer and winter seasons until the federal government provided a new analysis and conducted environmental review demonstrating that the fishery’s harvest plan would not continue to jeopardize endangered Southern Resident killer whales or threatened Chinook salmon.

In their ruling on remedy, the District Court considered the economic disruption that closure of the fishery would pose to Alaskan commercial fishers, yet determined protecting species threatened or endangered with extinction is the greatest priority under the Endangered Species Act. Referencing existing case law, the Court’s report and recommendation stated: “The ESA . . . did not seek to strike a balance between competing interests but rather singled out the prevention of species [extinction] . . . as an overriding federal policy objective.”

Southern Resident killer whales were listed as Endangered in 2005. Currently, there are only 73 individuals in the population, an alarming decrease from nearly 100 only 25-years ago. Reduced prey availability, specifically large and abundant wild Chinook, has been identified by killer whale experts and NOAA as the primary cause of their decline. Research has shown an alarming 69% of Southern Resident killer whale pregnancies are aborted due to insufficient prey.

“It’s possible to find creative solutions to compensate and protect the economic interests of fishers in the interim while NOAA corrects their violations,” says Helverson. “On the other hand, it’s impossible to replace Southern Resident killer whales or wild Chinook once they are gone, extinction is forever.”

In NOAA’s 2019 biological opinion evaluating the fishery’s impact on threatened and endangered species, NOAA admitted that over the last decade and persisting today, Chinook harvest in Southeast Alaska’s troll fishery is occurring at levels that are unsustainable for the long-term survival and reproductive success of both threatened wild Chinook populations and endangered Southern Resident killer whales. Still, NOAA authorized the harvest to continue at these levels relying on proposed mitigation they claimed would offset this serious harm. In summary judgement in August, the District Court overwhelmingly found the mitigation was insufficient and seriously violated the ESA and that NOAA also evaded legally required environmental review.

While the fishery occurs in Southeast Alaska marine waters, the majority of Chinook harvested in the Alaskan troll fishery are not Alaskan Chinook. Up to 97% of all Chinook harvested in the fishery are born in rivers throughout British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. Roughly half of the fish harvested originate from the Columbia River, and many come from populations listed as Threatened under the ESA. These Chinook are harvested in their ocean nursery habitats, preventing them from reaching maturity and returning back to their homewaters where the Southern Resident killer whales encounter them. The majority of stocks harvested in the fishery are identified as priority stocks for the malnourished and endangered whale population.

“While communities throughout the coast have closed fisheries and made significant economic sacrifices to protect threatened and endangered Chinook populations in their home rivers, these same depleted populations are being harvested far from home in Southeast Alaska where they are marketed and sold as sustainable Alaskan Chinook,” says Helverson. “While this case is about conservation, it’s also about equity and we will continue to advocate for the conservation burden of protecting and restoring these species to be more equally shared by all communities who depend on them.”

“We know yesterday’s decision is concerning to so many who have been following this case and working tirelessly to recover our beloved Southern Resident killer whales and wild Chinook populations. Despite this temporary setback, the appeal process is just beginning and we remain dedicated to advocating for the recovery of these iconic species through every avenue possible,” says Helverson.

Senator Van de Wege running for DNR Chief

State Senator Kevin Van de Wege has announced his candidacy to run for the Commissioner of Public Lands in the Department of Natural Resources. Hilary Franz, who is the current head, is running for governor. She’ll be stepping down from that role.

I was part of the People For Puget Sound team that is mentioned in the article that awarded Kevin the Environmentalist of the Year for Puget Sound. He deserved it for shepherding the Rescue Tug at Neah Bay to pass, an issue that took over 10 years to get funded.

As to heading DNR, I think that Kevin will instantly get the respect of the firefighters, but likely will not be the voice of carbon capture that Ms. Franz has been. However, Ms. Franz has elicited a lot of controversy from the environmental community on the Peninsula over that issue among others and will not be missed. It will be interesting to see who supports her from this area over the AG, Bob Ferguson. Certainly, this blog has already stated that we support Ferguson, as Ms. Franz has on numerous occasions pleaded ignorance of controversial issues that she herself has signed off on.

Van de Wege on shown himself willing to listen to opposing sides to his opinions and has made course corrections in the past, most notably on the fire retardants issue that has been before the legislature over the last decade. He originally was opposed to banning the chemicals but after being shown the international studies and understanding he wasn’t being asked to go out on a limb alone on this, he reversed course and championed the issue. For those reasons we support his effort and endorse him for the upcoming election.

There is a lot of rumor going around about who will run for Kevin’s office and other possible changes to the makeup of the Democratic representation here on the Peninsula. More to follow as we get solid stories to share.

District 24 senator eyes state lands role | Peninsula Daily News

Stormwater Toxics Research Grants Announced

The Stormwater Strategic Initiative Lead is excited to announce the initial funding list for Toxics In Fish projects on Research into Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) and Implementing Chemical Action Plans (CAP).

$3.5 million has been awarded to projects to research and reduce the impact of toxic chemicals in waters around Puget Sound. These projects will support important research on pollutants and their effect on salmon and other fish, as well as efforts to reduce toxic products and test new treatment methods to prevent harmful chemicals from reaching our waters. Read the funding list here.

Chemical Action Plan Implementation Funding Opportunity – Reopened through August 15

In addition, $2 million remains available for projects under the CAP Implementation funding opportunity, which is accepting a second round of applications through August 15, 2023. The CAP Request for Proposals targets projects to reduce PFAS, PCBs, and PBDEs in Puget Sound waterways. Projects may involve environmental monitoring, replacing products with safer alternatives, treating contaminated stormwater, or other actions recommended in Chemical Action Plans. Projects that address tribal treaty rights or include an environmental justice component to support historically underserved communities or vulnerable populations are especially encouraged to apply. More information on this RFP is available on our blog.

Access the CAP Request for Proposals (RFP) and apply via the Stormwater SIL RFP webpage.

  • Applications will be accepted between June 1 and August 15, 2023 (closing at 4:00pm).
  • $2 million of FFY2022 and 2023 EPA Puget Sound Geographic funds to award.
  • Proposals up to $1 million will be reviewed.
  • Investment Priority is Toxics in Fish (priority C: Chemical Action Plan Implementation).

Eligible applicants include tribes, local governments, school districts, fire departments, Local Integrating Organizations, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and others.

Resources for applicants

If you have questions about project eligibility or the RFP application, please contact the RFP Coordinator Libby Gier. For technical questions (for example, whether a proposed project is within scope for this RFP), please contact Dustin Bilhimer. A recording of an informational pre-application webinar is available, along with the presentation slides. In addition, the Stormwater SIL team will hold two online office hours to answer applicant questions in July:

Please visit our Stormwater SIL RFP page and blog post for more details on this solicitation, and share widely with your networks.

Sincerely,

Stormwater Strategic Initiative

Opinion: A national wildlife refuge at risk of industrialization

This article originally was published in Environmental Health News. We use it with permission of the author.


SEQUIM, Wash.—Jutting out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca is a fragile, slender spit of sand and glacial till leftover from the Pleistocene Epoch nearly 1.2 million years ago.

It is the longest spit in North America, a refuge and protective barrier for marine mammals and some 250 breeds of shorebirds, several of whom stop on their way between South America, Alaska and beyond to build up fat to fuel their long journeys.

And it is also about to become commercialized for private profit by an industrial oyster corporation.

The Dungeness Spit, part of the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, extends for five miles. Declared a refuge in 1915, its lush eelgrass beds are a pantry for waterfowl and a nursery for salmon that eventually feed whales and other wildlife. The Dungeness Bay itself is considered an important bird area by Audubon, for its significance for bird population conservation.

The refuge attracts birders and other recreationists from around the world. Territory enjoyed and cherished and serving as a nursery and refuge for wildlife that literally span the globe, will be subsumed for private gain. It is like a war on our marine ecosystem.

The Washington State Lands Commission, the Washington State Department of Ecology and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) issued permits for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe to commercially grow non-native oysters in Dungeness Bay. These will be sold to restaurants, consumers and exported to other countries.

The operator will initially anchor 20,000, with a buildup to 80,000, on-bottom toxic plastic bags of non-native oyster spat over tens of acres smack dab in the primary mudflat bird feeding area – an area that today is off-limits to human access. Tens of thousands of shorebirds from across the Western Hemisphere depend on the mudflat as a critical feeding stop during migration.

The bags will be anchored into the sediment, smothering the intertidal zone benthic life underneath, and will affect the nearby eelgrass. This plastic is a type of PFAS, the group of chemicals also known as forever chemicals, able to contaminate the water that the filter-feeding oysters will ingest. This chemical could then move up the food chain to unsuspecting consumers.

The plastic nets are known to have ensnared birds and fish at other industrially-operated shellfish farms.

The Corps refused to conduct an environmental impact study, yet in an internal 49-page Memorandum to Record, the Corps admitted to the destruction the shellfish operation will have, but still permitted it.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), a division of the U.S. Interior Department, with authority to protect its refuges, withdrew its opposition to the operation. To protect the birds and their primary breeding and feeding grounds, this section of the refuge is closed six months of the year to human activity. Now the USFWS is permitting the industrial shellfish operator access to this protected area year-round, day and night.

As well, the USFWS is circumventing its own mandatory step of writing a compatibility determination.. Since this operation is incompatible, to write the determination would force the agency to publicly disallow the shellfish operation.

Violated, as well, are the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act. Organizations and individuals throughout the United States submitted comments, spoke out and petitioned to stop this shellfish operation. No agency acknowledged the public outcry.

The Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge industrial operation will be precedent-setting for our nation’s refuge system – and bodes poorly for what can happen in other protected areas.

Public funds upkeep national refuges. We have seen this sad song repeated over and over: When private corporations destroy public lands, the public is taxed to clean up the damage.

Today we are spending millions of dollars annually to clean up Washington state’s Puget Sound, the second largest estuary in the United States. Yet our state and federal agencies are opening these wildlife intertidal zones to more pollution and industrial activity. One third of Washington state’s coastal waters are filled with industrial shellfish aquaculture and plastic, leaving wildlife to forage elsewhere.

“In wilderness is the preservation of the world,” Henry David Thoreau wrote in 1862.

We should heed his words and protect rather than pollute our natural world. The state and federal governments should get back to protecting our wildlife refuges rather than acquiesce to their destruction.

Darlene Schanfald

Darlene Schanfald, Phd, has been active in environmental campaigns for more than three decades and is a board member of Protect the Peninsula’s Future.

Terns nesting: Please stay off Rat Island

This immediate issue needs people’s awareness. Stay away from Rat Island for the next month, please!

From Steve Hampton, Conservation Chair for Admiralty Audubon. It was published as an op ed piece in the Port Townsend Leader this week. Given the urgency of this issue, I’m reprinting it most of it here at his request.


Once again, a large colony of Caspian Terns is preparing to nest at Rat Island, the small sandbar between the Fort Flagler beach campground and Indian Island. Over 700 birds were present in early May, cavorting and passing fish to each other.

Among seabirds, terns are the sports car version of a gull. Sleek, agile, with racing caps and bright red bills, they dive headfirst into the sea to catch fish. In the tern family, Caspian Terns are the largest. They can be heard from nearly a mile away by their raucous calls, sounding like a pterodactyl, if we knew what pterodactyls sounded like.

Rat Island is a small curve of sand topped with dune grass, located not far from Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. With most other colony sites no longer available for many reasons, it is becoming an important refuge. Observations of banded birds at the Flagler spit suggest that the Caspian Terns there have relocated from former colonies in Bellingham and the Columbia River.

Caspian Terns will forage up to 35 miles from their nesting colony, so finding food is not usually a problem. Finding a safe nesting spot is. First and foremost, they need protection from predators like raccoons and coyotes. Eagles are a menace, but the feisty terns have ways of fending them off. The real problem, at least at Rat Island, has been humans.

During minus tides, campers from Flagler can actually walk to Rat Island, which is owned by the Department of Natural Resources. Boaters and kayakers can access it too. In addition to the nesting terns, there are nesting gulls, Black Oystercatchers, and a Harbor Seal haul-out. All of these are protected from disturbance by law. Unfortunately, most of the disturbance seems to come from naïve people, in awe at nature, flushing the birds off their eggs and chicks, which are hidden in a small valley in the center of the island. While beach walkers film the terns overhead with their phones, gulls rush in, taking eggs and chicks. Last year the colony of 500 birds, in two nesting attempts a month apart, successfully fledged fewer than 20 chicks.

This year they are back to try again. The Friends of Fort Flagler, in concert with Admiralty Audubon, Fort Flagler State Park, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has created a team of volunteer docents to educate the public and reduce disturbance to this colony, especially during low tides in June and July. Sometime in August, the birds will complete nesting and move on. They will be entirely gone by the fall.

You can enjoy them from the Flagler spit, watching them fly in from all directions, circle over the colony, and disappear into the cacophony of white wings and raucous calls. If you value our wildlife, please, go no further. Rat Island is an important sanctuary for birds to nest and harbor seals to rest. There are fewer and fewer such places in the Salish Sea.

Event: Weaving the Web: Soil, Pollinators and Human Health

Registration:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/606771559067

Join Jill Allison to learn about techniques to create a healthier home garden which include pollinators! This is a virtual event.

Starts on Wednesday, August 2 · 5pm PDT  (Changed from May 20)

Jill will review the effects of pesticides on pollinators, soil and human microbiome and how we as a community can affect change.

Presenter: Jill Allison – Jill has a background in science and medicine which adds to her understanding of the interactions (and the biology and chemistry) relating to the interactions between soil health, pollinator health and human health. Jill has a B.S. in biology, graduate studies in bacteriology and public health and a Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Friends of Fort Flagler is a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoring, preserving, and protecting the natural and historic resources of Fort Flagler State Park. Please support our state park by becoming a member, volunteering, or donating to our organization. To learn more, visit https://friendsoffortflagler.org/.

Event: Clamming at Fort Flagler

Program: Clamming at Fort Flagler

Sunday June 18th @ 10 AM. (Changed from June 4th)

Location: Lower Campground – Fort Flagler State Park

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/606796955027

Join the Friends of Fort Flagler to explore and harvest our local clams at the lower campground of Fort Flagler next to the Beachcomber Café.  We will identify local shellfish, discuss the common harvest tools and how to use them, how to read a tide table book and why!  How to care for your catch after harvest and finally a few
suggested ways to prepare them. As Michael Zimmerman said, “It’s a treasure we have in Puget Sound and particularly at Fort Flagler to spend a low tide watching the sea and beach life and the rewards of harvesting your own dinner, fresh from the beaches.  If we do it right, the resource will be there for us, generations to come.”

What should folks bring? (shovel, rake, gloves) #2 shovel-long handle, tined garden scratcher, separate small or medium size bucket (each digger must have their own container), gloves–rubber garden gloves are best but not required, shellfish license if over 16 years old.  For Fishing License in Washington State, the age limit for residents is 16 to 69 years. For Youth, they must be 15 years of age. And For senior citizens, the age limit is 70 and above. There are special reduced-fee licenses for disabled residents and non-resident disabled veterans.  A one or three day license might suffice for some folks if they don’t plan to shellfish again.

PS–ALL nonresidents must have a license regardless of age.

Presenters

Michael Zimmerman was a Washington State Park Ranger for over 40 years.  Michael has a lifelong love for parks and the beach and earned his Bachelor of Science in Fisheries. He helped raise two boys and taught them as well as friends, neighbors and thousands of park visitors how to identify, harvest and prepare all
types of shellfish–clams, oysters, crab, shrimp and even seaweeds. 


Harry Louch was a Washington State Park Ranger for over 30 years.  He has been digging clams his entire life.  He passed the joy of clam digging to his kids, as well as park visitors. Harry found that it “was great fun helping
those new to the sport learn the best harvesting methods and where to look for clams.”

Friends of Fort Flagler is a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoring, preserving, and protecting the natural and historic resources of Fort Flagler State Park.  Please support our state park by becoming a member, volunteering or donating to our organization.  To learn more, visit https://friendsoffortflagler.org/.

Supreme Court shrinks definition of the Clean Water Act

Well I’m sad that this case ended this way. But I really think that there is a silver lining in this. For too long the EPA has decided what could be protected under the Clean Waters Act and frankly I understand though I don’t agree with the Supreme Court decision.

Congress ultimately ought to be the arbiter of putting into the law specific protections rather than having some vague understanding of wetlands somehow being connected to navigable waters of the United States. I’ve never understood exactly what that definition is and thought that it was being quite lenient or overly protective, perhaps Republicans would say overreaching, for the EPA to make those decisions rather than to have them baked into law. I have always thought that navigable waters meant rivers, lakes and ocean areas that would be usable by commercial boats. I don’t know that I would consider Priest Lake, a “navigable water” if it was my decision to make. Apparently, the justices felt the same way, given that there was no dissent, just differences of opinion on the decision. It is hard to imagine on this Supreme Court a 9 to nothing decision but that was what this was. So I don’t know that I would necessarily blame conservative judges though it’s so easy to do so given their recent uncovered flaws.

ALITO, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which ROBERTS, C. J., and THOMAS, GORSUCH, and BARRETT, JJ., joined. THOMAS, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which GORSUCH, J., joined. KAGAN, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which SOTOMAYOR and JACKSON, J.J., joined. KAVANAUGH, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which SOTOMAYOR, KAGAN, and JACKSON, JJ., joined.

The justices wrote,

The uncertain meaning of “the waters of the United States” has been a persistent problem, sparking decades of agency action and litigation. Resolving the CWA’s applicability to wetlands requires a review of the history surrounding the interpretation of that phrase.

21-454 Sackett v. EPA (05/25/2023) (supremecourt.gov)

There are many other areas where agencies determine what is the proper law for an industry. Thinking specifically about NOAA and the Army Corps of Engineers in their decision making processes that the court has over and over again found flawed. In fact the Army Corps of Engineers was one of the agencies that was specifically called out in this decision by the court.

I’m hoping that out of this fiasco, that allows homeowners to build homes out over wetlands, that we can come to some new type of laws that will actually regulate our waters properly.

Supreme Court shrinks definition of the Clean Water Act — High Country News – Know the West (hcn.org)

Events: Septic System Training

Septic System Classes Offered

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Course Descriptions: 

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

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

To view this on social media, visit:

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

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

Liz Anderson

Gender Pronouns: she/her/hers

Web/Digital Communications Specialist

Jefferson County Public Health

615 Sheridan Street

Port Townsend, WA 98368          

Main: 360-385-9400

Direct: 360-385-9405

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

Cooke Aquaculture leaves Puget Sound

(From Wild Fish Conservancy) -Cooke Aquaculture, is pulling up stakes, hitting the road, and leaving Puget Sound forever. All week, local residents and members of the public stood on the shores of Bainbridge Island watching workers operating loaders and cranes packing up nets, removing debris, and pulling up anchors and chains that have been holding the industry’s net pens in place for over forty years.  Across the Sound, in Kiket Bay, local landowners watched as the Hope Island net pen was rigged up to a towboat and pulled out of sight and away from the waters it polluted daily at the mouth of the Skagit River. Below is a photo taken on Wednesday immediately after the Hope Island net pen was removed, showcasing the bay’s first moments free of commercial net pens.

In November, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz made clear she heard the voices of the nearly 10,000 individuals and hundreds of organizations and businesses working together under the Our Sound, Our Salmon coalition when she issued her groundbreaking decision that the Department of Natural Resources was taking bold action to protect Puget Sound from commercial net pen aquaculture. Not only did Commissioner Franz deny the industry’s request for new decade-long leases to operate in our public waters, but she took an even bolder step by enacting a new policy banning commercial net pen aquaculture in Washington marine waters indefinitely. 


Whether this will hold up to the court challenge being brought by some Tribes remains to seen. Franz, running for Governor against Attorney General Bob Ferguson and facing criticism by some environmental organizations for her forestry policies, needed to bolster support from the environmental wing, while deciding that alienating tribes like the Jamestown S’Klallam would not cost her much in the way of votes. Certainly this will play well on “The eastside of the Sound” where her fundraising will be primarily done, as Seattleites rarely understand the subtleties of the issues raised by those on the Peninsula. Why? The Jamestown have been working with Cooke on changing the net pens to native Black Cod (Sablefish). So they are not happy about this decision. Other tribes have supported this decision, once again highlighting that the Tribes of the Salish Sea are not a single entity in their decision-making, but a coalition of individual political entities with unique needs. It is unclear of how this may play out as the State works with the Tribes on future negotiations around fishing regulations.

Years ago, I interviewed a local elderly fisherman, who had fished the areas around Agate Pass. His belief was that after the net pens came in, he noticed a significant drop in wild salmon the following years. Of course, this could have been coincidental, given the amount of destruction happening through rampant development about the same time to the spawning streams of Puget Sound and overfishing off the coast. But I was also hearing similar things from other older fishermen about the Hood Canal Floating Bridge, which then turned out to be true. A large sum of money is being spent right now to mitigate what has only lately proved out to be the correct assumption of that “old timer” regarding Hood Canal. We’ll get to see if salmon numbers recover in the Agate Pass area, now that Cooke is gone.

The Washington State Standard begins publication

A new news web site covering all doings in Olympia has launched. The Washington State Standard. From their “About” page.


If you care about Washington state, you should be reading the Standard. The Washington State Standard is an independent, nonprofit news organization that produces original reporting on policy and politics. We help readers understand how Washington state government works and how decisions made by those in power affect people living and working here. Our stories shed light on how the state is spending tax dollars, implementing laws and carrying out major projects. At election time, you can turn to us for campaign coverage and during the legislative session we’ll have the latest on all the action in Olympia.

We do not shy away from tough stories and we delve into the state’s most critical issues, like housing, homelessness, education, environmental concerns and criminal justice. We Always strive for fairness with our reporting and make sure underrepresented communities have a voice in our coverage. On our Commentary pages you can find thought-provoking opinion articles by writers who are not part of our nonpartisan news reporting staff. 

As a nonprofit, funded by donations, we have no paywalls, no ads and no subscription fees. Thanks for reading!

The Washington State Standard is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. The Standard retains full editorial independence. Consider a tax-exempt donation to support our work.

Free to Republish

Our articles are available to other outlets under Creative Commons licensing. If you have any questions about republishing, contact us at: info@washingtonstatestandard.com.

Tips, Questions, Comments, Corrections

You can send news tips, feedback and questions to editor, Bill Lucia, via blucia@washingtonstatestandard.com. Please also let us know about errors, clarifications or suggestions for followup stories. We appreciate you taking time to do so.

Commentary Submissions

If you would like to write a guest opinion column, please visit our Commentary Submissions Page.

State farm insurance ends homeowner insurance in California

In an incredible move that drives the economic impact of climate change home, State Farm insurance has decided to end new homeowners insurance in California due to wildfires and the cost of rebuilding. This won’t be the last time this happens. But this has been a long time coming, and we all know that the insurance industry is the real driver behind climate change policy in this country. State Farm is the second large insurer to end coverage in California. AIG ended coverage last year.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/27/state-farm-home-insurance-california-wildfires

Judge rejects Cooke’s claim that Washington state violated agreements with forced closure of netpen operations

“Cooke has lost 330,000 fish from the decision and said it has suffered significant financial harm.” Judge doesn’t buy the arguement that the State violated the contracts with the companies. This is a precident that may be used in other cases to come.

The news is behind a paywall, but you can sign up for free and read the rest at:

Judge rejects Cooke’s claim that Washington state violated agreements with forced closure of netpen operations | IntraFish.com

Bionic Reading

Recently, I was made aware of a new method of text annotation called bionic reading. It is used for those with reading impairments, such as ADHD. You can look it up on the Internet if you’re wanting to understand the underpinnings behind it. I find it very interesting and very fast reading to read text that has been annotated with bionic reading. What follows is a recent post that has been processed by the technology of bionic reading.

This blog predicted years ago that Hilary was going to do this. We cannot support a run for governor by her. Why? Her track record of allowing the destruction of beaches by rampant geoduck aquacul across the Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound; her feigned lack of knowledge of her offices involvement in supporting tribal interests to take over the waters of the Dungeness Spit Wildlife Refuge for commercial aquaculture purposes, against the wishes of the scientists of the refuge.(Hilary had signed the agreement). And many more. We will be supporting her competitor, Bob Ferguson who has demonstrated over and over again the ability to do the right thing for the state. We hope you will too.

https://bionic-reading.com/br-method/

WA lands Commissioner Hilary Franz announces run for governor, vying with AG Ferguson

This blog predicted years ago that Hilary was going to do this. We cannot support a run for governor by her. Why? Her track record of allowing the destruction of beaches by rampant geoduck aquaculture across the Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound; her feigned lack of knowledge of her office’s involvement in supporting tribal interests to take over the waters of the Dungeness Spit  Wildlife Refuge for commercial aquaculture purposes, against the wishes of the scientists of the refuge.(Hilary had signed the agreement). And many more. We will be supporting her competitor, Bob Ferguson who has demonstrated over and over again the ability to do the right thing for the state. We hope you will too.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/wa-lands-commissioner-hilary-franz-announces-run-for-governor-vying-with-ag-ferguson/

Federal Court Rules on Overharvest of Salmon

From Wild Salmon Conservancy. A major ruling with far reaching impacts.

May 3, 2023— Yesterday, in an international, coastwide environmental victory, Seattle federal Court issued a landmark order halting the overharvest of Chinook salmon in Southeast Alaska that has persisted for decades, jeopardizing the survival of federally-protected Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) and wild Chinook populations coastwide. This significant decision will immediately allow the starving Southern Resident population far greater access to these Chinook which are the whale’s primary prey, marking a turning point for their recovery.

“This Court decision is the largest victory for Southern Resident killer whale recovery in decades and will be celebrated internationally. After years of inaction by our federal government to address the prey crisis facing the Southern Residents, Judge Jones’ decision will finally provide starving orcas immediate access to their primary prey,” says Emma Helverson, Executive Director of Wild Fish Conservancy. “What’s more, by allowing far more wild Chinook to return home to their spawning grounds, this action is also helping to recover and restore wild Chinook from rivers throughout Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, essential to rebuilding both populations in the long-term.”

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones issued a final ruling in Wild Fish Conservancy’s lawsuit agreeing that halting the summer and winter seasons of the Southeast Alaska Chinook troll fishery is the most appropriate remedy. The Court subsequently remanded NOAA Fisheries’ inadequate biological opinion in order for the agency to address the serious underlying violations of environmental law previously found by the Court.

In that biological opinion evaluating the fishery’s impact on threatened and endangered species, NOAA admitted that over the last decade and persisting today, Chinook harvest is occurring at levels that are unsustainable for the long-term survival and reproductive success of both threatened wild Chinook populations and endangered Southern Resident killer whales. Still, NOAA authorized the harvest to continue at these levels relying on proposed mitigation they claimed would offset this serious harm. In summary judgement in August, the Court overwhelmingly found the mitigation was insufficient and violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and that NOAA failed to conduct legally required environmental review of the mitigation, which would include opportunities for public input and an evaluation of alternatives, such as reductions in harvest.

Southern Resident killer whales were listed as Endangered in 2005. Currently, there are only 73 individuals in the population, an alarming decrease from nearly 100 only 25-years ago. Reduced prey availability, specifically large and abundant wild Chinook, has been identified by killer whale experts and NOAA as the primary cause of their decline. Research has shown an alarming 69% of Southern Resident killer whale pregnancies are aborted due to insufficient Chinook salmon and inbreeding depression has been identified as a growing threat to the population’s survival and recovery.

“This is unbelievable news, yet so long in coming,” said Wild Orca’s Science and Research Director, Dr. Deborah Giles. “The high pregnancy failure rate within the Southern Resident killer whale population is linked to poor nutrition, so having more fish returning to their home waters in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon, will increase the whales’ prey base and improve their chances of giving birth to healthy calves.”

In an expert declaration evaluating the effect of the troll fishery’s harvest on the Southern Resident population, modeling by Dr. Robert E. Lacy projected closing the fishery would increase prey availability by approximately 6%, which would be enough to stabilize the population and stop their decline toward extinction, though additional actions would be required to begin to grow the population. The Court stated: “Though there is uncertainty as to how much prey would ultimately reach the SRKW, the record before the Court suggests that closure of the fisheries meaningfully improves prey available to the SRKW, as well as SRKW population stability and growth, under any scenario.” As a result of yesterday’s decision, approximately 172,000 Chinook that would have been harvested or indirectly killed in the 2023 summer and winter seasons of the Southeast Alaska troll fishery will now be able to continue their historical migration south to home spawning grounds and into the whale’s key foraging areas.

“Dr. Lacy’s findings suggest that the single action of closing this fishery would increase prey availability enough to stabilize the Southern Resident population. Stopping the precipitous decline of the whales toward extinction is the highest priority toward recovery efforts. These findings clearly demonstrate that Chinook harvest in Southeast Alaska’s troll fishery is contributing to the decline of the whales, validating why the Court’s decision is so critically important to the survival of this population,” says Helverson.

While the fishery occurs in Southeast Alaska marine waters, most people are unaware that up to 97% of all Chinook harvested in the Southeast Alaska troll fishery migrate from rivers throughout British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. Roughly half of the fish harvested originate from the Columbia River, and many come from populations listed as Threatened under the ESA. Currently, these Chinook are harvested in their ocean rearing habitats preventing them from migrating back into southern waters where the Southern Resident killer whales encounter them. Majority of stocks harvested in the fishery are identified as priority stocks for the Southern Residents.

“Alaskan fishers should not be blamed for NOAA’s chronic mismanagement of this fishery, and we are sincerely sympathetic to the burden this decision will pose to Southeast Alaskan communities,” says Helverson. “However, this decision will finally address decades of harm and lost opportunity this overharvest has caused to fishing communities throughout British Columbia, Oregon, and Washington who depend on these fish, particularly Tribal and First Nations. In addition to the unparalleled benefits to killer whale and Chinook recovery, the Court’s decision is addressing this historic inequity and restoring control to coastal communities of the destiny of salmon recovery in their home watersheds.”

“The underlying harvest issues in this case are not an anomaly, but rather just one example that demonstrates the problems caused when harvest occurs in the ocean where it is impossible to avoid unintentionally harming threatened and endangered populations or intercepting high proportions of salmon from rivers coastwide,” says Kurt Beardslee, Director of Special Projects. “Scientists are increasingly calling for harvest reform measures that shift harvest out of the ocean and into fisheries in or near each river of origin where salmon return, providing fisheries managers and coastal communities the ability to manage recovery with far greater accuracy and success.”

PT Marine Science Center- ED Bee Redfield resigns, Diane Quinn chosen as replacement

From PTMSC: We are both sad and happy to report some important news about PTMSC. As you may know, Bee Redfield, our executive director, assumed a more limited role in February in order to prepare for her final PhD requirements at Purdue University. While this plan for a temporary hiatus was in place since her hire last spring, Bee more recently made the decision for personal reasons not to return to the ED position and asked the board to seek a replacement. She says, “I am fully dedicated to supporting PTMSC through this transition and beyond. I love PTMSC, the team, and the Port Townsend community, and I am so grateful for the time that I spent with you all.” The board appreciates Bee’s exemplary performance as ED and is grateful for her many accomplishments. And Bee’s achievements are many. Her biggest legacy will probably be what we think will become an iconic landmark in Port Townsend: a gray whale skeleton on Union Wharf which is scheduled to be installed this summer. She also expanded the Future of Oceans lecture series, oversaw new programming at the Flagship Landing building downtown, and strengthened the internal systems of the organization.Upon receiving the news, the board carefully assessed the organization’s evolving needs and prioritized the talents, skills, knowledge, and experience that the ideal ED candidate would bring to the job at this time. They recognized that this talent existed within the organization and were delighted when Diane Quinn, our Program Director of over six years, accepted the position. 
Diane Quinn, PTMSC's new Executive DirectorQuinn brings extensive leadership experience from her two decades at the Burke Museum in Seattle. As Director of Education, she helped to expand the scale, budgets and impacts of school and public programs. She nurtured innumerable community partnerships, contributed to the development of major exhibitions and participated in long-term, new museum planning resulting in a major capital campaign.Quinn’s long relationship with PTMSC started in 1998 when the Burke and PTMSC collaborated on a new exhibit at Fort Worden. She remembers, “In working with Libby Palmer, Judy D’Amore, and Anne Murphy, the founders and founding executive director, it was clear that the organization has a unique role in the local community, that community marine science centers have a critical role in the broader community of practice, and that change for the better happens in communities and in the world through sustained effort and commitment.”Besides her track record of successful regional collaborations, and her pre-existing relationships with many community leaders, Diane has developed a deep mutual trust between herself and the PTMSC staff over the past six years in her role as Program Director. Her comprehensive knowledge of the organization, especially in terms of program and operations, as well as her experience with creative program design and organizational transformation, makes her an ideal fit for the top leadership position at this time in PTMSC’s journey. We are all very excited about the future of PTMSC and thank you for your part in making that future possible.

A Disaster the Size of Multiple Katrinas Is Building Off Washington’s Coast – Politico

The new part of this story is that Eric has looked at the fact that the Coast Guard is likely to be destroyed by any major earthquake here, and we would be relying on them to be ‘first responders’.

It is clear that our government has known of the risk here for decades and has done little to protect us from it. Some Tsunami sirens is pretty much it. Is there a master plan for this disaster? What would happen if Ediz Hook, and all the ports and Hood Canal Bridge were destroyed? Also remember that it’s probable that the Hood Canal Floating Bridge would be gone, and with it, our fibre optic lines that provide any communication. The Fibre Loop goes around to Gray’s Harbor, but that likely would be gone too.

www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/05/07/coast-guard-tsunami-00058594

Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge burns to the ground

https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/hurricane-ridge-day-lodge-burns-to-the-ground/

It was unlikely anything like arson, because the road has been closed to hurricane Ridge for sometime now while they’re doing repairs to that building. The ironic thing is that part of the repairs were going to include updating the fire system. It must’ve somehow been construction related.

EVENT: Puget Sound Day on the Hill Livestream! May 9th

Dear Puget Sound recovery community, 

Registration is now open for two Puget Sound Day on the Hill livestream events!


 

Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force – coordination of resources, policies, and programs to support ecosystem and salmon recovery and the protection of treaty rights

May 9, 2023 | 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. PDT

REGISTER HERE

The first livestream event, on May 9, will be a panel discussion about Puget Sound recovery with representatives from federal agencies moderated by Peter Murchie, Puget Sound Geographic Program manager at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

Tentative panelists include:

  • Sara Gonzalez-Rothi, senior director for water, Council on Environmental Quality
  • Zach Penney, senior advisor, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Steve Kopecky, deputy chief, Northwest Division Regional Integration Team, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • Zach Schafer, senior advisor, Office of Water, EPA
  • Karnig Ohannessian, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for environment and mission readiness

 

Puget Sound Day on the Hill event with Congressional delegation and Admiral Hann

May 10, 2023 | 7:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. PDT.

REGISTER HERE

The second livestream event, on May 10, will feature members of the Washington Congressional delegation and Admiral Nancy Hann of NOAA’s Commissioned Officer Corps. The livestream will take place from 7:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. PDT.

Tentative schedule:

7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.Rep. Strickland
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.Rep. Larsen
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.Admiral Hann
11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.Rep. Schrier
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Rep. Jayapal
12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.Rep. Kilmer
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.Sen. Murray
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.Sen. Cantwell
  

Rep. DelBene will stop by between Rep. Kilmer and Sen. Murray

Please join us for these livestream events to support Puget Sound and salmon recovery and to encourage the good work done by federal agencies and our Congressional delegation. Both events will be recorded and available to view for registered participants.

We hope you’ll join us on May 9 and 10!

%d