Legal Settlement Reached for Endangered Species Act Decision Deadline for Olympic Peninsula Steelhead

Posted on July 17, 2025 by Al Bergstein

This just in from the Wild Fish Conservancy

Contacts:
Emma Helverson, Wild Fish Conservancy, 484- 788-1174, emma@wildfishconservancy.org
John McMillan, The Conservation Angler, 360-797-3215, john.mcmillan@theconservationangler.org    
Brian Knutsen, Kampmeier & Knutsen PLLC, 503-841-6515, brian@kampmeierknutsen.com

For Immediate Release
July 16, 2025

EDMONDS, Wash.— The Conservation Angler and Wild Fish Conservancy reached a settlement agreement with NOAA Fisheries establishing a deadline requiring the agency to issue its long-overdue finding on whether Olympic Peninsula steelhead warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Under the court-ordered deadline, NOAA Fisheries must complete its 12-month finding on the organizations’ petition to list Olympic Peninsula steelhead under the ESA by December 1, 2025. The decision was originally required by August 1, 2023, following the agency’s initial positive finding that Olympic Peninsula steelhead may require federal protection.

The settlement was reached in a lawsuit filed by the conservation groups challenging NOAA Fisheries for delaying ESA protections to Olympic Peninsula steelhead. At the time of filing, the agency’s determination was 535 days overdue.

“This settlement finally puts an end to the federal government’s inexcusable delay in deciding whether these magnificent fish deserve protection,” said John McMillan, Executive Director of The Conservation Angler. “Olympic Peninsula steelhead have been waiting for this decision for nearly two years beyond the statutory deadline. Every day of delay puts these fish at greater risk.”

Olympic Peninsula steelhead are a distinct population segment that occurs in the remote northwest corner of Washington State. Once numbering in the tens of thousands, these iconic fish have steadily declined throughout their range for decades due to commercial harvest, mismanaged recreational fisheries, hatchery operations, climate change, and legacy and contemporary effects from habitat degradation.

“We’re pleased to reach this agreement, but the real work is just beginning,” said Emma Helverson, Executive Director of Wild Fish Conservancy. “NOAA has already acknowledged Olympic Peninsula steelhead face a moderate risk of extinction. This agreement ensures the agency can no longer delay action. We expect the agency to follow the science and provide these fish with the protections they desperately need.”

The Conservation Angler and Wild Fish Conservancy submitted a petition to list Olympic Peninsula steelhead under the ESA on August 1, 2022. Following the agency’s positive 90-day finding in February 2023, NOAA had one year from the petition submission date to complete a final determination.

In October 2024, NOAA released a status review report confirming that Olympic Peninsula steelhead are at moderate risk of extinction. However, the agency still failed to issue the required decision on the need for ESA-listing, prompting the lawsuit on January 17, 2025.

“The science is clear – Olympic Peninsula steelhead populations are in trouble and need immediate protection,” said John McMillan, Executive Director of The Conservation Angler. “This settlement ensures NOAA can no longer ignore its legal obligations to protect these imperiled fish.”

Olympic Peninsula steelhead face mounting pressures across their range. Commercial and recreational fisheries continue to target these fish during their most vulnerable life stages. Hatchery operations threaten the genetic integrity of wild populations. Climate change has altered freshwater and ocean conditions, and decades of logging have degraded spawning and rearing habitat.

“These fish are indicators of ecosystem health throughout the Olympic Peninsula,” added Helverson. “Protecting Olympic Peninsula steelhead means protecting the entire web of life that depends on healthy rivers and forests in this unique region.”

###

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The Conservation Angler and Wild Fish Conservancy are represented by Kampmeier & Knutsen PLLC.  kampmeierknutsen.com

The Conservation Angler fights for the protection of wild Pacific anadromous fish populations and their watersheds throughout the Pacific Northwest and Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. theconservationangler.org

Wild Fish Conservancy is a nonprofit conservation organization headquartered in Washington and working from California to Alaska to preserve, protect and restore the northwest’s wild fish and the ecosystems they depend on, through science, education, and advocacy. wildfishconservancy.org

Photo: Olympic Peninsula steelhead jumping. Photo by © John McMillan

Filed under: Endangered Species, Environmental Law, fisheries | Comments Off on Legal Settlement Reached for Endangered Species Act Decision Deadline for Olympic Peninsula Steelhead

Tribes exempted from Trump Bill

Posted on July 5, 2025 by Al Bergstein

From Ai today.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” includes several exemptions and protections for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribal communities, particularly related to Medicaid and SNAP (food assistance) programs:

  • Exemption from Medicaid and SNAP work/community engagement requirements: AI/AN beneficiaries, including those served by Indian Health Service (IHS), Tribal, Tribal Organization, and Urban Indian Organization programs, are exempted from new work requirements that apply to other Medicaid and SNAP recipients. This exemption recognizes the economic challenges and limited job opportunities in many tribal communities, especially on reservations[1][3][5].
  • Protection of cost-sharing exemptions: The bill maintains existing exemptions for AI/AN individuals from Medicaid cost-sharing when they receive services directly from IHS or tribal health providers or through contract health services[3][5].
  • Exemption from more frequent Medicaid eligibility redeterminations: AI/AN beneficiaries are exempt from the requirement that Medicaid expansion adults undergo eligibility redeterminations every six months, reducing administrative burdens on tribal members[5].
  • Recognition of tribal governments for tax credit purposes: The bill grants tribal governments parity with state governments in determining whether a child has “special needs” for adoption tax credits, supporting tribal families[7].
  • Delays and flexibilities for Alaska Native communities: The bill includes delayed cost-share penalties and additional flexibilities in SNAP for Alaska Native beneficiaries to ensure continued access to benefits[8].

These provisions aim to uphold federal trust and treaty obligations to tribal nations, recognizing the unique circumstances of tribal communities and their reliance on federal health and nutrition programs. The exemptions help protect thousands of Native Americans from losing critical benefits due to work requirements or administrative changes included in the broader bill[1][3][5][8].

Sources
[1] Big, Beautiful Bill Act passed, Native American benefits protected https://knpr.org/politics/2025-07-03/big-beautiful-bill-act-passed-native-american-benefits-protected
[2] Final Reconciliation Bill Permanently Expands LIHTC, NMTC and … https://www.novoco.com/notes-from-novogradac/final-reconciliation-bill-permanently-expands-lihtc-nmtc-and-oz-incentive-but-does-not-include-htc-provisions
[3] House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Including AI/AN Protections for … https://www.nihb.org/house-passes-reconciliation-bill-including-ai-an-protections-for-tribal-medicaid/
[4] [PDF] 1 This Act may be cited as the ”One Big Beautiful Bill 2 Act”. 3 4 The … https://rules.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/rules.house.gov/files/documents/rcp_119-3_final.pdf
[5] Senate Passes Reconciliation Bill with Exemptions for American … https://ncuih.org/2025/07/02/senate-passes-reconciliation-bill-with-exemptions-for-american-indian-and-alaska-native-people-from-community-engagement-requirements-for-snap-and-medicaid/
[6] What’s in Trump’s Big Policy Bill? – The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/30/upshot/senate-republican-megabill.html
[7] [PDF] The One, Big, Beautiful Bill – House Ways and Means Committee https://waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-One-Big-Beautiful-Bill-Section-by-Section.pdf
[8] U.S. Senate Votes to Approve ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ – Native News Online https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/u-s-senate-vote-to-approve-big-beautiful-bill-heads-back-to-the-house-for-vote
[9] H.R.1 – 119th Congress (2025-2026): One Big Beautiful Bill Act https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1
[10] Senate GOP Passes Sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill Act | Insights https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2025/07/senate-gop-passes-sweeping-one-big-beautiful-bill-act

Filed under: legislation | Tagged: , , | 4 Comments »

Glass Recycling Returns

Posted on July 5, 2025 by Al Bergstein

Jefferson County Public Works has announced that glass collection will resume on July 15 with two drop off locations: the County transfer station off Jacob Miller Road and the Quilcene Rural Drop Box just south of the US Forest Service Ranger Station on Highway 101.  

 

Says Al Cairns, Solid Waste Manager, “We chose these two staffed sites for glass drop-off to lower the rate of contamination in order to gain a higher commodity value and reduce the cost of the overall recycling program.  Unstaffed sites have seen contamination rates of up to 30% and illegal dumping outside of the bins at those sites totaled 41 tons in 2024 which also adds to recycling program costs.”

 

According to Cairns, glass is the most expensive material type to recycle because of the high transportation costs due to material weight and because the commodity value is low. “At an average value of $15 per ton, recycled glass doesn’t even cover the transportation costs to get it to the buyer in Seattle.  When the loads are highly contaminated the value drops even more.  Presently the cost of recycling glass and the other materials accepted as part of the County’s recycling program are part of the rate paid for garbage disposal at the County’s solid waste facilities. We have a responsibility to those customers to reduce costs for the programs funded with the tipping fee.”

Filed under: Environmental Protection, Government, Jefferson County | Tagged: | 3 Comments »

Don’t Poison the Owls

Posted on July 3, 2025 by Al Bergstein

If you find you have a rat problem, you may be tempted to either contract with a pest service or purchase those black bait boxes at a farm supply store. However, here is the story on that bait box and its dangers to our local population of rat predators, meaning the owls, hawks and eagles we have in our area.

The most common poison for rats these days is bromadiolone. I queried the Ai program, Perplexity about the dangers of bromadiolone to predators. Here’s its answer.

Even at a mix rate of 0.005% per 1 oz. block, it poses a significant danger to owls that eat rats poisoned by it. Bromadiolone is a second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR), which is known for its high risk of secondary poisoning—when a predator like an owl consumes prey that has ingested the poison.
Key points:
   •    Bromadiolone is classified as a moderate to high secondary poisoning risk for birds, including owls.
   •    Residues of bromadiolone can persist in rodent carcasses for over 100 days, meaning poisoned rats can remain toxic to predators long after death.
   •    Owls and other birds of prey have been found with bromadiolone residues in their livers, and studies show widespread contamination among wild owl populations.
   •    Owls are particularly vulnerable because they have a limited ability to detoxify anticoagulant rodenticides, making them more susceptible to poisoning than some other birds or mammals.
   •    Even sub-lethal doses may impact owl health and survival, especially during periods of stress or food scarcity, though the exact effects of low-level, chronic exposure are not fully understood.


In summary: Using bromadiolone as a rodenticide creates a real risk of harming owls and other predatory wildlife through secondary poisoning, regardless of the specific concentration in bait blocks. Safer alternatives or non-chemical rodent control methods are recommended to protect owls and other non-target species.

Filed under: environmental education, Olympic Peninsula | 1 Comment »

Conservation Groups Sue Over Aquaculture Pollution of Columbia River

Posted on July 3, 2025 by Al Bergstein

Press Release from Center for Food Safety and Wild Fish Conservancy

Pacific Seafoods’ so-called “sustainable” fish farming facilities in violation of Clean Water Act permits daily since at least 2020

Portland, OR – Today, Center for Food Safety (CFS) and Wild Fish Conservancy(WFC) filed a lawsuit against Pacific Seafood Aquaculture, LLC, for multiple violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA) at three commercial netpen aquaculture facilities on the Columbia River raising rainbow trout, often marketed as ‘steelhead.’ The filing, along with the prior 60-day notice of intent to sue, details how the company has repeatedly violated the terms of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The plaintiff nonprofits are represented by Kampmeier & Knutsen PLLC and CFS counsel.

In sharp contrast to the products’ marketing as sustainably raised, government records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) revealed that the Pacific Seafood facilities have actually been in continuous violation of their NPDES permit conditions since at least April 2020 when the permits were reissued. This includes both pollution discharge violations exceeding Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-set limits, as well as monitoring and reporting violations. The unlawful pollution harms wild fish and the surrounding river ecosystem. The Columbia River is home to several endangered fish species protected under the Endangered Species Act.

“Despite ‘sustainable’ marketing claims and third-party certifications, government records tell a different story— one of chronic noncompliance and ecological harm,” said Emma Helverson, Executive Director of Wild Fish Conservancy. “In the face of the public’s sustained, long-term efforts to protect and restore the Columbia River and its ecosystems, Pacific Seafood has repeatedly violated the Clean Water Act, undermining public trust, degrading water quality, and threatening the survival of wild salmon and steelhead. Local communities and economies should not be left to shoulder the costs of cleanup and ecological damage while a billion-dollar corporation cuts corners on basic environmental protections.”

“These confined industrial fish farming operations have been unlawfully and egregiously polluting the Columbia River for years,” said George Kimbrell, CFS Legal Director. “Fish feed, fish waste, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other contaminants released by these facilities threaten water quality and native fish populations. We’re taking this action to ensure compliance with environmental laws designed to protect our waterways and the species that depend on them.” 

Background

Industrial netpen aquaculture is known to cause adverse environmental and intertwined socioeconomic impacts, including pollution from drugs, chemicals, pesticides, fungicides, pharmaceuticals, and other inputs; nutrient pollution from uneaten fish food and fish waste; the spread and amplification of parasites, viruses, and disease from farmed fish to wild fish; overfishing of forage fisheries in order to make fish meal and oil to grow aquacultured fish; adverse ecological effects on surrounding marine wildlife from the facilities; harm to traditional and indigenous fishing cultures and communities; and harm to recreational and commercial fisheries. Chronic fish spills, caused by equipment failure, human error, or weather, are among the worst causes of harm. Escaped fish harm wild fish by competing for food and habitat, spreading viruses and disease, and inbreeding, thus reducing genetic diversity and resilience. In August 2017, a devastating netpen aquaculture collapse at a facility maintained by Cooke Aquaculture in Puget Sound released an estimated 250,000 non-native and viral-infected Atlantic salmon into Puget Sound. Washington has subsequently removed the industry and permanently banned netpen aquaculture in its state marine waters. Globally, more than 25 million aquacultured fish escaped between 1996 and 2012. 

# # # 

Center for Food Safety and Wild Fish Conservancy are represented by Kampmeier and Knutsen, PLLC of Seattle and Portland and counsel from Center for Food Safety 

Filed under: Environmental Protection, Salmon | 2 Comments »

Trump works to kill solar industry in US

Posted on July 3, 2025 by Al Bergstein

In what might be the final blow to the solar industry of the United States, Trump and the Republicans are planning to essentially kill it and hand all the production to China.

How this makes America great again is beyond me, except for the fact that this country seems to have had a coup d’etat pulled off by the oil industry. That is usually what happens when the fossil fuel industry is the main industry in a country. Look at any country around the world, perhaps other than Sweden that hasn’t had a political takeover by pro fossil fuel politicians.

This won’t cure the move to solar and wind, because the economics of it is already overtaken fossil fuels. It simply destroys the manufacturing capacity of the United States to be a leader here.

This is going to put people out of business,” said Mike Carr, the executive director of Solar Energy Manufacturers for America, which represents more than 15 companies and 6,100 manufacturing workers. “This is going to devastate the industry.”

The utter stupidity of these politicians is truly beyond comprehension, other than the fact that they keep lining their pockets with the money from the petroleum industry.

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/business/energy-environment/trump-bill-solar-panels-china.html

Filed under: Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: , , , | 4 Comments »

“Fish War” is now available online

Posted on July 2, 2025 by Al Bergstein

There is so little real documentation of what happened in the 1960s and 1970’s known as the “fish wars” in the Pacific Northwest. Now a new documentary is out that I highly recommend. The Boldt Decision was perhaps one of the most important legal decisions of the 20th century. It re-established Treaty Rights in a totally new way that impacted tribes across the country and influenced indigenous leaders around the world.

The award-winning documentary FISH WAR, tells the story of tribes’ fight to secure their fishing rights — and the monumental Boldt decision that reaffirmed those rights — is available to buy. You can find the feature-length film on Amazon, Vimeo, Google Play, Apple TV+ and Fandango at Home here. 

Filed under: Environmental Law, First Nations, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

Where was US Rep Emily Randall?

Posted on June 25, 2025 by Al Bergstein

Last week I received info from a friend that U.S. Representative Emily Randall did not vote during the key vote to “claw back” monies already allocated to a variety of important causes, including U.S. food and health aid to many foreign countries, along with the funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which includes funding for PBS, StoryCore, NPR and funding for many stations around the U.S.

It was hard to believe that Rep. Randall would miss such a key vote.

What did this vote affect? From Congress.gov:

This bill rescinds $9.4 billion in unobligated funds that were provided to the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), various independent and related agencies, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 

The rescissions were proposed by the President under procedures included in the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Under current law, the President may propose rescissions to Congress using specified procedures, and the rescissions must be enacted into law to take effect. 

Specifically, the bill rescinds funds that were provided to the State Department or the President for

  • Contributions to International Organizations;
  • Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities;
  • Global Health Programs;
  • Migration and Refugee Assistance;
  • the Complex Crises Fund;
  • the Democracy Fund;
  • the Economic Support Fund;
  • Contributions to the Clean Technology Fund;
  • International Organization and Programs;
  • Development Assistance;
  • Assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia;
  • International Disaster Assistance; and
  • Transition Initiatives.

The bill also rescinds funds that were provided for 

  • USAID Operating Expenses,
  • the Inter-American Foundation,
  • the U.S. African Development Foundation,
  • the U.S. Institute of Peace, and
  • the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
  • CPB also includes StoryCorp, and others.

The vote came down to a simple majority needed. As you can see, it passed by only 2 votes.

Four Democrats did not vote. One was Emily Randall. With her vote and only one other, the bill would have failed.

Why did she not vote on this key piece of legislation that all the other Democrats voted on as a party? Where was Emily that night and what caused her to miss this? I have reached out to her office, identifying as a member of the press and asked for someone to get back to us and give us an answer. No one has returned our calls. I’ve been in touch with other members of the Democratic party in this county/district and they too have gotten no feedback. In addition to this bill, Randall has not voted on 11 bills in total in June! Of course, some bills are very low priority. But her record is becoming a question.

Another question is “Where was Democratic Whip Katherine Clark? “ She is supposed to be in charge of getting out the parties votes? Why did she not get Randall there?

This is an unacceptable situation . Randall ran as the darling of the left, with huge support from unions and the LGBTQ wing of the Dems. This support helped many of us, who were unfamiliar with her background support her, as she did not represent this district in her prior roles in government.

We have waited 13 days to get an answer to our questions. It’s time her staff and her went public about this. We will not drop this issue until an explanation is forthcoming. There is a Jefferson County Democratic fundraiser in July and if answers are not here by then, it is going to cause some problems for the fundraiser. How many are willing to give money when the results are a person that does not vote for key legislation?

Filed under: Olympic Peninsula | 2 Comments »

Trump White House Plan Calls for NOAA Research Programs to Be Dismantled

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Al Bergstein

A Trump administration budget proposal would essentially eliminate one of the world’s foremost Earth sciences research operations the Oceanic and Atmospheric Research office at NOAA.

The insanity of this move is breathtaking.

“This Administration’s hostility toward research and rejection of climate science will have the consequence of eviscerating the weather forecasting capabilities that this plan claims to preserve,” Representative Zoe Lofgren, the senior Democrat on the House Sciences Committee, said in an emailed statement.

As stated some months ago, we are witnessing the death of the environmental movement, and our scientific supremacy. There have only been a few times in human history of a similar dismantling of the key scientific expertise: The fall of Rome along with the sacking of the Library at Alexandria (done by Christians against the ‘Pagan” religion of the Roman elite class); the execution by guillotine during the French Revolution of the country’s key scientists; and Nazi Germany’s purge of all scientists who were not willing to tow the party lines. The current administration most closely resembles Nazi Germany’s purge.

It’s up to all of us to stand up to this outrageous behavior, before the sun sets on the American era. It could not have been better done if the Russians themselves had invaded. Maybe they have and we just don’t know it yet.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/climate/noaa-research-budget-cuts.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Filed under: Olympic Peninsula | 2 Comments »

Words of William O. Douglas

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Al Bergstein

As members of our current Supreme Court validate kidnapping by anonymous masked men and shipping of their prisoners to foreign countries that they never originally came from, dropping them into hellholes around the world with no visible means of support, or knowledge of the language spoken, I’m reminded of the words of Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.

Filed under: Olympic Peninsula | 5 Comments »

ICE panics Seattle immigrants

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Al Bergstein

This is happening in our state. ICE appears to be employing tactics to require immigrants to suddenly have to come in to the office or face deportation. Little time is given to comply.

“Svendsen arrived first at 7:30 a.m. on a Wednesday. Her client, an El Salvadoran woman who asked to be identified only by her first name, Veronica, walked up to her in tears and gave her attorney a long hug.

In Veronica’s hands were the medical records of her 8-year-old daughter, a U.S. citizen who has autism. “She needs me all the time,” Veronica said. Her daughter doesn’t speak and cannot eat or use the bathroom by herself.

Since receiving the summons two days before, Veronica had worried she might be detained and separated from her family, which also includes a 17-year-old daughter. Her daughters were upset too, the crying of the oldest prompting her sister to do the same.”

How is this helping make America great again?

As pushback grows to WA immigration court arrests, ICE changes tactics

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/as-pushback-grows-to-wa-immigration-court-arrests-ice-changes-tactics/

Filed under: Olympic Peninsula | 2 Comments »

Your backcountry for sale

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Al Bergstein

The Trump administration said that it would open up 58 million acres of back country in national forests to road construction and development, removing protections that had been in place for a quarter century. Read more: https://nyti.ms/4k6iKKa

“President Trump has called on cabinet secretaries to bypass endangered species laws and other environmental protections in order to boost the domestic supply of timber.”

Maybe you should do something about it?

Filed under: Olympic Peninsula | 1 Comment »

A win for saving Dungeness Spit

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Al Bergstein

                                                                                                    

The battle over keeping industrial aquaculture out of our National Wildlife Refuges, is still being played out in the courts. Recently three environmental organizations have successfully sued to get the US Fish & Wildlife Service to complete a “compatibility determination (CD)” for the industrial operation. The court has ruled that a CD must be performed. It is not clear whether the company must now stop any work in the refuge.

Here is the press release from the plaintiffs. Please consider donating to any of them to help offset the costs of the lawsuit. It’s *our* wildlife refuge at stake.

In 2023, Protect the Peninsula’s Future, Coalition to Protect Puget Sound Habitat, and Beyond Pesticides sued the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for its failure to conduct a compatibility determination (CD) for a proposed industrial shellfish operation at the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge (DNWR). The case is being reviewed by the U.S. Federal District Court in Tacoma. 

USFWS regulations state that for any project on or near one of its refuges, a CD must be written.  These cases are not unusual, and the Dungeness case is especially important because if the case is lost, industrial shellfish operations might be free to open at other Refuges. 

Last year the Court ruled the case should proceed because it is clear the USFWS must write a CD.  

The industrial shellfish operator – the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe (JST) – sought to moot the plaintiffs’ case due to potential financial impact to the JST.  The JST received various agency permits to plant 80,000 non-native oyster spat (larvae) in large plastic bags to be anchored to the substrate in the refuge area on 34 acres. The then manager of the DNWR had determined the shellfish operation was incompatible with the mission of the refuge, but higher ups in the agency overruled her and refused to write a CD. In the meantime, the JST started planting oyster spat. 

The federal court allowed the JST to present arguments against the plaintiffs’ suit.   

On 15 May 2025, the court responded in our favor.  The case will not be mooted; the USFWS must follow its regulations.   

From the Court documents:

“Compliance with the statutory procedures in the Refuge Act is undoubtably a  public right that safeguards environmental protection. 

Only the public right to administrative compliance with the Refuge Act procedural requirement to complete a compatibility determination and/or require a special permit are ripe for adjudication. 

Drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of plaintiffs, Jamestown appears to have planted seeds after it was aware that it was probable the Service would conduct a compatibility determination. 

Therefore, it is hereby ORDERED that Jamestown’s motion to dismiss, Dkt  44, is DENIED. “

The plaintiffs now wait for the Court’s final ruling against the USFWS, ordering it to write a CD. 

Filed under: Aquaculture, Clallam County, Environmental Activism, Environmental Law, Environmental Protection, Olympic Peninsula, Straits of Juan de Fuca | Tagged: | 1 Comment »

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

Filed under: Clallam County, Environmental Protection, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on

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

Update from the Strait Ecosystem Recovery Network

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Al Bergstein

From the Strait ERN newsletter.

Hello friends!

I hope you are all enjoying our beautiful spring weather and finding reasons to be outside as often as possible. My native plant garden – planted a little under two years ago – is thriving, with Oregon grape, huckleberries, red-flowering currants, twinberry, and tiny bleeding hearts all in bloom, with more on the way. I’ll confess here my great love for the non-native daffodil, which I keep in the front yard. Those cheery blooms are almost done for the year, but my neighbors have stopped by to say how happy they are to see them. Whatever your plant preferences are, this is a great time of year!

Along with the abundance of new life springing up, there is an abundance of news and information to share. Much of it is time-sensitive, so we’re not waiting a month in between newsletters. In this newsletter, you’ll find:

  • Funding opportunities
  • Volunteer events
  • Community/education events and training
  • News and information
  • Jobs and board openings

Funding Opportunities

Department of Ecology 6PPD Funding WA Department of Ecology is excited to announce a funding opportunity to support stormwater research projects that help to better understand how to manage 6-PPDQ in stormwater and prevent salmonid deaths. Ecology can fund projects with public organizations through Interagency Agreements (IAAs) and are prioritizing projects that partner with Tribal Nations and/or benefit overburdened communities. There is $2.9 million of funding available which can fund 5-15 contracts, and the duration of the projects will be from July 2025 – June 2027. There is no application or deadline for this funding. 
Please contact madison.bristol@ecy.wa.gov to learn more and apply.
Catalyst Fund RFP for 2025 Funding Round | Network for Landscape Conservation

The Catalyst Fund strives to accelerate the pace and practice of collaborative landscape conservation and stewardship across the United States by investing in Landscape Partnerships. The Fund couples financial support (through a competitive grant program) with capacity-building support (through in-depth Peer Learning) to catalyze Partnership efforts to achieve long-term conservation and stewardship goals. A portion of the Fund is reserved specifically to advance Tribal-led Partnerships. Grants are for one or two years, up to $25,000. Learn more here.
Date: Proposals due Friday, May 16thRCO Outdoor Learning Grant This is a collaborative program between RCO and the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction that supports federally recognized Tribes and outdoor education providers who partner with Washington public schools to create outdoor learning experiences for students. Find more details here. 

Date: Application period is April 9 through June 3NOTE: This program is temporarily on hold pending finalization of the state budget.
Stormwater SIL RFP to be Released May 7

Neighborhood Stormwater Assistance and Education Projects – $1 million available. The Stormwater SIL is looking for projects that support neighborhood-scale stormwater improvements, 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 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; or  
* GSI training and/or certification programs aligned with community affordable housing, workforce development, and environmental justice goals.  

If you are considering an application under one or more of these opportunities, please submit this short Interest in Applying form as soon as possible to help the team connect you with resources to develop a strong application!

Date: RFP to be released May 7th with proposal deadline of July 9thVolunteer Events

Potting Up Plants with the North Olympic Salmon Coalition

Join us as we pot up plants for future riparian restoration projects. We will be stocking up our nursery with trees and shrubs that will eventually become future forests along our local creeks and rivers. Our nursery is located in Chimacum at the Finnriver Farm & Cidery. Gloves and tools will be provided, but if you have your own bring ’em.

Date: April 29th 

Time: 10am-2pm

Place: Finnriver Farm & Cidery, Chimacum

RSVP here!DNR Stewardship Planning for Kelp & Eelgrass Elwha Unit Priority Area Volunteer your time and knowledge at this in-person workshop about how to best leverage and prioritize key implementation actions to protect and conserve kelp and eelgrass habitat in the Elwha Unit. Contact Cynthia Harbison for more information.

Date: June 3rd

Place: Port Angeles

Community/Education Events and TrainingRCO City Nature Challenge 2025City Nature Challenge (CNC) is an annual international event to collaboratively record as many wildlife observations as possible during a four-day challenge. People from all over the world explore nature in their neighborhoods and cities to find and document wildlife. Every year, they record how many observations of nature are gathered, how many different species are documented, and how many people help this global scientific community better understand nature all over the world. With this data we can better protect urban nature globally. This year, three near-by cities are participating, but there’s already information about adding your city for next year on their 

website.

Date: Friday, April 25th to Monday, April 28

Time: 24/7

Place: Olympia, Seattle, Victoria BC – next year in your town/city?!

10th Annual Puget Sound Day on the Hill 2025 Puget Sound Day on the Hill is an annual event organized by the Puget Sound Partnership and the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission that supports effective policy and continued federal investment in Puget Sound restoration and salmon recovery efforts. Representatives from tribes, state agencies, local governments, nonprofits, and businesses, along with concerned residents, lend their voices in support of action to restore Puget Sound and uphold tribal treaty rights. Register here!

Date: Week of April 28th

Time: Various

Place: Washington, DC

Birding by Ear with the Jefferson Land TrustHave you ever heard a bird in the forest but couldn’t see it and wondered what it was? Join ornithologist Dr. Jackie Canterbury as she leads tours through Quimper West Preserve in the protected Quimper Wildlife Corridor, and shows how, by training your ear, you can identify birds through their unique songs. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited to 15 people each session, and you must register in advance. 
Date: May 1st
Time: 8:30 – 10amPlace: Register to receive location

Spring Bloom Walk at Kah Tai Prairie PreserveThe Olympic Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society is leading a walk to see/identify spring blooms at Kah Tai Prairie Preserve. The walk will start at the prairie kiosk and include a longer route to visit other emerging prairie sites and Hastings Pond riparian habitat. For more information send email. 
Date: May 4th
Time: 2pmPlace: Kah Tai Prairie Preserve, Port Townsend

May Chumsortium Meeting

Come join the conversation about all things salmon in eastern Jefferson County. This virtual meeting will take place via Zoom.

Date: May 7th

Time: 10:00 to 11:30

Ready, Set, Grant! Getting Your Organization Grant Ready

Join Rural Development Initiatives (RDI) for this 5-session virtual grant-writing and fund preparedness training targeted to small, rural nonprofits in the Pacific Northwest. See the website for session descriptions and registration information.

Date: May 8 through June 5 (one day per week)

Time: 10 am to 12 noon

Place: Virtual 

Cost: $75.00Forest Shomer Presentation: Olympic Peninsula PrairiesThe Kul Kah Han Native Plant Garden is excited to present a bi-monthly speaker series focusing on the importance of planting native plants in your garden. The speaker for this installment is Forest Shomer, owner of Inside Passage Seeds. All talks will be in the Salmon Shelter – some seating available, but feel free to bring a lawn chair! Rain or shine!

Date: May 10thTime: 1 – 2pmPlace: Salmon Shelter, Kul Kah Han Native Plant Demonstration Garden, H.J. Carroll Park , Chimacum

Salish Sea Science Roundtable: Transboundary Threats: European Green Crab in the Salish Sea (via Zoom)

Drs. P. Sean McDonald (University of Washington) and Thomas Therriault (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) bring nearly 50 years of combined expertise in the science and management of invasive European green crab (EGC). Their presentation will delve into the challenges posed by EGC in the transboundary waters of the Salish Sea, highlighting ongoing science into the species’ detrimental effects on native species and habitats, as well as threats to cultured and wild shellfish resources.

Date: May 13th

Time: 10:30

Place: Via Zoom – learn more and register here!News and Information

Puget Sound Legislative Wrap-up: What Was and Was Not Funded in Olympia

The 2025 Session of the Washington State Legislature has adjourned Sine Die on April 27. A robust budget deficit and debates about state spending and revenue dictated the session’s flow and outcomes, especially in the final weeks. Due to concerns about implementation costs, many bills aligned with Puget Sound recovery failed to pass and many more were trimmed back to reduce the associated workload. And the final budget included a series of budget cuts that will slow the work of Puget Sound recovery. At the same time, several new policies and budget items survived the legislative process and will provide benefits to Puget Sound recovery. Read the full review of the budget session as it affects funding for Puget Sound recovery efforts. 

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Poster Released!During the National Marine Sanctuary System’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2022, a commemorative poster series was launched to capture the beauty and diversity of each site in the system.  On April 17, 2025, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries announced the release of the 12th poster featuring iconic species and features of this west coast sanctuary. The poster can be downloaded (and admired)  at Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Poster | Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. OOCNMS thanks all of the artists and partners who contributed to this effort!Jobs and Board Openings

Clallam MRC Seeks New Members and Alternates

The Clallam Marine Resources Committee has several openings to fill, including a Community at Large member and a representative for Conservation and Environmental Interests. You can find the full list at the bottom of this page.If you’re interested in any of these roles, please apply via the Clallam County website or contact MRC Coordinator Cathy Lear for more information. 

Call for Applications – Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) Science Panel

PSP’s Leadership Council is seeking applications to join the Science Panel. Call for applications here. For questions, please contact Amber Raney, Boards Program Coordinator at Amber.Raney@psp.wa.gov.

Date: Application materials are due June 20th

Strait Ecosystem Recovery Network

See what’s happening – Strait Eco Events Calendar!

Email: coordinator@straitern.org

Website: www.straitern.org

Filed under: education, Environmental Activism, environmental education, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: | Comments Off on Update from the Strait Ecosystem Recovery Network

Legislative Roundup

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Al Bergstein

2025 Session Recap

From the Puget Sound Partnership: The 2025 Session of the Washington State Legislature has adjourned Sine Die on April 27. A robust budget deficit and debates about state spending and revenue dictated the session’s flow and outcomes, especially in the final weeks. Due to concerns about implementation costs, many bills aligned with Puget Sound recovery failed to pass and many more were trimmed back to reduce the associated workload. And the final budget included a series of budget cuts that will slow the work of Puget Sound recovery. At the same time, several new policies and budget items survived the legislative process and will provide benefits to Puget Sound recovery, including:

  • Ongoing funding to various state natural resource agencies to support interagency cooperation on environmental permitting of habitat restoration projects.
  • A new round of capital investments in habitat restoration and clean water infrastructure through programs like Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration, Floodplains by Design, Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program, Stormwater Financial Assistance, Centennial Clean Water, and Remedial Action Grants.
  • Closure of a loophole in the Growth Management Act (GMA) to ensure local government plans are consistent with recent amendments to the GMA.
  • New investments in state capacity to monitor toxic chemicals from stormwater and implement measures to reduce those toxics.
  • Extension of the riparian task force and investments in voluntary riparian restoration efforts.

This online newsletter contains subpages for each of the Action Agenda topic areas listed at the top of the page. Each page includes a narrative description of themes and an interactive bill watchlist. The final budget page also includes a full breakdown of budget details.

Read the whole thing at

https://legislativenewsletter-wa-psp.hub.arcgis.com

A point of view from the Washington Policy Center (a conservative group), but worth noting for it’s summary, which seems pretty balanced in it’s analysis…(would welcome a critique of their POV)

Climate and Environmental Spending: Ambitious but Costly

The budget allocates $1 billion in spending to climate and environmental programs, and does not change significantly from the previous budget. The Climate Commitment Act (CCA), which imposes a tax on CO2 emissions, is projected to generate approximately $1.6 billion in revenue according to the department of Ecology. The additional tax is passed onto consumers through higher fuel and energy prices.

Washington Policy Center’s research estimates that the tax on CO2 emissions adds 40 cents per gallon to gasoline prices, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income households. While the budget funds rebates for low-income families, these are insufficient to offset the regressive nature of the tax. Furthermore, the effectiveness of these investments in reducing emissions is poor, according to the Department of Ecology’s own research. Policymakers should prioritize effectiveness and consider redirecting funds to more immediate priorities, such as infrastructure or tax relief.

Fiscal Sustainability and Taxpayer Impact

The budget’s 6.5% spending increase outpaces the state’s economic growth rate (projected at 4.5% annually). This trajectory risks depleting overall reserves, projected to drop from $3.2 billion to $2.2 billion by 2027, but does add money to the state’s rainy-day fund. The four-year budget outlook shows a potential multi-billion shortfall unless revenues grow unexpectedly, or spending is curtailed. This raises the specter of future tax increases, particularly given Washington’s already high sales, property, and business taxes.

The budget’s reliance on one-time revenues, such as federal grants and the revenue from CCA auctions, masks structural imbalances. When these funds dry up, taxpayers may face pressure to backfill programs rather than cancel them. Washington Policy Center recommends adopting a sustainable growth model, such as tying spending increases to inflation plus population growth, which would cap biennial increases at 5-6%. This approach would preserve reserves and reduce the need for future tax hikes.

Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity for Reform

The 2025-27 conference budget reflects prioritizes spending over fiscal discipline. While investments in education, health care, and climate programs address pressing issues, their scale and structure raise concerns about affordability, efficiency, and long-term consequences. Taxpayers, already grappling with high costs of living, deserve a budget that maximizes value through competition, innovation, and accountability.

Despite record revenues, the budget proposal offers little in the way of tax relief for Washington families and businesses. The state’s tax burden has risen steadily in recent years, driven by increases in property taxes, sales taxes, and a controversial new capital gains tax. With billions in increased in spending over the next four years, lawmakers could easily afford to return some of that money to taxpayers-or at least pause new tax hikes.

Read their analysis of the whole budget items (more categories they analyze) at

https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/the-washington-state-2025-27-budget-proposal-is-out-and-legislators-are-still-spending-money-the-state-doesnt-have

Filed under: Environmental Law, Environmental Protection, Government, legislation | Comments Off on Legislative Roundup

Clallam County MRC Letter re: 3 Crabs road flooding

Posted on April 20, 2025 by Al Bergstein

The Clallam County MRC has sent this letter to the Clallam County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) and the Clallam County Department of Community Development (DCD).RE: Shoreline management at Three Crabs Road.

At its recent monthly meeting, the MRC agreed to invoke its advisory responsibitity to the BOCC and communicate our concern about shoreline armoring (permitted and unpermitted) on Three Crabs Road, which recently came to our attention.

What we are seeing

Despite Comprehensive Plan policies for protecting marine shorelines and no-net-loss goats of the Shoreline Management Program, bulkheads have been and continue to be permitted – most often under emergency provisions following erosion from extreme storm surges, which are almost becoming an annual occurrence. ln addition, NASA has recently concluded that the pace of sea leveI rise is faster than previously thought, due to the thermal expansion of the ocean’s mass.

Summary of concerns

The MRC is concerned that intensifying weather conditions wit[ continue to cause erosion and that emergency bulkheads will continue to be requested and built, one property at a time, resulting insignificant impacts on shoretine functions and ecology. We urge the BOCC and DCD to develop a strategy that comprehensively addresses property and shoreline protection on Three Crabs Road.

The strategy shoutd include continued education and outreach to planners, contractors, property owners and county residents overall, and should also:

> clarify that avoidance of ecologicaI impacts is the top priority (but if avoidance is impossibte then

Ecology’s sequence of mitigation actions for shorelines should be followed and

> consider adjacent impacts and cumutative effects of any action; and

> identify mitigative approaches if avoidance is impossibte; and

> provide how no net loss witt be achieved through compensatory mitigation.

Filed under: Clallam County, Environmental Law, Environmental Protection, Environmental Science, Olympic Peninsula, Straits of Juan de Fuca | 3 Comments »

Local Environmental Volunteer Opportunities

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Al Bergstein

Trees are blooming or budding out. Frogs are calling to each other. Lots of green is emerging from the ground. Spring is here and, with it, lots of opportunities for volunteering and connecting, both locally and regionally. Amy and I will do our best to wrangle the overflowing inbox into organized information-sharing!

With Earth Day coming up, please send us your Earth Day events information so we can share it out on our calendar and newsletter! We have been updating our calendar, so please remember to check it out in between newsletters and to send us your events to add.

Enjoy the vibrant greens of the season,

Angela of the Strait ERN

____________________________

Local Volunteer Opportunities

North Olympic Salmon Coalition is seeking volunteers. Sign up here.

As part of our Salmon in the Schools program, students have spent the last couple months raising coho salmon from eggs and now will get a chance to release them into a local waterway. They will also participate in several other activities such as macroinvertebrate studies, salmon life cycle games, art, and habitat tours. Volunteers help NOSC staff lead activities, set-up and take-down supplies, and ensure students rotate through activity stations safely. 

Dates: April 15th, 17th, 25th & May 1st, 8th, 9th Tentative timing is from 8:30am-1:30pm

Location: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe House of Salmon Hatchery on the Elwha River

Dates: April 10th and 22nd Tentative timing is from 10am-2pm

Location: HJ Carrol Park on Chimacum Creek



Earth Day Beach Cleanup – Sun, Apr 19th
The PTMSC annual Earth Day beach cleanup brings volunteers together from far and wide to clean the beaches and roadways in our area. For more information, visit the event listing or contact Mandi Johnson at 360-385-5582 ext115.
Time: 9am-1pm Location: Meet at Fort Worden State Park or Chimacum Corner FarmstandEarth Day:  Make a Direct Impact – Sat, Apr 26thThis Earth Day weekend, dedicate your time to meaningful, hands-on activities that directly benefit the environment at Fort Flagler State Park. Participate in two impactful volunteering opportunities: Invasive Species Pull: Join a community effort to remove invasive plants that threaten our ecosystems. Beach Clean-Up: Take part in a shoreline cleanup to remove trash and plastic debris from our beautiful beaches. Specific locations will be provided via email after registration on Eventbrite.
Time: 10am-2pmLocation: Fort Flagler Historical State Park, 10541 Flagler Road NordlandLocal Events (Educational and Fun)

Olympic BirdFest: April 10-13

Four days of birding education, field trips, and more, centered at the Dungeness River Nature Center. Learn more and register here.

Celebrating Cougars! – Sun, Apr 13th Join Cedar Root School for a family-friendly afternoon celebrating local cougars. Learn about ecology and natural history from biologists, enjoy speed talks on cougars and conservation projects, and enjoy an excerpt from the upcoming film “Heart of a Lion,” which highlights work conducted by the Olympic Cougar Project.

Time: 3pm-8pmLocation: Finnriver Cidery, 124 Center Road, Chimacum, WA 98325
Class: Soil Care and Water-Wise Routines – Thu, Apr 10th or Sun, Apr 20th
What is soil? How can I care for it? How does it affect my plants? This class will explore basic soil science, how healthy soil grows healthy plants, and soil’s connection to water-wise habits. You’ll leave this class with answers to the above questions and a basic plan for how you can care for your own soil throughout the entire year. Registration is required. Send email for more information.
Time: Apr 10th, 4-6pm or Apr 20th, 10am-12pmLocation: The Hedgerow by Cruising Climate, 3059 7th Street, Port Townsend
Ancient Tribal Stewardship, Contemporary Relations to the Land – Thu, Apr 10th 
The Jefferson County Master Gardener Foundation presents this timely topic sponsored by the JCMGF and WSU Master Gardener Program. Loni Greninger, vice chair of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Council, will speak about the relationship between S’Klallam people and the land and how land stewardship has changed over time.  Learn examples of land stewardship tools, traditional foods, tribal values, and how those values inspire contemporary land management practices. It is free and open to the public. For more information, go to the JCMGF website.
Time: 3 – 4pmLocation: WSU Extension classroom, Kivley Center, 97 Oak Bay Road, Port Hadlock
Jefferson WSU Extension Beach Naturalists Training – Apr 15th through May 15th

The Beach Naturalists training provides Jefferson and Clallam County residents with the opportunity to turn environmental knowledge into action! Through this multi-day training, participants will learn about Salish Sea habitats and species, conservation efforts, and ways to get involved in local marine stewardship. This training is taught by regional experts and includes Zoom classroom sessions and in-person guided beach explorations.
This year’s training includes 6 live Zoom classes and 5 optional field trip days, held Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 15 through May 15, 2025. For exact dates, registration, and further information, please visit our Eventbrite page. Contact Katie by email with any questions.
Friends of the East Jefferson Trails Connections Public Meeting – Thur, Apr 10th Linda Berry-Maraist, President of the North Kitsap Trails Connection (NKTA), will describe the land acquisitions now amounting to 5,000 acres, including the Sound to Olympics (STO) Trail route. This is an opportunity to get better acquainted with our neighbors as we coordinate efforts to build the trail connecting the STO with the Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT) between Hood Canal and Discovery Bay.
Time: 9 amLocation: Finnriver Farm and Cidery, 124 Center Road, ChimacumAround the Sound

PSP Action Plan Update: You’ve been seeing and will see lots of invitations to workshops for various parts of the PSP’s Action Plans. We’re in the middle of reviewing and updating Action Plans for 2026-2030. You can see the timeline and learn more about the overall process here. I try to share upcoming workshop info (see below, for example), but please let me know if you want information about additional opportunities for comments, review, etc, and I will create a separate email list that goes out more frequently.

PSP Science Panel Meeting: The agenda and meeting materials for the April 10 Science Panel meeting are now available. This meeting will be held in-person at the Center for Urban Waters, Commencement Bay Room, 326 E D St., Tacoma, WA 98421. The meeting will also be livestreamed (view only) through TVW. The link can be found on the agenda. You can also use the TVW link to view a recording of the meeting later.

Webinar: Planners’ Briefing For Puget Sound Parcel-Scale Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment

Learn more and register here: https://www.coastalplanners.org/upcoming-webinars

Time: Friday, April 18, 2025, 10-11am New Marine Vegetation Strategy Workshops, Virtual, April 23-24The Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead (HSIL) is developing the Marine Vegetation Implementation Strategy. The Implementation Strategy will build off a foundation established through two regional plans, the Puget Sound Eelgrass Recovery Strategy and the Puget Sound Kelp Conservation and Restoration Plan and coalesce the priorities and needs from both plans into a comprehensive strategy. The Marine Vegetation Implementation Strategy will describe priority strategies and approaches to protect and recover marine vegetation in Puget Sound. The Strategy will also help guide Puget Sound investments and align recovery opportunities across agencies and programs. 

Learn more and register here.

Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Hub: The Puget Sound Partnership is launching a new Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Hub, an innovative, interactive online platform designed to centralize and share vital information about Chinook salmon recovery efforts in the Puget Sound Region.Other News and Events

Local Prairies, North Olympic Land Trust: Learn about the North Olympic Land Trust’s work with native prairies in this short video.Recording: The Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead (HSIL) Subrecipient Summit brings together HSIL-funded project leads, HSIL staff, Habitat Strategic Initiative Advisory Team, and partners to enhance connections across the diverse and critical work to implement the Habitat Implementation Strategies. Summit recording includes welcome remarks from WDFW and DNR leadership, 3 deep dive presentations and 22 4 minute lightning talks from HSIL grant recipients. Summit recording
The Quileute Tribe is hiring a Fish Passage Biologist. See job description for more information about the position and how to apply.Coastal Hazards Resilience Network Annual Meeting, June 9, Lacey, WA

Join coastal decision-makers, planners, resource managers, researchers, and other practitioners for a day of knowledge sharing and partnership-building around the exciting and important work that is currently happening in Washington’s coastal resilience space. This event is targeted towards coastal hazards and climate resiliency practitioners from local, state, and federal government agencies, tribes, academic institutions, consulting firms, and nonprofit organizations, and other relevant organizations.
Learn more and register at: CHRN Meeting Registration

Strait Ecosystem Recovery Network

See what’s happening – Strait Eco Events Calendar!

Email: coordinator@straitern.org

Website: www.straitern.org

Filed under: Environmental Activism, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: | Comments Off on Local Environmental Volunteer Opportunities

Head of largest insurance company “Climate Crisis on track to Destroy Capitalism

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Al Bergstein

Hardly a left wing nut, the head of Allianz AZ has said we must change now.

“These extreme weather phenomena drive direct physical risks to all categories of human-owned assets—land, houses, roads, power lines, railways, ports, and factories. Heat and water destroy capital. Flooded homes lose value. Overheated cities become uninhabitable. Entire asset classes are degrading in real time, which translates to loss of value, business interruption, and market devaluation on a systemic level.

The insurance industry has historically managed these risks. But we are fast approaching temperature levels—1.5°C, 2°C, 3°C—where insurers will no longer be able to offer coverage for many of these risks. The math breaks down: the premiums required exceed what people or companies can pay. This is already happening. Entire regions are becoming uninsurable. (See: State Farm and Allstate exiting California’s home insurance market due to wildfire risk, 2023)….

At that (3 degrees above pre-industrial times) point, risk cannot be transferred (no insurance), risk cannot be absorbed (no public capacity), and risk cannot be adapted to (physical limits exceeded). That means no more mortgages, no new real estate development, no long-term investment, no financial stability. The financial sector as we know it ceases to function. And with it, capitalism as we know it ceases to be viable.

www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/03/climate-crisis-on-track-to-destroy-capitalism-warns-allianz-insurer

Filed under: Olympic Peninsula | 1 Comment »

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