This is always a fun day. Never dug for clams? A chance to learn with a pro. Bring the kids! My son always loved digging clams. Still does.
Filed under: Jefferson County, Jefferson County, Puget Sound | Tagged: Jefferson County, Puget Sound | Comments Off on EVENT: Digging for Dinner! Saturday!
It appears that this new guide for forest management may be an improvement. The environmental community seems to be cautiously optimistic for this, and use of more site specific new technology to adapt forest management to the facts on the ground seems to be a good move.
“This roadmap for experimentation, research and monitoring will help DNR find new and better ways of reaching its timber harvest goals and ecological objectives …”
For those wonks wanting to read the document, go here:
The 171-page document is available on the DNR website, www.dnr.wa.gov.
Read the whole story at the Peninsula Daily News. Support local journalism. Subscribe to your local paper.
Department of Natural Resources issues plan to guide West End forest management
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: clallam county, DNR, forest practices, Jefferson County, Puget Sound | Comments Off on Department of Natural Resources issues plan to guide West End forest management -PDN
Just in from Al Latham. While not as big as some years, it seems statistically pretty normal
Salmon Creek chums are up to 1,667 and 262 Snow Creek chum have been passed upstream of the WDFW station. It’s important to note that the Snow Creek graph doesn’t include all of the fish that spawn in the ¾ mile downstream between the trap and the bay.
Snow Creek chum are negotiating the new channel in the estuary just fine and there are some redds in that lowest stretch.
The upper reaches of Salmon Creek chum territory are quieter than last year but the fish are still coming in at 60 -130 per day.
Here is a male that came through on Tuesday – my friend Renee Karlovich took the photo.
Filed under: Puget Sound, Salmon | Tagged: Jefferson County, Puget Sound, Salmon Creek, Salmon Recovery, Snow creek | Comments Off on Chum Salmon Runs normal on Snow & Salmon Creeks
The proposed Pleasant Harbor Resort would either be an economic boom for Brinnon or destroy its bucolic way of life, according to speakers at a Jefferson County Planning Commission meeting…. More than 150 people were crammed into Brinnon School’s auditorium for the meeting on an application from Statesman Groupe of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for a zoning change for 252 acres from rural residential to master planned resort. Planners heard public comment on the project and the final supplemental environmental impact statement, which was released Dec. 9. Charlie Bermant reports. (Peninsula Daily News)
Filed under: Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula, Puget Sound | Tagged: Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula, Puget Sound | Comments Off on Pros cons argued on Pleasant Harbor resort -PDN
Another beauty by photographer Bruce Kerwin from under Point Hudson Jetty.
White glove leather colonial tunicate overgrowing a bladder clam with the incurrent and excurrent siphons showing (identification by Andy Lamb) – Point Hudson at Port Townsend, Washington
Filed under: Jefferson County, Jefferson County, Port Townsend | Tagged: Jefferson County, Port Townsend, White glove leather colonial tunicate | Comments Off on Photo of the Day: Stalked Tunicate
Another gem from Bruce Kerwin of Bainbridge Island. 
Juvenile Puget Sound King Crab at Point Hudson (eventually the white cap will disappear and he will grow to more than 4 times its current size) – Port Townsend, WA;
Filed under: Puget Sound, Sea Life | Tagged: Crab, crab, Jefferson County, point hudson, Port Townsend, Puget Sound | Comments Off on Photo of the Day -Juvenile Puget Sound King Crab at Point Hudson
This should be interesting. I’ll look through the results and post on this next week. The Irondale results are going to likely create a project to better identify where the raw human sewage is coming from.
The results of a three-year water quality study are to be presented at two public meetings this month, with the first set for Thursday. “We hope people will come away with an understanding of the overall water quality in the northwest portion of the Quimper Peninsula,” said Michael Dawson, Jefferson County water quality manager…. The test area included Cape George, Port Townsend, Port Hadlock, Marrowstone Island and Oak Bay, with samples taken along 40 miles of shoreline and tested for E. coli bacteria. The project included sampling Port Townsend stormwater, comparing the water quality of Marrowstone Island and Indian Island, and discovering a major source of pollution in Irondale. Dawson said Irondale Creek was the most polluted area tested, attributable to a number of failed or failing septic systems in its proximity. Charlie Bermant reports. (Peninsula Daily News)
Filed under: Jefferson County, Jefferson County, Puget Sound | Tagged: Jefferson County, Puget Sound | Comments Off on Results of Jefferson County water quality study to be detailed at meetings starting Thursday on Marrowstone Island -PDN
Warning for those of you going out to do some shellfish gathering.
…. The Department of Health found high levels of the marine biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning in Hood Canal early this summer, leading the state to close several beaches in Jefferson and Mason counties to shellfish harvest, many for the first time. Aria Shephard Bull reports. (Kitsap Sun)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/biotoxin-infesting-part-of-hood-canal-usually-free-of-it_77950401
See also: More shellfish harvest closures in effect in Clallam County; shut areas stretch from Cape Flattery to Jefferson line http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150816/NEWS/308169987/more-shellfish-harvest-closures-in-effect-in-clallam-county-shut (Peninsula Daily News)
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: biotoxin, hood canal, Jefferson County, mason county, paralytic shellfish poisoning, Puget Sound, Shellfish | Comments Off on Biotoxin infesting part of Hood Canal usually free of it – PDN
There has been a number of people wondering about who were poaching these oysters.
SEATTLE – The former owner of a shellfish company based in Jefferson County was sentenced today to 5½ years in prison after a poaching investigation by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) proved he and his employees had stolen millions of oysters and clams off Washington beaches.
Rodney Allan Clark, 50, former owner of G&R Quality Seafood in Quilcene, pleaded guilty in King County Superior Court to 17 counts of trafficking in stolen property and one count of reckless endangerment for selling shellfish to the public without a state health certification.
Clark was also ordered to return to court next month for a hearing to determine restitution for the shellfish he and his employees stole from beaches in Jefferson and Kitsap counties.
Eight of Clark’s former employees, some of whom cooperated with the investigation, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fishing violations in previous court appearances and received a combination of fines and jail time.
Clark’s sentencing marked the end of a high-profile case that was delayed for nearly a year after the former convict jumped bail in 2013 and fled the state. He was finally extradited from Hawaii under a warrant signed by Gov. Jay Inslee the following year.
Court records describe how a tip from a shellfish inspector for the Washington Department of Health prompted WDFW to open its investigation of G&R Quality Seafood in April 2009.
According to the health inspector, a shellfish buyer reported buying thousands of Clark’s oysters, which made some of his customers in Yakima and the Tri-Cities sick.
For the next 11 months, WDFW detectives developed a case on Clark and his employees, documenting their activities as they illegally harvested shellfish at night on isolated beaches in Jefferson and Kitsap counties. The detectives also monitored the movement of the stolen shellfish to King County, where Clark and his employees sold it at a profit to restaurants, fish markets, and seafood wholesalers.
WDFW Police Chief Steve Crown estimates that Clark and his employees illegally harvested more than $2 million worth of oysters and clams from publicly and privately owned beaches, but said the true value of the stolen shellfish may never be known.
“These poachers stripped entire beaches of oysters and clams, and recklessly sold uncertified shellfish for public consumption,” Crown said. “This was a crime against the people and the natural resources of our state, and we made it a priority to get their ringleader off the street and shut his operation down.”
In March 2010, the WDFW Police seized thousands of documents detailing the operations of G&R Quality Seafood after obtaining a warrant to search Clark’s office in Quilcene and other properties. Several other agencies participated in those raids, including the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Based on WDFW’s investigation, Clark was charged in King County Superior Court in December 2011, but was released on bail pending trial. In December 2013, he failed to appear for a pretrial court date, leading to an interstate search that led first to Alaska, then to Hawaii.
Clark, who previously served a prison sentence for drug offenses in Montana, was eventually arrested in Hawaii and extradited to Washington state under a warrant issued last year by Gov. Inslee.
“We’d like to thank all the agencies that helped us bring Rodney Allan Clark to justice, particularly the King County Prosecutor’s Office,” Crown said. “If the prosecutor hadn’t agreed to pursue this case, Rodney Clark would probably still be out on the oyster beds, plundering the state’s natural resources.”
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: clams, G&R Seafood, Jefferson County, oysters, poaching, Police, Puget Sound, Quilcene, WDFW | Comments Off on Poacher draws 5 1/2 years in prison after investigation by WDFW Police
Good news from the State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Based on the good outcomes of similar workshops a few years ago, the Northwest Straits Foundation, which helps support the work of the Jefferson and Clallam County Marine Resource Committees, has been chosen as one of the recipients of a grant. The grant will allow us to hold workshops and offer technical training on state of the art information for reducing hard-armoring of shorelines. This money will be used in the counties affected. It's a great example of using the State to fund the activities but keeping them by and for the people who know the priorities at the local level. An example of what this is all about can be found by watching this short video we did two years ago for Jefferson County. There is a very good example of soft shore armoring in it. Done by folks over on Dungeness Bay. http://vimeo.com/68819395
OLYMPIA - Five proposals to provide incentives for shoreline landowners in Puget Sound to manage their property in a "shore friendly" way will receive funding through the Puget Sound Marine and Nearshore Grant Program at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
The grant program, jointly managed by WDFW and the Washington Department of Natural Resources, will distribute $1.6 million provided by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support actions outlined in the state’s Action Agenda for Puget Sound.
“Reducing the amount of hard-armored shoreline is critical to Puget Sound recovery,” said Patricia Jatczak, grant program manager. “Shore-friendly techniques that avoid the use of bulkheads, seawalls and other types of hard armor can protect property with minimal interference to important natural processes that create and maintain aquatic habitat.”
The grant proposals are designed to examine how incentives can be used to motivate residential landowners to remove unnecessary armor or install soft shore protection if needed, Jatczak said. Those incentives may include onsite technical assistance, help with permit costs and workshops for landowners.
The five applicants selected to receive funding were:
Since 2010, the state grant program has received more than $18 million in funding from the EPA to support the state’s Puget Sound Action Agenda. The funding has supported about 60 projects including those designed to restore marine habitat, support citizen science at the state’s protected aquatic areas, and engage citizens in preparing and responding to oil spills.
The program also developed the Marine Shoreline Design Guidelines, which provide guidance on using soft shore techniques.
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: Jefferson County, Puget Sound, soft shore armoring, workshop | Comments Off on Grants will support ‘shore friendly’ landowner projects in Puget Sound – WDFW
Jefferson County Conservation Futures Program. Citizen Oversight Committee Vacancies: District #1, District #3 and Interest
The Conservation Futures Citizen Oversight Committee members make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on the selection and funding of open space projects utilizing the Conservation Futures Fund. The Board of County Commissioners seeks representation on the committee from each commissioner district and a broad spectrum of interests. There are currently vacancies for citizens to represent District #1, District #3 and an “Interest” on the committee. Examples of interests include parks and recreation, user groups, agriculture, forestry, conservation organizations and real estate. Other interests not listed here may also be represented. The committee meets approximately six times per year, with the majority of activities usually scheduled in April. Interested individuals should submit a letter or email to the Office of the Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368 or jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us no later than 4:30 p.m. Friday, November 28, 2014. These are non-paid positions. For more information, contact Tami Pokorny, Jefferson County Environmental Health Dept. at Ph: (360) 379-4498 or email tpokorny@co.jefferson.wa.us. View the Conservation Futures Program Web site at www.co.jefferson.wa.us. Click on “Conservation Futures”.
Tami Pokorny
Jefferson County Water Quality
Ph: 360.379.4498
Filed under: Government | Tagged: Conservation Futures Committee, government, Jefferson County | Comments Off on Seeking applications for Jefferson County Conservation Futures Committee
So this is the rest of the story, which was originally posted in the Forks Forum and reposted here. The Forks Forum article read like a conspiracy theory report, with mentions of a tiny notice in one location in Forks and no contact with local newspapers, elected officials or anyone else. I almost didn’t pass it along because I didn’t have time to verify it independently.
Without any debate from our elected officials in the last three years, we have allowed the Navy to continue to turn our forests, waters and airspace into a training ground for their war games. Since the Forest Service has decided that there is no health hazard (a bureaucrat decided this on the public’s behalf without consulting scientists apparently), the Navy has not been asked to do a public Environmental Impact statement. For those hiking, mushroom collecting, fishing, and hunting in the woods, you may never even know you are possibly being given large doses of electromagnetic radiation. We have endangered species like the Marbled Murrlett, and the Spotted Owl along with eagles out there in those woods as well. All you can hope is that the Navy actually sees you before they blast you. It would be great to see one of our elected officials step in and demand an EIS on this, rather than rely on the good graces of the military, which operates much of what they do in total secret. Without it, we have no idea of what kind of risks this poses. It’s the kind of thing that is much better suited to a treeless, remote Alaskan island in the Aleutians than a working forest.
My issue with all this, is that while well meaning, many of the soldiers working in our bases around here are not from here. And their commanders apparently don’t train them on how these issues affect us. They have no local knowledge of the people who sail, work the forests, or otherwise live here. We see that all the time in the way we are treated when the Coast Guard stops us sailing around the Bay because they need to practice their boarding techniques, treating us as criminals or possible terrorists. We are the ones who pay their salaries. They serve to protect us. We may be doing nothing more than sailing around an area that they are practicing in, and we become their targets for the day. We also see it in the lack of concern that the Navy shows by flying jets at all hours of the day and night. And now we see it here, where military personnel apparently decided there was no reason to really notify anyone about a major war games project in our woods. As an example, on the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee, we have a standing open position for the Navy, a key player in the shorelines and waters of our county. Despite repeated attempts over the years to get them to participate, by sending even one low level PR person to the meetings, they have never felt it necessary to even show up. It just shows a lack of interest in engaging the public, except when they are forced to. This wargames story is another sad example of that.
FORKS — The Navy wants to allow three camper-sized trucks with electromagnetic radiation equipment to conduct war exercises with military aircraft from 15 sites in Clallam, Jefferson and Grays Harbor counties.
The locations — 12 in Olympic National Forest and three on state Department of Natural Resources land — would be part of the Pacific Northwest Electronic Warfare Range and would involve aircraft from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
Read the rest of the story here: (and support local journalism by subscribing to the PDN!)
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: clallam county, EIS, Environmental Impact, Forks, Jefferson County, Navy, Navy Expansion, War Games | 4 Comments »
Here it comes, the lawsuit. This is likely to take a long time to move through the courts, maybe a decade.
Hood Canal Sand and Gravel, the company seeking the long-planned “pit to pier” gravel operation, has filed suit in Jefferson County Superior Court in an effort to block a state and federal plan to block development along the Hood Canal coastline. Joe Smillie reports. (Peninsula Daily News)
See also: Deadline looms for comments on the pit-to-pier impact statement http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/local-news/deadline-looms-for-comments-on-the-pittopier-impact-statement_72560226 Christopher Dunagan reports. (Kitsap Sun)
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: Jefferson County, Pit To Pier, Puget Sound | Comments Off on Company seeking ‘pit-pier’ project sues state, Navy over new Hood Canal conservation easement
Have you sent in your ballot? Time to get it done! And help a neighbor remember too!
The primaries are on. For Jefferson County, there is a bit of confusion as the Republicans have vanished and “independents” are now the label that they are taking. But let’s look at some of the races.
US. House of Representatives. Derek Kilmer
Derek has done an admirable job of navigating the House of Representatives, which are currently controlled by a radically anti-environmental group of Republicans who insist on trying to overturn key legislation, or open more locales to mining, fracking and the like.
The League of Conservation Voters has a good overview of his voting record here.
http://www.lcv.org/elections/environmental-facebook/derek-kilmer.html
Derek has teamed up with Republicans to create a bi-partisan Puget Sound Recovery Caucus, to continue to fight for funding to promote Sound cleanup.
Vote backgrounds
http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/51516/derek-kilmer/30/environment#.U8075OZdXhA
While I applaud the idea of the Green Party coming to the field with Doug Milholland, I would not recommend voting out a successful and proven Congressman with an unproven candidate, no matter what his promises might be. If the current position was filled by an anti-environmental legislator, then I would be seriously considering Mr. Milholland’s candidacy. I attempted to get an interview with Mr. Milholland but apparently we were unable to connect in the last two weeks.
State of Washington House of Representatives. Steve Tharinger and Kevin Van De Wege
Both these candidates have proven themselves to support environmental law and policy. I have met them over the years, and witnessed them working. I fully support their return to office over any of the possible other candidates.
Jefferson County Commissioner District 3 – Kathleen Kler.
Ms. Kler is the hand picked replacement for a very supportive environmentally oriented Commissioner, John Austin. While I have only interviewed two of the other candidates, their lack of depth and experience in environmental issues, and their focus on jobs over all other issues, leaves me coming back to the fact that Ms. Kler has worked closely on a number of issues throughout the County as documented on her web page:
http://kathleenkler2014.com/about-kathleen/
She is endorsed by the Jefferson County Democrats, which also means that she has proven herself adept at working with large diverse groups. With the County Critical Areas Ordinance up for revision during the next term, it’s important to have a clear environmental supporter on the Commissioners, along with the current two.
Public Utility District #2 Ken Collins
I think it’s time to swap out Mr. McMillan after the disaster of the switch over to the PUD. Low income people have had their power cut during winter, billing was poorly executed, and support of environmentally friendly power generation is put on the back burner. A lack of sensitivity to the customer permeates the current PUD, and Mr. Collins brings experience dealing with other power and energy companies, and also a commitment to help serve low income population, which comprises a large percentage of the county.
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: Derek Kilmer, elections, Jefferson County, Kathleen Kler, Ken Collins, Puget Sound, Rep Kevin Van De Wege, Rep Steve Tharinger, voting | Comments Off on This week…VOTE
Received from the S.C.
The North Olympic Group of the Sierra Club is following closely the race for Jefferson County PUD Commissioner, District 2. Recently, the PUD has assumed the
role of an electric utility but has fallen far short of what citizens had hoped for when Jefferson County voted to establish its own pubic electric utility and to end its
longstanding relationship with Puget Sound Energy (PSE).For this reason we think it’s time for new PUD leadership. We encourage Sierra Club
members to support candidates in the primary who understand the importance of environmental and conservation issues and the important role the PUD can play in
developing a long-range strategy that emphasizes affordable and environmentally sustainable energy for Jefferson County. After the Sierra Club North Olympic
Peninsula Political Committee Chairs interviewed all three candidates, we felt both challengers–Tony DeLeo and Kenneth Collins–are worthy of your support in the
primary.
Since taking on the responsibility of a power utility, the PUD has sent hundreds of disconnect notices to lower-income citizens because it failed to continue the
financial assistance programs PSE had in place for helping people pay their winter heating bills. Additionally, the PUD is faced with the prospect of turning back
hundreds of thousands of dollars earmarked for conservation by the Bonneville Power Administration because of a failure to publicize and aggressively market
these programs. Finally, despite the fact that Jefferson County has one of the highest solar adoption rates in the state, the PUD has failed to make solar one of its
priorities. This is particularly important in light of the fact that, depending on the year, from 10-20% of the PUDs electricity comes from nuclear and coal sources that
need to be phased out. It’s time for a change.
Tony DeLeo’s blogspot provides more voter information. You can view his profile and where he stands on local issues by clicking on this link:
http://deleo4pud.blogspot.com/. Kenneth Collins has provided more voter information at his website. You can view
his profile and where he stands on local issues by clicking on this link:
http://kennethcollinspud.com/
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: elections, Jefferson County, Kenneth Collins, PUD, Puget Sound, Tony DeLeo | Comments Off on North Olympic Sierra Club weighs in on PUD race
I’ll have a longer op-ed piece on this later today or tomorrow.
A Jefferson County judge has rejected a request for a temporary injunction against a state-approved harvest of 234 acres of timber on the West End adjacent to habitat of the threatened marbled murrelet…. Charlie Bermant reports. (Peninsula Daily News)
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: endangered species, Jefferson County, marbled murrelett, Puget Sound, timber | 1 Comment »
The Peninsula Daily News reports today that the Thorndyke Resources Project will take a legal challenge on the Shoreline Master Plan to the Growth Management Board. Given what the PDN reports, it seems unlikely to be successful, but hope springs eternal with these folks, and they apparently have the money to hire the lawyers to challenge it.
Read the whole story here:
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: hood canal, Jefferson County, john fabian, Pit To Pier, Puget Sound, SMP, Thorndyke Resources Project | Comments Off on ‘Pit-to-pier’ firm appeals Jefferson County’s Shoreline Master Plan- PDN
Michelle McConnell, who has been a stalwart at the Jefferson County Dept. of Community Development for many years, has chosen to leave and work for the Department of Ecology. Michelle has had the extremely hard job of shepherding the Shoreline Master Program through over the last 8 years. She has always been a steady hand and been a sea of calm in the midst of turbulent public meetings over the SMP. We will miss her guidance on these issues. No word on a replacement yet. Best of luck to Michelle in future endeavors.
I’m pleased to announce I have accepted a new job and will be leaving DCD the week of April 7; my new position will be as a Shoreline Planner with WA Department of Ecology.
I have learned a lot during my eight years with the County and it has been both challenging and rewarding to have served as Project Manager for major, multi-year projects including the Shoreline Master Program Update and Watershed Stewardship Resource Center/SquareONE. I’m proud of the many positive contributions I’ve made to the never-ending, fast-paced and varied work of DCD.
Thanks to all the good folks I’ve met and worked with along the way!
Best wishes,
Michelle
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: county government, Department of Community Development, Jefferson County, Puget Sound, SMP | Comments Off on Jefferson County – Michelle McConnell leaves for Ecology
Jefferson County Commissioner John Austin has decided not to run for a third 4 year term. I have appreciated his strong stand on environmental issues over the last years, and will miss him on the Commission Board. He has been a very solid vote for environmental protection, health care for all county residents, and a man willing to deliberate over a position. Politics is about trying to make everyone feel like they are being considered, and some in this county have not felt that way over the last few years, but that wasn’t for a lack of trying by John. Good luck John in all your future travels. I thank you for your friendship and consultations.
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: government, Jefferson County, John Austin, Puget Sound | 1 Comment »
Just picked up the Port Townsend Leader today, and read the interview with Gene Farr, the new head of the Republican Party for Jefferson County. Beyond asking why anyone would want such a job, which the Leader did, Farr was allowed a lot of ink to rant against the environmental machine, which he claims is destroying the county. He also took off after the United Nations on the Agenda 21, which is a typical conspiracy theory floated by some of Fox News folks. Gene went on to denounced climate change and environmental protection while he was at it.
It’s really sort of sad where the Republican Party has ended up. More and more they seem like the Goldwater lunatic fringe of the 60s, rather than the party that ran this State in the late 60s through 70s. It was a Republican Governor,Dan Evans, who worked collaboratively with the the voters of King County to get Metro off the ground in it’s efforts to clean up Lake Washington. It was Republican Dan Evans who formed the first Department of Ecology at the State level in the US. Republican Secretary of State Ralph Munro, out on his boat on the Sound, witnessed first hand an Orca capture for the likes of a show much like the one documented in the recent movie “Blackfish”. Ralph was so upset by what he saw that he came back, called his friend Republican Slade Gordon and Governor Evans and pushed to outlaw the practice, thus beginning the long protection of these beautiful animals we share here in the Salish Sea. It was Republican Richard Nixon who, at popular request, and the urging of the Ash Council, supported the notion of the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, and named William Ruckelshaus, a Republican, to run it. Mr. Ruckelshaus has lived in the Seattle area since the 80s, and has been very much involved in helping with the Northwest Straits Initiative, and the founding of the Puget Sound Partnership. He’s still considered a pillar in the environmental community. Closer to home, there are Republicans in Clallam County that I’ve met that are moderate folks who are willing to admit that there are environmental problems worth solving collaboratively, and reasonably come to the table to work on them. They may not agree with Democratic points of view, they might be at odds with some in the environmental community there, but they seem less polarized about it than some I’ve met.
The point of this,is that the keys to success of the Republican Party are not to rant and rail against what many people understand to be positive steps towards protecting our air, water and shorelines. These decisions are difficult, and many of us have volunteered hundreds if not thousands of hours to help formulate regulations that are workable to most. And more importantly, have been found to be legal when challenged to our State Supreme Court. The Shoreline Master Program, the Critical Areas Ordinance and other regulations by the State, which we are allowed to participate in rather than be handed down to us to implement, are legal documents based on rules and regulations that are developed in meetings all over this State. It’s not a cabal, you get invited to them, and can ask to be included. There were distinctly Republican supporters at the meetings I attended, so this wasn’t done in a vacuum. The voters of this county have returned the commissioners who put forward those regulations to office. Something is in alignment I’d venture.
We look forward to Mr Farr putting away his conspiracy theory books, turning off the TV and actually rolling up his sleeves and getting involved in the processes he is so adamantly opposed to. By participation, he is more likely to come face to face with his neighbors, and understand that we are all working to make this a better place. We’re willing to debate different points of view, but to paint us as villains is just counterproductive. He might just succeed in getting his agenda better integrated into the whole. The history of his party shows that they have been leaders before, and we are anxiously awaiting them to become so again.
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: environment, Gene Farr, Jefferson County, Puget Sound, Republicans, Shoreline Master Program | 4 Comments »
