Olympic Peninsula Environmental News

As if the legislators trying to get the Orca Task force bills passed didn’t have enough impetus to get them done, now this.

A lean year for orcas and fishermen alike is expected, with poor salmon returns forecast for many species all over the state. Fisheries professionals are working to set fishing seasons on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border for the coming year. So far the news is grim, with salmon forecast to return at just fractions of 10-year averages. For the southern residents, it will be another tough year ahead, with even fewer fish forecast this year than last in many of the important rivers the whales rely on in their seasonal migratory rounds. Below-average returns are predicted from the Fraser to the Columbia, as well as smaller body sizes for most species, according to Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Returns of spring chinook to the Columbia are predicted to be down 14 percent from last year, and at just half the 10-year average. These fish return mostly to hatcheries, but also to some spawning areas above Bonneville dam, and are a mainstay for orcas and fishermen alike. Those fish are particularly important to endangered southern-resident killer whales because of their size, fat content and seasonal timing. Upriver bright and fall chinook returns to the Columbia are also at about half the 10-year average return. The news isn’t better in Puget Sound. Only 29,800 wild chinook are predicted to come back. Protecting those fragile runs will necessitate reductions in fishing of hatchery fish to reduce the unintentional killing of wild chinook. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Most Washington state salmon returns predicted to be worse than last year, estimates show

and this.

Orca groups call for immediate action to save Southern Residents
On Tuesday, the group sent a letter to government officials in Washington and British Columbia identifying their five key actions to help save the Southern Resident orcas. The letter calls for “bigger and bolder” actions to give the whales a “real chance at recovery.”… The actions include funding for international salmon habitat restoration projects, breaching the four Lower Snake River dams, replacing and retrofitting floodgates along the Fraser River in British Columbia, cleaning up known contamination hotspots in Puget Sound and the Fraser River delta, and allocating a fisheries quota for the Southern Residents on the West Coast. While some of the actions have been proposed during orca recovery efforts, others have not been seriously addressed. The organizations say their five actions are “big-ticket, science-based, and are essential for moving forward.” (KING)

and this.

Compromise on orca protection removes whale watching moratorium, garners criticism
A de facto ban on whale watching boats that would have required them to stay 650 yards away from endangered Puget Sound orcas for three to five years has been stripped from revised legislation. The compromise goes against a recommendation from Gov. Jay Inslee’s Orca Recovery Task Force…. The compromise legislation omits the de facto moratorium detailed in prior bills, but increases the distance all boats must keep from the endangered whales from 200 to 300 yards. It also creates a go-slow zone and a new licensing system under which the state Department of Fish and Wildlife can set conditions to limit things such as boat numbers or time spent with the whales. That’s not enough for some advocates, including Janet Thomas, executive director of the Orca Relief Citizens’ Alliance. She told lawmakers the compromise makes a “mockery” of what the task force recommended. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNDX)

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There is a lot going on behind these bills. This article gets to the heart of the issue that we find all the time, people pass laws but then we get weak enforcement. Then when a law like this comes along to beef up enforcement, our legislators balk at passing it. In the meantime, shoreline landowners who are scofflaws are destroying the shoreline. In our county this happens a lot, I have been told the stories by the landowners living next door to some of these scofflaws and though they go to our County Department of Community Development nothing gets done to change behaviors.

As a member of the board of Sound Action, the NGO that has monitored and challenged HPAs for the last five years, it is worth saying that we support this bill. We believe it will lead to greater protections for the near shore and less likelihood of scofflaws getting away with destruction.

Dunagan points out an important issue that could be holding up the bill in the Senate:

Tom Davis of the Washington Farm Bureau advised legislators to be cautious when expanding the authority of Fish and Wildlife.

“The stop-work order could be especially harmful to farmers who have a very short time to do work on their land,” he said, adding that the bill might be acceptable with some changes, including limits for when stop-work orders could be issued.

Other opponents include the Washington Association of Counties, which has had a contentious relationship with Fish and Wildlife over jurisdiction. Counties have generally opposed state requirements to obtain HPAs for work on roads and bridges that may be some distance from the water. In December, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that HPAs can be required for any project that can affect the waters.

 

Here’s the lead to the story:

Concerns about the endangered Southern Resident killer whales seems to be spurring legislative support for new enforcement tools that could be used to protect shoreline habitat. Bills in both the state House and Senate would allow stop-work orders to be issued by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife when shoreline construction is done without permits or exceeds permit conditions. If passed, the law would require that Fish and Wildlife officials first work with contractors and property owners to achieve “voluntary compliance.” Working with property owners is the key, stressed Jeff Davis, deputy director of Fish and Wildlife in charge of habitat protection. Under current law, property owners who commit serious permit violations are charged with criminal misdemeanors. That’s neither good for the agency nor for the property owner, who may end up battling each other in court, said Davis, who once worked as a Fish and Wildlife habitat biologist in Kitsap County. Chris Dunagan reports. (Watching Our Water Ways)

Read the whole story here. It’s a good overview.

New ‘civil enforcement’ proposed for violations of hydraulic permits

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Lots of good things being funded in this Omnibus bill, co-sponsored by Senator Maria Cantwell.

In my mind, the permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund is one of the biggest wins in this legislation. Also the halting of the mining in the Methow is a very good thing.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/heres-what-the-massive-public-lands-bill-means-for-conservation-climate-change-in-washington-state/?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=mobile-app&utm_campaign=ios

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MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHEIDA SAHANDY

Five years ago today I joined an organization that was struggling against a herculean challenge—to chart a course for the recovery of the nation’s largest estuary and the state’s cherished jewel—the Puget Sound. Since then, we have accomplished great things together. It is with gratitude for the opportunity provided to me by Governor Inslee, intense pride about our accomplishments, and optimism for the future, that I share with you that I have tendered my resignation, effective May 3.

The achievements of our agency and our partners during my tenure have been remarkable. A galvanized public has brought critical support to the fight against the extinction of our state’s official marine mammal, the Southern Resident orca. Projects restoring thousands of acres of habitat are now coming to fruition across the Sound. The Puget Sound Day on The Hill trip has strengthened our collective voice with decision-makers in Washington, D.C. Regionally, our relationships are stronger than ever with our federal partners, with whom we worked closely on the creation of the Puget Sound Federal Task Force. By focusing on aligning federal, tribal, and state priorities, this effort increases the impact of investments by all these partners. Within weeks, a revised PUGET SOS (Promoting United Government Efforts to Save Our Sound) bill may be introduced in Congress, aiming to bring new resources to support our work. Puget Sound recovery is now the national priority it must be.

All of this work has been done with the engagement and input of hundreds of partners—tribes, elected officials, our boards, government leaders, non-profits, businesses, scientists, academic institutions, our sister state agencies, agriculture, aquaculture and other industries, as well as interested individuals—ensuring that the necessary course forward, as described in the Puget Sound Action Agenda, is not solely the voice of the Partnership, but rather the collective will of all who make the decision to be a partner.

The organization itself has evolved significantly over the last five years, from an agency with an uncertain future, to one sharply focused on adding value to the recovery system. We concentrate our limited resources on functions that create better outcomes than the sum of the parts. We align, catalyze, and advocate to ensure the success of our partners. The role of science in the decision-making and planning processes has been fortified and focused on outcomes and continuous learning. The Partnership’s internal operations are now systematic, transparent, and informed by best management practices. These professional management systems have allowed us to achieve two “clean” financial audits. The last State of the Sound report was nominated for a national award for public communication. From across the country and the world, other recovery efforts are using our learning to inform their practices.

Looking forward, the work of recovery and resiliency still faces formidable challenges, including the pressures from increasing human populations and climate change. Even though we are now well positioned for success, having built a thoughtful, science-driven recovery management system, the magnitude of results will still be commensurate with the magnitude of investment. Only 30 percent of the specific actions proposed in the last Action Agenda were implemented in the last cycle. The single greatest barrier to implementation was the lack of funding. To reverse the degradation of the natural systems on which we all depend, we must increase investment for implementing the Near Term Actions in the Action Agenda. The path forward must also include a strong focus on supporting innovation focused on solving our water-related challenges. This includes incentivizing and supporting the private sector to work with our public institutions for research, development, and deployment of innovative solutions to solve not only public challenges such as stormwater pollution, but also to help transition critical Washington businesses and sectors, such as agriculture, maritime, and aerospace, to profitable and sustainable practices.

On a more personal note, it has been an honor to work alongside so many people who engage unfailingly in the silent and consequential battles to protect our region. The relentless dedication of the Puget Sound tribes to pass to their children a better world, one that is enriched by their languages, cultures, and traditional knowledge, sets an example for us all. Last, but also most present in my mind at this moment, is how much I will miss working with my colleagues at the Partnership. This small but mighty group personifies the best in public service: a resilient, intellectually curious, diverse, and courageous group who direct their passions into improving their communities. Because of them, our organization is now strong, with excellent leaders, and staff whose commitment and promise is second to none. I can’t wait to see all they will accomplish.

Sincerely,

Sheida R. Sahandy

After May 4:
(206) 375-1277
sheida_sahandy@KSG04.harvard.edu

http://www.psp.wa.gov/eds01.php

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An outside investigation into Ex-Senator Kevin Ranker has concluded with the finding that he did engage in sexual harassment and created a hostile work environment. The 10 Page report can be found here:https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3Ad19ca5fa-ca46-416d-8af9-7dfba8b36493

What follows is Senator Ranker’s response to the findings:

This week a Senate investigation concluded a process that began when an employee who worked for me 10 years ago alleged that I mistreated her. The report found that I violated our Senate policies. The allegations were that I “slammed doors, shouted in anger, and caused her to feel very uncomfortable.” It does not matter that I am passionate about the issues I work on. What matters is that I recognize the impacts of my actions. I have always tried to be respectful of the people around me when I advocate for important issues. I have not always succeeded. The report also says that I “rubbed” my colleague’s shoulders, offered her wine when she had to work late and made “flirtatious” comments. Did I treat her in a way that was different than others as a result of our previous relationship? Likely yes. But that does not make my actions acceptable. While in the position of power as a boss, one must consider the formality of the workplace; all employees should feel supported and successful in their job.

Finally, while some news reports said otherwise, the investigation found that I did not retaliate against her or the agency where she worked after leaving my office.

If we are ever going to create the society we dream of, one where each of us is truly treated equal, men in power must recognize our privilege and more importantly, the impacts of our actions… regardless of intent. We must own and understand the impacts of our behavior and the very real fact that our current system supports it. And, importantly, we must recognize that looking the other way for lesser actions creates a society that can be pathetically accepting of the worst offenders. Otherwise, there will be no real progress.

I remain proud to have been one of a few to vote for full transparency in the Senate and was one of the Senate leaders who pushed for the updated policies used in this investigation so that anyone, regardless of the accuser or the accused, can come forward safely to report mistreatment. What we did not anticipate in our efforts to create a fair, transparent process is the toll on all parties when a parallel, public process plays out in the media concurrent to investigation. In the end, this is why I felt the right choice was to step down and spare my family further negative impacts. We must have these discussions, as a society, if we are going to correct cultural inequities and assumptions that must be addressed. My hope, however, is that this first test of our procedures can help inform and improve how the Senate moves forward in the future.

I am eternally grateful for the incredible honor of having served as the Senator from this wonderful district these past years. I am indebted for all the support I have received over the last weeks. It means more than I can express. For now, I am going to take some time with my family and think about what is next for us. Whatever comes next, I know that I will remain a passionate champion for our progressive agenda, but with more awareness and mindfulness than I had before.

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This has been a problem over and over again with NOAA. They did the same thing with net pens, using antiquated information to set modern law. very glad to see that Earth justice and these environmental groups down the coast, were able to successfully defend our fish stocks from overfishing due to NOAA limits.

A federal judge in California on Friday, 22 January, upheld her decision from last year that claimed NOAA Fisheries did not follow the law when it set the catch limit on an anchovy stock in the state.

https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/environment-sustainability/federal-court-upholds-ruling-in-anchovy-catch-limit-lawsuit

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More bad ideas on the backs of other bad ideas. Don’t bears eat salmon? Eagles? you name it. Might as well kill them all. What a bunch of idiot ideas. More feelgood options that don’t change a thing. But let’s not talk about taking down the dams that are both losing money and killing fish. Can’t go there.

There are a lot of predators known to eat imperiled salmon, from sea lions to double-crested cormorants. For a long time, biologists thought gulls weren’t a big part of the problem. Now, they say that was a miscalculation. “When some analysis was done, the impact of gulls – just in the section from McNary (Dam) to Bonneville (Dam) – nearly 20 percent of the fish taken were taken by gulls,” said Blaine Parker, an avian predation coordinator with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission…. The solution he proposes? Lethal control of specific problem gulls, along with non-lethal harassment…. Any killing of gulls — referred to as “lethal management” or “lethal control” by the government — is a tactic the Audubon Society of Portland vehemently opposes. “It’s a continuation of a very unfortunate pattern of killing wildlife to protect other wildlife,” said Bob Sallinger, conservation director at the society. It’s not the wildlife that’s the problem, Sallinger said, it’s the dams. Killing gulls, he said, is “pure scapegoating.” Courtney Flatt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

To Help Save Salmon, Fish Advocates Want To Kill Gulls 

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