300 attend talks on water rules in Port Townsend

The following article on the November 10 meeting held by the 24th District's legislative team appeared in the Peninsula Daily News. The link is to the truncated online version of the article.

From the perspective of the Olympic Water Users Association, this was a very successful event, bringing the Department of Ecology and the community at large to the same place to open a new dialogue on instream flows and related water issues.

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300 attend talks on water rules in Port Townsend
State lawmakers get earful at public forum

by Jeff Chew
PENINSULA DAILY NEWS

PORT TOWNSEND — They came from as far away as Seattle and Carnation to passionately state their cases against and for a state-proposed in-stream flow rule.

But a crowd of at least 300 Jefferson County residents Thursday night made it as clear as the water they consume: the Department of Ecology's rule aimed at ensuring water for humans and salmon is bad for Jefferson County.

Bad for agriculture, bad for business, bad for water and property rights, bad science, bad public relations, and a bad bureaucratic process.

More than 30 speakers testified, mainly to that effect, in a packed Fort Worden Commons as state Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, listened.

The House Majority Leader, who organized the forum, was joined by North Olympic Peninsula Rep. Jim Buck, R-Joyce, and Hoquiam Democratic Sen. Jim Hargrove.

Their district includes Jefferson and Clallam counties, as well as most of Grays Harbor County.

"We are here to listen," said Kessler, who facilitated the forum.

The meeting was far more civil than the name-calling, accusatory initial in-stream flow forums held in September.

Joe Stohr, special assistant to Ecology Director Jay Manning, appeared to calm the crowd at the outset by reading a conciliatory, apologetic statement from Ecology.

"We will work to correct any mistakes or inappropriate statements that disrupted the watershed management effort in WRIA 17. We apologize for any problems that we may have caused," Stohr read from the Department of Ecology's Committment to th eQuilcene-Snow Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA 17).

Stohr called for a new process that builds on the good work done by the WRIA 17 planning unit and involves all residents in the water basin.

Taking him up on the offer was Norm MacLeod, representing 72 members in the newly formed Olympic Water Users Association, which is now seeking nonprofit status.

MacLeod proposed forming a water resources management board in the county to work with Ecology and water and wildlife interests.

He said Ecology grant dollars would be needed to do so because he saw such an effort as an experiment.

"At this point we have a chance for the first time to work with DOE — make a better rule," said MacLeod

"We have an opportunity to work toward a future that includes water for people, water for fish."

Cooperation urged

He urged those in the audience to work with Stohr, bringing all knowledge and thoughts to the table with Ecology.

"This night does not represent a 'we won'. This night represents we can work together," MacLeod said.

"We saw something was wrong, we complained about it ... we have to work to make it right."

Today, residents and farmers can use up to 5,000 gallons per day per home.

Under the proposed rule, that would be cut back considerably.

The last proposed cutback was to 350 gallons per day per home, but could change, officials said Thursday night.

The rule also calls for closure of the Big Quilcene River from March 1 to Nov. 15 and Chimacum Creek from March 1 to Nov. 30 to new water appropriations.

It closes other water bodies in the area year-round to future water rights.

Existing water rights would not be affected under the proposal, but new applications would, Ecology officials stress.

Islands such as Marrowstone would be closed to new groundwater withdrawals under the new rule unless otherwise approved.

Small farmers concerned

Dennis Schultz, a small-scale farmer and county Planning Commission member, said he spends $20,000 a year for goods and services, selling his produce to Port Townsend Farmers Market.

He estimated as many as 100 small agriculture operations in the county that count on water rights to stay in business.

"When are we going to say enough is enough," Schultz said, urging the state to spend as much time on the "human aspects" as with stream flows for salmon habitat.

William Neal, representing the Washington State Groundwater Association, argued that so long as agriculture and other uses return water to the ground, a problem should not exist.

"Where does that water go? Does it go to Mars? It goes right back into the basin," Neal said, adding that stream flows are actually improved when water is returned to the ground during summer months.

He urged municipalities to develop sewage treatment systems that reclaim and reuse water.

Jim Tracy, who now represents Fred Hill Materials Inc. in Jefferson County, told the lawmakers that Stohr was not the problem.

"The Department of Ecology is the problem," he said, drawing loud applause.

Ecology statement

The Ecology statement issued Thursday to the audience states: "We support local small-scale farming and are committed to developing workable solutions for farmers and salmon, including recognition of the Kim case as settled law that allows the use of 5,000 gallons a day in support of agricultural purposes."

The Ecology statement also called for solutions by providing access to technical expertise and available funding sources for improved water resource management, including modern irrigation techniques to make the most of efficient water use.

Businesses needed

Port Townsend real estate agent Nancy Stellow urged that more businesses get involved in the process. She has applied for a WRIA 17 planning unit position.

Paula Macro, North Olympic Salmon Coalition director, also urged the public to get involved in a process she has worked at for 12 years.

She said summer chum salmon returns were showing marked improvement as a result of restoration projects in the county.

Stohr said interested persons should contact him at 360-407-7015 or e-mail at jost461@ecy.wa.gov.

The WRIA 17 planning unity meets again at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Point Hudson Marina Room, 103 Hudson Street.

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