Striking the right balance

This article appeared in the January 11, 2006 edition of the Peninsula Daily News.

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State official vows to weigh economy in new water rules

By Jeff Chew
Peninsula Daily News

PORT TOWNSEND — A state Department of Ecology official vowed Tuesday to work with Jefferson County businesses and residents to strike a balance between the county's economy and the need for water to sustain salmon habitat.

Joe Stohr, special assistant to Ecology Director Jay Manning, met for the first time this year with the Watershed Resource Inventory Area 17 planning unit at the Jefferson County Courthouse.

Stohr said the plan is to get the county back on track regarding Ecology's proposed instream flow rule.

Stohr said he envisions a 10 to 15 person planning unit that could work through June 2007 to write a new instream flow rule for Jefferson County, all the while moving "in a thoughtful way."

The controversial rule's intent is to ensure enough water for humans and stream levels that protect salmon.

Jefferson County Commissioner David Sullivan, D-Cape George, facilitated the meeting before about 20 people in the commissioners' chambers.

Audience members included representatives of agriculture, real estate and building interests.

Manning, encouraged by North Olympic Peninsula 24th District Reps. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, and Jim Buck, R-Joyce, and 24th District Senator Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, enlisted Stohr late last year to work with concerned county residents.

The legislators' district includes Jefferson and Clallam counties.
Those residents, most of more than 300 at a Fort Worden Commons public forum, protested the proposed instream flow rule, many saying they fear the loss of future water rights and in some cases livelihoods and property values.

"We want the planning unit to create something that is complementary to the flow rule," Stohr said Tuesday afternoon.

"How can we deal with the economy and fish, and find the right balance?"

Stohr in late 2005 apologized to county residents on behalf of Ecology, saying, "We will work to correct any mistakes or inappropriate statements that disrupted the watershed management effort in WRIA 17."

Examine economic effects

Norm MacLeod, representing Jefferson County-based Olympic Water Users Association, agreed that the subject of economic effects should be discussed upfront in the early instream flow rule talks.

Stohr last year called for a new process that builds on the work done by the WRIA 17 planning unit and involves all residents in the Quilcene-Snow watershed.

MacLeod, speaking at the forum last year, proposed forming a water resources management board in the county to work with Ecology and water and wildlife interests.

While feelings were mixed Tuesday about the need for a WRIA 17 meeting facilitator through a $15,000 Ecology grant, a request for proposals was expected to be advertised for the position.

Dennis Schultz, a farmer representing the Jefferson County Conservation District, called for full disclosure on the part of each planning unit volunteer's interests and who could vote on the flow rule.

Bill Graham, Jefferson County Public Utility District resource manager, asked if an independent contractor could be hired to review the instream flow proposal "independent of the state or state scientists that may or may not have an agenda."

"I'm open to that," Stohr said.

Planning Unit member Nancy Dorgan said that the instream flow rule would have to be established before Jefferson County Public Utility District could pursue its water storage proposals around the Chimacum Creek watershed.

Sullivan said he thought about "winners and losers" in the process of establishing an instream flow rule, which proposes closing water basins and limiting water consumption.

The WRIA 17 planning unit set a 6 p.m. Jan. 24 meeting, preceded by a steering committee meeting at 5 p.m. The location is to be determined later.

Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.