QUALITY: The deal involves cities, tribes, state departments, water districts and other counties.
By Jennifer Olson, The Olympian, 8/2/98
Commission chairman Dick Nichols said the commissioners are expected to approve the agreement Monday to join the Chehalis River Basin Watershed Management Partnership. In doing so, the county will join with Mason, Lewis and Grays Harbor counties, as well as cities, American Indian tribes, state departments and water districts.
Nichols said the partnership will work on water issues that affect the upper and lower Chehalis basins, two major watersheds.
Lewis County will be the lead agency, negotiating and overseeing grant funds and records. Nichols will represent Thurston County in the partnership until he retires from the commission in December.
The partnership is not a decision-making body, Nichols said. "The significance of this group is that we're pledging to work together for the common good," he said, "not because we're required to by law, but because it's the right thing to do."
Nichols said one of the major benefits of the partnership will be that the various jurisdictions will be aware of each others' projects, some of which may affect the basins and, ultimately, one another.
No direct costs will be passed on to Thurston County taxpayers as a result of the partnership, Nichols said.
The partnership has already received a $453,000 watershed planning grant from the state Department of Ecology. It also has applied for $100,000 in state salmon mitigation funds to create better salmon habitats.
In addition to Nichols, Thurston County will select one citizen to serve on the partnership board. The commissioners will soon be asking for applications.
The partnership will meet next on Aug. 28 at the Lucky Eagle Casino in Rochester to set a work plan.
Jennifer Olson covers Thurston County for The
Olympian. She can be reached at 754-5427.
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