By Sharon Michael, The Chronicle, 9/7/98
Citizens will serve on the Chehalis Basin Partnership and a partnership advisory committee, despite objections from some government representatives.
Four citizens will be appointed as partnership members. They, along with 12 other citizens, also will serve on a separate citizens advisory committee.
Lewis, Thurston, Mason, and Grays Harbor counties each will nominate one partnership member and three advisory committee members. Nominees must be confirmed by the partnership.
At the group's June meeting, Dave Palmer of the Chehalis River Council asked the board to consider appointing three additional citizen members to the partnership board.
"The water doesn't know the political boundaries," Palmer argued.
He said additional appointments are necessary so all geographical areas in the Chehalis River watershed are represented.
But some board members argued that elected officials who serve on the partnership represent citizens, and the board is becoming too large to function effectively.
There are now 27 partnership members. If all parties invited to participate in the partnership, including citizen representatives, elect to participate, there could be 42 members.
"We have mayors here, and county commissioners, and they do represent the citizens," said Brian Shea, Aberdeen city planner.
Chairman Dick Nichols, a Thurston County commissioner, said the group is not exclusive, but elected officials are "the critical mass of getting things done in this group."
'The government-to-government relationship is really important to the tribe," noted C. S. Sodhi, who represents the Chehalis Confederated Tribes. He said the tribe might "back off' if "we have to come down to the level of John Doe coming from the street and listen to him every day."
But the state law that allows establishing watershed planning groups requires nongovernmental representatives, including business, agriculture and environmental interests.
"This has to be done to meet the requirements of (House Bill) 2514" Palmer said Friday. "I wish they would do more than meet the minimum requirements. I still maintain that each watershed should have a representative."
'The current plan gives more voice to, say Mason County, than their geography or population warrants," Palmer contends. "After all, over half the residents of the Chehalis (River basin) live rurally. But the 14 cities who represent the minority will have more say than the majority, and the one Mason County CBP member will have a voice unequal to their representation."
The intergovernmental agreement establishing the partnership has not yet been signed by all city and county members. Centralia,
Chehalis and Lewis County (the lead agency responsible for partnership administration) have signed the pact.
In spite of the group's current quasi-official status, it has been awarded a $450,000 state Department of Ecology planning grant to assess water supply, water quality and fish habitat in the upper and lower Chehalis River basins.
Palmer is concerned the group has made decisions and begun educating board members before appointing citizens. "Having said that, this is an important opportunity for citizens to become involved, and I hope rural residents take the time to apply," he said.
Interested volunteers may submit applications by Sept. 30 to Brian Walsh, Washington Department of Ecology, Southwest Regional Office P.O. Box 4775, Olympia, Wash. 98504.
Applications should include a letter of interest, a statement of qualifications and references. For information, call Walsh at (360) 407-6310.
Preference will be given to Chehalis watershed residents and applicants with expertise or active participation in watershed issues.
Walsh said there also will be an attempt to select citizens from different geographical locations within the basin. Citizens must be available to attend monthly meetings and participate in committee work.
Regular partnership meetings are held the fourth Friday of each month at the Chehalis Indian Reservation on Highway 12, near Oakville.
Sharon Michael can be reached by E-mail at smichael@chronline.com or by calling 807-8237.
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