By John Henderer, The Chronicle, 11/18/2000
ROCHESTER - After a bout of introspective angst Friday, members of the Chehalis Basin Partnership agreed to reappoint Chehalis Mayor Bob Spahr as group chairman, and to continue pursuing ecosystem restoration for the basin.
Some partnership members, meeting at the Chehalis Indian Tribe's Lucky Eagle Casino between Rochester and Oakville for their monthly gathering, lamented the high absentee rate of group members and expressed anxiety about an effort to review the group's mission.
On a table inside the casino's bingo hall, more than 120 name plates of interested parties sat unused, while about 30 to 40 people attended the meeting, putting their name plates to use.
The partnership, ( Membership list) which includes representatives from Lewis, Grays Harbor, Mason and Thurston counties, local cities, tribes, and state and federal resource agencies, is studying the Chehalis River Basin, along with ways to restore its ecosystem and to reduce flooding.
Former Pe Ell Mayor John Penberth expressed frustration at hearing a group of initiating governments would meet Nov. 30 to reassess progress and direction of the group. A subcommittee will meet the same day to re-evaluate the organization's bylaws. ( CBP Bylaws)
"The rest of us are just pawns," Penberth said, expressing frustration with "wasting" time if another group - whose members don't always regularly attend partnership meetings - could redirect the effort.
"It's an effort to try to re-engage people," said Lee Hansmann, Grays Harbor County deputy director of community development.
Several county commissioners missed the meeting because they were attending a conference in Pasco for the Washington State Association of Counties.
Joking, Spahr suggested the group could send a $25,000 bill to absentee governments, thereby ensuring their future attendance.
After a discussion about who should serve as partnership chairman, the group agreed the leader should be an elected official and not a government agency worker or appointed citizen. The group reached consensus to reappoint Spahr to a third consecutive annual ten-n, and tapped C.S. Sodhi of the Chehalis Indian Tribe as vice chairman.
"I feel we're moving on to a little faster track," said Mike McGinnis, Chehalis tribal biologist. "The plan's not that far out there - a bare bones plan anyway."
A citizen, however, expressed uncertainty over the group's direction: "The meetings I've attended, I have no reason to come in; I leave empty."
Napavine City Councilor Jim Haslett said the group, even after several years of existence, is still finding its mission.
"We don't even know who we are yet, but I'm going to be here, and sooner or later we're going to make some decisions," Haslett said. "I think we're Just dangerous enough to where I want to be here."
Spahr pointed out environmental ideas have changed over time.
Several years ago, officials were told endangered fish needed help by removing woody debris from the river. Later, they were told to put the debris back in.
The state Department of Ecology has told the city it must stop discharging waste water into the Chehalis River sometime in the future.
Spahr said the city is studying a plan to stop dumping 1.5 million gallons of wastewater a day into the river, and instead use it somewhere to grow poplar trees.
"Is that the best thing for the rivers?" he asked. "It's going to cost us $10 million to get this water out of the river. Is someone going to come back in a few years to tell us to put it back in?"
Meanwhile, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a private consulting firm are studying ways to engineer a flooding reduction project for the Twin Cities area estimated to cost up to $80 million.
The Corps will make a presentation at the partnership's Dec. 15 meeting, updating members on progress.
"The Centralia flood project does have environmental restoration aspects," said Chris Runner, Corps environmental coordinator for the project. "We would like to go beyond compensation for unavoidable impacts to actually provide some restoration."
Runner said a draft report is "nearly complete," and Seattle Corps officials believe there is federal interest in pursuing further study.
John Henderer covers county government and environmental issues for The Chronicle. He can be reached by e-mail at jhenderer@chronline.com or by calling 807-8239. Reporter Brian Mittge contributed to this story.
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