By Eileen F. Gieser, for The Montesano Vidette , 3/7/2002
"Whiskey's for drinking and water's for fighting!" Mark Twain's famous phrase was quoted by Bob Wheeler at the February 26 meeting in Ocean Shores Convention Center. He represented the Chehalis Basin Partnership with a slide show and open discussion on the water issues facing us today.
Water touches every facet of our lives: we drink it and bath in it; we fish in it and water our vegetables with it; we cook with it and swim in it. And even though Grays Harbor area sees plenty of it falling out of the sky, water is sometimes undrinkable in certain communities. In spite of high water costs in Ocean Shores and high water flooding in the North Beach area, attendance was low on Tuesday night, with less than 40 people turning out to see the presentation and displays. There was leftover pizza and juice.
Answering questions were members of the Partnership committee: Sue Patnude of Washington State Fish and Wildlife Department, Lee Napier of Grays Harbor County and Mayor of Chehalis, Bob Spahr. At the door, each attendee received a star to place on the Chehalis Basin map to show where they lived. This allows the communities to see at a glance from what areas the suggestions and questions are coming. Easels held large antipodes to take suggestions, and at the end of the evening you could read comments like: "Arrange a closer hazardous waste dump for old gas and paint. The LeMays site in Aberdeen is over 25 miles away and only open one or two days a week." or "Clean up Duck Lake." and "Stabilize the mouth of Conner Creek to reduce flooding of homes and wells."
The first speaker was Chehalis Mayor Bob Spahr, who pointed out the goals of the committee and the stages they are going through to reach diem. Lee Napier of Grays Harbor County showed the map with it's subdivisions of four study areas and explained that there were more than eight counties involved, in an area that stretches from the mouth of Grays Harbor to the headwaters. The area of Chehalis River basin is labeled Water Resource Inventory Areas 22/23. Ocean Shores Mayor Terry Vietz thanked those who attended. The Department of Ecology stated that they were only the administrators of the plan. Bob Wheeler stressed that "this is not a land or water grab, existing water rights cannot be impaired or diminished by this study." However, in the printed handout there was a sentence stating: "Plan must be consistent with existing laws, treaties, water rights, habitat restoration program, and other commitments;; but may recommend changes in certain cases."
Questions were raised on the issue of abandoned water rights and the illegal use of defunct water rights. The DOE (Department of Ecology) saw the importance of tracking water rights from the existing database as a priority but they admitted they did not have the manpower to do this. When an Ocean City resident asked Bob Wheeler how Conner Creek could be cleaned 'up of the dumping done there, he suggested that volunteers from that area go to the County and ask for help in cleaning up with plastic bags. The resident replied that there were washers and dryers dumped the creek that wouldn't fit in a plastic bag, so how would the county get those out to allow the creek to flow smoothly and not flood the homes or contaminate wells. He suggested that creekside and riverside landowners notify them of tidal action so they can track how far up the waterway to go and get accurate data on "in-stream flow". No one commented on that. The DOE representative said that the meetings were a "great opportunity to provide directions."
This four-year study ends October of 2003 and by that time the committee must have a plan that is broadly representative of local governments and water resource interests. The plan also requires public involvement. State grants are available of up to $500,000 per water resource inventory area. Tribes with reservation lands are also involved, as the plan must be consistent with treaties.
Tuesday night's meeting was one of a series scheduled by the Chehalis Basin Partnership to invite public input on improving water quantity, quality and habitat. The next meeting will be in Montesano, March 19 at City Hall, 112 N. Main St. from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Further meetings are scheduled in April, May and June in Olympia, Tumwater and Chehalis. For more information, call Lee Napier at Grays Harbor County offices, 360-249-4222
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