February 10, 1998
Tom Fitzsimmons
Director, Department of Ecology
PO Box 47600,
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
Dear Director Fitzsimmons:
The Chehalis River Council is writing this letter to raise several issues and questions related to watershed planning in the Chehalis Basin. We are aware that a number of developments are occurring, especially in Lewis County, but our main concern is that interested citizens, stakeholders, and environmental organizations have been left out of the process. We want emphatically to state, however, that we are in favor of multi-jurisdictional planning. As an all-volunteer citizens' group dedicated to the preservation of water resources in the Chehalis Basin, we have frequently called for planning that crosses county lines in relation to flooding, water quality, and water quantity issues. We commend the evident intention of the Department of Ecology to further such multi-jurisdictional cooperation, but we take issue with the way that it is has been carried out in the Chehalis Basin
As we understand it, a planning process involving Lewis, Grays Harbor, and Thurston county commissioners, several cities, and the Chehalis tribe began in the summer of 1997 that culminated with the formation of a Chehalis Basin Council. This process was initiated and facilitated by the Department of Ecology. The purpose appears to have been to obtain watershed planning funding, at the time thought to have been provided by SB 2504. The grant application was written by DOE staff. Please let us know if it is general practice, and thought to be appropriate, for DOE staff to actually prepare grant applications for funds administered by the DOE?
Although the CRC had been made aware that efforts to bring together a watershed council would occur in the Basin, the planning that did occur took place out of the public eye. For example, the decision that Lewis County would be lead agency for watershed planning was made with no opportunity for public participation or comment. We believe such an important decision required a public hearing so that comments about Lewis County's credibility to lead such an effort could have been registered and alternatives suggested
From our inspection of the proposed membership of the Chehalis Basin Council, we protest the fact that there is no role for citizen participation. In fact, not even enough affected business and industry interests have been consulted or included. We see no representatives of fisheries, aquaculture, or recreation, for example. Representatives of environmental and fisheries restoration groups should have been included. The only encouraging fact is the participation of the Chehalis tribe. We believe that the DOE, in its facilitating role, should have been able to ensure fuller participation by all major interests
As we said earlier, the CRC is very supportive of inter-jurisdictional efforts to deal with water issues. It may be that no model developed so far, including the inactive Chehalis Watershed Council or the model in HB 2514, is an adequate structure for the task at hand. We do not believe the current Chehalis Basin Council model will be effective, given the lack of broad participation by all involved interests. We stand ready, however, to help create a structure that will have the full support of affected political jurisdictions while at the same time ensuring a voice for citizens and stakeholders. Such a structure is urgently needed.
Thank you for your consideration of these issues. We look forward to your discussion of the issues and answers to our questions
Sincerely,
David Palmer Chairman, Chehalis River Council
cc: Sue Mauermann, SW Regional Director
Gordon White, Shorelands & Environmental Assistance Programs Manager
Gale Blomstrom, SW Regional Shorelands & Environmental Assistance Director
Keli McKay-Means, SW Regional Water Quality Section Head
Brian Walsh, Chehalis River Basin DOE Local Action Team Leader
County Commissioners, Lewis, Grays Harbor, Thurston counties
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