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March 12, 1998 Brady Engvall
Dear Mr. Engvall: Thank you for writing to me with your questions and concerns regarding the formation of the Chehalis Basin Council. The Department of Ecology has played a role in initiating the formation of a group in order to bring about improved communication and coordination. As you know, there are a number of critical environmental problems in the Chehalis Basin that can best be addressed through a comprehensive approach that involves all the jurisdictions and interests. To date, our role has been to convene and facilitate these meetings. It has been up to the participants to decide the questions of the group's mission, structure, and membership. In the fall of 1996, Ecology consulted with local governments in the basin and received a clear message that a new structure was needed if we were to achieve collaboration on key issues of water quantity, water quality, flooding, and fish habitat. A broad range of interests, including representatives from citizen groups active in the basin, were asked to participate in a process to develop a prototype for what a new watershed council would look like. However, the citizen representatives expressed fundamental objections and subsequently withdrew from the process. Let the record be clear, Ecology has tried to involve citizens in this process from the beginning. The role of citizens in the Chehalis Basin Council has been discussed by the group at several meetings. At least one local government wants to include citizens on the full council, whereas others see the appropriate role as advisory. The group has not reached consensus on this question. This issue will be revisited at the next meeting on March 27. At the last meeting, consensus was reached to expand the membership to include representation from WA Department of Agriculture and fisheries interest. In conclusion, the formation of an interjurisdictional body to coordinate activities in the Chehalis Basin is a difficult task given the diverse interests and perspectives that exist. It will take time for these parties to build understanding and trust necessary to resolve long-standing problems. The issues are complex and interrelated. We see our role as providing support and encouragement. Ecology can not come to these meetings and dictate the process or the outcome. However, we can provide a state perspective on water quality, quantity, flooding and fish habitat. Your organization has been tremendously important to raising public awareness and understanding of these issues in the Chehalis watershed. It is our hope that we can work in concert toward our common goal of improved environmental health. Tom Fitzsinimons Director
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March 12, 1998 Dave Palmer
Dear Mr. Palmer: Thank you for writing to me with your questions and concerns regarding the formation of the Chehalis Basin Council. As you know, there are a number of critical environmental problems in the Chehalis Basin that can best be addressed through a comprehensive approach that involves all the jurisdictions and interests. I understand that you have played a key role in bringing citizens and other stakeholders together in this basin to identify and solve problems through a collaborative approach, and I applaud your efforts. In our discussions with county and city leaders in this basin, we heard a need to form a group in order to bring about improved communication and coordination between land managers whose independent actions affect the others. To date, our role has been to convene and facilitate meetings between these managers. It has been up to the participants to decide the questions of the group's mission, structure, and membership. We agree that Council meetings are important public events, and that citizen participation is critical to its success. The Council has chosen to publish meeting notices for all future meetings in regional newspapers. Also, all future meeting agendas will include time for public questions and comments. Membership on the Council is the subject of ongoing debate among members. It seems certain that the eventual outcome will be influenced by the results of the 1998 legislative discussion regarding Watershed Councils and informed by further discussions at future meetings. As you know, the formation of an interjurisdictional body to coordinate activities in the Chehalis Basin is a difficult task given the diverse interests and perspectives that exist. It will take time for these parties to build understanding and trust necessary to resolve long-standing problems. The issues are complex and interrelated. We want to support and encourage these efforts. Ecology can not come to these meetings and dictate the process or the outcome. However, we can provide a state perspective on water quality, quantity, flooding and fish habitat. Your organization has been tremendously important to raising public awareness and understanding of these issues in the Chehalis watershed. It is our hope that we can work in concert toward our common goal of improved environmental health. Again, thank you for letting me know about your issues and concerns. We look forward to a continuing dialogue on how we can best achieve environmental protection and restoration of the Chehalis watershed. If you have further questions or comments, please feel free to call Brian Walsh at (360) 407-6310. Sincerely, Tom Fitzsimmons Director |