Comments needed on Brinnon Black Point development EIS

So you now have a chance to comment on the proposed EIS for the Brinnon Black Point EIS. Having visited the site, I can tell you from first hand knowledge that the beautiful and somewhat wild site would be lost forever under the development plans to turn this into Ludlow South. Given the nature of salmon recovery along this wild shore, (the south side of the peninsula in particular is covered with huge beautiful second growth trees), it seems insane to allow it to be clearcut and developed. Also given the economy, and the failing of development efforts like this world wide right now, that the worse case would be to see the development start and clear the peninsula, only to run out of money to actually complete anything. That, my friends, is a very likely scenario. They already have made it public that they need additional funding to get this done. Their original glowing optimistic forecast has not panned out.

Send comments to:

Al Scalf

Jefferson CDCD

621 Sheridan

Port Townsend, WA 98368

Seabirds dying from coastal algae bloom -update

The ongoing bloom on the coast is a disaster for our shorebird population. This may have devasting effects for decades to come. Thanks to the volunteers helping out to get the surviving birds to some shelters. I’m unsure how many otters may be affected as well.

KPLU story on it: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1570689/KPLU.Local.News

10/27 Northwest News Network Coastal Algae Bloom: “It’s Like An Oil Spill, Without the Oil” Tom Banse It’s like an oil spill, but without the oil. That’s how wildlife rescue people are describing an unusual red tide along the Northwest coast. The algal bloom is causing hundreds upon hundreds of dead or dying seabirds to wash up on coastal beaches. Today, the deluge of distress shows signs of tapering off. Listen at http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1570689/KPLU.Local.News/Coastal.Algae.Bloom.’It’s.Like.An.Oil.Spill..Without.the.Oil’ See also 10/28 Everett Herald PAWS rescuers scramble to save seabirds covered in algae http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20091028/NEWS01/710289753/-1/NEWS#PAWS.rescuers.scramble.to.save.seabirds.covered.in.algae

40k farmed salmon escape in BC…

Another reason we should stop farming fish not native to this area.

10/24 Victoria Times-Colonist
40,000 fish escape farm–Gillnetters near Sointula report catching Atlantic salmon
By Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist

A recovery vessel working for a fish-farming company recovered about 1,100 escaped Atlantic salmon yesterday, and will continue working over the weekend to catch more of the estimated 40,000 escaped fish. The salmon got out late Wednesday evening after crews, using a pump system and pipe, removed dead fish from the two pens at Port Elizabeth on Gilford Island, said Clare Backman, director of environmental relations for Marine Harvest Canada.

The fish died because of low oxygen levels in the water, a phenomenon that occurs intermittently in the area, Backman said. “It was during that process that a hole in the net occurred,” he said.

More at
http://www.timescolonist.com/fish+escape+farm/2141317/story.html

Event – 10/28- Sierra Club—North Olympic Group Meeting.

Please join us on Wednesday, October 28th at 6:30pm for the monthly Sierra Club – North Olympic Group meeting and learn more about the current environmental issues the Conservation Committee is working on AND future Sierra Club Outings on the Peninsula.  This month’s presentation will be from Olympic Forest Coalition Executive Director, Bonnie Phillips and will feature a presentation on Peninsula National Forest and DNR Forest Management. 

WHERE: Gardiner Community Center (980 Old Gardiner Road) 

WHEN: Wednesday, October 28th—6:30pm

Lots of whales off west Whidbey! Keep your binocs up!

Apparently lots seen out there, might be back on Thursday.

Tonight! 10/22/2009 – Artist Tony Angell to speak at PT Marine Science Center

Tony Angell Book Events

Sept-Oct 2009 calendar of book readings by Tony Angell of his book, Puget Sound Through an Artist’s Eye

Readings and Book Signings by Tony Angell, author of Puget Sound Through an Artist’s Eye

People For Puget Sound, in association with University of Washington Press, presents artist and naturalist Tony Angell in readings from his new book that captures his art and the natural history of Puget Sound.

READ AN INTERVIEW WITH TONY ANGELL HERE.

SEE A SHORT YOUTUBE CLIP OF TONY’S TALK HERE.

SEE THE COMPLETE BAINBRIDGE LECTURE HERE.

Readings and book signings of Puget Sound Through an Artist’s Eye will be held at the following times and locations:

Thursday, October 22– Port Townsend Marine Science Center, 200 Battery Way Port Townsend 98368-3621.

All readings begin at 7 PM except Seattle Public Library’s reading which beings at 2 PM. All readings are open to the public.

Copies of Puget Sound Through an Artist’s Eye will be available for purchase for $35 and for signing by the author with proceeds from book sales going to People For Puget Sound’s education and advocacy programs.

For nearly fifty years Tony Angell has used Puget Sound’s natural diversity as his artist’s palette. In this book, he describes the living systems within the Sound and shares his observations and encounters with the species that make up the complex communities of the Sound’s rivers, tidal flats, islands, and beaches: the fledging flight of a young peregrine, an otter playfully herding a small red rockfish, the grasp of a curious octopus.

Tony Angell is an illustrator, sculptor, and author. Angell has won numerous writing and artistic awards for his work, including the prestigious Master Wildlife Artist Award of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and the 2006 International Victoria and Albert Museum Illustration Grant Award. His sculptural forms celebrating nature are to be found in public and private collections throughout the country.

In 2002, Angell retired as Washington State Director of Environmental Education after thirty years of service. A devout conservationist, he received The Oak Leaf Award, the highest recognition given by the national office of The Nature Conservancy.

He is author of He is author of In the Company of Crows and Ravens; Ravens, Crows, Magpies, and Jays; and Owls,

He lives in Seattle with his wife and two daughters.

People For Puget Sound is a citizens group working with people for a clean and healthy Sound. Since 1991, we have educated and activated citizens to take actions in Puget Sound environmental policy, science and restoration.

See Tony Angell, Master Artist

Also see University of Washington Press

Save our state environmental budgets. Vote NO on 1033

This may be the most important vote you may make in years. Initiative 1033 proposes to limit state and local government spending at current recessionary levels and to base any increases in future years on a rigid formula or on voter approval. The effect would be an estimated $6 billion reduction by 2015 in state general fund revenues alone, seriously reducing education, health, social services and environmental programs, not to mention reductions in local government services.

Initiative 1033 aims to lock in state and local government spending at this year’s recession levels. It proposes to establish this year’s state and local government budgets as a base line and to limit increases in subsequent years’ budgets to a formula based on inflation and population growth. Any state or local government revenues exceeding a year’s budgetary limit would be returned to property owners as a property tax cut. If state or local governments want to exceed the limits imposed by the initiative, they can do so if they receive the majority approval of voters.

What’s wrong with Initiative 1033 and why it should be soundly defeated:

• The national recession forced $1.5 billion in cuts to education, caused 35,000 people to lose health insurance and cost thousands of jobs. By limiting state, counties and city budgets to recession-era levels, those cuts would become permanent.

• I-1033 would force even deeper cuts in the future, because the state’s ability to provide services wouldn’t go up with costs and demand.

• I-1033’s formula is rigid and arbitrary and would only cause more cutbacks in services. The costs of many services go up faster than the rate of inflation — in particular education and health care. The independent Washington Budget & Policy Center estimates that I-1033’s formula would provide just 38 percent of the revenue necessary to continue to fund public education at current levels.

• I-1033’s formula for population growth doesn’t take into account that certain areas of our population will cost the state more than others. The state’s growing senior population will need more medical care and services, but I-1033’s formula doesn’t take that into account.

• The non-partisan Washington State Office of Financial Management found that “…the initiative reduces state general fund revenues that support education; social, health and environmental services; and general government activities by an estimated $5.9 billion by 2015.”

Dept of Ecology finally approves rain barrels

Apparently Jay Manning approved the use of rain barrels before leaving.. The story was covered by Chris Dunagan in his recent column.

Rainwater harvesting at home given a ‘thumbs up’

October 15th, 2009 by cdunagan

Jay Manning’s last official act as director of the Washington Department of Ecology was to announce that a water right will not be required to collect rainwater from the roof of a building.

It has been a bone of contention among some folks that state water law appears to require a water rights permit for the diversion of “water resources,” which is defined as “all waters above, upon, or beneath the surface of the earth, located within the state and over which the state has sole or concurrent jurisdiction.”

But state water law also gives the director of Ecology broad discretion to write regulations in the public interest.

Ecology specifically recognizes that rainwater harvesting can be a tool to manage stormwater. See Ecology’s paper on this subject.

In a one-page statement (PDF 124 kb), Manning declared:

“The on-site storage and/or beneficial use of rooftop or guzzler collected rainwater is not subject to the permit process of RCW 90.03.”

Read the rest of the story at Chris’ site, listed above.

Early Warning – Next Black Point Development meeting Oct 28th

The controversial Black Point project continues to labor through it’s impact statements, and state approvals. This beautiful and rugged parcel of shoreline is slated for total makeover, into a development that will look much like Port Ludlow when done. Neighbor concerns over water use, water availability, impact on the community from traffic, lack of infrastructure development on Hwy 101, and many other issues still makes this highly controversial.

The wild card, of course, is whether Statesman can find funding for this anywhere in the world during this economic downturn. Projects like this are failing to find funding globally right now, and existing ones under development are going bankrupt by the hundreds. There is currently over 100 properties for sale in Port Ludlow alone. The county has an inventory of homes for sale that, given best case historical standards, would take 10 years to sell all of them.

It would be a shame to see this beautiful area trashed and then have the company unable to follow through on it’s promises. That would be the worse of all worlds.Come to the meeting if you care about this  and learn more, or comment if you feel you already have enough information to make an informed statement.

———————–

The county is getting ready to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS). This is a meeting to give input to what should be addressed in the SEIS.  The format of the SEIS will be like the format of the FEIS .  Your input to the meeting might cover:

• alternatives to be considered (three are mentioned in the scoping notice)
• mitigation measures
• probable significant adverse impacts
• licenses or other approvals that may be required.

If you cannot attend the meeting, you can send written comments by November 30, 2009 to
David Johnson, Project Lead Planner
621 Sheridan Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
dwjohnson@co.jefferson.wa.us
Open issues in this ongoing project:

• The Department of Ecology (DOE) has not approved Statesman’s water rights applications
• DOE recently tested 10 wells on Black Point and found salt water intrusion in 2 of them.
• Statesman has not been successful to this date in getting funding for the project.

Humor -China celebrates becoming the world’s top polluter…

A break from the hard news around us….From the Onion, a great site for a giggle now and then. China is celebrating becoming the top polluter. enjoy…Thanks to the Onion.

China Celebrates Its Status As World’s Number One Air Polluter