Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2011)
Tribes oppose Washington state bill to reduce salmon habitat protection The Washington state combined bill 1886 would replace current critical areas regulations that apply to agricultural lands with a bureaucratic system relying on vol untary measures to protect salmon habitat. Many Indian tribes, including the Lummi Nation, Quinault Indian Nation, Swinomish Tribal Community, Tulalip Tribes of Washington and Yakama Nation, oppose this expensive new bureaucracy that favors maintaining agricultural “viability” over allowing salmon habitat to recover. A significant number of streams on agricultural lands in Washington do not meet water quality standards and salmon runs are still listed under the Endangered Species Act. While this legislation allows the agriculture industry to conduct busi ness as usual, Tribal, non-Tribal and sport fisheries continue to be curtailed or eliminated entirely. This bill, developed by the William D. Ruckelshaus Center at Washington State University, unfairly tips the balance toward agricultural interests and leaves salmon with nothing. “Now Washington state has water quality regulations in place to protect drinking water and endangered salmon habitat from the activities of developers, foresters and manufacturers,” said Swin omish Chairman Brian Cladoosby. “But there are those who believe they are above the law,” he said. “We can not have the state continue to allow the agricultural industry to avoid regulations while expecting unsuccessful voluntary approaches. When the health of the state’s streams, salmon and people are at stake, we must put politics aside. We must instead rely upon science and pro cesses that engage all interested parties, not just agriculture, which doesn’t have a trustworthy track record with salmon or water quality.” If this legislation passes, the state would spend $60,000 to $120,000 for each of the next five years to pay for local planning groups, composed heavily of agricultural interests, to set voluntary measure of salmon protections. These groups would set benchmarks with no substantial guidance from the legislation or from science and self-report after as long as a decade as to whether they’re meeting those benchmarks. There is virtually no scientific oversight of whether the benchmarks are adequate to protect fish or whether the voluntary measures succeed or fail. The Legislature’s own Independent Science Panel confirmed that in 2000 when it reviewed the state’s Salmon Recovery Strategy and stated, “... reli ance on historically ineffective voluntary measures leaves an impression that tinker ing with failures of the past will restore glories of the past. This approach is likely to result in false expectations and is not based on science.” Tribes have asked legislators to include in this legislation provisions requiring compliance with state water quality standards and salmon recovery habitat objectives, but they were rejected. In the Nooksack River watershed, current animal waste management prac tices are not effectively reducing water contamination in Tribal shellfish beds. “Based on past experience, volun tary actions are not enough,” said Merle Jefferson, Lummi Natural Resource Department executive director. “Without continued technical assistance, compli ance inspection activities, and water qual ity monitoring and source identification in the Nooksack River watershed, the likelihood of future downgrades of Tribal shellfish in Portage Bay and Lummi Bay is significantly increased.” 4 h MC y Seth Benedict Happy Birthday to our kind, great and wonderful brother, Seth! Love, your sisters Teonna, Nahayla and Sahayla Wishing Seth, who is a wonderful brother and uncle, a Happy 16th Birthday. With love, Lynetta, Derek, Natalia and Nathaniel Happy Birthday to my handsome son, Seth. You always make me proud. Love always, Mom Grandson Seth - We are so glad you were bom because you brighten our fives and fill it with joy. Love, Grandma Joella and Wilma Strong Happy 18lh birthday to Aden Perkins. We hope all your life dreams come true. Love, Mom and Stuart Happy 1st Birthday on April 16 to Ella Cree! Love - Auntie Chasta Cree, Uncle Stuart, Chrissy, Aden and Avery We would like to wish our nephew, Aden Perkins, a very Happy 18lh Birthday. We’re so proud of you and hope all your | | | | | | | | | | | | I Imprints Print Shop is proud to announce the recent upgrade of its screen printer and the addi- tion of an embroidery machine. We can now offer custom hats in addition to a long list of other apparel, including shirts and hoodies. Belong to a club, sports team or association? Promoting a big event, holiday or occasion? We can imprint your name or logo onto literally thousands of different promotional products and apparel. Imprints Print Shop wishes and dreams come true. With our love - Uncle Marty, Aunt Dawn, Brittany, Gaven and Ella Manager: Tammy Viles 1520 NE Highway 101 Lincoln City, OR 97367 Office: 541-996-5550 Fax: 541-996-5551 E-mail: imprintslc@charter.net www.imprintsprintshop.com It's fast, convenient and affordable, and there's no better way to | promote. Pay us a visit or check us out online. Tribal members receive | i a 15% discount. Thousands of logoed promotional products for just | about any business, event or occasion. Calling all Tribal artists! Imprints is looking for original Tribal art designs for screen printing and embroidering on apparel. Stop by | the store and show us what you've got. We’ll pay for those designs | | chosen. Visit us, call, e-mail or go online. Passages Policy Submissions to Passages are limited to two 25-word items per person, plus one photo if desired. All birthday, anniversary and holiday wishes will appear in the Passages section. Siletz News reserves the right to edit any submission for clar ity and length. Not all submissions are guaranteed publication upon sub mission. Please type or write legibly and submit via e-mail when possible. See more Passages on page 24. May 2011 • Siletz News • 23
