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THE ASTORIAN • THuRSdAy, MARcH 17, 2022
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
Founded in 1873
DERRICK DePLEDGE
Editor
SHANNON ARLINT
circulation Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN
Production Manager
GUEST COLUMN
The measuring stick of our survival
M
y mentor Billy Frank Jr.
always said salmon are
the measuring stick of our
survival.
He was referring to all of us.
Salmon are the keystone that sup-
ports dozens of other species of fish
and wildlife. Their survival, and ours,
depends on clean, cool, flowing rivers
and streams.
We had an oppor-
tunity to protect those
waters with the Lor-
raine Loomis Act, pro-
posed by Gov. Jay Ins-
lee and named for the
Northwest Indian Fish-
ED
eries Commission’s
JOHNSTONE
former chairwoman,
who passed away last
year. Lorraine knew protecting ripar-
ian habitat is essential to salmon recov-
ery. She wanted nothing more than to
ensure future generations of Washingto-
nians could experience what it means to
have healthy salmon runs and the joy of
salmon fishing.
We understand that the bill did not
progress in the state Legislature this
year, but that doesn’t mean the work
stops. It can’t.
We’re already behind schedule. It’s
been 10 years since Billy said, “We are
at a crossroads and we’re running out of
time.”
The Lorraine Loomis Act was a start-
ing point that sought to protect and grow
trees in the riparian zones along salmon
and steelhead streams. It also would
have provided financial assistance to
help landowners comply with the law. It
would have included a regulatory back-
stop for those unwilling to comply.
Tribes have been pushing for legisla-
tion like this for years. But this isn’t an
“Indian bill.” Numerous environmental
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Western Washington’s treaty tribes regard protecting riparian areas, like the one pictured,
as key to restoring salmon populations.
groups, as well as recreational and com-
mercial fishing organizations, have sup-
ported it because they understand we’re
all in this together. They have prioritized
salmon restoration because they know
how critical the situation is.
Tribes are bearing the burden of fix-
ing a problem we didn’t create.
Our hatcheries release more than 35
million salmon and steelhead every year
and we have restored thousands of miles
of habitat. But habitat destruction has
run rampant, and the state has failed to
do enough about it. Our people are hun-
gry and there’s no end in sight.
Climate change is a primary culprit.
Temperatures in streams are the highest
on record. After last summer’s extreme
heat wave, more than 2,500 Chinook
salmon died on the South Fork Nook-
sack River before they could reach the
Lummi Nation’s Skookum Creek hatch-
ery, because of lethal temperatures for
salmon and low flows. Improved ripar-
ian conditions and channel complexity
could have prevented this tragedy.
If the Lorraine Loomis Act passed
this year, it would have helped pre-
vent more such tragedies in the years to
come. As it is, the number of tempera-
ture-impaired salmon stream segments
in our United States v. Washington case
area has increased from 400 to 2,000
over the past few decades.
Getting trees in the ground is the first
step toward protecting riparian habitat.
It’s a small step, but an important one
that requires a long-term commitment.
The treaty tribes are committed to this
work. It’s going to take at least 40 years
before trees grow enough to protect our
salmon streams. Additional habitat res-
toration is needed, and we need to build
capacity and infrastructure to do the
work — now.
Yes, there are those who oppose
these critical efforts. Some in the agri-
cultural industry seem to think creating
riparian management zones puts the bur-
den of salmon recovery on them. They
claim it could harm their businesses. It’s
a short-sighted attitude given the fact
that protecting streams, rivers and the
environment is an investment in their
future as well as ours. Also, failing to
protect salmon habitat violates treaty
tribes’ federally protected right to har-
vest salmon.
We’ve already lost more than 90%
of our salmon harvest. We aren’t ask-
ing farmers to give up 90% of their live-
lihood. Planting trees won’t put any-
one out of business. It won’t impede the
economy, the environment or the North-
west way of life. Quite the opposite.
Fully functioning riparian habitats
provide bank stability, shade, pollu-
tion control and the large woody debris
salmon need to survive. The lack of
these habitats eats away evermore at our
precious way of life.
There is no more time to waste. The
state needs to get serious about reestab-
lishing riparian habitats — now.
Ed Johnstone is the chairman of the
Northwest Indian Fisheries commission.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Divide and conquer
D
ivide and conquer.
I’m not talking about the Russian
conflict, but the battle we have in our own
front yard over Heritage Square devel-
opment. We all are looking for the same
result and goals, but have gotten off track.
As a community, we need to offer
affordable housing. As a community, we
need to work together to control the home-
lessness issues. And Astorians want Heri-
tage Square to be our downtown gathering
spot, with parking and open space.
Don’t combine complicated issues …
keep them separate. That will be the road
to success.
JEFF DALY
Astoria
A good look
he writer of “Astoria police to adjust
patrols after vandalism downtown” (The
Astorian, March 8) gave us a good look at
what the local law enforcement is doing.
I was driving downtown yesterday and
thought to myself, “Man, are there a lot of
patrol vehicles driving around today.”
I never would have thought kids these
days were climbing on top of food trucks
and houses. I read this article today and
understood completely. Keep doing great
work. God bless America.
CORBIN ALGIERI
Astoria
T
Inspire
would recommend that everyone read
Jonathan Williams’ well-written arti-
cle on the opinion page, “Inspiring each
other” (The Astorian, March 5). He says as
we grieve our losses, “we must find a path
forward. One way is to inspire each other.”
His article is so true. As we end this
pandemic, let’s put our differences aside
(masks or no masks — shots or no shots).
We need to become united, and get this
country on the way forward. Get out there.
See your friends. Make a difference!
Inspire each other, shout hallelujah for our
recovery.
He mentions Skip Hauke. I join in
memory of this good Astorian!
Another issue: The idea of a hous-
ing project is good. The location at Heri-
tage Square is bad! I have heard too many
negative complaints from the people of
Astoria.
My concern is also parking. Even if the
city states that new parking is not neces-
sary, that many units will have an impact
on our parking somewhat. I understand
they will have a staff. It’s obvious workers
will have cars.
We are 86 and 87. It is certain we do
I
not walk well. We would like to visit
downtown on occasion, and if parking is
a problem, we will be reluctant to do this.
Astoria is also a tourist town. That needs
to be considered, also.
We have no legal Astoria city vote, as
we are five minutes out of the city limits,
but I encourage those in opposition.
Welcome back to the world folks.
Inspire!
DeLORES MAY RICHARDS
Astoria
Sad state
hat a sad state of affairs for the city
of Astoria and the proposed devel-
opment of Heritage Square.
Of course affordable housing is needed,
and is certainly recognized by a majority
of residents. However, utilizing the Heri-
tage Square area should not be on the list
of proposed locations!
Using a housing project modeled after a
similar campus in Portland (The Astorian,
W
March 5) makes no sense whatsoever. Well
folks, this isn’t Portland. Astoria is a small,
scenic city with a rich history that should
be celebrated.
Heritage Square should be
the crown jewel for not only the
residents, but tourists alike. Something
just doesn’t seem right with this disturb-
ing redevelopment proposal. Who stands
to profit?
PATRICIA COWGILL
Warrenton