HomeMy WebLinkAbout255.Woolley, J.-OlyForestCoalition 4-28_JeffersonCounty SMP Comments tor DOE
Michelle McConnell
From:John & Nancy Woolley [woolley@tfon.com]
Sent:Wednesday, April 28, 2010 11:24 AM
To:Stewart, Jeff R. (ECY)
Subject:JeffersonCounty SMP Comments tor DOE
Categories:LASMP Public Comment
lympic
Forest
Coalition
Protecting and restoring our Olympic forest and aquatic ecosystems
April 28, 2010
Mr. Jeff Stewart
Regional Planner
Department of Ecology
PO Box 47775
Olympia WA 98504
Dear Mr. Stewart:
The Olympic Forest Coalition has about 700 members and friends in our organization whose mission
is to protect and restore our Olympic forest and aquatic ecosystems. At least half of these people live
in Jefferson County. Some of our board members also live in Jefferson County and have followed,
and participated in, the update to the Shorelines Master Program (SMP).
We are in support of Jefferson County's shorelines to ensure no net loss of shoreline function, as
required in the Shoreline Management Act. Adequate buffers serve multiple purposes. One main
purpose is to protect fish and wildlife by allowing them some remaining important habitat; buffers also
keep bluffs from eroding too quickly, protect shellfish beds, reduce stormwater inputs, and keep our
beaches cleaner for those people who choose to recreate in these lovely areas. Because it is not
possible to mitigate or restore in other places without significant investment in the future, which is too
uncertain, 150’ buffers are the best investments to achieve shoreline protection.
Geoduck aquaculture should require a conditional use permit since there are too many unanswered
questions on how this use may harm the environment, and is mostly a private use of public shore
lands. Net pen aquaculture for fin fish has been clearly shown to cause severe impacts to native fish,
producing unhealthy fish for those who choose to eat farmed salmon, and should be prohibited in the
final SMP approved by DOE.
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Mining should not be allowed in the Conservancy environment. Mining in general is very detrimental
to the environment and, again, safeguards must be in place to protect the Sound. The mining of
gravel in river shorelines should be prohibited not just in the active channel and within the ordinary
high water mark, but within the entire channel migration zone.
The Puget Sound is a very fragile ecosystem and each of us must do what we can to protect and
restore water quality and diverse habitats of the Sound. The current Planning Commission draft
simply does not pass muster.
Sincerely,
John Woolley
President
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