HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment re: Protection Island - 071326 P46t/fC
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July 13, 2026
Jefferson County Commissoners
Jefferson County, Washington 98368
Dear Commissioners,
I am writing as a 20 year resident of this county, former employee of the Port Townsend Marine Science
Center(PTMSC), and a lifelong admirer of Northwest indigenous cultures. I was a friend of Eleanor
Stopps, who helped save Protection Island from development into dozens of small lots, and helped
integrate the Eleanor Stopps Environmental Achievement Award as an annual event at PTMSC. I cannot
support the sole ownership of the Island by the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe.The tribe should be involved
but not as sovereign owner.
I would like to see the management of the island go forward as shared governance to insure that all the
work that was done by Eleanor, her friend Zella Schulz, Lorna Smith, and countless others, to protect
birds and mammals, will not be in vain. It was a hard-fought battle to keep Protection Island from
development and the loss of public,federal and state oversight and protection of wildlife is not in the
best interest of wildlife.
Assuming that the tribe will want to do aquaculture, it is important that the 200 yard boundary around
the island, established by the Department of Natural Resources, be maintained.Aquaculture can
negatively impact the environment through water pollution, habitat destruction, and the spread of
disease with crowded conditions of a monoculture of fish and shellfish. Other governmental entities and
the public should be able to weigh in on any projects that the tribe intends.
I hope that the County will follow its science-based philosophy of the past and protect the island from
any development of marine resources that could compromise the bird populations of the Salish Sea,
encouraging the continuance of a well—balanced (shared) management plan for the island.
Thank you.
JoAnne Heron C(/
2315 Madrona St.
Port Townsend, Washington 98368
blueheron65@hotmail.com
(360) 774-2504