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Michelle Farfan
From: David W. Johnson
Sent: Monday, May 24,200410:05 AM
To: AI Scalf; Michelle Farfan
Subject: FW: Port Ludlow EIS
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From: Richard Ullmann [mailto:rullmann@olypen.com]
Sent: Monday, May 24,20049:28 AM
To: David W. Johnson
Subject: Port Ludlow EIS
Dear Mr. Scalf and Community Development Staff:
I am writing on behalf of the Natural Resources Committee - a committee ofthe Port Ludlow Village
Council. The nature of the work we do for the community is focused on the environment in and around
Port Ludlow and we continually look for ways in which we can contribute to the wellbeing and
improvement of our natural resources.
We do not intend to critique the draft EIS line by line. Others, I'm sure, will take on that task, and your
office will undoubtedly investigate and deal with multiple issues related to the input you receive. Our
purpose is to raise one environmental issue that is at the heart of our concern. In our view, it needs
clarification. This issue is about the health of the bay! The developer's plan will create additional
impervious surfaces and an increase in water runoff that may contain pollutants headed for Ludlow Bay.
The EIS speaks clearly about the development in Ludlow Bay Village and proposes mitigation plans for
runoffby mentioning new storm drainage systems in Basins A and B, water quality vaults, and
"residence" time in the lagoon before being sent to the Bay. Based on the generalities in the report,
however, it is not clear to us how any of this water is being treated before discharge. Treatment, via
marsh lands, sewage system, or other means unknown to us, is immensely critical for the health of the
Bay. The monitoring of that health becomes even more critical. Will water quality testing be expanded?
Will baseline data be established to determine the health, size and distribution of the animals and
organisms that inhabit the Bay? Weare raising this issue in the hope that your office will be particularly
sensitive and insistent about adequate treatment solutions to the increasing water runoff as a result of the
new construction. Seattle METRO has had significant problems resulting from stormwater runoff into
Puget Sound. We could have similar problems here. Our source area is much smaller but so is the
receiving water body, Ludlow Bay.
When we think of the health of the bay we are already aware of the deterioration of the waters in Hood
Canal and we wonder about the water environment in our own area. In Ludlow Bay, shellfish harvesting
has been declared unsafe. Coho and Chum Salmon - spawning in Ludlow Creek - are dependent on the
Bay for their sustenance, as are many organisms that make their home in the Bay. Surnrner run-off from
the lagoon -laden with algae bloom - has the potential oflowering the oxygen content of the Bay. The
algae problem is exacerbated in the summer because there is so little rain that the retention time is
lengthened. Artificially increased circulation in the summer could reduce retention time, temperature
and occurrence of low dissolved oxygen.
5/24/2004
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Grassy areas were once considered a mitigating factor in controlling runoff because those areas could
soak up rainfall. In this plan, much of the grassy area will be replaced by roofs, paved streets and
parking lots. This has already resulted in the displacement of ducks, such as widgeon, that used to come
in large numbers to eat the grass.
Our primary question: How will the Bay be protected as this building plan proceeds? Protections are
alluded to in the EIS statement, but they are not specific enough - in our reading- to give us comfort.
We would ask that your office take a carefullook at all the guidelines, specifications and laws, related to
water health and insist on conformance to the latest state and federal guidelines for control and treatment
of runoff in shoreline areas. In the final report, make it clear to the developer and the community what is
expected from all of us in order to maintain this fragile environment..
Thank you for this opportunity to react and offer our input to your office.
Sincerely,
Dick Ullmann
Natural Resources Committee
5/24/2004