HomeMy WebLinkAbout090723 FW_ Alert Message for Caucus members_Timber Counties Caucus members,
Please see the message below from Skamania County Commissioner and Chairman of the Timber Counties Caucus, Tom Lannen.
Feel free to reach out to Commissioner Lannen with any questions.
Sincerely,
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Paul Jewell | Policy Director – Water, Land Use, Environment & Solid Waste
Washington State Association of Counties | wsac.org <https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwsac.org&c=E,1,zGHyUlzQfsIvP3KFVFUi_NsVj3ptJudf6mes2fHw097-40phrDYwAna-JP2DPcXLfpENXk7W30rh6ph
Kw87ehQs-DaxYWwHCL2pXuBfwAq5o&typo=1&ancr_add=1>
pjewell@wsac.org | 360.489.3024
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IMPORTANT: Today at 5:30 is the only Zoom meeting that will have a general overview of what the WA Dept. Of Ecology is doing regarding making on the Outstanding Resource Waters/Tier
III designations of water courses and bodies. It may have critical impacts on your county. If you can possibly listen in on this it would be beneficial.
The Link is: https://ecology.wa.gov/Regulations-Permits/Laws-rules-rulemaking/Rulemaking/WAC-173-201A-Outstanding-Resource-Waters#proposal
Commentary:
This critical action is being taken by the State Dept. of Ecology for water shed management. There are 3 levels of use designation they can use and the TIER IIIa is the most restrictive
and has never been used by them before. It basically “prohibits any and all future degradation” They have declared this a non-project which shortens the process and allows them to
proceed more quickly.
The initial action addresses 3 rivers, the Green River, Cascade and the Napeeque. Seven Conversation groups presented these for consideration as Tier III designated watersheds. Long-term
implications are unknown. It can potentially have significant impacts on Forest Timber Management and recreation. This is the first of several more rivers being involved. There is
a set of public meetings, but it is important that counties have as much information as possible before hand.
Have you heard of this or been engaged in the discussions?
It has been in play since at least 2021 internally. A SEPA was done at some point, and it was classified as a DNS-Determination of Non-Significance and therefore is a Non-Project.
Which may change how they are allowed to proceed. There appears to be minimal engagement with the counties.
They are in the process of holding the final round of public input sessions, without specifically engaging with local governments.
The Public Comment ends on Sept. 27th – Weds. It is a topic deserving of our attention and will be discussed at our next Timber Counties Caucus meeting on Weds. Sept. 20th.
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