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Jeanie Orr
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From: connie@olympicforest.org
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 3:42 PM
To: #Long-Range Planning; Michelle McConnell
Subject: Comments on SMP
The Olympic Forest Coalition is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting and
restoring our Olympic Peninsula forest and aquatic ecosystems. We would appreciate your
consideration of our views on the subject of the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP), as follows:
To ignore tough control laws in the SMP is to ignore the importance of estuaries - the foundation for a
healthy aquatic ecosystem.
Upland forest removal on unstable slopes can trigger mass soil movements that deliver large sediment
loads to streams, thus widening and shallowing streams and impacting stream temperatures (Sidle,
1985; Beschta and Taylor, 1988). Buffers will also prevent chemicals from poisoning shellfish beds,
keep our beaches clean and our salmon streams cool, and protect forage fish spawning areas. With all
of the emphasis our state and residents are placing on saving Puget Sound, it is important that we
protect shoreline vegetation, beaches, and bluffs.
The entire shoreline must be protected if we are to retain sustainable fisheries that much of our local
economy and citizenry depend upon for jobs, food, and sport. In support of the SMP, we suggest the
following:
. Retain the strengths of the proposed draft SMP. It will provide protection for our shorelines and
help save Puget Sound, while allowing property owners flexibility to develop and redevelop their
land in a responsible manner.
. Keep the science-based buffers, which help reduce erosion and flooding that can threaten
homes, prevent chemicals from poisoning shellfish beds, keep our beaches clean and our
salmon streams cool, and protect forage fish spawning areas.
. Do not allow mining and mineral extraction or industrial activities on shorelines designated as
conservancy.
. Allow buffer sizes to be averaged or reduced in cases where they would prevent placement of a
single family home, so long as designed to avoid and mitigate impacts to water quality and
habitat.
. Include the CMZ's in relation to major rivers.
. Protect views from the waterways to the shorelines. The impact to recreational activities and to
wildlife is considerable.
2/2/2009
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Kitsap, Mason, Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish Counties have updated and adopted strong science-
based SMP and CAO's protecting over 1,000 miles of Puget Sound. It is time that Jefferson County do
the same, primarily because we have some of the most pristine beaches and rivers in all of Puget
Sound. This is our best opportunity to protect them for future generations.
Please protect Jefferson County shorelines from turning into an uncontrollable, over-developed, and
polluted area. Once lost, it is gone forever.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on such a critical plan.
Respectfully,
Connie Gallant
Vice Chair
Olympic Forest Coalition
http://olympicforest.org
(Mailing address for Connie Gallant: PO Box 490 Quilcene WA 98376)
2/2/2009