MANAGING EXTINCTION

September 26 letter to Whatcom County:

"Managing Extinction" was the takeaway from the Shared Waters presentation by Whatcom Watersheds Information Network at Blaine Public Library yesterday. A sad documentation of the failure of governments--despite heroic efforts by Tribes and First Nations--to prevent the looming extinction of Salish Sea chinook salmon, orcas, and Indigenous cultures.

I shared the Whatcom Watch Blaine Case Study with the audience, which was surprised to learn that City of Blaine shoreline setbacks (that protect chinook salmon) on Dakota Creek, Cain Creek, and Drayton Harbor were reduced this spring to half that of county standards, in violation of the Clean Water Act. Even more surprised to learn that the Department of Ecology let them.

The coverup of these crimes by Cascadia Daily News and The Northern Light on behalf of their developer friends has apparently left everyone in the dark. Meanwhile, Blaine Mayor Steward has attacked Blaine Councilman Lewis for making a motion that the city adopt the overdue 2024 DOE Stormwater manual, which city manager Mike Harmon lied to the council about.

 
Jay Taber, Blaine Water Coalition

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