(Farmers thumb their nose at DFW and tribes with Senator Haugen’s help)
(from the Seattle PI) An excerpt from this story:
The farming community has put up with years of meetings with the DFW and tribes. It's time for action, which is why I've been working with farmers1 this session to pass legislation that helps preserve the Skagit Valley's agricultural base and gives more authority to the locals. My proposals are included in House Bill 1418, which easily passed the Legislature and now awaits the governor's signature2. This legislation will: • • • • •
Exclude existing agricultural tide gates from the state's definition of an "obstruction" that must be removed to allow better fish passage; Force the state to remove a self-regulating tide gate if a landowner requests it; Require a task force of state, county, agricultural and environmental representatives to decide how best to enhance intertidal salmon habitat in local areas without harming agricultural lands3; Direct the task force to develop a long-term proposal for salmon recovery and protection of agricultural lands and make annual reports to the DFW, and Require any salmon-enhancement plan developed by the task force to be implemented on public land first.
The Big Ditch at Fisher Slough (This is a photo of a key feature from a $7.7 million dollar stimulus-funded project - a project that Haugen’s task force came up with!!!!)
That’s water! Yuck!!!!
So much for the Party of Clean Air and Clean Water!!!!! 1
Senator Haugen (D) left the Department of Fish &Wildlife and the tribes out of the discussions and dictated HB 1418. Former Governor Gary Locke (D) signed this bill. (He is presently serving as President Obama’s ambassador to China.) 3 This directive resulted in the Fisher Slough project - one of many multi-million dollar salmon habitat projects in Skagit County. Go
2
to www.youtube.com and search for: “fisher slough juel” for an expose’ about the incredible amount of money that was wasted this deeply-flawed project. (The photo above is part of this project.)
The dispute has not been solved… but there is a solution! By JEFF JUEL, PE, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, ENTREPRENEUR, ENVIRONMENTALIST, & CONSERVATIVE Skagit County has put up with 19 years of arrogance from Senator Haugen. Tide gates are at the center of the Skagit dispute. Over the past six years, I’ve worked with property owners, farmers, the Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, Skagit County, and the Swinomish Tribe on a number of tide gate projects within Skagit County. In 2003, a dysfunctional self-regulating tide gate (SRT) at Edison Slough caused turmoil within the farming community. The backlash ultimately resulted in Senator Haugen’s deeply-flawed and misguided HB 1418. The original SRT at Edison Slough was replaced, and in 2009, it was retrofitted with a revolutionary tide gate control mechanism. This tide gate proves that a cleverly-engineered SRT that is simple, reliable, and fail-safe CAN work for both fish AND farms. The tide gate at Edison Slough has been accommodating fish passage and allowing a modest amount of backflow on each and every flood tide for over three years - with no failures and no flooding. Drainage has improved and the property owner (who was flooded by the original SRT) has given my tide gate an enthusiastic endorsement. (To see his endorsement, go to You Tube and search for: Juel Edison Eitreim.)
The photograph to the left shows the spectacular wetland vegetation at Edison Slough. Contrast this with the photo of the mess at The Big Ditch at Fisher Slough (See my website www.jueltide.com and my YouTube Channel “Jueltide” for more information.)
Conservatives - like me – truly care about the environment as much or more than Democrats - however conservatives are actually competent enough to do something to preserve and enhance the environment and we are accountable for costs and positive results!
What Can You Do???? : Barbara Bailey (R) is challenging incumbent Senator Haugen. Please give her your vote!