FREE • Friday, September 12, 2014
Tacoma Football: Week One
Maritime Fest
A10
B1
Jazz LIVE at Marine View
B2
Y TACOMAWEEKL.com Your Community Newspaper - 26 Years of Service
Momentum building for dam replacement along White River
North downtown plan continues to take shape
Photo by Steve Dunkelberger
PLANNING. The city’s planning
effort of the north half of downtown is meant to create zoning codes and permitting policy to promote economic activity and boost the quality of life for residents, like promoting street festivals such as this year’s Downtown Block Party on Broadway. By Steve Dunkelberger
stevedunkel@tacomaweekly.com
Photos by Steve Dunkelberger
tough journey. Salmon have to navigate through an aging dam, then get trucked 12 miles past the dam system along the White River. The process is time consuming, labor intensive and often can’t keep up with demand, which causes fish to be injured on their way to spawning grounds. A proposed $90 million dam system would streamline that process and allow more fish to reach spawning grounds. By Steve Dunkelberger
stevedunkel@tacomaweekly.com
E
fforts to replace the 103-year-old dam system on the White River are making headway on several fronts, but a new dam could still be years away. The Buckley Dam was built in 1911 to divert water from the White River to Lake Tapps. The dam is also used to trap, transport and release salmon above the 1940-era Mud Mountain Dam, about 5 miles upriver. That dam was built only for flood control and not originally equipped to allow fish passage. The dam system is outdated and unable to keep up with the number of salmon now struggling to spawn in the river system. The current dam was modified in 1948 to allow about 4,000 salmon a day and is being forced to manage 20,000 fish a day during peak spawning seasons. Salmon normally have a spawning run of about two weeks, but the limits of the workload spreads that to almost three months, meaning otherwise healthy salmon are being injured or killed as they fruitlessly fight their way upstream until they make their way to the fish trap to be trucked to the spawning grounds. Tribal biologists from the Puyallup and Muckleshoot tribes do much of the sorting, weighing and recording throughout the process. “The health of the river and the fish is of utmost importance to the Puyallup Tribe, not only to our membership but for the community as a whole,” Puyallup Tribal Chairman Bill Sterud said. “We are committed to preserving the quality and the health of salmon in the Puget Sound.” “They really do the heavy lifting,” said Army Corps of Engineer Manager Dan Johnson. That means crews fill water tanks with fish every 20 minutes around the clock, using four water trucks to shuttle the fish 12 miles by road past the dam system.
u See dam / page A8
Study of Puget Sound salmon under review By Steve Dunkelberger
stevedunkel@tacomaweekly.com
NEW LOOK: City steps up effort against ‘visual clutter.’ PAGE A6
u See Plan / page A9
City primed for new cab, for-hire transportation rules
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is developing plans that will lay out how fish hatcheries will operate in the future. One plan will address hatchery programs that produce Puget Sound Chinook salmon, while the other will develop benchmarks of producing coho, pink, chum and sockeye salmon and steelhead. State and tribal hatcheries have co-managed fish production on Puget Sound since a federal court case in 1974 established the framework of tribal treaty rights to fishing grounds and state fishing obligations. “The resource management plans are the proposed frameworks through which (state and tribal hatchery programs) would jointly manage salmon and steelhead hatchery programs in Puget Sound while meeting conservation requirements specified under the Endangered Species Act,” the NOAA announcement stated. “The EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) will consider potential impacts on listed and non-listed animal and plant species and their habitats, water quality and quantity, socioeconomics, and environmental justice.” The proposed action alternative in the draft plan that is being forwarded by state and tribal hatchery operators would not change the current level of fish production but study the counts for further action as a way to develop longer-term plans.
The City Council’s Government Performance and Accountability Committee has forwarded changes to Tacoma’s rules governing taxi cabs and the new entry into the marketplace, Transportation Network Companies. These companies, namely Uber and Lyft, use mobile phone applications to connect otherwise private car owners with passengers seeking rides who are willing to pay for a ride. The companies handle the money up front, so the drivers and passengers never exchange cash directly. Services from these companies started in April. “Part of the vision is that everyone can be a ‘casual driver’ if they want to be,” Lyft’s Public Policy Manager Annabel Chang said. Car owners can earn money during their free time by taking non-car owners to appointments or errands as the driver’s schedule allows.
u See salmon / page A8
u See transportation / page A9
HERB GODDESS HOROSCOPE
New PLU Center for Media A5
A public hearing concerning the comprehensive plan for the north half of Tacoma’s downtown Tuesday outlined policy changes meant to direct development in the area in the coming years. The city’s North Downtown Subarea Plan covers 520 acres of downtown between South 15th Street and the Stadium District, and from the area between Hilltop and the Foss Waterway. Plans for South Downtown and Hilltop were completed in the last year or so. Each of the plans was crafted through public hearings and presentations to boost economic activity while promoting quality of life for residents through zoning policies for redevelopment or new development. “The North Downtown Subarea
Bellarmine volleyball A10
Pothole Pig ...............A2 Crime Stoppers..........A3
ARIES (Mar. 21 – Apr. 19) This week’s aspiration for you is to make your long-term plans and work hard to see them through. Make lists and schedules to keep on track. Focus on your end result and envision yourself already there, creating reality. But try to limit the daydreaming.
LIBRA (Sep. 23 – Oct. 22) Juicy gossip fills your inner circle. Don’t take everything you hear at face value. Only speak about things you don’t mind others repeating. Idle talk can be twisted and used to benefit others. Someone close may want to see you knocked down a peg or two.
TAURUS (Apr. 20 - May 20) You may experience vivid and intense dreams this week, which could inspire you. Energy levels are high so take advantage and get going on that project. Work hard but not so hard that you neglect yourself. Sleep well, exercise moderately and eat the right diet.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21) Have you been thinking about an old friend or lover? This person may pay you a visit or send you a message online. Reunite, rekindle and then move forward. Your telepathic senses are very high right now. Trust your feelings and let them guide you on your life’s journey.
GEMINI (May 21 – Jun. 20) People around you may be acting a bit mischievously, possibly keeping you out of the loop. Is it deception or a favorable surprise? You’ll find out soon, and either way you come out looking like the better person. Smile a lot and listen while in conversation.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21) Sudden and unexpected changes will come up this week for you, especially at work. They may make you feel anxious, confused and disoriented. No worries, you will get all you deserve for all your hard work. Your skills and ingenuity are noticed by everyone around you.
CANCER (Jun. 21 – Jul. 22) Emotions run high this week both at home and at work. Don’t overreact to loved ones’ or coworkers’ demands. Sometimes we need to vent out our frustrations, which may seem harsher than reality. Many unspoken mysteries will soon come to light.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19) Let loose and have some fun this week. Get outside – go hiking, fishing, golfing, camping, etc. – doing what you really enjoy while the weather is still nice. You may find that your telepathic skills are dead on. You know who calls before the phone rings, and dreams may give you further insight.
LEO (Jul. 23 – Aug. 22) Your sensual and romantic side will shine this week. Strangers may take second glances, coworkers will compliment you and friends may rally around you. Show your style and wear it with pride. Give aid to someone who may genuinely need your help or advice.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18) Guard yourself from others who may be physically or emotionally “sick.” Take vitamin C, drink herbal teas, eat healthy and get plenty of rest. Avoid toxic people that may waste your time or use your ideas. You have better things to do! Focus on your plan and try to stay grounded.
VIRGO (Aug. 23 – Sep. 22) Memories of past love ones may occupy your thoughts this week. Maybe it’s time to let them go. Free yourself so someone new can come into your life. As you settle, move forward with your plans. Be choosey about your next move. Don’t rush it!
PISCES (Feb. 19 – Mar. 20) You may see another side of someone, completely changing your perspective. This could be a favorable thing or you could uncover something you didn’t want to know. All truths come out in time no matter how deeply they are hidden. Ultimately, isn’t it better to know the truth?
WORD SEARCH O R M Q T U R C W S Q V G K H P I
S A A F R B T J Y T M P D U V R H
P I V I O E W N B P A P X K O I T
U Q S B D R G A W I R C D E L M E
C X D F E T V M I F I J S B L N K
R C W T O T O S D W T P U U E A C
O U F O O T B A L L I S C C Y M I
Q O S M V S Q H U Q M K B K B O T
J H O T U N Z M R W E I K L A W T
K C O G Y R N K W K F M O E L Y O
A Y J U P C T W S Q E H F Y L K H
S Q M I K F L B O H S X S D F C H
D P J T Y X B E F T T V N A R U K
P R V L K I O C A P N V U M I L H
E S J M R D R Y I V J W K B G L I
E S E L T T E N A B E Q O P T L B
D B E V W Y D G F X R R R D R U K
ANAGRAM
MARITIME FESTIVAL
Game Page B6
Sports .........................A10 Hot Tickets .................A11
Look for daily updates online! tacomaweekly.com
By Steve Dunkelberger
stevedunkel@tacomaweekly.com
Facebook: facebook.com/tacomaweekly Twitter: @Tacomaweekly Tumblr: tacomaweekly.tumblr.com Pinterest: pinterest.com/tacomaweekly Flickr: flickr.com/tacomaweekly A&E........................ ....B1 Make A Scene.............B5
Calendar.................. B6 Horoscopes.............. B6
Two Sections | 24 Pages