To: VickiH@co.san-juan.wa.us
markt@co.san-juan.wa.us
Hi Vicki and Mark -
Now that I am an appointed member of the MRC it becomes even more
difficult
to attend/participate in your Watershed planning meetings. My
concern
for retaining water in San Juan streams with established salmon
populations
is still paramount, however, and I trust that concern extends to those
of
you involved in the watershed planning process. In particular it
has
been brought to my attention that recent meetings have included
consideration
of the present and proposed withdrawls of water from Cascade Creek on
Orcas
Island.
As I have indicated to you recently, Cascade Creek supports an
established
run of chum salmon and is already listed by WDFW as a Type 3 Water and
a
salmon bearing stream.
Future consideration of water withdrawls and pending water right
applications
should take into account that instream flows sufficient to provide for
chum
salmon spawning and incubation will undoubtedly be required.
Any water allocation plan developed by the County should include
provisions
for instream flows sufficient to support both fish and wildlife values.
While my understanding is that Watershed Committee meetings are open to
the
public, it may be beneficial to specifically notify all water districts
of
meeting times and locations so that valuable input is not missed.
The target for future buildout should not depend upon using the last
drop
of water in Cascade Creek with no accounting for fish and other
instream
values.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding fish
use
in Cascade Creek or other streams under study.
David Hoopes
Salmon Recovery Specialist
leadentity@rockisland.com