Department Of Ecology

Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe cleans tidelands for shellfish

The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is re-using old cinderblocks to clean up popular shellfish beds and delineate harvest areas.

With crews from the Department of Ecology’s Washington Conservation Corps/Veterans Conservation Corps (WCC/VCC) and NW Straits Commission, tribal shellfish staff spent a week in July situating the concrete blocks and removing debris from Quilcene and Sequim bays.

In Quilcene Bay, hundreds of cinderblocks were left behind on the tidelands from an old oyster farm operation. Instead of hauling them out, the tribe reorganized them to create obvious harvest area boundaries. (more…)

Continue ReadingJamestown S’Klallam Tribe cleans tidelands for shellfish

SVH: Swinomish Tribe gets grant to study rising sea levels

The Skagit Valley Herald has a story about the effects rising sea levels have had on the Swinomish reservation:

The reservation’s Snee-Oosh area is just one spot that tribal leaders are concerned will be affected by the sea level rise expected to come with climate change, said Ed Knight, a senior planner for the Swinomish Indian Tribe.

Higher sea levels mean storms and extreme high tides could cause more erosion and damage. Rising water during the 2006 storm came close to cutting off Reservation Road, the community’s northern access point to Highway 20, Knight said. (more…)

Continue ReadingSVH: Swinomish Tribe gets grant to study rising sea levels

Swinomish Tribe challenges irrigation practices in Skagit delta

The Swinomish Tribe has asked the state Department of Ecology to investigate whether the irrigation practice of collecting water in a check dam violates water rights, and the tribe’s treaty rights, in the Skagit Valley.


The Skagit Valley Herald:

The tribe conducted a survey of irrigation practices in the Skagit delta last year, making observations from public right of ways. The tribe’s unverified conclusion was that almost half of the observed irrigation in the delta in July and August appeared to be taking place without a water-right permit. (more…)

Continue ReadingSwinomish Tribe challenges irrigation practices in Skagit delta

Squaxin Island Tribe responds to dioxin in Oakland Bay

From the Squaxin Island Tribe’s blog this morning:

Preliminary data released today by the state Department of Ecology has identified dioxin in sediment throughout Oakland Bay.

Outside of Shelton Harbor, the dioxin is distributed uniformly with an average concentration of 35 parts per trillion (ppt or pg/g). “At first glance, the distribution pattern suggests the dioxin may be a historical legacy,” said John Konovsky, the tribe’s environmental program manager.
(more…)

Continue ReadingSquaxin Island Tribe responds to dioxin in Oakland Bay

North Kitsap Herald: Tribe receives oil spill trailer

The North Kitsap Herald ran a story January 17 about the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe receiving an emergency oil spill response trailer from the state Department of Ecology:

After the Port Gamble Bay was hit hard by a preventable oil spill in October 2005, the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe decided it never wanted to be that helpless again.

Working with the Washington State Department of Ecology, it was able to acquire a $1.25 million appropriation from the state and purchase an oil spill response trailer now parked at Point Julia.

(more…)

Continue ReadingNorth Kitsap Herald: Tribe receives oil spill trailer