Being Frank

  March 2018

Hirst “Fix” Wrong Move

by Lorraine Loomis

In a hasty move to “fix” the Hirst ruling, the State Legislature and Gov. Jay Inslee are writing a bad check on our limited water supply at the cost of salmon, future generations and holders of senior water rights. They’ve … Continue reading →

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  February 2018

Ecosystem Out of Balance

Whatcom Watch

All natural resources are connected and we are all connected to them, but most of those resources are not being managed as part of a larger whole, and that can lead to huge imbalances in this ecosystem we call home. … Continue reading →

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  January 2018

Accord Fosters Cooperation

by Lorraine Loomis

A 28-year-old investment in cooperation and government-to-government relations between Indian tribes and the state of Washington is still paying off today. Through the 1989 Centennial Accord the tribes and state committed to work together for the common good of everyone … Continue reading →

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  December 2017

Bold Action Needed for Salmon Recovery

by Lorraine Loomis

Frustrated with the lack of progress in salmon recovery — especially Puget Sound chinook — treaty tribes in western Washington have proposed seven bold actions to jump-start those efforts. Puget Sound chinook were listed under the Endangered Species Act in … Continue reading →

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  Oct/Nov 2017

Atlantic Salmon Must Go

by Lorraine Loomis

The backlash against Atlantic salmon farms in western Washington continues to grow as more than 100,000 of the non-native fish remain unaccounted for following the collapse of a Cooke Aquaculture facility in northern Puget Sound last month. Treaty tribes in … Continue reading →

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  August 2017

Let’s Move Past the Culvert Case

by Lorraine Loomis

The state of Washington has made remarkable progress in the past four years toward meeting a federal court mandate to repair hundreds of fish-blocking culverts under state roads. Failing culverts deny tribal treaty-reserved fishing rights that include the right for … Continue reading →

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  July 2017

Accountability Matters for Water and Treaty Rights

by Lorraine Loomis

Do you make sure you have enough money in your bank account before writing a check for a big purchase? Of course. That’s what responsible people do to avoid trouble down the road. You would think that kind of common-sense … Continue reading →

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  June 2017

Conservation Comes First

by Lorraine Loomis

An earlier start to the annual salmon season-setting process helped the tribal and state salmon co-managers finish their work right on time this year. Steadily shrinking salmon populations have made the process of establishing fishing seasons increasingly difficult. Last year’s … Continue reading →

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  April 2017

We Need to Do More to Clean Puget Sound

by Lorraine Loomis

The health of Puget Sound is getting some much-needed help from efforts to reduce polluted stormwater runoff and a proposed new law that would prohibit sewage discharge from boats. Polluted stormwater runoff from urban areas is the number one source … Continue reading →

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  March 2017

Salmon Management Process Underway Earlier

by Lorraine Loomis

The 2017 state and tribal salmon season-setting process got an earlier start this year. Nobody wants a repeat of last year’s North of Falcon process that required a month of overtime negotiations and led to a delay in opening some … Continue reading →

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