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Being Frank
July 2019
Politics, Not Science Behind Water Quality Rollback
I don’t know how you can be against clean water, but some of the industries in our state are. They have convinced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to roll back the water quality standards we established two years ago. … Continue reading
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June 2019
Fisheries Management More Challenging Every Year
Each April for the past 35 years, I’ve said the same thing: This was the most challenging North of Falcon process we’ve ever had. Every year that’s true as the tribal and state salmon co-managers’ job of sharing and rebuilding … Continue reading
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May 2019
More Hatchery Fish Needed
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) plans to strategically release an additional 50 million Chinook from its hatcheries this year to benefit starving southern resident orcas. Opponents of the proposal argue that we must choose between having hatchery … Continue reading
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April 2019
Puget Sound Is Not a Sewer
We must stop treating Puget Sound like a sewer if we are going to restore the fish, shellfish, wildlife and other natural resources it supports. That’s why we are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stand strong in … Continue reading
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March 2019
Proposed State Budget Underfunds Culvert Replacement
This column represents the natural resources management interests and concerns of the treaty Indian tribes in western Washington. Treaty tribes in western Washington are concerned that Gov. Jay Inslee’s two-year $54 billion budget now before the state Legislature will not … Continue reading
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February 2019
Ruling Strengthens Habitat Protection
A recent Washington Supreme Court ruling has strengthened a state law aimed at protecting the waters, shorelines and streambanks essential to salmon recovery. The ruling also reflects the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the culvert case that the state has … Continue reading
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January 2019
We’re Finding Common Ground for Salmon
The strength of the late Billy Frank Jr.’s vision and leadership is once again being called upon to help recover salmon in western Washington. Habitat, hatcheries and pinnipeds will be the focus of the Billy Frank Jr. Salmon Coalition that … Continue reading
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December 2018
To Help Orcas, Eat Chinook
Don’t stop eating or serving chinook salmon if you want to help recover Southern Resident Killer Whales. It might make you feel better for a while, but it accomplishes little and makes recovering chinook even harder, by devastating the livelihoods … Continue reading
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December 2018
Tribes Release Habitat Recovery Strategy
“As the salmon disappear, so do our cultures and treaty rights. We are at a crossroads and we are running out of time.” These words of the late tribal leader Billy Frank Jr. become more urgent every day. Despite massive … Continue reading
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October-November 2018
Move Forward on Water Quality Standards
In an unfortunate reversal, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has decided to reconsider our state’s new water quality standards — the most protective in the nation — based on an industry trade group petition that argues the rules will increase … Continue reading
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