The Leader February 2011

Issue 2

The Leader

February 1, 2011

Northwest Steelhead and Salmon Conservation Society Dedicated to a science-based, ecosystem protection and management approach that integrates the human component on a landscape scale.

In this issue: Proposed Chehalis River Basin Engineered Flood Risk Management Projects Twin Cities Project The Twin Cities Project was conceived by the US Army Corps of Engineers to prevent Interstate 5 from flood-related closures while providing protection for Centralia and Chehalis during 100-year flood events. This project consists of constructing eleven miles of levees and providing 11,000 acre feet of additional storm water retention behind Skookumchuck dam. The Twin Cities Project has been approved and funded by the US Congress with local sponsorship provided by Washington State.

Chehalis River Dam Following the historic 2007 Chehalis River flood, the Lewis County Public Utilities District recommended construction of two hydropower dams in the headwaters of the undammed Chehalis River. An earthen dam resulting in a 40,000 acre foot reservoir was proposed for the South Fork of the Chehalis River.

Location of proposed Chehalis River dam (near Pe Ell)

A second earthen hydropower dam was proposed for the main stem of the Chehalis River, about two miles upstream from the town of Pe Ell. The reservoir behind this dam would retain approximately 268,000 acre feet of water.

Interstate 5 near Centralia closed to all traffic.

Given the escalating costs of the Twin Cities Project, its inability to adequately protect Interstate 5, Centralia and Chehalis, and rising concerns regarding the likelihood of upstream and downstream impacts, the Twin Cities Project is considered throughout the Chehalis River basin to be an ineffective and very costly flood risk management undertaking.

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Both of these proposed dams are located in prime spawning and rearing habitat for several species of resident and anadromous fish.

Although the South Fork dam was recently determined to not be cost effective, the Chehalis River dam has penciled out using Army Corps of Engineers calculations to be cost effective. Interestingly, the benefit to cost ratio does not include impacts to public-owned fish and wildlife.

2011 NWSSCS Annual Meeting and Earth Day Dinner

April 23, 2011

US Fish and Wildlife Service letter regarding proposed Chehalis River Dam (January 18, 2010) Dear Mr. Wilcox; Thank you for your inquiry regarding the proposal to build one or more dams near the headwaters of the Chehalis River. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is aware of the proposal and is monitoring its progress closely.

The idea of the dams was proposed several years ago by the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority, a group of representatives from jurisdictions within the basin that are affected by flooding. Since then the authority has funded a number of studies and investigations to determine the feasibility of such a project.

They are awaiting considering seeking the construction of one earthen dam near Pe Ell, Washington, and are awaiting a study of how the proposed dam might affect fish.

Because the cost of the dam, estimated at around $207 million, would exceed the level of available State funding, construction of the dam, if it goes forward, would likely require assistance from the Federal government. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, the Federal agency charged with flood control efforts in the Chehalis Basin, would consider any proposal both in terms of cost-benefit ratio and potential impacts to the human environment, including fish and wildlife impacts, under the National Environmental Policy Act. Under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act there is also a requirement for the Corps to coordinate with the USFWS on potential impacts to fish and wildlife resources and the USFWS would provide comments on the proposal at that time. Currently the Corps is reviewing the information provided by the authority and comparing it to their proposed project to add 11 miles of levees in and around 2

Centralia and Chehalis, Washington as part of a general investigation process.

If the Corps decides to move forward with more in-depth consideration of the proposal, they will engage the USFWS and NOAA Fisheries regarding potential impacts to fish and wildlife resources, including Federally-listed fish. At the time both agencies will provide input into the planning for the project, and would comment on potential impacts to those resources. The Corps will also need to consult under the Endangered Species Act on effects to listed species. Until that time we will continue to monitor both the development of any proposed action and the welfare of federally-regulated fish and wildlife resources within the basin.

If you have any further questions, please contact Doug Zimmer of my staff at Douglas_Zimmer@fws.gov or 360-753-4370.

Sincerely, Ken S. Berg Manager, Washington Fish and Wild Service

Lives, safety, health and property need protection

NWSSCS Resolution 11011 entered into Public Record The Northwest Steelhead and Salmon Conservation Society entered NWSSCS Resolution 11011 into public record during the

2011 NWSSCS Annual Meeting and Earth Day Dinner

April 23, 2011

January 20, 2011 Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority business meeting.

chairman of the very influential Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee.

This action was taken to ensure that future studies associated with Chehalis River basin flood risk management, especially those regarding water retention, are unbiased, science based and with oversight by either the University of Washington or Washington State University.

Your representing the citizens of the Third Congressional District is a huge responsibility given the varied and complex issues throughout the District.

The NWSSCS resolves: “that there shall be unbiased, science based evaluations of strengths, limitations, benefits and costs of all strategies (non-structural and structural) to prevent catastrophic damage associated with Chehalis River basin floods.

Further, these studies should be overseen (supervised, managed) by the University of Washington or Washington State University.

The oversight, etc. must include a peer review of all studies.”

NWSSCS Introduction letter to Third Congressional District Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler

Jaime Herrera Beutler

January 25, 2011 The Honorable Jaime Herrera-Beutler Congresswoman Dear Congresswoman Herrera-Beutler: The Northwest Steelhead and Salmon Conservation Society (NWSSCS), a regional not for profit corporation, is writing to congratulate you on your recent selection to serve as vice-

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The issues surrounding Chehalis River basin flood risk management are among the most complex and controversial in the District. As you are aware, the design work for the congressionally-authorized Twin Cities Project (11 miles of levees to keep Interstate 5 from flooding) has yet to be completed, construction of the proposed hydropower dam on the South Fork of the Chehalis River has been taken off of the table because it doesn’t provide a benefit to cost ratio greater than 1.00 and the design and operation of the proposed Chehalis River hydropower dam have not been finalized.

If the Chehalis River dam is approved, construction would not begin for twenty years or more given permitting (local, state, federal) and anticipated litigation.

During the past nine months, the NWSSCS has been working with Chehalis River basin residents, business owners and elected officials to develop one or more basinwide, community based strategies to prevent flood-related damage; thus protecting human lives, safety, health and property. Based on comments that we’ve heard throughout the Chehalis River basin, we have discovered that there are two primary land use practices that are the leading contributors to catastrophic flood-related damage; (1) continued commercial and residential development in the Chehalis River floodplain and (2) steep slope clear cut logging throughout the Chehalis River basin.

Many citizens throughout the Chehalis River basin believe as does the NWSSCS that (1) natural processes in the Chehalis River basin

2011 NWSSCS Annual Meeting and Earth Day Dinner

April 23, 2011

forestlands, wetlands and floodplain must be protected and restored and (2) unbiased, science based studies associated with water retention (structural and non-structural) must be conducted and then undergo peer review by either the University of Washington or Washington State University in order to effectively prevent catastrophic flood-related damage throughout the basin.

2011 NWSSCS Corporate Sponsors:

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The NWSSCS and many Chehalis River basin residents agree that flood risk management solutions are needed sooner than later. We also understand that neither the proposed Twin Cities Project nor the proposed Chehalis River dam will provide the desired basinwide flood damage protection; in fact these federally funded projects will exacerbate impacts.

The NWSSCS would appreciate the opportunity to discuss these very important matters with you during one of your upcoming visits to SW Washington. In the meantime please visit our website at http://NWSSCS.blogspot.com to get a better understanding of the NWSSCS and the community based issues that we’re working on.

British Columbia Federation of Fly Fishers

Thank you for your consideration, Congresswoman Herrera-Beutler.

Sincerely, Ric Abbett President and CEO Northwest Steelhead and Salmon Conservation Society, Inc

LightHawk Flying for the Environment

Bruce Treichler Vice president Northwest Steelhead and Salmon Conservation Society, Inc Jim Wilcox Secretary and Treasurer Northwest Steelhead and Salmon Conservation Society, Inc 4

Natural Settings Digital Imaging and Design

2011 NWSSCS Annual Meeting and Earth Day Dinner

April 23, 2011

“Fishing holes” are like donut holes…

NWSSCS endorses conservation projects A growing number of community-driven conservation projects throughout the Pacific Northwest (Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Idaho) are being endorsed by the NWSSCS. The first such project is the restoration of the Elwha River, located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. A key component of this historic river restoration project is the removal of the Elwha River’s Elwha Dam (pictured below) and Glines Canyon Dam.

You have to work valiantly through the bureaucracy (fat) to enjoy the healthy rewards now and in the future.

Mark your calendar: NWSSCS Annual Meeting The 2011 NWSSCS Annual Meeting and Earth Day Dinner are planned for Saturday, April 23rd.

Meeting arrangements are being finalized as this edition of The Leader reaches your inbox.

We encourage all NWSSCS members to attend the first NWSSCS Annual Meeting. We also invite all NWSSCS members and our guests to attend the 2011 Earth Day Dinner following the Annual Meeting. This informal dinner will give us all an opportunity to enjoy some time with friends and colleagues away from the computers.

The sooner we begin to receive your RSVP’s for this modest-priced (about $20) event, the sooner we can finalize our plans.

Please watch for Annual Meeting updates on our website at http://NWSSCS.blogspot.com .

Elwha Dam on the Elwha River near Port Angeles, WA

2011 NWSSCS Executive Board Members Ric Abbett: President and CEO Bruce Treichler: Vice President Jim Wilcox: Secretary and Treasurer Joe Durham: Conservation Director Don Schluter: Conservation Director Terry Turner: Conservation Director Alan Steeves: International Conservation Director Richard Mayer: Communications and Marketing Director Dr. Robert Vadas, Jr.: Science Advisor Thank you for your continued support of the NWSSCS and of our many conservation efforts.

The NWSSCS Team 5

2011 NWSSCS Annual Meeting and Earth Day Dinner

April 23, 2011