Skokomish series is accessible from one place
February 19th, 2009 by cdunaganA quick note: The four-part series I wrote about the Skokomish River and its people has been posted in one place permanently on the Kitsap Sun’s home page. Unlike the individual stories, the Web address for the series is easy to remember: www.kitsapsun.com/skokomishriver.
I hope this series has added to the general understanding of the Skokomish River and its notorious flooding problems. As I have said, there is much more to be written about this river and its ecosystem. I plan to cover some of the individual studies, restoration projects and housing developments as they come up.
Tags: Skokomish River
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
March 30th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
March 17, 2009
Michael A.Levi
Publisher, Kitsap Sun
PO Box 259
Bremerton, WA 98337
Dear Mr. Levi:
We of the Skokomish Watershed Action Team (SWAT) thank the Kitsap Sun for its outstanding recent series on the Skokomish River ecosystem restoration. Your staff has identified key elements about the river and its people. As the series points out, residents of the Skokomish Valley are affected by flooding, loss of fish habitat and groundwater issues in the Skokomish. While much work has been done, residents will be further tested by the complex issues which will require years to resolve. Yet people have come together to work on solutions to flooding and habitat restoration in the Skokomish watershed. The series recently published puts natural forces and management actions in perspective, providing an excellent overview for readers.
Chris Dunagan has joined with SWAT participants on daylong fieldtrips, rain or shine, on easy hikes and precipitous descents into valley bottoms, to see both problems and restoration projects underway. He has attended evening meetings where the SWAT presents updates of its work to valley residents. Chris has captured the undesirable conditions confronting members of the Skokomish Tribe; farmers and other landowners; state, local and federal agencies; and nongovernmental organizations.
Chris, and Steve Zugschwerdt with his excellent photography, are building relationships and putting a face to the issues plaguing the Skokomish ecosystem. In addition, the Kitsap Sun has rightly connected these problems with the declining health of Hood Canal, helping readers understand how the health of the Skokomish River valley and its delta affects a larger watershed of vital importance to its readers. We recognize the need to shift education toward the Skokomish River’s geomorphology, the flood plain, channel form, and channel function in a way the readers can easily understand and conceptualize what a restored river might look like.
Thank you and the Kitsap Sun staff for your continuing commitment to inform your readership and others living in the Hood Canal region about the current situation, and efforts by people and organizations who are working diligently to secure a positive outcome for the future.
Sincerely,
Ross Gallagher, Mason County Commissioner
Alex Gouley, Skokomish Tribe
Bob Dick, American Forest Resource Council
Jason Ragan, Taylor Shellfish Farms and Skokomish Valley resident
Jayni Kamin, Skokomish Valley Grange and local landowner
Rich Geiger, Mason Conservation District
Patti Case, Green Diamond Resource Company
Alann and Mali Krivor, Skokomish Farms Inc.
Shelley Spalding, Olympic Forest Coalition
Richard Brocksmith, Hood Canal Coordinating Council
Kathy O’Halloran, Olympic National Forest
Neil Werner, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group
Dave Werntz, Conservation Northwest
Mike Anderson, The Wilderness Society
cc: David Nelson, editor