Our state legislators have issued a plea for support to bring back salmon to the Puget Sound. One method is a program called the Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership. The state is urging willing entities to submit grant requests for the restoration and enhancement of salmon habitat locations.

Island County has several ideal locations. Some sites are known to have salmonids and/or anadromous fish, some sites have great potential for their cultivation. Pocket estuaries and coastal wetlands are prime targets. One of these is Swantown Lake, a “Habitat of Local Importance,” identified as an ideal restoration site. Island County seeks to adopt a resolution that would codify a Critical Area Map designating only existing known sites and leave off potential sites, even those that had fish before the tide gates got dilapidated.

I want to thank our new commissioner, John Dean, for truly listening to the concerns of the public and professional biologists during the April 9 public hearing. He asked for more time to review documents submitted that day so that he could make an educated decision. It is rare that the public actually gets any answers when they speak at public meetings, typically they get to “comment” and sit down.

All of those who spoke urged the county to generate a comprehensive informative map that includes both existing and potential sites for salmon restoration or enhancement. It makes no sense, except to diminish protection, to send people savvy enough to ask, in search of a hard to find non-critical area map for potential sites.

Let’s be sincere about bringing back Washington’s salmon. Quick, e-mail your concerns to BICC@co.island.wa.us. Attend the commissioners public hearing on Monday, April 16 at 10 a.m. for the open comment period and at 10:30 a.m. for this agenda item – Coupeville Commissioners Hearing Room Annex 102B.

We have requested they reopen the public comment period as their will be a revision to documents which the public has not had the opportunity to review.

Angie Homola represents the Swan Lake Watershed Preservation Group. For information visit Swanlake-preservation.