I would like to address some misinformation in recent advertising by the Committee to Elect Phil Collier. First of all, the meeting held on March 21 was to inform the public of the feasibility study of Swan Lake to determine if it can be opened to Puget Sound to provide an estuary for juvenile salmon to rest and regain their strength before they continue out to sea.

Most fishermen and members of the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group (SFEG) know that if you can increase the survival rate of the juvenile salmon, you will increase the number of mature salmon returning to our rivers.

At no time during the presentation did SFEG say that they were going to raise salmon in Swan Lake. “Death knell for fish” is a dramatic and questionable statement. The purpose of this feasibility study is to determine if Swan Lake can be opened to the sound without any adverse effects to homes along West Beach Road and to provide a safe haven for juvenile salmon.

“Angie Homola’s bridge to nowhere,” is another questionable statement. Not only is Commmissioner Homola doing a great job addressing the concerns of today, she is also looking at the future and the benefits of preserving salmon runs returning to our rivers, and for this she gets my vote. This feasibility study is fully funded from grants, with the majority of the funds coming from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board. At any time, if this feasibility study proves this project not to be doable, it will be stopped immediately.

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Pitsch
West Beach