Re: “To fix Puget Sound, fix the streams that feed it” (Insight, 4-13).
Jamie Glasgow, director of science and research of the Wild Fish Conservancy, has written an insightful and provocative article, one that provides fair and impartial treatment of this critical environmental issue.
The recent suspension of salmon fishing off the California and Oregon coasts should serve as a wake-up call for our complacent citizenry. We blissfully believe that existing regulations will protect our dwindling salmon runs. Well-intentioned, environmentally oriented organizations have formed to address Puget Sound pollution issues.
It’s not working. Every day tons of pollutants are dumped unimpeded into Puget Sound, forming a deadly gantlet for salmonids as they swim to and from their spawning grounds. Land developers are being permitted to wreak havoc in upstream watersheds.
We cannot depend solely on our major rivers to continue to support our crucial salmon runs. They remain impeded by dams, and the spawning salmon and returning fry are under constant attack from sea lions and marine birds.
The vast network of streams and creeks emptying into Puget Sound which have historically provided salmonid spawning grounds must be brought back into play. The contribution of each stream may not be substantial but added up they can be major contributors to restoring our salmon fishery.
We must learn how to co-exist with our endangered salmonid population by curtailing and treating stormwater runoff and restricting development in watershed areas.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.