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EIS PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING
The Army Corps of Engineers has announced that they have initiated the development of the Court ordered Glacier NW Environmental Impact Statement(EIS). The first step of this process requires the Corps to invite the public to help scope the range of issues and concerns that will be evaluated in the EIS document.
A public scoping meeting [...] Read More
Funding For Potential Property Acquisition
Nearly a year ago - well before winning the federal court case- POI invited a coalition of the region’s top environmental groups, agency heads and elected officials to join together and work with us in the development and implementation of a plan to purchase the Glacier site.
The Cascade Land Conservancy, a statewide organization specializing in [...] Read More
Court Case Victory!
On August 13, 2009 U.S. District Court Judge Ricardo Martinez ruled in favor of Preserve Our Islands appeal of the Army Corps Permit. The Judge’s decision invalidated the Federal permit and remanded the issue back to both the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Marine Fisheries Services.
To read the Judge’s decision click here
In his [...] Read More
The Fight Moves Into The Courtroom
In recent weeks the fight to protect Maury Island has moved into the courtroom.
The lawsuits related to our appeal of the Federal Army Corps permit and the State DNR aquatic lands lease have both begun.
We have asked the courts to overturn the approvals granted and expect a decision in upcoming months.
Click here to read Preserve [...] Read More
The Maury Nearshore
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In the Federal Chinook recovery plan,The National Marine Fisheries Services notes the significance of the Maury Island nearshore to Chinook recovery
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The recovery plan specifically recommends that the Maury nearshore be given the highest level of protection from development noting that the preservation of this area cannot be overestimated in its value to the species.
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In recent studies the Maury Island nearshore was found to have the second highest population of juvenile Chinook of all sites sampled in the Central Southern Puget Sound region.
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The juvenile Chinook utilizing the site were found to have come from as far away the Skagit Valley river systems.
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Forage fish are the main food source for Chinook. In the Salmon recovery plan, the National Marine Fisheries Services also identified the Maury Island shoreline as one of the most important forage fish spawning beaches in central Puget Sound.
- The Herring population at Maury Island is the largest in Central Puget Sound and recent studies found that the population was 30 times higher than other sites in the region.
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Overwater structures are known to have an adverse affect on Chinook and Chinook habitat due to shading and alteration of light patterns.
- Studies have shown that juvenile Chinook will avoid the shadows created by an overwater structure - which forces them to deeper water where predation rates are significantly higher.
- The industrial dock and barging operation will eliminate nearly a full acre of healthy salmon habitat by introducing a shade footprint that is approximately the size of a football field.
- Underwater noise levels created by the dock construction and subsequent barging operation will be higher than levels determined by the National Marine Fisheries Services to be harmful to juvenile Chinook and forage fish.
- In 2009, as a result of Preserve Our Islands led litigation, the US District Court ruled that the project was likely to have an adverse effect on Chinook and their critical habitat and ordered the federal agencies to undertake full formal review of the proposal under the Endangered Species Act.
- This formal review is expected to commence in 2010.
This Proposal Doesn't Make Any Sense
It Doesn't Make Environmental Sense
It Doesn't Make Economic Sense
It Doesn't Make Sense For
The People Of Washington State