Photo courtesy: CELP, The Center for Environmental Law & Policy

– State of Washington directed to repair hundreds of culverts
“In other big news, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued an important ruling on the Culvert Case, part of the long-running United States v. Washington litigation regarding fishing rights. The court affirmed a lower court’s order issuing an injunction directing the State of Washington to repair hundreds of culverts, which allow streams to flow underneath roads, but prevent salmon from reaching habitat upstream of the culverts. The Court held that fish-blocking culverts have violated, and continued to violate, the Stevens Treaties, which guarantee Northwest Tribes the right to harvest fish. The Ninth Circuit agreed with the lower court that the right to harvest fish must include protection for fish habitat. This is a big win for the tribes and anyone who cares about river flows and salmon restoration,” quoting CELP, The Center for Environmental Law & Policy.
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– Yelm did nothing in 2006 when faced with the culverts issue here
“YELM OFFICIALS TAKE A “BYE” ON THOMPSON CREEK FLOODING PRESENTATION IN STATE SPONSORED MEETING”
“Thompson Creek flooding issues have have been progressing now for years resulting in so many comments received by the Washington State Dept. of Ecology that they called a meeting with all associated agencies about this issue.
Ed Wiltsie, PE outlined groundwater issues at the October 24, 2006 Council Meeting, as well, which raised several questions, in particular about his findings that 3 culverts under SR 507 by Hawk’s Landing have been covered by the developers, impeding water flow that caused flooding last year [2006], raised again at this meeting,” quoting the Yelm Community Blog, February 5, 2007.
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