Image by Jim Pierson via The JOLT News.
Proposed Thurston County airport seen to harm wildlife, displace residents and businesses
Hundreds protest proposed new ‘Central Thurston’ airport
From The JOLT News:
The proposed new Thurston County airport would harm wildlife and displace thousands of residents and businesses, two experts warned.
Cindy Schexnider, a retired Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist, and Robbi Currey, a real estate appraiser, spoke before hundreds of Thurston County residents who gathered on November 14 to protest the state’s consideration of the location to build a major new commercial airport.
Most of the approximately 275 attendees stayed for the full two-hour meeting of the “Stop the Thurston Airport” citizen’s advocacy group at the Grace Community Covenant Church in Olympia.
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Schexnider said a Thurston County airport would directly impact wetlands and waterways in three watersheds: Anderson Inlet, Deschutes River, and Nisqually River.
The three watersheds support over two dozen fish species, including pink salmon, sockeye, chum, and coho. Schexnider, citing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said around 12 federally threatened or endangered species could be impacted by the development of the green site.
The watersheds also serve as filters that improve the quality of drinking water, reduce erosion, as well as temper floods and droughts, according to Schexnider.
+ The Olympian Editorial Board: What are we willing to sacrifice for a second airport? Would we accept a clogged Sea-Tac?
Though unrelated, this is an interesting report on the current Olympia Airport:
+ Thurston Talk: A Birds-Eye View of the Olympia Regional Airport
+ State Legislator Jim McCune: McCune pledges to fight ‘reckless’ airport plan in the Senate
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