Forum: County must protect wetlands that feed salmon, orca

Changing rules that would lift protections for wetlands would harm streams, rivers and Puget Sound.

By Tom Murdoch / Herald Forum

Streams are often viewed as the veins that flow to rivers that evolve into the arteries of our ecosystems. Wetlands are commonly referred to as the kidneys of the larger body of streams and rivers.

These fragile natural features filter pollutants. Wetlands store water. They provide essential wildlife habitat; from a biomass perspective, wetlands are the most productive places on the planet. Wetlands are also points of entry for surface waters to seep into the ground water systems, enabling streams and rivers to flow during dry periods.

When wetlands are degraded or filled, water quality in streams and rivers is degraded, as is the water quality where streams and rivers flow. When wetlands in watersheds surrounding streams and rivers are degraded, the water quality of Puget Sound is degraded as well. Habitat required for salmon shrinks, as do the numbers of salmon. When we lose our wetlands, we lose our salmon.

Tragically, we have been seeing in the news a resident killer whale mother carrying her dead calf in Puget Sound. The loss of this baby and other resident orcas is attributed to the loss of chinook salmon, a main staple for the Southern Resident whales. There is a direct connection to the loss of chinook salmon and the degradation and loss of our wetlands; something that people can easily prevent.

The Snohomish County Council has proposed an amendment to the county’s Critical Areas Regulation (Ordinance 24-097), that, if adopted, will result in reduction of “buffers” between new development and wetlands and streams, and the filling of some wetland that are smaller than 4,000-square-feet. That will result in the degradation of streams and rivers in Snohomish County and the waterways where those streams and rivers flow.

Stream and wetland protection in the Critical Areas Regulation must be strengthened, not weakened. The county council has decided to gather more information before scheduling another public hearing and deciding on the amendment. If you would like to share information with the county council email contact.council@snoco.org.

Tom Murdoch is co-director of the Adopt A Stream Foundation and teaches stream and wetland ecology classes at the Northwest Stream Center. He can be contacted at www.streamkeeper.org.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Tuesday, March 4

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Workers at MW's Cascade Recycling Center in Woodinville remove large unrecyclable materials, like plastic sheeting, from a conveyor belt. Optical scanners and other equipment sort most of the material processed at the center. (The Herald)
Editorial: Encourage recycling by increasing use of material

Recycling legislation can create a better market for material by increasing its use in packaging.

Comment: Medicaid cuts would hurt millions; and Republicans

Significant cuts, like those outlined in a House budget plan, could cost the GOP its majority.

Comment: America’s rejection of ‘soft power’ a win for Putin

That power was used to get other nations to want what we wanted. Trump now wants what Putin wants.

It’s too bad today’s conservatives ignore reality

In response to a reader’s positive comments in letters to the editor… Continue reading

Trump is alienating allies to favor Russia’s Putin

By the end of last week, the United States, under the direction… Continue reading

Find peaceful solution between Russia and Ukraine

When I was growing up in Seattle years ago I can remember… Continue reading

toon
Editorial cartoons for Monday, March 3

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Comment: Some of Musk’s DOGE damage can’t be undone

The courts will likely halt his work, but agency officials are likely to formalize the cuts legally.

Friedman: Trump, Vance make clear who’s side they’re on

Never has a U.S. president backed the aggressor in a major war, ignoring even his county’s own interests.

Comment: Wishful thinking won’t solve U.S. debt crisis

Putting off spending cuts and tax increases will only get harder in the coming decades.

Comment: Trump fanned inflation’s flames, now they may burn him

His own policies and partisan politics may conspire to keep inflation from going lower and could push it higher.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.