PORT TOWNSEND — A North Olympic Peninsula legislator is questioning whether the state Department of Ecology is correctly interpreting the original intent of 1995 legislation that requires Ecology to write an in-stream flow rule.
The proposed statewide rule, which has raised the hackles of Jefferson County farmers, well drillers and others, is intended to provide enough water for fish habitat and human consumption.
Fruit growers and other agricultural interests, including small-scale specialty crop users, fear they will be limited in how much water they can use to remain in business.
State Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, said she does not believe the rule should be interpreted to apply to agriculture.
“I don’t think it was ever intended to keep small agriculture from surviving,” Kessler said.
“We’re going way out on a limb to save large agriculture, so why would we want to hurt small ag.”
Kessler’s 24th legislative district in the state House includes Jefferson and Clallam counties and most of Grays Harbor County.
Bring parties together
Kessler said she hopes to bring all interested parties together in an attempt to clear the air.
“The DOE is blaming the Legislature and the citizens are blaming DOE,” said Kessler, who will visit Port Townsend on Nov. 10 with her 24th District Hoquiam Democratic colleague in the state Senate, Jim Hargrove.
“We need to all be in same room and try to get through this,” she said.
Kessler, Hargrove and Rep. Jim Buck, R-Joyce, announced Monday that they, along with Ecology representatives, have scheduled a public forum at 5 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Fort Worden Commons, 200 Battery Way.
That meeting follows their participation in a Jefferson County Economic Development Council-sponsored Economic Summit at the same location.