PORT HADLOCK — Following two poundings this month over a maligned and misunderstood proposal to manage water use in East Jefferson County, Department of Ecology officials on Tuesday said the state agency “did a lousy job” of communicating with the public.
“I think everybody in the department agrees that we didn’t do a very good job of communicating the way we like to,” said Phil Wiatrak, an environmental planner with Ecology.
He was addressing an audience of about 40 people packed into the Jefferson County Library conference room.
The audience was attending a meeting of the Water Resources Inventory Area 17 planning unit.
The basin stretches from Sequim Bay in Clallam County east through Jefferson County’s Quimper Peninsula and south into Hood Canal, beyond Quilcene.
Rule adoption delayed
The lack of communication about the proposed WRIA 17 water management rule could delay its adoption for another six months, said Wiatrak, who works with the planning unit comprised of East Jefferson County representatives.
“You made us understand that we need to very well consider such an idea. We heard you,” Wiatrak said.
He called the previous two public information forums in Port Hadlock and Port Townsend “interesting and eye-opening.”
Ecology officials took harsh criticism from well drillers, fruit farmers and others attending the forums that each drew crowds of more than 100.
As a result of comments, questions and criticism, Wiatrak urged the WRIA 17 planning unit to make changes in the panel’s makeup.
“I think we have a deficiency in the planning unit,” said Wiatrak.
“And I encourage the planning unit to seriously discuss that you include someone from the (agriculture) community.”
Wiatrak also encouraged including real estate representatives in the discussion of water management in East Jefferson County.