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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, February 19, 2002
Contact:
Mark Swartout, Natural Resources Program Manager, 360-709-3079
PHASE ONE OF
SHELLFISH PROTECTION PROGRAM BEGINS
OLYMPIA – Thurston County is seeking citizen
volunteers to serve on committees for two Shellfish Protection Districts.
Thurston County Commissioners in December adopted ordinances creating
the two districts at Henderson Inlet and the Nisqually Reach.
Stakeholder groups are now being formed to guide the planning for water
quality recovery efforts in the two areas.
In the fall of 2000, the State Health Department
closed a total of 83 acres in the two areas to shellfish harvesting due to
contamination. Additional acreage
was subsequently placed on conditional closure, meaning shellfish may not be
harvested after heavy rains. The
creation of the Protection Districts is mandated by state law and helps set
the framework for the planning and recovery efforts.
Natural Resource Program Manager Mark Swartout
says, “Setting up two, 11-member stakeholder groups is the first step in the
recovery process. We will have
representatives of commercial farmers, shellfish growers, developers and the
cities of Olympia and Lacey. But
we also need citizens from the two districts to help with the planning effort.
Residents from Lacey, Olympia and the unincorporated area are invited
to send in a letter of interest to serve on one of the stakeholder groups.”
Letters of interest should include-
·
Name, address, phone number and e-mail address.
·
Information on why the person is interested in taking part and
what they can bring to the group that would help accomplish restoration of the
shellfish beds.
Those interested must be able to devote enough
time for at least monthly meetings and time to review materials.
They should be able to appreciate diverse points of view and have the
ability to help resolve complex issues. More
information can be found on the county web site at http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/shellfish/
Letters must be postmarked by March 5, 2002. They can be sent to:
Mark
J. Swartout
Thurston County
Office of Program and Budget Development
Natural Resources Program Manager
2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW / Room 221
Olympia, WA 98502
Phone - 360-709-3079
FAX 360-786-5409 swartom@co.thurston.wa.us
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