I don’t have much to post other than to read the update over at SCWC. In effect the City of DuPont is claiming all sorts of laws and permitting processes in order to stop the Sequalitchew Creek members from putting in beaver deceivers in order to help restore the historic flow of the Sequalitchew Creek.
“In summary, the DuPont Municipal Code requires a Type III Sensitive Area Ordinance (SAO) application with a public hearing and SEPA review for the project. The combined SAO application and SEPA review filing fee is $4,500, payable at time of filing. The processing time is approximately 4.5 to 5 months from submittal of a complete application to final decision.”
- Letter from Bill Kingman, Senior Planner with the City of DuPont to SCWC
This is very interesting since Glacier plans to expand the mine and drain the Vashon aquifer. This would of course have a negative impact on the Edmonds Marsh–that is if you think draining the marsh is a bad thing? If it smells like something DuPont would do and looks like something the City of DuPont would do, then it is DuPont. I find it ever more obscene that while those of us as individuals or small community groups want to restore the flow to the creek the city puts up all sorts of road blocks in order to make sure those citizens that actually care about DuPont are up a creek without a paddle. Yet golf courses can cut down trees as needed, people can put signs out regardless of laws but the important things that can never be brought back after they are destroyed goes by unnoticed.
Perhaps the City knows that Glacier will solve the beaver issue by destroying the wetland. Actually the Centex Wetland issue doesn’t really matter that much anyways since the City of Glaicer–Err. DuPont hasn’t stopped the mine yet thus there will be no more edmonds marsh.
Anger and frustration are too heavy on things like this and I dare not write another word for the City of DuPont may just send there threatening letters once again in order to try to shut up the few who actually care.
Why should you care about Edmonds Marsh?
Edmonds Marsh fills from ground water and Sequalitchew Springs. Which then historically runs down through DuPont under Center Drive and out to the Sequalitchew Delta (For Fait). Those waters also supplied food for the Sequalitchew People and the Hudson Bay Company (Ft. Nisqually). It’s been used by many people the DuPont Company ever purchased the land. It was along the site of the Historic Methodist Mission as well. The Wilkes Observatory flanks it to the South and the Inskip Observatory flanks it to the North. From saw mills, missions, trading posts, native american villages, united states explorers, the spies from England Vavasour and Warre to the many infamous names Huggins, Tolmie, Richmond, Lee, Wilkes, Heath, La Ha Let, Chloe Clark to sheep shearing dams, flume dams and the generations of kids who grew up with the Sequalitchew Creek.
You should care about this because it’s historic land that many have walked and the last thing we need is some City Government that is willing to throw all the history away for some gravel and home sites. When it’s gone it’s gone folks.
If anyone wants a historic tour and has 3-4 hours, contact me I’ll be glad to take you on the tour or farewell tour depending on how the future plays out. I recently came to understand that not only does DuPont lack leadership it also lacks a company culture an administrative culture. Passion, execution and keeping their word impeccable would be a good start for the City.
