HomeMy WebLinkAbout00-033 RESOLUTION #00-033
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT
TOWNSEND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SEEK A
SECTION 7 CONSULTATION WITH THE NATIONAL MARINE
FISHERIES SERVICE (NMFS) AND TO ADOPT THE CITY
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION TO PROMOTE THE FINDINGS OF
THIS RESOLUTION AS THE CITY'S OFFICIAL POLICY
WHEREAS, the Summer Chum were listed as a threatened species in March of 1999;
and,
WHEREAS, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposed 4(d) rule
governing the species includes prohibitions on water withdrawals that impact spawning
or rearing habitat, which may injure or kill listed salmonids; and,
WHEREAS, a violation of the proposed role could result in legal action from private
individuals or the NMFS; and,
WHEREAS, the City's goal would be to seek a Biological Opinion from the NMFS that
the City's withdrawals do not adversely affect the Summer Chum and that voluntary
restoration efforts are sufficient; and,
WHEREAS, the City Manager and staff are recommending that the city request a
Section 7 Consultation from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS); and,
WHEREAS, to provide scientifically defensible data, the city has hired John Orsbom to
recreate historic stream flow records for the Quilcene Rivers. These will be correlated
with the fish remm records to show that the Summer Chum stocks remained at healthy
levels until the late 1970s; 50 years after the city began withdrawing water from the Big
Quilcene River; and,
WHEREAS, the city and Port Townsend Paper Company have agreed to leave 27 cfs
instream below the Big Quilcene based on observed adequate flows for passage and
spawning and any changes to this should be determined by the needs of the fish and
onsite surveys; and,
WHEREAS, the Little Quilcene River has an instream flow restriction of 6 cfs,
effectively limiting municipal withdrawals between August and October during the
Summer Chum spawning period,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
Section 1. That the City Council of the City of Port Townsend hereby directs the
administration to seek a Section 7 Consultation and adopts the City Manger's
recommendation.
Section 2. That the city representatives in this process shall continue to promote the
findings of this resolution as the city's official policy position relative to the water
withdrawals of the Big and Little Quilcene River as they relate to the listing of the
Summer Chum as a threatened or endangered species.
ADOPTED by the Ci~ Council of the City of Port Townsend, and signed by the Mayor
this -~ day of [/~ ,2000.
___G_e~o~asci, Mayor
A TTES T:
Pam Kolacy, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
John Watts, City Attorney