The Newsletter of the Alpine Lakes Protection Society (ALPS) 2019 Issue No. 1 Karl Forsgaard Icicle Work Group’s EIS draws fire by Karl Forsgaard

As previously reported, submitted a comment letter on the Icicle Work Group (IWG) behalf of 31 organizations. IWG Also in this issue: released a Draft Programmatic received about 10,000 comments USFS action regarding Environmental Impact on the DPEIS, possibly more. Enchantments overuse...... 4 Statement in May 2018 for water Most of the comments were management projects in the generated by email alerts sent by Tide turning against low watershed, seeking five conservation organizations power hydro...... 5 to construct dams and related — Wilderness Watch, Sierra Club, structures on seven lakes in Wild, Washington State poised to implement the Trails Association and The faulty recreation plan...... 6 (Alpine 2018 issue No. 1). In Wilderness Society — and these July 2018, ALPS wrote and alerts included content developed Yakima Plan authorization by ALPS. passes Congress in omnibus bill...... 11 Excavator at Eightmile Lake On January 3, 2019, the IWG dam, wrapped in a tarp to co-leads (State Dept. of Ecology Planning begins for Middle and Chelan County) issued a Final Fork Snoqualie Wild and ‘winterize’ it, in November Scenic Corriddor...... 11 2018. Continued on page 2

ALPINE 1 Eightmile Lake aerial photo (Icicle FPEIS fig. 2-38) showing proposed enlargement of the lake (labeled “Historic High Water”), plus current and proposed maximum drawdown (”Low Water”).

IWG’s EIS draws fire its Enchantment Basin; the tribal be resolved, including federal treaty rights of the Yakama Nation wilderness law and state water Continued from page 1 and Colville Confederated Tribes; law. These legal issues will Programmatic EIS (FPEIS). It was and valid, prior existing water determine which projects can and mostly unchanged from the draft rights in the Wenatchee River basin cannot be built. Failing to address version. The co-leads selected for agriculture. these fundamental issues before Alternative 1 (the Base Package) as The coalition letter notes that any further public funding is spent the Preferred Alternative. Release the FPEIS fails to meaningfully on implementation is wasteful of the FPEIS was covered in the consider construction constraints and irresponsible. Because IWG Wenatchee World and the Seattle and environmental impacts relies on interrelated projects to Times. The FPEIS immediately flowing from federal wilderness accomplish common goals, later drew criticism from both inside law. This omission is wasteful invalidation of an individual and outside IWG. An IWG and irresponsible, and renders project may require IWG to revise member initiated an IWG dispute the FPEIS useless for subsequent all of the other projects in IWG’s resolution process about the FPEIS, environmental review of projects Preferred Alternative. which is still underway. in wilderness. The FPEIS also Like the draft version, the FPEIS Defects in Final fails to present an adequate water fails to meaningfully consider Programmatic EIS conservation plan, and fails to fundamental land use restrictions account for the Icicle Peshastin imposed and values sought to be In February 2019, ALPS wrote Irrigation District’s relinquishment protected by federal wilderness and submitted a letter to IWG of some of its water rights. law. This omission violates on behalf of 34 organizations The FPEIS fails to recognize environmental laws and renders regarding defects in the FPEIS. that fundamental legal issues the FPEIS useless for subsequent The coalition reiterated its concern may not be resolved the way the environmental review of projects and respect for wilderness values, FPEIS implicitly asserts they will on or near designated wilderness the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and lands. Indeed, a U.S. Forest Service

2 ALPINE official wrote: “The [Draft] PEIS The IWG co-leads’ purported IWG made a significant is silent on Wilderness effects, so “response” is nonresponsive. investment in working with there’s no opportunity to tier from The issue here is not whether the University of Washington’s or use their analysis.” The same wilderness impacts are “new Climate Impacts Group, but is true of the Final PEIS, since it information,” but whether they incorporates very little of its changed so little from the draft were incorrectly omitted from the analysis and long-term projections version. draft EIS. The reality, of course, into the Icicle FPEIS’s forecast is that the proposal’s impacts to All federal agencies enforce for future drought conditions. wilderness plans and values have Furthermore, the IWG co-leads the Wilderness Act. Congress been known to federal agencies for has designated wilderness on affirmed that the Icicle FPEIS a long time. As the Forest Service focuses on addressing water needs lands managed by other federal states, they are missing from the agencies besides the U.S. Forest only for the “short-term,” which PEIS. The omission renders the EIS the co-leads defined as a period Service, such as the National Park deficient and useless. Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife of 20 years, which is simply not Service, and the Bureau of Land The FPEIS also fails to account long enough given the proposed Management. All of these agencies for IPID’s relinquishment of some magnitude of public investment have personnel who are familiar of its water rights. This omission in this project. The Preferred violates environmental laws and with the Wilderness Act and who Alternative will not set the Icicle renders the FPEIS useless for know how to recognize impacts basin on the path to climate subsequent review of projects on Wilderness lands they manage, resiliency, as promoted by the involving relinquishment. The as well as impacts on nearby IWG co-leads. At best, it helps FPEIS fails to analyze how much designated wilderness lands agricultural interests and domestic of IPID’s water rights remain managed by a sister agency. Icicle users to have some level of (i.e., how much water is legally projects put forth by any agency reliability for the next 20 years, but available) and fails to analyze the does not go far enough for fish and must acknowledge the gaps, impact of building the dams to omissions, and absence of analysis wildlife and other out-of-stream support that level of service. If interests and uses. of Wilderness Act values and the Eightmile Lake dam is rebuilt, impacts in the FPEIS. it should remain at its current A failure to include updated Our July 2018 comment letter elevation, where it has been since information such as the on the DPEIS said that because of at least 1990, because that elevation IPID Comprehensive Water its deficiencies (including the lack is the largest necessary to support Management Plan or the City of Wilderness impacts analysis), whatever remains of IPID’s of Leavenworth’s Water System Ecology and the County should relinquished water right. Plan, both completed in 2018, or any updated information on withdraw, revise, and re-release The IWG co-leads declined emergency dam and outlet repairs the DPEIS once the deficiencies to revise the DPEIS to correct completed at Eightmile Lake in are addressed. The IWG co-leads the omission of relinquishment 2018 show either a deliberate declined to revise it to correct the analysis, arguing that a deficiencies, explaining as follows: permitting action has not yet exclusion of pertinent information begun, but that is not a valid or a lack of effort in the final stages “Per WAC 197-11-405 a reason for the FPEIS to ignore the of drafting the PEIS. supplemental draft EIS is consequences of relinquishment In our July 2018 comment required if there are substantial here. Environmental laws letter on the DPEIS, we provided changes to the proposal so require reasonable forecasting extensive recommendations on that the proposal is likely of the future, including forecasts ways to obtain new water supply to have significant adverse of future government actions while reducing demands on Icicle environmental impacts; or there related to the proposal. There Creek by increasing conservation is significant new information is too much at stake here not to of water, such as by tightening up indicating, or on, a proposal’s address the water rights issue water delivery and consumption probable significant adverse before proceeding further. As infrastructure in the Leavenworth environmental impacts. New a practical matter, all of the area; demand management information has not been streamflow numbers in the FPEIS efforts; and recalculating future found nor has the proposal will change if it is determined that demand. However, most of our changed in a way that new relinquishment occurred and the recommendations were ignored. A probable significant adverse Eightmile dam will be repaired at voluntary lawn buy-back proposal environmental impacts are its current elevation, not four feet was added, but the FPEIS does not likely.” [Emphasis added.] higher. Continued on page 8

ALPINE 3 USFS action regarding Enchantments overuse February 2019

Many ALPS members have needs of , and EA were discussed. John Allen, the asked for a status update on again imploring for Day Use Deschutes NF Super agreed it was this issue. You may remember permits. The letter included a chart too bad there wasn’t a national representatives from Friends showing Day Use increase at Snow effort at more limited permit areas of the Enchantments (Friends & Colchuck from 2012 to 2016 by a back in the 90s before use was so hereafter) started meeting with factor of 5. high. Now it is an upstream slog Okanagan-Wenatchee USFS reps Greg and Kathi Shannon of to try to curb the damage. Friends in 2014. They met on October Friends, also met with Jason reported on long-distance runners 14, 2016 to address overuse in Fisher, Wilderness specialist for the at this public meeting that made the Enchantments and resulting Deschutes, and Becky Blanchard statements that their group should destruction of landscape and in November 2016. They learned be exempt from permits because Wilderness values, as outlined in that the Deschutes staff planned as runners, they don’t do any the 1981 Alpine Lakes Area Land to start studying overuse in damage. 2018 photos of runners Management Plan. The same issue January 2017 for the Three Sisters in the Enchantments show them was addressed in 1993, and a Wilderness. Also in November three abreast, passing hikers on the Decision Notice of ‘No Significant 2016, Friends met with District trail, and running over heather and Impact’ was issued, accompanied Ranger, Jeff Rivera to discuss irreplaceable alpine vegetation. by a recommendation for “more how Friends could facilitate the Most of the commenters at the study” and implementation of an process for the Enchantments. Deschutes public meeting were overnight use permit system. The He shared his preference to use against any regulation. The EA is decision includes the suggestion existing, available documentation worded in such a way that favors “areas may be added to the permit rather than starting a four-year EA leaving any quota setting to ranger system if monitoring detects process. He hoped to have a study judgment. This is a concern, further resource damage or large plan by Spring 2017. He promised since this will set precedent for increases in user pressure on that staff at the regional office in the Enchantments EA. The USFS pristine areas.” The 1993 report Portland would work with the should use existing facts and goes on to say that ”physical district on the issue. Friends urged data to set quotas, not subjective degradation will be the main regional staff advisers to look at judgement that changes from day element in identifying areas the NEPA process and evaluate to day. Their own introductory requiring further study for past and current documents with paragraph reads, “Current inclusion” in a more restrictive the hope the Forest Service won’t management is not successfully permit system. have to start from the beginning. addressing the impacts associated After the October 2016 meeting, with growing use. Impacts include A year later, November degradation and loss of meadow, this author (representing both 2017, Friends brought new trail ALPS and Friends) contacted riparian damage, tree damage, damage reports to the OWNF presence of dog and human waste, James Peña, Regional Forester USFS, and again implored for Pacific Northwest Region, to widening and braiding of trails Day Use permits. The 2016 formal and compaction of sites and soils. implore for the implementation of FOIA request was submitted Day Use permits, modeled after Actions to reduce impacts are in attempt to gain status on the required to meet the purpose of the Mt. Whitney or Three Sisters issue. A request was sent to Becky areas. The response from Peña the Wilderness Act and to meet the Blanchard for a USFS “Three year direction in the Forest Plans.” was not encouraging, and in fact plan” like the one Jason Fisher has questioned the unique needs of for the Deschutes. Finally in March Finally, in October 2018, the the Enchantments, stating that it 2018, the FOIA information was OWNF released its ‘Enchantments was more important to allow the received, and the plan forward was Permit Area Visitor Use Data public as much access as possible. “wait for the Three Sisters plan” to Analysis 2007-2017.’ The report A follow-up letter to Peña was be released. analyzed user data for these submitted in January 2017 to Becky years, and concluded that the Blanchard, Wilderness Manager In April 2018, Friends attended Wilderness values were largely Pacific NW Region (as directed a public meeting by the Deschutes by Peña), outlining the unique NF USFS. Alternatives for their Continued on page 5

4 ALPINE Tide turning against low power hydro?

Those who value free flowing Sunset Falls had the heavy The Snohomish PUD streams are taking heart from weight of the Snohomish Public commissioners may have gotten several recent wins against low Utility District behind it. It would worried that word was starting to power hydro projects in the have been a very expensive project get out about the spiraling costs of Alpine Lakes area. The Black producing very little energy. Sunset Falls. They voted in April Canyon project threatened to Snohomish PUD has some of the 2018 to pull the plug on it. But divert the North Fork Snoqualmie lowest electric rates in the country, it did keep all those bureaucrats out of Ernie’s Canyon at the and the debt from building Sunset and consultants going for over ten northwestern foot of Mt. Si. Falls could have raised those rates years. So in that sense, at least, it The Sunset Falls project would considerably. The best explanation served its intended function. have dewatered the South Fork for why Snohomish PUD pursued The terrible economics of low Skykomish and sent its waters into it for over a decade seems to power hydro usually scare away a pipe bypassing Sunset Falls a be that it was a jobs project for any profit seeking entities. All the couple of miles southeast of Index. an army of bureaucrats and good hydroelectric sites are taken. Fortunately, both have now been consultants. There is no lack of electric power stopped. PUDs have been behind many in the Northwest, and there are Black Canyon appears to have economically senseless low power always good reasons when dams been little more than a scheme hydro projects. With little public are not found on any particular to milk gullible investors. There oversight, and a captive customer site. Hopefully, the tide is finally seems no other explanation for base whose electric rates can be turning against these schemes, a project which hinged upon raised to service the debts from which a few years ago seemed to dewatering a river within a building these projects, PUDs threaten anyplace where water Washington state DNR Natural are perfect targets for “predatory flowed downhill. ALPS and other Resource Conservation Area. But lending.” Many PUDs look to be groups will continue working it had to be taken seriously, and run more for the benefit of their to keep our undammed streams it took a fair amount of effort to employees than the public. running free. make sure it died.

Enchantments Overuse a December 22, 2018 Facebook back in compliance with the ALW post by Bobby McGlaughlin MP. ALPS will be drafting a letter Continued from page 4 to the Washington Hikers and to that affect soon. If you would Climbers page, he claims, “more like to contribute your thoughts/ lost. Plan standards for 60 people Enchantment through hikes comments, please contact: in the Enchantments at one time than I can count; 35+mile days, Natalie Williams (PAOT) were exceeded 99% of the deep in the Wilderness.” Bobby time in Semi-Primitive areas, 93% is probably a great guy, and like [email protected] of the time in Primitive areas, and many of us, will continue to love ALPS Secretary 63% of the time in Pristine areas. the Enchantments literally to and Friends Steering With 253 day-hikers indicating death, given the opportunity. It is Committee. “Core” Enchantments as their disturbing that the USFS does not destination, the USFS is out of have steps to address this overuse compliance for every aspect of the issue in its plan for 2019. Wilderness management plan. The recommendations of the We seem to be back to our report are confined to “redesign” November 2017 meeting goals of forest management processes of lobbying Becky Blanchard to to allow further “assessment.” In come up with a three-year plan to get the OWNF management

ALPINE 5 State poised to implement faulty recreation plan Andy Dappen Stemilt Basin

The Washington State basin just south of Wenatchee that statewide recreation organizations Department of Natural Resources falls under the management of the but, in fact, discouraged it. By (DNR) and the Washington larger Naneum plan. The Naneum not following due process, the Department of Fish and Wildlife plan encompasses approximately result was that the Stemilt plan (WDFW) are poised to implement 230,000 acres of Washington State eventually diverged from the facts, a portion of their Naneum Ridge public lands located between data, science, and participation to Columbia River Recreation the towns of Ellensburg and surveys to eventually misrepresent and Access plan (Naneum Wenatchee and was completed in what actually occurred during plan). This action is partly based 2015 (a cooperative effort lead by the planning meetings. Now, the on the faulty Chelan Country DNR and WDFW). Stemilt plan has been submitted to Stemilt-Squilchuck Recreation While the Naneum plan was DNR and WDFW for consideration Plan (Stemilt plan) which developed with a fully transparent, on how to manage the state lands fails to meet the need for non- public process that encouraged for recreation within the Stemilt- motorized recreation. The Stemilt and sought statewide public Squilchuck sub-basin. plan was completed by Chelan involvement, the Stemilt plan The Stemilt recreation County in November 2018 and was primarily concocted to be a plan veered from due process includes a checkerboard of land “locals” plan, even though the when a letter was circulated ownerships―private, county, state, majority of the lands in question by an employee of Experience and federal lands. The Stemilt- are state owned. Chelan County Powersports in Moses Lake Squilchuck basin is a small sub- did not solicit participation by Washington stating falsely

6 ALPINE thatnon-motorized groups were “... trying to close down the Colockum to off road vehicles!” and that the local snowmobile sno park “...was closed to give access to skiers.” Both points were false, yet the Chelan County Natural Resources Department (NRD), bowed to pressure and allowed a small group of motorized advocates to hold up the ongoing planning process. The recreation planning committee had already completed a suite of recommendations with appropriate maps when the NRD decided to throw them out. Most egregious was when the NRD misrepresented the dialogue and Stemilt Basin discussions that occurred between non-motorized recreation, was not the winter non-motorized groups fact based, ignored participation and the motorized groups. After numbers, and leaves the non- only three meetings between the motorized recreationists to bear groups in question, and pressed the costs of their faulty plan with a for time, the NRD falsely stated the token area of little significance. groups had reached a compromise Please take a moment to contact when no such compromise had Chelan County, the Olympia been agreed to. The result was offices of DNR and WDFW and that the NRD altered the original the Governor’s office to voice your Stemilt recreation planning opinion. These are public lands map by reducing the area of that belong to all of us. More the winter non-motorized area information can be found on the that was recommended in the Chelan County webpage under Naneum plan; instead, it included Natural Resources Department at: Federal and private lands in a https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/ new “compromise” winter non- natural-resources/pages/stemilt- motorized area. Unfortunately, squilchuck-recreation-planning the state and the county have no jurisdiction over federal and Gus Bekker, President private lands so including said El Sendero Backcountry lands in the proposed winter non- Ski and Snowshoe Club motorized area is disingenuous and arbitrary by making it appear larger than it is. The lands proposed in the Naneum plan for winter non- motorized recreation are incredibly important for backcountry skiers, cross-country skiers, snowshoers and quiet recreation opportunities. Protecting these small areas is key to bringing balance to an area that currently has no designated non-motorized recreation area. The Naneum plan strives to reach a balanced land management scenario. The Stemilt plan failed to address the obvious need for ALPINE 7 IWG’s EIS draws fire in the FPEIS, and said the co- ICWC in an “awkward” position; leads “pretend” that those legal inadequate analysis “is risky” for Continued from page 3 questions “don’t exist.” the IWG effort. IWG Operating go far enough. More aggressive ICWC also said that because Procedures require consensus, conservation efforts are needed. of IWG’s operating rules, ICWC but “the FPEIS did not follow refrained from commenting for the this process; a formal action to The Icicle FPEIS implies that establish consensus was not taken it is a comprehensive review of Seattle Times story on the FPEIS, and ICWC believed it would need and open issues were not resolved all of the environmental issues, prior to publication of the FPEIS.” but it is not. The FPEIS cannot be to submit its press comments to said to comply with the Guiding the IWG co-leads (Ecology and the The IPID Water Conservation Principles of IWG, including County) for pre-approval. In other Plan was not made public until compliance with federal laws words, more evidence of harm after the conclusion of public such as the Wilderness Act, when caused by IWG’s gag rule. comment on the Draft PEIS, so analysis of those laws has been In response, at the February there was no opportunity to skipped over and punted to 2019 meeting Ecology said “we incorporate public comment on subsequent project-level review. DID get consensus,” in 2016 before this “crucially important analysis The outstanding gaps and commencing the EIS process, i.e. of the largest user of Icicle Creek deficiencies in the Icicle FPEIS before the environmental analysis water.” The FPEIS lacks a “robust are egregious, and too significant was supposedly conducted. This is review of conservation potential”; for it to serve as the “foundation” nonsensical and alarming, coming conservation “should be for environmental review of from the State agency responsible maximized before pursuing major any project in the Alpine Lakes for protecting the environment, infrastructure projects.” Wilderness. Government agencies and it provides more evidence that Projects proposed in Alpine responsible for project-level the FPEIS is useless. ICWC and TU Lakes Wilderness “are based on review need to be aware of these are talking about failure to achieve numerous untested assumptions,” defects, and refrain from basing consensus at the end of 2018, not and wilderness impacts “have their decisions on the Icicle FPEIS. in 2016. not been adequately reviewed Instead, lead agencies should As a member of IWG, the Icicle or addressed in the FPEIS,” make threshold determinations of Creek Watershed Council initiated which “likely invalidates the whether projects are lawful in the dispute resolution and set forth FPEIS for environmental review first place, before proceeding with its complaints about the FPEIS at the project level.” “Pushing” further review. in a February 22, 2019 letter to wilderness impacts review to the In addition to co-signing the the IWG co-leads (Ecology and project level “is not in accordance coalition letter summarized above, Chelan County). ICWC said “the with guiding principles.” The Wilderness Society also FPEIS does not go far enough In conclusion, ICWC wrote that submitted a letter from its law firm in developing the fundamental it is “disappointed these issues echoing many of the same points information necessary for were not brought to consensus made in the coalition letter. evaluating the overall Icicle within the IWG prior to the Strategy… Our areas of concern publication of the FPEIS,” and Icicle Creek Watershed include adherence to IWG “resolving them is vital before Council initiates Dispute process, water conservation needs, committing significant time and Resolution process wilderness impacts, climate change public funds to implementation. At IWG’s February 2019 and stream flow projections, and … In the interim we request that meeting, IWG members water management.” all communications make clear complained about how the IWG “Unfortunately, the release that the Final PEIS does not have co-leads released the FPEIS of the FPEIS did not provide the full support of the Icicle Work “without consensus,” contrary IWG members an opportunity to Group, and does not represent a to IWG operating rules requiring review, assess and share input … consensus decision.” The ICWC consensus. IWG member Icicle Nor were we allowed to review letter was submitted by its five Creek Watershed Council said how the issues raised in our board members, including Harriet it was “deeply troubled” and DPEIS comments were responded Bullitt, former owner of Sleeping was “quite surprised” when to before release of the final Lady Resort on Icicle Creek. it “discovered” that the FPEIS document. This is why the ICWC In the dispute resolution was going to be released on was unable to indicate its support process, ICWC is accusing the co- January 3. ICWC cited the above for the FPEIS …” The FPEIS put leads of violating the rules, so it coalition letters about legal issues

8 ALPINE Map of route proposed by Icicle Peshastin Irrigation District for moving excavator on the ground through the wilderness to Eightmile Lake in 2018 (note the legend includes “Road building required” for some sections near the lake, inside wilderness). IPID submitted this map to the U.S. Forest Service. seems unfair and inappropriate for the courtesy” of earlier notice. TU of public dollars spent to facilitate the co-leads to sit on the dispute questioned whether it would be the process.” resolution panel. As we went expelled from IWG if it did not TU also wrote that it is to press in early July 2019, the want to write a letter of support for “concerned about the IWG’s dispute resolution process was still the FPEIS. ability to meet the guiding underway. In a March 12, 2019 letter to the principles should a given Trout Unlimited’s complaints IWG co-leads (Ecology and Chelan Alternative 1 project(s) fail to County), TU wrote: “As mentioned achieve completion”; “TU remains At the February 2019 IWG at the February 2019 IWG meeting concerned that Alternative 1 meeting, IWG member Trout we are frustrated that a process does not adequately address the Unlimited echoed ICWC’s born of litigation and built to likelihood of significant future concerns, and said TU is work collaboratively through flow reductions related to climate “struggling” with it and feels “the those issues is likely headed back change”; and “TU is disappointed same way” as ICWC. TU said it to litigation. Frankly, this is a that IWG governance was not was “surprised” at the short notice disappointing outcome that does observed by the co-leads with of the January 3 release of the not bode well for achieving IWG respect to publication of the FPEIS, and after sitting on the IWG objectives and reflects poorly on for six years, to receive “not even six years of meetings and millions Continued on page 10 ALPINE 9 IWG’s EIS draws fire the Endangered Species Act, the Service “would like to convene a Wenatchee Forest Plan as amended facilitated discussion between the Continued from page 9 by the Northwest Forest Plan, Irrigation District and key Forest and other applicable regulations. Service staff, with a mutually- The Forest Service also wrote agreed upon facilitator … to find FPEIS. The Icicle Creek Working that it understands IWG will mutually-beneficial outcomes for Group Operating Procedures consider “replacement projects equipment retrieval, emergency stipulate achieving consensus on to any element of the Preferred repairs, and future maintenance key decision points and the final Alternative that does not meet the and management of the facilities.” project list. As discussed at the criteria above.” February 2019 IWG meeting, this guideline was not followed. “ Eightmile Lake dam TU’s letter made several construction plans move suggestions, including: forward “Determine which project(s) are At Eightmile Lake, the Icicle likely to be litigated and work with Peshastin Irrigation District (IPID) potential litigants and interested used its excavator to replace parties to modify or replace the pipe under the dam in late those projects to avoid litigation. summer 2018. The excavator Litigation will be costly and delay/ had been transported into the prevent implementation which wilderness in May 2018 by would not be a successful outcome helicopter, and the flight cost about of the IWG process.” [and] $100,000. Media coverage implied that IPID bore that cost. However, “Identify a strategy for the State Department of Ecology determining project feasibility at reimbursed IPID for the helicopter the project-specific scoping stage flight, so the $100,000 cost was and a list of suitable, achievable ultimately borne by Washington alternate options for Alternative 1 State taxpayers. IPID elected to projects.” leave the rented excavator at the TU concluded that until dam over the winter (wrapped the issues identified above are in a tarp to “winterize” it), rather addressed, “we are unable to than go through a public process provide unqualified support” for to assess IPID’s proposal to “walk” the FPEIS Preferred Alternative the excavator out of the wilderness (Alternative 1). on the ground, through the forest. U.S. Forest Service In January 2019, IPID released comments on FPEIS 30% design drawings of its IWG has been asking its proposed new dam at Eightmile member agencies to submit letters Lake. At that time, IPID said it of support for the FPEIS, and would like to “start applying for some have balked at this due to permits by the end of March” their concerns and conditions so that it could construct the (e.g. ICWC and TU). In a May new dam in late summer 2019. 23, 2019 letter to IWG co-lead However, NEPA work has not yet Chelan County, the U.S. Forest begun, and at the May 9 meeting Service wrote that projects in the of IWG, IPID said “Construction FPEIS Preferred Alternative must in 2019 is not likely, so 2020 looks comply with federal and state more realistic at this point.” For environmental policy laws (NEPA years, ALPS has been telling IWG and SEPA), and that Okanogan- that it would litigate any attempt Wenatchee National Forest review to expand Eightmile Lake. and approval would be required to In response to IPID complaint fulfill Forest responsibilities under letters, the U.S. Forest Service’s the Wilderness Act, National Regional Forester wrote on Forest Management Act, NEPA, June 26, 2019 that the Forest

10 ALPINE Yakima Plan authorization passes Congress in omnibus bill

ALPS and other conservation were allowed to testify at the one the Yakima Plan) are avoiding organizations are continuing their Senate hearing held on the bill; scrutiny due to the enormous active opposition to the most opponents were not allowed to number of unrelated, previously destructive parts of the $5 billion testify. However, in early 2019, a unsuccessful proposals bundled Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. revised Cantwell bill was included into the 698 pages of the bill. As reported in 2015 (Alpine 2015 in S.47, the public lands omnibus Nonetheless, it is worth contacting issue No.1), a benefit-cost study bill entitled “Natural Resources your congressional representatives mandated by the Washington State Management Act,” which quickly to recount the Yakima Plan’s Legislature concluded that most passed in Congress and was major defects and prepare Yakima Plan storage components signed into law on March 12. It them for future discussion of (including the Bumping Lake, authorizes implementation of the appropriations. Wymer and Kachess projects) entire Yakima Plan, not just the As reported in the last issue of miserably fail a benefit-cost test. early phases. Water conservation Alpine (2018 issue No.1), a public For example, the Wymer Dam and provisions are all voluntary. comment period ended in July Reservoir project has a benefit- Now that authorization exists, 2018 for the Supplemental Draft cost ratio of 0.09, a benefit of nine proponents must now seek Environmental Impact Statement cents for every dollar spent, i.e. appropriations to pay for any for the Keechelus Reservoir to taxpayers would lose 91 cents for projects. Kachess Reservoir Conveyance every dollar spent. The omnibus bill had (a.k.a. the K-to-K Pipeline) and the Senator Maria Cantwell’s bill considerable momentum because Kachess Drought Relief Pumping to authorize early phases of the many of its components are Plant. ALPS timely submitted 2012 Yakima Plan failed to pass popular (such as reauthorization comments. As we went to press in in prior sessions of Congress of the Land and Water July 2019, the Yakima Workgroup (see Alpine 2016 issue No.1). Conservation Fund), and the had recently released a Final EIS Only Yakima Plan supporters bill’s bad components (such as for the Kachess projects.

Planning begins for Middle Fork Snoqualmie Wild and Scenic Corridor The U.S. Forest Service has the Pratt as well as the uppermost squalid, muddy garbage strewn begun to develop a management Middle Fork are now included in messes, are mostly over. plan for the Middle Fork the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, so Even though the problems of Snoqualmie and Pratt Wild and the designation is in some sense uncontrolled use in the Middle Scenic (W&S) rivers. The 2014 moot in those reaches. Fork are nothing compared to legislation adding the Pratt River However, the W&S designation what they once were, the W&S valley and other nearby lands will provide a much needed plan will hopefully provide one to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness layer of protection for the more tool to make sure things also designated the Middle Fork Middle Fork downstream of the are done right in the Middle upstream of the concrete bridge, Wilderness. Almost all of the Fork. Visitor behavior has gotten and the entire Pratt, as W&S rivers. river corridor is natural, although better, but overall use levels are The federal Wild and Scenic uncontrolled dispersed camping surging. Any new recreational rivers act calls for the lead has been a problem in some developments in the Middle Fork management agency, in this case areas. Fortunately, the days when need to be done right. ALPS and the Forest Service, to develop a monster 4x4 trucks were smashing other groups will be working plan for a corridor averaging one down new routes to the river, to to insure that wild places are quarter mile wide on either side of places which quickly turned into protected and any new facilities a designated river. The entirety of are made to fit the valley.

ALPINE 11 alps Non Profit alpine lakes protection society US Postage PO Box 27646 PAID Seattle, WA 98165 Seattle WA Permit 1445

ALPS Officers & Trustees: Board Members: Thom Peters President: Rick McGuire Gus Bekker Charlie Raymond Secretary: Natalie Williams Kevin Geraghty Frank Swart Treasurer: Frank Swart Rick McGuire Natalie Williams

The newsletter of the Alpine Lakes Protection Society (ALPS). ALPS is dedicated to protection of the Alpine Lakes area in Washington’s Cascades. Editor: Rick McGuire Layout: Pat Hutson To join ALPS or renew membership, send $15 to: Natalie Williams 5627 – 47th Ave. SW Seattle, WA 98136 Kevin Geraghty For information, send email to: Oxbow Lake in Middle Fork Snoqualmie valley. Washington Depart- [email protected] ment of Natural Resources has recently opened a loop trail travers- ing part of this scenic area of the Middle Fork valley.

12 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER ALPINE