2003 Water Crisis

(5) Hanford, Spokane River: Toxic deals .. 26 (6) Looting Water in Olympia .................. 33 (7) Watchdog or Lap Dog? ...................... 36 Locke’s Legacy - Water Crisis By John Osborn, MD and Rachael Paschal Osborn Earth, the “water planet,” is approaching the end of the water “frontier” as billions of people struggle daily for safe drinking water. Here in Washington State and the greater region, our rivers, aquifers, and fisheries are in peril: • Our rivers are over-allocated: there is not enough water to meet all the demands and keep water in the rivers to support fish and wildlife. • Hanford – among the world’s most polluted spots – spreads a plume of radioactive waste into the Columbia River. • Daily, toxic mine wastes flow into Washington’s rivers from polluters upstream in Idaho and British Columbia. • Decisions about water are shifting from professional staff at the Department of Ecology to the governor’s office, damaging the agency’s professional integrity and politicizing water decisions. In this water crisis, Washington needs political leadership to: • Clean up radioactive and other toxic pollution in Washington’s rivers. • Promote water conservation as the preferred option for thirsty, growing cities instead of giving away new water rights. • Set and meet instream flows to protect rivers, restore fisheries, and honor tribal fishing rights. • Clamp down on “paper” water rights to prevent continued depletion of rivers and aquifers. • Stop the “water grab” now underway in Washington State. This special Sierra Club report examines the…

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PSCAA Advisory Council Meeting Agenda
Add to CalendarMWednesday Mar 11, 9:00am - 11:35am
1904 3rd Avenue, Suite 105, Seattle, WA 98101
Call to order – Roll Call – Quorum Established – Land Acknowledgement We would like to acknowledge that our Agency operates in four present-day counties, which are the traditional lands of the Coast Salish people, past and present. This acknowledgement does not take the place of authentic relationships with indigenous communities in our jurisdiction and [...]