Letter to the Editor: Perspective on the Lake and EstuaryDear Editor: I have closely followed the Capitol Lake Adaptive Management Plan Steering Committee's activities for many years. In particular, I focused my attention on the discussion of the Deschutes River Estuary restoration option. It is important to take a step back and look at the Deschutes River Estuary restoration project from a wildlife habitat and community-health perspective that considers the larger context of Budd Inlet/South Puget Sound restoration. There is plenty of hard scientific evidence that the health of Puget Sound in general and Budd Inlet in particular is failing. Overall, Puget Sound has lost more than 75 percent of shoreline wetlands - including vital estuaries - to development such as roads, bulkheads and dams Budd Inlet is contaminated with highly toxic industrial chemicals including dioxins. It is unsafe to eat the shellfish or bottom-dwelling fish because their flesh contains toxic levels of cancer-causing chemicals. The water in Deschutes River has exceptionally high levels of fecal coliform bacteria and phosphorus. The temperature is higher than desired to optimally support native fish. Budd Inlet also has low levels of dissolved oxygen, which becomes harmful to fish and other sea life. There are fewer herring and other feeder fish so native and hatchery salmon therefore have less food to eat. Ecology was required to develop remediation plans (TMDL) to improve the health of the Deschutes River and Budd Inlet. Wetlands and estuaries are like the vital organs necessary to maintain the life of Puget Sound. They purify and clean the waters of Puget Sound. Tidal flushing is like the heart, slowly pumping the waters of Puget Sound over the purifying estuary tidal flats and shoreline, in and out twice every day. Dams are like a clogged artery, blocking the life-giving flow of seawater and leading to early death for the Sound. Estuaries are equivalent to the most productive farmland in the world, providing huge amounts of food for fish, birds, and mammals. Without estuary wetlands, Puget Sound starves to death. Yes, there is a freshwater habitat that has developed since the 5th Avenue dam was constructed and this section of the Deschutes River was impounded, forming Capitol Lake. Nature is resilient and will try its best to survive despite human alterations of the Earth given to us. This freshwater habitat of Capitol Lake is physically separated from Budd Inlet by the dam, cutting off a potential 260 acres of estuary wetlands from South Sound. Studies show Deschutes River Estuary restoration will improve the health of Budd Inlet. We should honor the heritage of this area, which includes: native Americans; Leopold Schmidt selecting the Deschutes River because it was a free-flowing navigable waterway; the architects of our Capitol Campus who suggested a reflecting pool; and the modern-day visionaries who see the restoration of an urban estuary at the foot of our Capitol as something that will benefit the health of our area for generations. Remember, we absolutely cannot solve today's problem of failing health of Budd Inlet using concepts and strategies that led us to this point. All the components of the Deschutes Estuary Feasibility Study demonstrate that a vital, functioning estuary will return with dam removal. The marine life that is so vital to Budd Inlet will return. Water quality and sport fishing will benefit with an estuary. Sedimentation in Capitol Lake is a problem. The Department of General Administration asserts that dredging will be in our future, whether we have a lake or an estuary. Dredging before and after dam removal will keep Budd Inlet marina's and the port operational. The cost to maintain an optimal lake setting will now be studied. This study needs to include the cost of 5th Avenue dam replacement or a major revision necessary to manage sea-level rise that will occur in Budd Inlet over the next 100 years. Waterfront homes and real estate will always be a premium commodity. Waterfront taxes along estuaries are higher than inland property. Land values decrease along polluted or dying waterways. People want to live, work and recreate next to a healthy waterway. I live on Eld Inlet right next to an estuary. I assure you it is a desirable experience with bald eagles, water birds, osprey, and more wildlife visiting frequently. It is important to consider what is best for the long term health of Budd Inlet and South Puget Sound. Sometimes we have to give up something familiar so we can have a better future. Restoring the Deschutes River Estuary is the best option for a healthier, more sustainable waterfront community. Sincerely, Paul J Allen, MD
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