Seattle PI April 4, 2007

We have to 'tell the truth' to save orcas and Puget
Sound
By BILLY FRANK JR. AND RON SIMS
GUEST COLUMNISTS

The birth of an orca to Puget Sound's L pod while
wintering in California gives us feelings of joy, but
also anguish for the heavy odds against this infant's
survival. That's because Puget Sound is sick and the
orca's milk is laden with PCBs.

For 20 years, scientists have rung alarms about the
health of Puget Sound. The tribes have been ringing
this alarm for 200 years. The listing of orcas as
endangered, plus disturbing events such as fish kills
from low oxygen and discovery of "dead zones," are
clear evidence this generation must act before it's
too late.

The two of us were among 22 regional leaders and
stakeholders appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire in 2005
to the Puget Sound Partnership whose task is to
develop an aggressive plan to recover and protect the
Sound by 2020. The first thing we all agreed to do was
to "tell the truth" about what it will take.

Our deadline of 2020 will come faster than anyone can
imagine. The status quo will decimate orca and salmon
populations. That's why our agreement to "tell the
truth" is so important. We must have the courage to
provide new protections and undo previous harmful
decisions. It's a complex task and everyone must work
together to achieve it.

The Legislature is working to provide tools to do the
work. We also have existing tools, such as the Aquatic
Reserve Program. Such reserves can protect ecosystems
-- stepping stones to healthy fish and wildlife.
Today, the only aquatic reserve is 5,000 acres off
Maury Island, home to one of 18 remaining Puget Sound
herring spawning beds.

Every species recovery plan cites this reserve as a
natural treasure, important to the recovery of
threatened and endangered species. Unfortunately, a
loophole allows industrial uses such as a 300-foot
pier proposed by a multinational corporation, Glacier
Northwest.

The Senate has approved state Sen. Erik Poulsen's bill
to restore integrity to the program, so it is
consistent with our commitment to recover and protect
Puget Sound by 2020. Together, we ask the House to do
the same. It's common sense that industrial barging
isn't compatible with healthy ecological systems.
Experience tells us that industry harms herring
spawning grounds.

Passage of Poulsen's proposal doesn't stop Glacier
Northwest's mining on Maury Island; it just keeps it
from expanding.

As the Puget Sound Partnership is given life by the
2007 Legislature, and we await the return of our orca
pods with their newborns, we set our sights on saving
Puget Sound. There is no time to waste. We need
legislation that solidifies the Aquatic Reserve
Program -- a fitting companion to the Puget Sound
Partnership.

Billy Frank Jr., is chairman of the Northwest Indian
Fisheries Commission. Ron Sims is executive of King
County.