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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
July 30, 2020     Shelton Mason County Journal
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July 30, 2020
 
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Thursday, July 30, 2020 Thursday, July 30, 2020 — Shelton-Mason County Journal Page A-25 HiifiiLD Serving the communities of Belfair, Allyn, Grapeview, Tahuya, Mason Lake, South Shore and Victor Future of proposed Grump mine to be decidedAug. By Isabella Breda isabe/la@masoncountycom Mason County Hearing Examiner Phil Olbrechts has until Aug. 7 to decide on Grump Ventures’ appeal of a county decision to rescind an SM-6 form and allow a 66.5-acre surface mine to move forward in a rural residential zone on Northeast North Shore Road. Olbrechts said this has been “the biggest and most complicated land use hearing 'since I’ve been a hearing ex- aminer’f following closing, arguments from Mason County Prosecutor Tim Whitehead, David Bricklin, attorney for the intervenors, and Clark Park, attorney for the appellant, Grump Ventures owner Russell Scott. The hearing spanned more than three days, convening via Zoom July 16, 22 and 24 for nearly 20 hours total. Olbrechts must decide whether the county was correct to rescind Grump Ventures’ SM-6 form or if Grump can retain what 'county code defines as nonconforming use rights for the prop— erty. County code stipulates that after two years of inactivity, nonconforming use expires. During his closing statement, County Prosecutor Tim Whitehead re- iterated that the county’s position is that there was either “insignificant or illegal” activity on the Scott Gravel Pit the site of the proposed mine. Insig— nificant or illegal activity was argued to be inactivity. After receiving the SM-6, which permits nonconforming use, Grump Ventures is required by state law to go through the State Environmental Policy Act review process and receive a state Department of Natural Re- sources Reclamation Permit in order to engage in any mining activities. Kell Rowen, Mason County plan- ning manager, said during a July 15 hearing that it was her understanding Grump Ventures withdrew all applica- tions before the alleged illegal mining activity took place in April 2019. Rowen said she issued a verbal stop work order on April 8, 2019, after Pen- insula Topsoil crews were excavating the site the previous week. The min- ing occurred without a county grading permit or DNR reclamation permit. ' Other witnesses for the county in— cluding Ro‘d LaRue, who has worked for the county for 15 years, agreed that April 2019 was the-first time he recalled seeing activity on the Scott Gravel Pit. , When Jack Johnson, owner of Pen- insula Topsoil who aided Grump Ven- tures’ permitting process, was shown a picture of mining on the site, he said during the hearing that he assumed see MINE, page A—27 Twenty years of summer chum restoration By Isabella Breda isabe/la@masoncounty. com - This year marks Hood Canal Salmon Enhance- ment Group’s 20th year of monitoring summer chum populations, which began one year after the species was listed as threatened under the Endangered Spe- cies Act in 1999. .m , “Looking back to 1975 puts it in perspective — the work we’ve done,” said Clayton David, salmon and steelhead biologist at HCSEG. “There were very few fish in the ’808 and ’90s. Now, Union River has become fairly stable.” ‘ From Aug. 15 through Oct. 15 volunteers will pull up their waders and head out to the salmon trap on Union River to help in the annual effort to count Hood Canal summer chum. “This has become kind of a community event, the volunteers get pretty involved,” David said. “This year is different than years past because of COVID, but everyone is super eager to do something other than being at home.” All gear and training is provided by the enhance- ment group. Volunteers can work alone or with a family member, partner or friend. The prison-like barred trap on the Union River is behind QFC in Belfair and captures adult salmon as they return from the saltwater. Volunteers then identify the species, gender and add summer chum to the count. Volunteers work the trap 24 hours a day, seven days per week, alternating between four daily shifts. David said the first couple weeks of September are “peak season” for volunteers who are eager to see more fish. The summer fish counts are only one fragment of the group’s year-round work that goes into monitor- ing summer chum resiliency. From January to June, volunteers, biologists and interns identify and count juvenile chum during A volunteer, shown last year, releases a Hood Canal summer chun after idenifting it for the annual fish count. Photo courtesy of Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group their outmigration. - Salmon, Enhancement Group, summer chum are an These days, the enhancement group uses the re- integral species in local watersheds, bringing ma- i turn and outmigration projects to make decisions on rine-derived nutrients as they return to freshwater how to help restore this species. According to Alexandra Ehrich of the Hood Canal see CHUM, page A-27 LOOKING FOR A FREE LUNCH? Join the North Mason Chamber and your first Chamber Business Lunch is on us! That's just one of the many perks of membership. Give Pam Volz a call today and find out how we can ' help'your business grow 360.275.4267 Visit North Mason Chamber, Belfair Licen‘sln and Visitor Information Center in Belfair 360.275.4267 www.northmasonchamber.com www.ex - lorehoodcanal.com BELFAIR LICENSING VISITOR CENTER