| Home | About Us | About Glacier | Orcas | Salmon | Water | Gravel | Arsenic | Permits | Litigation | Alerts | Blog | Contact |
EIS PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING
The Army Corps of Engineers has announced that they have initiated the development of the Court ordered Glacier NW Environmental Impact Statement(EIS). The first step of this process requires the Corps to invite the public to help scope the range of issues and concerns that will be evaluated in the EIS document.
A public scoping meeting [...] Read More
Funding For Potential Property Acquisition
Nearly a year ago - well before winning the federal court case- POI invited a coalition of the region’s top environmental groups, agency heads and elected officials to join together and work with us in the development and implementation of a plan to purchase the Glacier site.
The Cascade Land Conservancy, a statewide organization specializing in [...] Read More
Court Case Victory!
On August 13, 2009 U.S. District Court Judge Ricardo Martinez ruled in favor of Preserve Our Islands appeal of the Army Corps Permit. The Judge’s decision invalidated the Federal permit and remanded the issue back to both the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Marine Fisheries Services.
To read the Judge’s decision click here
In his [...] Read More
The Fight Moves Into The Courtroom
In recent weeks the fight to protect Maury Island has moved into the courtroom.
The lawsuits related to our appeal of the Federal Army Corps permit and the State DNR aquatic lands lease have both begun.
We have asked the courts to overturn the approvals granted and expect a decision in upcoming months.
Click here to read Preserve [...] Read More
Endangered Orcas with newborn calf at the Glacier dock site
Photo taken under ESA/MMPA permit 781-1824-01 M Sears 11-23-07
Use Of Maury Island
-
The Orcas feed in the Maury nearshore during the late fall and early winter months when salmon at the Island is abundant and scarce elsewhere.
- In December 2007, the Orcas were documented by the NMFS appointed sighting network in the waterways adjacent to Glacier's proposed dock on more days than they were documented at the San Juan Island's State whale watching park for the months of July and August combined.
- A majority of Orca births occur during the late fall and early winter months and it is common that newborn and very young calves are in tow when the Orcas come to forage at Maury Island. As example, one of the newest member of J-pod was born in early November of 2007 and was documented at the Glacier site within days of its birth.
The Proposed Project's Risk To Endangered Orcas
- In their Federal Recovery Plan for Orca, the National Marine Fisheries Services ( NMFS) notes lack of prey availability, elevated underwater noise and increased vessel interaction as impacts that are likely contributors to the whales population decline.
- Dock construction and the subsequent barging operations will create underwater noise at levels that has been determined by federal agencies to be harmful to Orcas and other marine mammals.
- Underwater noise levels associated with the proposed project will be high enough to mask the important Orca communication calls which the whales depend on for successful foraging.
- At nearly 400 feet long, the dock itself is a physical barrier that may alter the Orcas foraging behavior and passage through the area.
- The barging operation will introduce industrial shipping traffic into an area that currently has none. This protected reserve area is where the Orcas commonly forage and rest.
- Orca experts who have evaluated the proposed project have concluded that there is a strong likelihood that the Orcas will be forced to abandon this important feeding area due to underwater noise impacts.
- In 2009, as a result of Preserve Our Islands led litigation, the US District Court ruled that the project was likely to have an adverse effect on Orcas and their critical habitat and ordered the federal agencies to undertake full formal review of the proposal under the Endangered Species Act.
- This formal review is expected to commence in 2010.
This Proposal Doesn't Make Any Sense
It Doesn't Make Environmental Sense
It Doesn't Make Economic Sense
It Doesn't Make Sense For
The People Of Washington State