Hi Tweets,

I just received this message on Nisqually. Sorry if it has already been posted
(I'm on digest mode so I don't see messages until it's too late). But this
posting represents the opposing view that the dikes should be repaired. I think
some education is called for here.

Mike Scuderi

______________________________ Forward Header __________________________________
Subject: Nisqually Flood Damage
Author: Helen Engle <102032.2444 at compuserve.com> at Internet
Date: 2/29/96 2:14 AM


Here's something to post wherever you want to. And you may note that I would
like comments from whoever wants to reply. Helen.
--------------------------
TO NISQUALLY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WATCHERS

>From Helen Engle, 4011 Alameda Avenue, Tacoma WA 98466 206-564-3112
e-mail: 102032,2444 at compuserve.com, also Audubon cc:Mail

We deplore the flooding of the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge from
the breaching of the dike in the January storms. The saltwater intrusion will
surely jeopardize some of the wildlife values at Nisqually. This last
undeveloped major estuary on Puget Sound is an oasis in the megalopolis of the
Interstate 5 corridor, shared by two of the fastest growing counties in
Washington.
The Refuge has an incredible diversity of habitat crammed into its
approximately 4,000 acres, and was visited by well over 100,000 visitors in 1995
(a management problem in itself!). We appreciate that the mandate of the USF&WS
Refuge is to manage for wildlife. The wildlife values at Nisqually include
resting and wintering habitat for over 300 species of migratory and year-round
resident birds, several species of marine mammals, many furbearing animals and a
diversity of shellfish and finfish. The refuge has an active Bald Eagle nest
and a Great Blue Heron rookery which becomes of greater concern as suitable
habitat for these birds disappears in the Puget trough.
The delta acreage is a complex of habitats nurtured by the Nisqually
River whose source is its namesake glacier on Mount Rainier 75 miles upstream of
the delta; by McAllister & Medicine Creeks whose source is artesian springs of
great productivity and quality; and Red Salmon Creek whose source is surface
water runoff of the partially-forested gravel outwash prairies and
glacier-created drumlins left by the activities of the Pleistocene ice sheet.
Saltwater intrusion will jeopardize the habitats inside the 5.5 mile
dike. There are freshwater ponds, sloughs, and wetlands; cattail marshes and
vernal pools; as well as a substantial acreage of maintained grazing fields for
wintering waterfowl. These fields also support a rodent population that
attracts a marvelous number of raptors and other creatures who hunt the refuge
regularly.
Years ago the dike broke from a similar flood. It took a long time to
get the bureaucratic talking and paperwork done to repair the break which
progressed from a little ditch my teenage kids could jump over, to an
impressively wide surge of water at each coming and going of the tide. There
were many changes in the plant and animal communities on the "inside."
Eventually, there were barnacles (!) on the trees in the middle of the refuge
and on the posts of the old feeder barn.
Some of us Nisqually enthusiasts have discussed our long-held position
again: repair the dike and preserve the habitat diversity at the Refuge. We
know there are many other Nisqually enthusiasts who will argue to let nature
take its course and convert the riparian zone and meadows inside the dike to a
saltmarsh community. Our friends' argument has merits, a significant
consideration of which is the cost of the repair at this time.

Our position is based on what we see as a major set of aims and purposes
of the NWR system: education and interpretation. There is no other place on
Puget Sound that can do the job of showing the natural science of an estuary
with its marine plants and animals and the freshwater riparian zone and wetlands
communities, with such class as Nisqually.

Probably no other piece of public land in this state has had as many
dedicated people defending it as perseveringly over as long a time as Nisqually.
Invite me to host a gathering for discussions about the longterm future of
Nisqually NWR and I'll make the coffee and serve a batch of my SAVE NISQUALLY
shortbread cookies.



Return-Path: <owner-audubon-washington at igc.apc.org>
Received: from igc3.igc.apc.org (igc3.igc.apc.org [192.82.108.33]) by igc5.igc.apc.org (8.7.3/8.7.3) with SMTP id AAA03980; Thu, 29 Feb 1996 00:26:44 -0800 (PST)
Received: (from majordomo) by igc3.igc.apc.org (8.6.12/Revision: 1.9 ) id XAA02101; Wed, 28 Feb 1996 23:17:04 -0800
Received: from dub-img-6.compuserve.com (dub-img-6.compuserve.com [198.4.9.6]) by igc3.igc.apc.org (8.6.12/Revision: 1.9 ) with SMTP id XAA02065 for <audubon-washington at igc.apc.org>; Wed, 28 Feb 1996 23:16:58 -0800
Received: by dub-img-6.compuserve.com (8.6.10/5.950515)
id CAA16866; Thu, 29 Feb 1996 02:17:07 -0500
Date: 29 Feb 96 02:14:58 EST
From: Helen Engle <102032.2444 at compuserve.com>
Message-ID: <960229071457_102032.2444_BHC84-2 at CompuServe.COM>
Subject: Nisqually Flood Damage
To: Audubon List Server <audubon-washington at igc.apc.org>
Sender: owner-audubon-washington at igc.apc.org
Precedence: bulk