Assistance in Flood Damage Assessments

President Bush accepted a request from Washington Governor Gary Locke for addressing losses and damages created by the floods or wind from the mid-autumn storm. If you can document losses or damage from between October 16th and 23rd. The floods at their greatest discharge were more than 30,000 cubic feet per second sustained for a considerable period of time. Due to the rain-on-snow conditions in the upper watershed, Tacoma Power was obligated to release flows from the Cushman system as well. The Tribe was informed of these releases. The Tribe experienced road and bridge challenges. Both the state and FEMA provided inspections, with assistance forthcoming.

SKEPA Permits

During the first quarter of this year, staff have reviewed four (4) SKEPA applications for development and/or construction activities on the Skokomish Reservation, and two are in process. SKEPA Permits have been issued to tribal applicants/advocates, and one to the Washington Department of Transportation for road surfacing from Highway 106 Bridge west to Highway 101 and south to Brockdale Road. This project will be completed before fireworks season. Others are still under review, is expected to be brought forward to Tribal Council for attention in the near future. The SKEPA application review and approval process is also expected to evolve in the future, due to complex issues coming, and Tribal expansion in both activities and infrastructure.

On-Reservation Restoration and Enhancement Activities

Natural Resources staff completed a replacement of culverts and excavation of detention pit for storm water near Twin Totems. Maintenance will be required. A protective barrier has been installed prior to a chain link fence, and vegetation establishment will take place this spring.

Skabob Creek box culvert replacement under Highway 106 is currently anticipated for summer of 2004. The Washington Department of Transportation (WDOT) will assist with funding, as well as Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group and the Fish and Wildlife Foundation for construction.

The Department assists on a variety of projects. Some particular mentionable ones are the help during snow time and weekend water sampling. Others include GREAT assistance provided for the Quilcene net pens by Lyman Bullchild, Frank Cousins, Shiloh Petersen, Richard Smith and Guy Miller. Deano said he "couldn’t have done it without your help.” Staff will also assist digging with ‘perk holes” for the expected sidewalk project being discussed elsewhere.

Water Program (Drinking, Surface and Ground Waters)

There are approximately 105 hookups to the Tribe's community water system. The Department is responsible as the Water Utility Manager in monitoring, sampling and implementing all of the necessary elements of the water utility, including the reporting requirements. Monthly lab testing of the water system is provided by Thurston County Lab and consistently finds the water to be safe and potable. Chlorine is injected into the system. Additional staff training has provided attention for the potential of fluoride being injected later this spring. Fluoride systems require great care along with aggressive monitoring for health and safety reasons. The objective of injecting fluoride into the water is to help prevent cavity development in children 8 years old and younger. The Dental Clinic has additional information and can answer questions or concerns by the community.

Water flow monitoring devices have been installed near the Clinic and Tribal Center to provide information for the anticipated health clinic expansion. There is a need to convene the Skokomish Water Utility Committee in order to address a number if issues including changes to rate structures requests by the Masonic Lodge and others to hook-up to the Tribe’s water supply.

Please be informed the fire hydrants require easy visibility and access if they are to provide fire protection for the community. Please do your part to make sure that neither parked vehicles, nor debris is deposited on or near them. The Department will assure overgrown vegetation is removed near hydrants. We need good access to hydrants for safety reasons.

Water Extension to Sunnyside

Test wells were successful for pressure and flow, as well as water quality, providing water to Sunnyside. Concern of a dumpsite in the area motivated the Department to excavate and remove and re-deposited up the road, to allow the material to dry. It will be picked through later this spring. There will be one additional study of the well water during the next flood event in order to make sure river flooding does not effect the water quality. This test has to be done in flood stage, and there is a very high likelihood there will be at least one more flood before summer. When this flood happens a contractor already selected will come to Sunnyside and provide their sampling. Prior to the installation of a permanent well casing, pump house and water tank, easements will be required to be purchased from the allotment owners. Indian Health Service, EPA and the Tribe are all collaborating on this project, servicing the Sunnyside community. There will be an anticipated monthly fee of approximately $20 to pay for the operation and maintenance of the system, as is charged to all water utility users. In reality, the payment is for the distribution, the water quality testing, the treatment, labor, management and other elements of the Skokomish community system.

Off-Reservation Activities

The Tribe has been involved in number of assessments and investigations related to land acquisitions for a variety of residential, commercial, forestry, cultural and conservancy purposes. Additional lands through the watershed and elsewhere in the treaty area are being investigated. A land acquisitions matrix, or guidelines are in development that will assist the Council and community in their priority ranking for decision making. Other land appraisal contracts are in process, and reports have come in. Some of the land the Tribe is investigating includes land owned by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, notably the boat access near Highway 101 bridge and Rocky Beach area. Others include land near the Reservation boundaries and Quilcene.

Additionally, there have been many efforts provided in addressing fee-to-trust conversions of land owned by the tribe or individuals. The Department Staff is working with legal staff to insure these efforts help tie into a long-term strategic response to issues that face the Tribe of the future.