by Kirk Kirkland The most interesting testimony at the recent appeal of the Pierce County Fill and Grade Permit for the Spanaway Marsh was about the bald eagles’ nest there. Eagles have a lifespan of up to 70 years and mate for life. These two have nested in the Spanaway Marsh for at least 23 […]
by Kirk Kirkland In Pierce County and at the state legislature we are passing significant legislation that is going to make our county and the state a better place to live. Avoid the negative news about the U.S. Congress. Tune into the state legislature to witness the state House of Representatives and county governments pass […]
Just a glance at the front page of many newspapers and it is depressing to read more than a headline. It is clear that Trump does not have a plan for reform. Like his last term he is only capable of destroying agencies like the National Park by reducing their funding. Congressman Adam Smith is […]
by Kirk Kirkland After a successful election in November 2024, the environmental community in Pierce County has a rare chance to work with newly elected leaders to pass our environmental agenda. Considerable ground was lost in the last 8 years, as the previous County Executive used his “Executive Priority” to ignore environmental laws of the […]
Claudia Riiff Finseth is a writer, poet and editor; mother and grandmother; and life-long Washingtonian. Growing up in Longview, Finseth absorbed the values of civic planning, including trees, sidewalks, neighborhood parks and civic spaces, and open space where people can experience the renewing and healing effects of nature and native wildlife. She came to Pierce […]
by Claudia Riiff Finseth Pierce County will have a new government this month. What will the next four years be like? Will they be more of the same as the last eight years? I have great hope that they will be different. Different, first and foremost, is restoring a healthy county democracy. This can be done […]
Kirk Kirkland has been an environmental advocate for over 30 years. He has worked with Tahoma Audubon, Sierra Club and Futurewise as an environmental advocate, appearing before such bodies as the Washington State Legislature and the Pierce County Council. He retired from Tahoma Audubon in 2023 when they were considering changing their priorities. While active […]
Report on Drinking Water in Pierce County – in January 2024 This report used to pass the Pierce County’s Budget Proviso Ordinance No. 2023-65s2 Editor’s note: This interim report and our proposal for county budget in 2025 will be updated in our February 2025 newsletter. The problems outlined in this interim report remain. No one […]
Six weeks after The Environmental Coalition of Pierce County filed a complaint and sent photos of Tacoma Rescue Mission putting in new culverts, dumping truck loads of gravel into two creeks at the Spanaway Marsh, and destroying living trees without a permit, the Pierce County Planning Department sent a Violation Notice to Tacoma Rescue Mission. […]
by Kirk Kirkland and Claudia Finseth Rural Bonus Density designation is removed from the PC Comprehensive Plan by Kirk Kirkland and Claudia Finseth The original Pierce County Comprehensive Plan carefully zoned rural areas so they would stay low density. This was both to keep rural character intact and to help consolidate county resources. But Because […]
By Kirk Kirkland Burley Lagoon, WA — The Pierce County Hearing Examiner finally delivered their 150-page decision granting a permit to Taylor Shellfish for the largest industrial geoduck farm in Pierce County. The Friends of Burley Lagoon was one of three organizations that appealed the Environmental Impact Statement. They requested the permits be denied. The […]
In five days, delegations from around the world will convene in Baku, Azerbaijan for the annual United Nations climate summit, called COP29. The Biden administration is widely expected to try to assure the rest of the world that states and local governments in the United States will continue the work of slashing emissions if the […]
In November, several major shoreline issues moved forward in dramatic ways: Washington Department of Natural Resources will prohibit most net fish pens in the state. A federal judge set a schedule to review the latest request to revoke another group of Army Corps of Engineers permits issued without a NWP 48 permit or without environmental […]
On November 4, the Pierce County Council’s committee on Community Development & Environment reviewed 14 amendments that would have created a fundamental shift in the protection of rural areas by allowing a Bonus Density for new housing construction. Twenty-eight people attended on Zoom or in the room. The speakers debated the bonus density on whether […]
Some goals require a lifetime to achieve. Al Schmauder has worked for over 20 years to raise money for the removal of this dam that stops Chinook salmon from migrating upstream. After the funds were appropriated by Congress, it was the local public works department that gave the dam a low priority. The design for […]
On October 4, 2024, Pierce County Planning staff made an inspection of Wasmund Road near Spanaway and Audubon Creeks. They were investigating a complaint about digging and excavation without a permit. They found that installation of two culverts in the road and extensive gravel added to the road and on JBLM property. The Tacoma Rescue […]
When the planning for the Environmental Conference began it seemed risky to think people would give up a sunny Saturday morning to talk about zoning. Those who showed up learned how to change legislation, and they learned how much it costs to sue county government when the county planning department fumbles a permit decision like […]
The Low Income Housing Institute in cooperation with the city of Lakewood now has $20.2 million funding to buy the Candlewood Suites in Lakewood. It will be converted into a shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Pierce County. The shelter will have 77 suites for about 85 people including couples, singles, and those with pets. […]
Rosie Ayala is running for Pierce County Council in District 4, the seat that will soon be vacated by Ryan Mello at the end of his second and final term. Her council seat is essential to keep the County Council Blue. She won over 66% of the vote in the August 6 primary election. When […]
Jani Hitchen has Strategy to Win in November Pierce County Councilmember Jani Hitchen faces a tough campaign as the Republican candidate received 47% of the vote, Democrat Danny Hankins received 12%, and Jani Hitchen received 42%. In a conversation with Hitchen last week, she has analyzed the vote and has a strategic plan to win […]
