Slate of Washington DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
P.O. Box 43200 Olympia, Washington 98504-3200
Phone: (360) 902-2200
www.wdfw.wa gov


Quinault Indian Nation
P.O. Box 189 Taholah, WA 98587
Phone: (360) 276-8211
www.quinaultindiannationcom




This is the joint letter on from WDFW & QIN for the Wynoochee Mitigation plan to Tacoma Power.

July 12, 2019



Mr. Keith Underwood Natural Resources Manager Tacoma Power
3628 South 35th Street Tacoma, WA 98409-3192

Dear Mr. Underwood:

In 1991, the Washington Departments of Fisheries and Wildlife (now merged into the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife), the Quinault Indian Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis, and the cities of Aberdeen and Tacoma signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) regarding fisheries mitigation and enhancement to address certain impacts resulting from the Wynoochee Dam. In the MOA, the cities agreed to create a fund for a hatchery to mitigate for continuing impacts to downstream migrants. The MOA parties' original plan was to build and operate a hatchery and acclimation facility downstream from the dam. The plan for the hatchery was terminated in 1993, when the United States Forest Service declined to issue a land use permit for the facility. Subsequently, the cities created a trust fund, and City of Tacoma (Tacoma Power), who had acquired Aberdeen's interest, has since held the fund. The fund is called the Wynoochee Dam Salmon and Steelhead Trust Fund (Trust Fund).

This joint letter of the Quinault Indian Nation and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (Co-Managers) proposes a plan to use the Trust Fund. The Co-Managers have agreed to the attached plan (Plan) for expenditure of Trust funds. The Plan proposes to fund needed upgrades, equipment, supplies, and staff in existing facilities to produce the entire mitigation expected in the remaining years.

Further, the Co-Managers, upon joint signature, request that Tacoma Power take actions to join or approve the Plan, and take necessary actions to fund it by use of the Trust Fund, including such actions as may be necessary to inform or obtain the approval of any other necessary entity, including, but not limited to, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Keith Underwood July 12,2019
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Quinault Indian Nation and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife believe the Plan will bring resolution to the longstanding need to use the Trust Fund to address impacts of Wynoochee Dam. Further, these two parties are optimistic and hopeful Tacoma Power will join in the Plan and help bring it to implementation.

Sincerely,



Date
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Dazed and confused.............the fog is closing in