Comments on: Lake Wenatchee Fish Pens

By: roger vandivort

roger vandivort — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 06:39:42 +0000

In addition, our family has been drawing water out of the lake without filtration or treatment since 1973.

By: roger vandivort

roger vandivort — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 06:12:29 +0000

I don`t like being a contrarian on this issue, but after coming up here since 1948(You can eliminate the earlier years since I was, uhh, very young)it hasn`t changed much. I have always seen the plant growth. I think the current discussion on this blog is much overdone. The scientific facts were presented a year or two ago on George`s previous site when a biologist was asked to analyze. She said that the “slime” is common on ancient lakes. It is a part of the normal ecosystem. This is an ancient lake.The number of fish that are raised in the pen probably are not in any way close to what were here originally. I used to see salmon spawning off our dock–no more. Thus the reason for the pens! Thanks for the opportunity to comment, Roger

By: gegibbons

gegibbons — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:16:10 +0000

Dear Ms. McNiel,
I am a Wenatchee cabin owner on Lk. Wenatchee and have been on the lake since 1977. The Lake Wenatchee people have been justifiably concerned by the hatchery proposals by Grant PUD to satisfy their relicensing requirements regardless of whether it makes sense, will add any fish to the rivers or negatively affect water quality in Lake Wenatchee. I am on the Grant PUD mailing list and received no notice of any public meeting regarding the presentation. I was not aware that our County Planning office had any say over water issues such as this. The fact that there was no one from Lake Wenatchee at the meeting indicates that none were informed. We have been told their were no records of lake water quality but note that Grant Co. will adhere to the same sampling studies of the Chelan PUD. We all bought into and are paying for the sewer system at Lake Wenatchee because we were told our septic systems were fouling the water and it seemed like (and still does) a good investment to preserve that water quality. The fish feeding and fish feces we think are contributing to the increased algae growth in the lake. Where the 45# of phosphorus Mr. Langshaw says is going into the lake daily is coming from I have no idea. Unless it is the current net pens. Obviously, these are questions that would have been asked had anyone from the lake known about the meeting. I would ask you to check the Lake Wenatchee web site (below) to gauge the response of the Lake Wenatchee/Plain/Kahler Glen etc. community.

Gerald Gibbons, MD
http://www.lakewenatcheeinfo.com

By: Ron Large

Ron Large — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 18:16:08 +0000

Good Morning All-

Thanks George for catching this article in Wenatchee World and sharing your letter to the Commissioners about the decision that was made without any input from any of us. I will be replying directly to all the PUD and County Commissioners voicing my grave concern for the actions they took this week. I am in a state of shock that they would have made this decision so casually, without notice, and without the input of the other impacted Chelan County Departments.

I can not think of any issue that impacts home owners more than the quality of water at Lake Wenatchee. Water quality directly affects our health, our use of the lake for recreational purposes, the value of our properties, and the joy we all have spending time there. Also, the LW area is a gem for others in the state to enjoy via the state campground. If the quality of the lake continues to deteriorate through actions like this, we have much to lose.

It is essential that we get the Commissioners attention and engagement on this important issue. I would echo George’s suggestion that we all contact our Commissioners. I would hope that this would lead to actions like opening up what existing information is known about the water quality (seems info flows only when beneficial to the petitioning parties), strengthened water testing, and re-opening this decision.

I think it is also important to have a Plan B if the “front door” doesn’t work. If we do need a Plan B, some thoughts that come to mind are a voluntary Legal Defense Fund to pursue legal remedies, attracting other public interest groups to aid us in our concerns over clean water, and/or a very public demonstration with full media coverage. We need to be aggressive about protecting that which is dear to us. Recovery from inaction is a much harder route to go.

Thanks,
Ron Large
North Shore Home Owner

By: gary schuster

gary schuster — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 16:55:03 +0000

Randy Smith
Chelan County Commissioner

Dear Mr Smith,

As a resident on the North Shore of Lake Wenatchee I was encouraged to hear that there were steps to be taken to to monitor the deteriorating water quality on the lake. However I was equally discouraged to hear that a meeting was held with apparently no solicitation for input by the lake’s residents concerning Grant County PUD’s use of Chelan PUD’s fish pens on Lake Wenatchee.

A recent article in the Wenatchee World stated that no one spoke against the PUD use of these pens at the above mentioned meeting, creating the impression that there is no opposition. However I and many of my neighbors feel that until the source of the deteriorating water quality on the lake is identified the fish pens are suspected of contributing to this deterioration and deserve to be subjected to a thorough study.

The residents of Lake Wenatchee out of the concern for the water quality connected to a sewer system. Since then, and in spite of this, the quality of the water has deteriorated to the point that I am unable to keep my balance on the rocky bottom due to a slimy growth. This is not the pristine condition of the lake that drew me here.

I recommend that the fish pen project be put on hold until the residents concerns are addressed with hard data resulting from verifiable measurements of water quality.

Sincerely,

Gary Schuster
Lake Wenatchee