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It is difficult to urge a reward steady nature of life. As we enter austere economic times and increased pressures, opportunities for families to enjoy parks and open-air recreational supplies become even more very valuable.

Unfortunately, the quality of life for thousands of families was not taken into consideration then the Cascade Water Alliance in Bellevue negotiated a closed-door deal with the Puyallup and Muckleshoot tribes over the future of Lake Tapps in North Pierce County.

Lake Tapps is the third-busiest lake during the term of recreational use in the state, with two public parks and eight private parks along the shoreline. One of the parks at Lake Tapps gets 150,000 to 250,000 visits each year. The lake is furthermore central to a exceedingly valued and delicate ecosystem, providing habitat for eagles, ospreys, pileated woodpeckers, several types of fish and other wildlife, and significant wetlands.

All of these things were ignored when an entire region and its communities were enclose fully from the negotiations.

Fair and equitable negotiations put on how to manage our water resources need to include totally of the stakeholders. That was the case when the Lake Tapps Reservoir Management Agreement was signed by Puget Sound Energy, the Pierce County executive and members of the Lake Tapps community in 2004. All the stakeholders were invited to take a part in in the negotiations, including the tribes and Cascade Water Alliance. This agreement has been very successful and has led to a growing lake, bracing habitat, reliable water for several cities and each increase in salmon.

We have not been given any reasonable explanation for why the new owners of Lake Tapps

With tremendous bipartisan leadership from state Rep. Christopher Hurst, D-Enumclaw, and Pierce County Councilman Shawn Bunney, we obtain taken our case to the Washington State Department of Ecology, the agency responsible for approving shed water rights in our state. Hundreds of individuals have written to the branch and the governor asking them to protect Lake Tapps and take a balanced approach to managing all of the region’s shed shed water needs. The department is required by edict to consider public interest when issuing a water right.

The state agency has already proposed standards for a water right that would require compromises from all parties involved. It is not perfect but it’s a balanced beginning.

Sound science and attentive assessment of the facts should be the deciding factors in how this water right gets issued, not a closed-door deal driven by politics, paybacks and special interests.

We give credit to it is possible to have a water fit that protects all interests involved and a lake that is a regional collect and reposit and precious natural resource for our civil community and communities.

Those of us in Pierce County have an air zealous to working with Cascade Water Alliance to maintain a healthy lake, ecosystem and water supply, but there is a lot more that needs to be resolved before anyone celebrates a water deal transacted behind closed doors.


Original text: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008113298_tappsoped14.html?syndication=rss