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Methow
Valley News July 8, 1999 Publisher's Comment ~ by Lee Hicks Encouraging rapport These are surprising times for anyone who has watched the relationship between Okanogan County and the state Department of Ecology. Just last year, the county was in a tussle with DOE over signing a memorandum of agreement to create a new Methow Basin watershed plan. One session at county offices nearly broke down into a shouting match between county officials and a DOE manager. But the relationship now appears to be working in a spirit of collaboration. The county and Ecology’s regional managers are citing a "partnership" that they say is working effectively. The refrain was repeated a number of times at a recent session at Wenatchee’s Pangborn Field. There just might be something to this. What has prompted this new attitude since the county and DOE signed their August of 1998 agreement? Maybe the most important factor is action of the National Marine Fisheries Service that has brought into sharp focus the Methow Valley’s--and the rest of the county’s--vulnerability to water issues. And the Endangered Species Act responsibilities of both the county and state. NMFS has put pressure on DOE to take the lead in water issues, to the exclusion of the county. Ecology, though, has thus far argued that the county must be "at the table." And the county wants to be included, to maintain a local voice in fish and water issues. Of course, not every encounter between the county and DOE is in perfect harmony. Ecology is a big agency with many employees, and there are other issues not directly related to the watershed plan. The county and Ecology don’t agree on everything. Nevertheless, this apparent rapport and communication is very encouraging. Opinion | Sports |
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