Pursuing alternatives to wetland destruction

State and federal wildlife agencies often comment on Section 404 wetland fill permit applications. By calling these agencies when you receive a public notice, you can raise their awareness of fish and wildlife impacts associated with the project and gather information to strengthen your comments.

In January 2000, the Tualatin Riverkeepers and the Friends of Rock, Bronson and Willow Creeks consulted with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in the development of comments on a sewer line project along Dawson Creek and Rock Creek north of Hillsboro Oregon. The project threatened to run a sewer line down creek corridors for 2.7 miles with a total of 33 stream crossings and impacts to 16.3 acres of wetlands. The wildlife agencies raised concerns about destruction of habitat for sensitive species including cutthroat trout, pacific lamprey, red-legged frogs and western pond turtles.

The applicant preferred a gravity-fed system down the creek corridor that required no pumping. The wildlife agencies and the citizen groups argued that an alternative route outside the corridor was practicable, even though it required pump stations. Ultimately, the Corps of Engineers agreed and the permit was denied.

For more information, contact Brian Wegener with Tualatin Riverkeepers (bwegener@tualatinriverkeepers.org).