Properties in danger of becoming worthless

To The Eagle:

Nelson Creek project is yet another debacle produced by Columbia Land Trust, without proper notification of affected land owners, entities affected and people responsible for the land in question. Pete Ringen fortunately is on the board and hopefully aware of consequences, as he has been dealing with the Columbia Land Trust, on the Kandoll Farm debacle.

Friday there was a ‘meeting’ to try to get some of the Kandoll farm problems fixed. Unfortunately it proved to more about the salmon, than the problems to the resident people, as proved by the nice salmon handout of fictitious fish counts, handed out by their wordy ‘Conservation Director’.

In attendance was our supporting Commissioner Blair Brady, and Commissioner Lisa Marsyla also in attendance, Commissioner Marsyla has difficulty understanding the problem, as stated in her own words. Pete Ringen was also there as his department is responsible for the County Rd., the Columbia Land Trust has destroyed and now need yearly major repairs. Commissioner Cothren has yet to come down to look at the project that I am aware of.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and U. S. Corps of Engineers were also in attendance plus the Grays River Habitat Enhancement District's three commissioners. Ian Sinks and the Conservation Director from Columbia Land Trust of course in attendance. Nineteen concerned citizens were also there to hear more talk and no more action. Columbia Land Trust made a nice show of bringing in a boat to give a tour of Seal Slough. I and several others in the know made sure it was known that you can only see the damage at low tide, the meeting was at almost high tide.

It has been proposed that partially blocking the culverts with rock may provide enough relief in the flow going through the Seal Slough, to alleviate the scouring. On that thought Ian Sinks immediately stated that they then would not remove the trees they promised, a very small job, and not the cause of erosion anyway. Through all this the Columbia Land Trust is still trying to claim that taking out a 42 inch tidegate and replacing it with two 13 foot culverts and flooding several hundred acres twice daily with such, is not affecting the slough?

Over the last four plus years I, alongside Commissioner Brady, the Grays River Habitat Enhancement District commissioners and many Grays River affected land owners, have been trying to right a wrong. I cannot count the meetings we have attended. I cannot count the promises of ‘something’ will be done; after the following study. We have been studied to death while their project is ruining our lives and properties.

Our property values have been downgraded to worthless due to extra flooding and degrading dikes. Who wants to buy my property with the dike failing? Guess who? The Columbia Land Trust it is into buying properties they downgrade as they now will go cheap. Our two county commissioners must stand up and be counted on by the county residents. It isn’t just here, any floodable properties are in danger of becoming worthless, unless we (meaning citizens and elected officials) stand up and stop this madness. Save the people, eat salmon!

Poul Toftemark,

Rosburg