Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
District wants to replace more than 25% of willow trees
COLFAX — Whitman County's critical areas ordinance is preventing the replacement of trees to discourage beavers from building dams that cause flooding in Ewan.
The Ewan beavers matter came before county commissioners again on June 28, as Manager of the Rock Lake Conservation District Andrew Wolfe made a quick case that the county legal argument was wrong.
He previously addressed county commissioners in May to talk about the recent increase in flooding of Kamiak Creek, which goes directly through Ewan.
He explained that a 1,200-foot long grove of willow trees attracts beavers, which gnaw and cut trees and branches to build dams that build sediment in the creek and slow water, leading to rising levels. He called it them an "obvious flooding threat."
What is preventing action is the county's critical areas ordinance.
The conservation district sought permits to remove trees and replace them with other native trees, which beavers are not interested in.
"Effectively, as it stands now, the county position is saying we are obligated to the critical areas ordinance," Wolfe said today.
He talked about "possible paths forward" and noted that he is gathering signatures for a petition, asserting that the county's position is incorrect.
"The state statute ought to trump the county ordinance," he said.
He reported that the trees in question are not reaping benefits, and rotting from inside.
Commissioner Michael Largent asked if Wolfe had talked to county planner Alan Thomson.
Wolfe replied that he had.
"The suggested compromise is not sufficient to mitigate the problem," said Wolfe, noting that the removal of 25% of the trees is not enough.
Thomson, Wolfe, and representatives from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and Department of Ecology met on-site in Ewan last year.
Commissioner Art Swannack said today that the county's position, as designated by Thomson and Prosecutor Denis Tracy, is that the state statute for conservation districts does not usurp the county ordinance.
"We're not going to do anything that violates state law at the county level," said Swannack.
He asked if Wolfe had talked to Mark Storey, Whitman County Public Works director.
"Mark and I did not speak," Wolfe said.
"That's a little disappointing," Swannack said.
"The ball's in his court," Thomson said later.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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