Citizen Review = Online

A commentary on the Washington State's Department of Ecology -Using=20 Taxpayer's Money to Propagandize?

by Norm MacLeod

I=E2=80=99m wondering something here . . .

Seasonal high tides happen, seasonal high tides happen during El = Ni=C3=B1o events,=20 and seasonal high tides can happen on windy days.

None of these events are connected to sea level rise resulting from = climate=20 change. That being the case, how can the Department of Ecology = ethically=20 proclaim these events as previews of the consequences of climate = change?

So far as I=E2=80=99m concerned, this only serves to further impair = the credibility=20 of the Department of Ecology.

Now, there are some concerns I have arising from this . . .

First, the Department of Ecology is encouraging the public to go out = and take=20 photos of this natural occurrence so that the agency can presumably use = them in=20 climate change alarmism advocacy (propaganda?).

Second, they are doing this in the face of growing evidence that the = entire=20 AGW climate change shambolla is collapsing around their ears.

Third, they are doing this on taxpayer-funded time, using = taxpayer-funded=20 resources.

To top that off, just in case it needed topping off, Jefferson County = employees are amplifying the message using still more taxpayer-funded = time and=20 resources . . . but that=E2=80=99s something we=E2=80=99ll have to take = up locally.

What a spectacle this is all turning into!

Messages from WA State Dept. of Ecology follow:

From: Michelle McConnell [mailto:mmcconnell@co.jefferson.wa.us]
Sent:= Thursday,=20 January 28, 2010 5:00 PM
To: Michelle=20 McConnell
Subject: SMP: Upcoming Winter High = Tides: A=20 Preview of Future Sea Level Rise

Greetings All,

Keep an eye out early next week for the high tides expected to = occur. =20 Take photos and send them to state researchers =E2=80=93 and to us here = at DCD =E2=80=93 if you=20 like!

See the WA Dept. of Ecology notice pasted below =E2=80=93 lots of web = links and=20 amazing photos. This is a good reminder that our shorelines are = dynamic=20 natural systems affected by human activities.

Best wishes to our waterfront property owners =E2=80=93 hope they = fare well through=20 this event.

Stay safe & dry,

Michelle

PS: Wondering if/how the new SMP might address climate change = and sea=20 level rise? Check out these provisions of the Locally Approved SMP:

=C2=B7 Programmat= ic goal at=20 Article 3.7.B.10 on page 3-5;

=C2=B7 General = regulation at=20 Article 6.6.A.2 on page 6-23;

=C2=B7 Standard = buffer of=20 150=E2=80=99 for new development/redevelopment =E2=80=93 Article 6.1.D.6 = ; and

=C2=B7 Vegetation= management=20 standards to help protect bank stability =E2=80=93 Article 6.4

No reply to this message is required. You have received = this=20 message as a member of the Jefferson County Shoreline Master Program = (SMP)=20 Interested Parties Email Distribution List. If you do not wish to = receive=20 further project notices, reply to this message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" as the = subject=20 and body text. Anyone who wants to be added to the list may send an = email with=20 "SUBSCRIBE" as the subject and body text. Please note: Recipient names = and email=20 addresses are not shown to keep that information private.

Michelle McConnell, Associate Planner - LRP Lead -=20 Jefferson County Department of Community=20 Development

All e-mail sent to this address will be received by the Jefferson = County=20 e-mail system and is subject to Public Disclosure under Chapter 42.56 = RCW and as=20 such may be viewed by parties other than the intended recipient.

From: "North, Teri (ECY)" <teno461@ECY.WA.GOV>
Date: January=20 28, 2010 2:56:19 PM PST
To: WA-CLIMATE-CHANGE@LISTSERV.WA.GOV
Subject:= Climate=20 Updates
Reply-To: "North, Teri (ECY)" = <teno461@ECY.WA.GOV>

Upcoming Winter High Tides: A Preview of Future Sea Level=20 Rise

Seasonal high tides occurring throughout the region early next week = will=20 provide a preview of what the state might expect to see on a more = regular basis=20 as a result of rising sea levels.

The region experienced seasonal high tides in early January. At = that=20 time, we asked you to take photos and send them in to us. We got = some=20 great shots and a few are represented here: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/ipa_hightide.htm.= =20 Thank you to all of you who responded!

Now we have another opportunity to document these seasonal high = tides. Those=20 of you who happen to photograph the high tide events February 1 - 3 are = invited=20 to submit your images to the Washington State Department of Ecology. We = are=20 interested in using these images to help document the coastal impacts = our state=20 is likely to face with increasing frequency as sea levels continue to = rise.

Images can be submitted via email to =E2=80=98ecologyoutreach@ecy.wa.gov=E2=80=99 = =E2=80=93 along with the date, time, and=20 detailed location information. Please provide contact information if = you'd like=20 us to send you a release form for future publication of your = photos. For=20 more information, visit the Washington Department of Ecology blog:

http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/2010/01/grab-your-waders-an= d-your-camera-and.html

Washington Department of Ecology Climate Change Web = site: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/

To unsubscribe to Ecology's Climate Change Update, point your browser = to http://listserv.wa.gov/archives/wa-climate-change.html or=20 send a "SIGNOFF WA-CLIMATE-CHANGE@LISTSERV.WA.GOV" command = to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.WA.GOV

Copyright=C2=A91993-2010 Citizen Review Online, = Sequim, WA 98382.

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any = copyrighted=20 work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or = payment for=20 non-profit research and educational purposes only. [Ref.=20 http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml]

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