Natural / Environmental Resources

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Department Contact:

Bill Sullivan

Department Director

Char Naylor

Water Program Mgr.

Elsie Wescott

Water Quality Tech.

Mary Brown

Water Quality Tech.

Mary Basballe

Air Quality Manager

Barbara Moeller

Hunting & Wildlife Biologist

Phone:

(253) 573-7850

Fax: (253) 573-7928

Mailing Address:

3009 E. Portland Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98404

Mission

To protect, enhance, manage and restore the Natural Resources of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. Key department entities include Water Quality, Air Quality, Wildlife, Fisheries, GIS and Environmental. This department continues to build relationships and establishes cooperation with local, state and federal jurisdictions to protect human health and the environment of Tribal members.

Accomplishments

  • Continued oversight of Superfund cleanup of Commencement Bay.
  • Negotiation/settlement of Natural Resources Damage claims against responsible parties. To date, the NRDA Trustees have settled claims against the City of Tacoma, Department of Natural Resources, Port of Tacoma and Simpson Tacoma Kraft Company. The Hylebos Waterway Mediation group. Ongoing negotiations with both the Thea Foss and Middle waterway responsible parties.
  • Implementation of Environmental codes, standards and ordinances including Tribal Air Quality Regulations, Water Quality Standards, Clean Water Act 401 Certification and Hazardous Substance Control Act.
  • Continued collection of Water Quality data; review of NPDES discharge permits, and participation in TMDL’s for Puyallup River, White River, Clarks Creek and South Prairie Creek, Reissuance of NPDES permits to the cities of Tacoma and Puyallup for discharges to the Puyallup River. Issuance of 401 water quality certifications for permits and projects that discharge to the Puyallup River.
  • SEPA, NEPA permit review–water quality, quantity issues.
  • Ongoing Litigation/Settlement with Puget Sound Energy, Cascade Water Alliance regarding a water right to remove 100-150 cfs from Lake Tapps to sell water to east Seattle area.
  • Finalized Air Quality Assessment of Puyallup Reservation Lands, Permitting for outdoor burning, Reviews of Air Quality Codes, Wood stove replacement program.
  • Work with local jurisdictions review of development permits. Protection of Natural Resources.
  • Implemented Settlement Agreement goals and objectives.
  • Coordinated Endangered Species recovery/restoration projects for re-building off channel habitat projects.
  • Permit/Environmental review of proposed Tribal projects on Trust lands.
  • Environmental oversight/compliance with Tribal codes and ordinances goals for 2008.

Goals

  • Finalize Tri-annual review of Tribal Water Quality Standards.
  • Public notice and meeting on revision of standards.
  • Finalize Water Right to Puget Sound Energy/Cascade Water Alliance with associated habitat mitigation and longterm program funding and oversight.
  • Negotiate Natural Resource Damage claims with the remaining Hylebos Waterway responsible parties. Negotiate NRDA claims with Thea Foss and Middle Waterway responsible parties.
  • Implement salmon habitat restoration projects on the Lower Puyallup River-Frank Albert Road.
  • Tribal permits for developments of Casino and Port properties.
  • Continued communication/coordination with local, state and federal agencies.
  • Inspection of Tribal properties/settlement properties/mitigation sites.
  • Continued water quality sampling, monitoring and data analysis to determine compliance with Tribal Water Quality Standards to protect human health and the environment.
  • Continue Watershed analysis for habitat enhancement/restoration opportunities.
  • Develop information/Strategy to evaluate Tribe’s Water Rights.
  • Work with Marine View Ventures to permit construction of the SSA marine terminal on the Blair and Blair backup properties

Wildlife Program

Mission

It is the mission of the Wildlife Department to promote and enhance hunting opportunities for the Puyallup Tribe, especially within the ceded area, and to provide management information for policy decisions.

2007 Accomplishments

  • Composed and submitted two grant proposals with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. These grant funds are available to Tribes on a competitive basis.
  • BIA Grant was awarded in full to fund completion of a population model (sightability model) being developed by the Tribal wildlife program to better estimate elk abundance. Total grant award $25,000.
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tribal Wildlife Grant was awarded in the full amount of $244,343. This funding will cover Tribal wildlife program costs to continue elk research, management activities and provide funding for land acquisition for elk critical habitat.
  • Completed the first two phases of the elk sightability model development.
  • Completed a successful elk capture project funded by previous USFWS
  • TWG funds awarded the Tribe in 2003 to radio collar elk to continue elk management and research activities.
  • Collected data on radio collared elk, which included useful information on annual survival rates, migration routes and timing of migration, home range and habitat use.
  • Surveyed and analyzed critical winter range of South Rainier elk herd. Sought to protect and conserve critical habitat areas.
  • Conducted annual elk population surveys for the South Rainier elk herd.
  • Developed a wildlife harvest database. All available harvest data from previous years has been entered into the database.
  • Completed map project for 2005-2006 hunting season, which included detailed information of hunting area with ceded land boundary, contours, drainages and GMU boundaries.
  • Held raffle as financial incentive program to increase return rate of hunting tags.