Golden eagle killed by Wash. wind turbines

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GOLDENDALE, Wash. -- A golden eagle was killed by a wind turbine blade at a southwest Washington wind farm, a state biologist says.

The Columbian newspaper in Vancouver, Wash., reported that it is the first known eagle fatality caused by a Washington wind project.

The 10-pound bird had a broken wing and two broken legs after the April 27 accident at Goodnoe Hills Wind Project southeast of Goldendale, said Travis Nelson, the state's lead biologist on wind power issues.

"This is certainly not the outcome that anyone who was involved in planning and permitting this operation would have wanted, especially the project owner," Nelson said. "We have convened a small review group internally to discuss how we can avoid this in the future."

Golden eagles are not listed as threatened or endangered, but federal law prohibits intentionally harming raptors.

Federal and state wildlife officials created new guidelines in April to reduce the effects on birds and wildlife from wind energy development. Environmental groups and utilities also worked on those guidelines.

They call for extensive surveys of proposed wind farms before they are permitted and a recommended 2-mile wide buffer around the nests of raptor species, including golden and bald eagles.

The dead golden eagle, a mature bird with a 6-foot wingspan, was found by a crew of URS Corp., a contractor for PacifiCorp., the Portland, Ore.-based utility that owns the Goodnoe Hills wind farm.

Wind project operators are required to document and report bird kills to state authorities. Nelson said the eagle's death was reported promptly in this case.

"We have a robust avian protection program and we proactively take steps to assure compliance with all regulations," PacifiCorp spokeswoman Jan Mitchell said.

Raptors are common in the eastern Columbia River Gorge, where shrub steppe and grasslands offer prime habitat for prey such as ground squirrels and pocket gophers.

The big birds typically soar at about the same height as the turbine blades - roughly 300 to 400 feet.

Although this is the first golden eagle death reported in Washington, raptors have been killed at wind projects elsewhere. At the world's largest wind project, Altamont Pass Wind Power Resource Area in California, between 570 and 835 raptors are killed each year by wind turbines, the newspaper said.

A study by Shawn Smallwood, an independent wildlife ecologist who has also studied bird deaths at Altamont, concluded that raptor deaths have been far higher than predicted at Klickitat's first wind project, the 200-megawatt Big Horn Wind Energy Project.

Smallwood estimates 243 raptors died in Big Horn's first year of operation, compared to a company consultant's projected annual toll of 33.

There are three wind projects operating in Klickitat County, five others under construction and three more proposed.

Two issues where our noise can make a difference. These are quick, easy issues to weigh-in on, and our collective voice will help.

1) On the state level: The state legislature is wrestling with the budget for the next biennium and two different proposals for the State Parks budget are on the table. The House proposal cuts the Parks budget by $40 million and, combined with other measures, could undermine infrastructure to the extent that the system could be set back many years, even if the economy (and the next budget) improves. The Senate proposal cuts Parks’ budget by $28 million but along with other measures (like a $5 ‘opt out’ fee added to license tab renewals), would make a huge difference in the health of our State Parks. Far fewer parks will be closed and the infrastructure of the system will not be torched. More information.

• What you can do: If you think State Parks are an important addition to life in Washington, call/email your state politicians. Tell them you favor the Senate proposal of a $28 million cut to Park’s budget, you support the ‘opt-out’ $5 fee to license tab renewals (this has been helpful in Montana), and that the opt-out fee should be made effective immediately. The fastest way to do this: Call the legislative hotline at 800-562-6000. A person will take your message, your address, and phone number and deliver that message to your representatives, senator, and the governor. The same can be done with one email. Here in the 12^th Legislative District, send that email to Armstrong.Mike@leg.wa.gov, Condotta.Cary@leg.wa.gov, Parlette.Linda@leg.wa.gov

 2) On the local level: An important public meeting (April 23) with the Douglas County Commissioners will impact the future status of Slack Canyon Road. This unpaved road runs through the southern half of Douglas Creek Canyon, has degraded badly, and is now used primarily by ATVs, dirt bikes, and 4-wheel-drive vehicles with very-high clearance. Normal pickups, SUVs, maintenance, and law-enforcement vehicles can’t get into the area and a beautiful area with a wealth of natural, biologic, geologic, and human history is getting damaged by irresponsible use. More information.

• What you can do. Douglas Creek has the potential of being a beautiful and fascinating addition to our natural and recreational resources. Attend the meeting on Thursday April 23, 7 p.m., at the Douglas Co. Lands and Transportation Building (bottom of 19th Street in East Wenatchee). Encourage the commissioners to either 1) improve the road so everyday users and authorities will displace the undesired use or 2) close and gate the road, stop terrain-damaging motorized use, and make this a non-motorized corridor.
• If you can’t attend the meeting, call 509-745-8537 to leave a message. Or send an email to all the commissioners via Commissioner Dale Snyder at: dsnyder@co.douglas.wa.us  

The 33 additional parks that will be closed under this plan include:  Jarrell Cove, Fields Spring, Federation Forest, Sacajawea, Rainbow Falls, Beacon Rock, Lewis and Clark, Alta Lake, Fort Columbia, Columbia Plateau Trail, Wallace Falls, Lake Easton, Yakima Sportsman Park, Maryhill, Illahee, Dash Point, Potlach, Twin Harbors, Ginko-Wanapum, Flaming Geyser, Peace Arch, Ocean City, Fort Ebey, Wenatchee Confluence, Lake Wenatchee, Fort Flagler, Mount Spokane, Millersylvania, Sun Lakes - Dry Falls, Larrabee, Fort Casey.

Some of these parks, Like Fort Casey, Larrabee and Sun Lakes, each receive over 650,000 visitors a year.  Other popular parks like Lake Wenatchee, Confluence State Park and Fort Flagler host anywhere from 317,000 to 447,000 guests each year.  Parks like Sacajawea, Fort Columbia and Lewis and Clark have historical significance while Dry Falls and Ginko State Parks offer unique displays of natural history.  The military fort parks (Flagler, Casey and Ebey) along Puget Sound are some of the most scenic parks in the state system and large parks like Lake Wenatchee and Mount Spokane also offer popular winter options.  The closure of these parks a huge blow to people looking for low cost recreation in a time when money is tight for families.  It will also adversely effect the economies of the towns and businesses close to these parks.  Places where park visitors spend money (gas stations, grocery stores, sporting goods retailers, guides and outfitters) will surely feel the loss of income.  It makes you wonder how much (if any) economic sense these cuts make to the greater state economy.

What can you do if you oppose these cuts?  We'll, you should first and foremost contact your local state representative or senator and make your feelings known.  You should also contact the governors office (Tel. 360-902-4111) and the State Parks Commission by e-mail at  pao@parks.wa.gov. If you choose to do this, do so quickly.  The legislative session is almost over and chances to address this issue are running shorter by the day.

The Washington Trails Association also weighs in on this topic - and on some potential solutions - on their web site (www.wta.org).   

Published on John Kruse’s blog – www.northwesternoutdoors.com – March 11, 2009

 I'm writing this letter to express my concerns about the declining pheasant hunting opportunities available in the heart of Central Washington.  As you are aware, a percentage of our small game license fees is dedicated towards Eastern Washington pheasant hunting opportunities, especially in the wake of recognized habitat loss which has led to lower populations of wild pheasant in Grant, Douglas and Chelan Counties (among other places).

 I am puzzled as to why pheasants are not planted the night before the general pheasant opener in Region 2.  With the general deer and duck openers taking place the week before, conflicts among user groups should not be an issue.  Likewise, the frustrating lack of birds in our Wildlife Areas for the opener makes for a depressing outing for what has to be a declining amount of hunters venturing afield for this event.

 To make matters worse, the area around Winchester Lake, which does have thick habitat and partnerships with a private owner whose Pheasant Forever Property is party of a Hunt By Written Partnership - is no longer stocked with pheasant at all.  This is a shame, since there is far better survival opportunities in the thick cover here than there is in places like the Swakane and Colockum Wildlife Areas.  I understand Duck/Pheasant Hunter conflicts were the impetus for this decision, but restricting the hours of pheasant hunting around Winchester Lake (say..from 8 AM to 4 PM) would be a win-win situation for both user groups and is in line with what other hunting areas have done in our State.

I hope that you will consider changes to the Pheasant Release Program in Region Two that would better benefit the sportsmen and women who recreate in Central Washington.

Thanks for your time,

 John Kruse