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Resident urges city, county and tribes to act to restore year-round flow in Bell Creek
Summary
John Worthington told the Sequim Planning Commission that irrigation maps show opportunities to maintain year-round flow in Bell Creek, and he proposed blocking the Johnson Creek outlet of Smith Lake and coordinating with county and tribal governments to support coho, chinook and chum spawning.
John Worthington addressed the Sequim Planning Commission during public comment on May 5, urging coordinated action to restore year-round flows in Bell Creek to improve salmon spawning habitat.
"With just a minimal amount of investment, we could have a year-round Bell Creek flow and give silvers and kings a fighting chance," Worthington said, referencing irrigation-mapping evidence. He argued Johnson Creek’s steep (about 20 percent) grade makes it a poor spawning channel for coho, chinook and chum and proposed blocking the Johnson Creek end of Smith Lake to divert water into Bell Creek while upgrading the East Highland irrigation ditch as a trade-off.
Worthington said he had emailed commissioners supporting his recommendations and indicated he would continue to press the issue. Commissioners thanked him for the comment; no formal action, staff assignment or staff report was recorded during the meeting.
