Recently, the Cowlitz Nation and Clark County Public Works have proposed and begun actively planning a restoration project for the portion of Salmon Creek running through the Gordy Jolma Natural Area, aimed at creating a more viable salmon habitat. The current restoration plans, however, call for the filling of the ponds located on the eastern side of the Gordy Jolma Family Natural Area abutting the southern boundary of the Cedars Landing Housing Community. This is intended to prevent the warmer pond water from flowing into Salmon Creek.

Several portions of these ponds are owned by the Cedars Landing Community, and hence, is the principal reason the restoration project cannot completely fill them in at their own discretion.

With this understanding one rationale is the county could just fill in their portions of the ponds while leaving the portions owned by the community alone if the community doesn’t condone filling their portions. This, however, is not a viable option as the only water those portions could then retain would be from rainfall.  

We, the undersigned, strongly oppose the proposed filling of all portions of these ponds, believing they are an essential resource not just for the abundant wildlife that depend on them, but also for the local community utilizing them for recreation.

We urge the authorities to generate alternative solutions that specifically preserve and restore the ponds to a more beneficial standing and make them a part of the proposed restoration effort; rather than removing them from the proposal altogether, then present those plans to the community for consideration. This approach would be much more in keeping with: ‘actual’ Public Involvement, as is publicly outlined on resources such as the Clark County Public Works website concerning the Project.