Letter: Reject Lacamas Prairie as route line
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Bonneville Power Administration is in the process of determining its preferred route for their I-5 corridor reinforcement project through east Clark County. One of three routes is through the middle of the Lacamas Prairie floodplain. The floodplain is subject to flooding through much of the winter, which provides ideal habitat for thousands of waterfowl and subjects them to fatal collisions with the proposed lines.
Clark County has designated the Lacamas Prairie as priority species habitat. Due to endangered species and other wildlife values, the Washington Department of Natural Resources has designated it as a state natural area and the state’s highest priority for habitat protection. DNR, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, and the Columbia Land Trust have formed a partnership to protect this critical habitat through fee title acquisition. The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program has allocated $3.5 million to initiate this protection.
Following planned acquisitions, Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation would have the opportunity to extend the existing Lacamas Lake trail several miles to the north with great views of Mount Hood all the way to Fourth Plain Boulevard. This is not likely if there are 150-foot towers along the route.
Please urge BPA to eliminate the Lacamas Prairie as a viable option for their reinforcement project.
Carey Smith
Vancouver
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