Futrure of Humboldt Bay

By Mike Wilson, P.E.

Article for the Arcata Eye

I was raised in Humboldt County and I am raising my family here. I am a Professional Civil Engineer, a board member of Friends of the Dunes, and a Friends of the Arcata Marsh docent. I hold a master of science degree in Environmental Systems Engineering from Humboldt State University based on my work at the Arcata Marsh. I have over fifteen years of experience consulting in the fields of environmental engineering, water resources, and land use planning. My love of Humboldt Bay has come from my recreational experience as a fisherman and through my work on such projects as the Indian Island Restoration Project and the Ma-l'el Dunes Access Plan.

I am running for office because I believe it is time for new ideas and real 3rd Division perspectives on the Commission. A dialogue needs to begin that will include a new voice with a fresh perspective on how we view and use the bay. We need to begin to think of the Commission as the "Bay District" instead of the "Harbor District".

Humboldt Bay Management Plan Recently the District completed the Humboldt Bay Management Plan. It is considered a "living document," and as time moves forward more changes will be made so that it remains relevant to changing conditions. Some examples of Management Plan policies I will seek to update are:

· The Management plan does not recognize the indigenous interest of the Wiyot Tribe, nor is there a policy that protects native cultural resources around the bay. I will seek to update the plan so it recognizes the Wiyot people as important stakeholders. · Startlingly, there is no policy that directly addresses the issue of dioxin in the bay in the Plan. In fact the word isn't in the entire document. We need to take a comprehensive look at this issue and take action if necessary. · Currently the Plan takes a "neutral" stance on billboards in our tidelands. Billboards are an inappropriate use of our tidelands, and I will support a policy that promotes their removal.

Fisheries Restoration Diminishing stock and the resulting regulations have taken their toll on our fisheries industry. The industry needs the infrastructure and services of the district to survive, and that will continue. I believe the district can directly help our fishermen by actively supporting fisheries restoration and appropriate land use in the bay and our surrounding watershed.

Right now our system of tide gates (the structures that keep high tides from flooding the bottom lands) make many of our estuaries and watersheds inaccessible to our fish that need them for survival. I will actively support restoration activities that seek to reconnect our fish to these vital habitats.

Trails The community has expressed so much enthusiasm for a Bay Trail system, yet the Bay Commission has done virtually nothing to support the idea. As part of the commission's recreational and public access mandate, it should promote a bay trail system and needs to actively work with other agencies to move this forward.

In the Arcata Bay area two opportunities exist for trails: From the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary to Manila and between Arcata and Eureka. These could become key segments of pedestrian and bike paths extending all the way to the Wildlife Refuge in the South Bay and would be an important (and now missing) stretch of the California Coastal Trail Project. Not only is this project fundable, feasible, and popular, it would be a destination for locals and tourists alike and a major asset to our community's health and well-being.

"What does the railroad have to do with the bay?" The rail corridor rings the bay from Fields Landing to Fairhaven. Most of the original industrial bay development was based on this infrastructure, and there are some that believe that future harbor development is inextricably linked to the rail. However, since the storms of 1997, we haven't seen any movement on the tracks. Lately, there has been a lot of discussion regarding the possible return of the rail.

We all understand the many values a railroad could bring. Unfortunately it seems that there are two separate conversations taking place on this topic. The conversation our policymakers are having assumes that rail is an inevitable and integral part of our near-term transportation infrastructure, while the rest of the community is raising concerns about the instability of the geology in the Eel River Canyon, the lack of government finances, and other issues that may prevent the train from returning to Humboldt County.

In light of what we know, our policy makers must now openly and honestly discuss these issues so we can realistically move forward. Do we continue down a bay development path that assumes that the railroad will return soon, stifling any opportunities that might conflict with this concept? Or do we seek other options and prospects?

Aquaculture It is important that we continue to build on the environmental advances our mariculture industry has made in the past decade. Humboldt Bay produces a bounty of seafood and I believe there are many great opportunities to increase production and diversity of these products in ways that protect our environment.

Harbor Vitalization The challenges to industrial port development are many and great. Our geography, geology, global economics, environmental regulations, local politics, and fierce competition in the shipping industry make any port related development difficult. I believe that some port use is still essential to our economy, however it is time to stop "planning through the rear view mirror" and begin to think beyond the 20th century vision we have of the bay and how we use it. We need to develop a new vision of bay that recognizes the connection between our business and environmental interests to create sustainable jobs for our future that allow us to retain local control of our water resources and air quality.

New Vision As your commissioner I will be unencumbered by the District's past politics and policies and I am willing to discuss these and other new ideas that can move our county forward. With your vote we can begin to create a new vision, with fresh ideas and a renewed commitment to make Humboldt Bay a recreational, economic, and ecological treasure for present and future generations to enjoy.