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Friends of Burley Lagoon

HEARING EXAMINER DECISION MADE!

Friends of Burley Lagoon has news at last on the Taylor Shellfish Burley Lagoon Geoduck Project – and it’s not great - but it was not a surprise and is just a step in the on-going process. The Pierce County Hearing Examiner released her decision on the Final Environmental Impact Statement from Pierce County and the Shoreline Substantial Development and Conditional Use Permits, concluding that the EIS is adequate and approving the permits.

The good news is - there are facets of the 150-page decision that are being reviewed by our attorney and will almost certainly be appealed. Moving forward to the state level, our attorney is already preparing for the State Shorelines Hearings Board. For now, we wait for the Department of Ecology to accept or reject the Hearing Examiner’s decision. From there the clock starts ticking on a formal appeal.

This is where financial support becomes especially important. Please consider contributing to our cause. An anonymous donor has agreed to match up to $10,000. Let’s get the ball rolling – or in this case - the fish swimming! Donate to Double the Difference!

All gifts, up to $10,000 will be matched by generous donors until 11:59 PM on December 31, 2024, or until the match total is met. Gifts received after the match amount has been met will not be matched but will be used where needed most.

Friends of Burley Lagoon now has an easy method through PayPal below. Remember as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization your donations are tax-deductible.
• See the Gig Harbor Now article about the ruling here.

Thank you for your support in this fight!

Community members are standing up against a powerful industry, and the decisions made today will impact future generations and the health of Puget Sound.

We’re counting on funding to make this ﬁght possible. Donations can be made through this website on our donation page:

Donate With PayPal

Or checks may be sent to:
Friends of Burley Lagoon
PO Box 363
Burley, WA 98322-0363.
FOBL is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

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Predator exclusion nets covering previous natural habitat in Burley Lagoon

WHAT ARE WE WILLING TO SACRIFICE?

Are Puget Sound tidelands and estuaries being exploited by industrial aquaculture? Fragile estuaries such as Burley Lagoon depend on the stewardship of all people.

Friends of Burley Lagoon is troubled by the loss of natural habitat and feeding grounds for aquatic animals, plants, and waterfowl that call Burley Lagoon and Puget Sound home.

Currently, the Burley Estuary has large areas of the tideland covered in plastic nets to protect industrial oyster and clam beds from aquatic animals and birds considered pests by the industry.

These tidelands have been altered by the nets, and marine animals can be trapped under the nets and die. To boost the yield of clams and oysters, the industry can also remove species considered pests or predators including:

bamboo worms, barnacles, burrowing shrimp, cockles, crabs, flatworms, horse clams, moon snails, oyster drills, sand dollars, starfish, perch, seagulls, crows, ravens, waterfowl, flatfish, sculpins, raccoon, river otter, mussels, algae, grasses, Japanese eelgrass, slipper shells, and tunicates.

Now the industry is proposing the installation of a 25 acre geoduck site in the Burley Lagoon. If Pierce County approves the permit, cumulative impacts of industrial aquaculture practices could threaten the Burley estuary’s ecosystem and continue to interfere with the natural food web of Puget Sound.

Friends of Burley Lagoon is a group of citizen advocates monitoring the expansion and impacts of industrial aquaculture. We seek to provide information to the public and champion ecological balance and biodiversity in Burley Lagoon and Puget Sound. Friends of Burley Lagoon is committed to protecting Puget Sound tidelands and the Burley estuary. They are Washington treasures, not to be sacrificed.

Get involved! Join us! Raise your voice for Puget Sound and Burley Lagoon!
Contact your local, state, and national representatives.
Help us protect our Puget Sound tidelands.

We welcome your contribution. Friends of Burley Lagoon is a nonprofit 501(c)(3).

Donate With PayPal

You may also mail your contribution to:
Friends of Burley Lagoon
P O Box 363
Burley WA ,98322

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