Streamkeepers:  Watching over the Watershed

by Sue Forde

Streamkeepers of Clallam County is a "group of enthusiastic volunteers dedicated to the collection of scientifically credible data for use by resource managers and policy makers," according to a Clallam County Department of Community Development (DCD) report.  According to a brochure from DCD, Streamkeepers is a "citizen-based watershed monitoring program of Clallam County's Department of Community Development" providing "volunteer opportunities and project assistance in the effort to protect and restore salmon habitat."

The program is also "a service provider for salmon recovery project proponents and watershed planning groups who need monitoring assistance on local streams. 

Streamkeepers provides all training, equipment and coordination of teams.  "No prior experience is necessary", says the brochure.

Streamkeepers monitor biological health, physical health and chemical health of streams, creeks and rivers.  The areas of monitoring include microbiology, conductivity, turbidity, nitrates, and much more.  Without an education in the sciences, one might wonder how these "volunteers" can accomplish such complicated tasks.

Ed Chadd and Jessica Baccus are the people at DCD in charge of the program.

Streamkeepers is a concept of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - well-known for its use of "bunk science."  Examples include the banning of insecticide DDT even though overwhelming evidence at federal hearings showed there is no evidence that DDT poses a threat to humans or the environment.  In fact, the public health establishment said use of the chemical was necessary to save some of the 2 million people a year who die from malaria. (Fox News report 1/5/01)

The EPA established an "Adopt your Watershed" program, of which Streamkeepers is one of many organizations established.  There is an underlying philosophy in the organizations surrounding the EPA that has an anti-people agenda (Fox News report 1/5/01).  The program also moves toward the establishment of "common property" rather than "private property."  In Streamkeepers News, published by The Adopt-A-Stream Foundation, Streamkeepers are charged with the responsibility over the "adopted" stream.  "You and your group will watch over the stream, monitor the health of the stream and surrounding watershed, and adjust your action plan according to your stream's changing needs." (1/15/01 edition).  Streamkeepers are taking the position of the property owners here, who historically have had control over the use of their land and any water that runs over their land.  The Streamkeepers, however, do not pay the taxes on the land and water they are "watching over."  Streamkeepers are also charged with "lobbying for changes in land-use laws to afford more protection to streams and wetlands." 

The Streamkeeper program uses public schools to promote the agenda.  The Outdoor Classroom Project teaches "guides decision-making and team building, and teaches stewardship skills that benefit the immediate environment.  As a result, they gain an understanding of the..."non-living components that form both t he natural and human created community."  The Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) supports the activities of Streamkeepers in the schools.