Our pristine Mineral Lake area is in severe peril. My name is Neil Stewart and I would like to present an argument against the proposed rezoning and YMCA camp.
This rezoning, if permitted, would precipitate a catastrophic series of environmental, demographic, economic, safety and health impacts on the infrastructure of the area, and physiological and sociological “stressors” to what now is a pristine, thriving, balanced natural environment.
The impact of these “stressors” is grounded in fact and in our historical records.
Some of these stressors would be, as Bruce Richie, a fire commissioner for Fire District 9 in Mineral, wrote in May of 2020 on behalf of the fire district, that the department would not be able to provide adequate emergency services to all 2,118 acres of the proposed project.
Richie noted that the planned dock and water activities would require the department to acquire fire and rescue watercraft and additional training that it could not afford with its approximate annual budget of $54,000.
“Even if we had the additional funds, equipment and personnel, we would still be lacking fire hydrants, water supply and wide enough paved roads for our large fire engines, tenders and ambulances to reach all occupied areas and campsites in the proposed development,” he said.
Another stressor aspect to the community would be an adequate water supply was also brought up by Lewis County.
Sue Kennedy, a senior environmental health specialist for Lewis County Public Health and Social Services, wrote, “A well that produces water of sufficient quantity and quality may be problematic in this area.”
Kennedy provided previous well logs from the area that indicate attaining a water source capable of producing the water necessary to operate the camp could be troublesome.
She also noted that wells drilled deeply in the proposed area may encounter realgar, a volcanic formation that contains arsenic, a regulated contaminant due to its health impacts.
Further, Scott Pollock, of the Washington state Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water, concluded that “water quantity and/or quality could be potential deal breakers for the proposed development.”
Pollock wrote that the water source should be capable of supplying about 50 gallons of water per person per day for the duration of any intended events.
Estimates indicate that this development if the rezoning is approved would need about 30,000 gallons of water per day based upon existing water use from other regional camps.
Many of the concerns Fire District 9 raised and also questioned how the YMCA intended on obtaining 30,000 gallons of water per day.
In November of 2022, after three voluntary community meetings, endorsements by several local education groups and over a year spent studying impacts to infrastructure, environment and water, Lewis County commissioners unanimously voted down a rezone of the organization’s property, which would have been the next necessary step to establish the camp.
This rezoning will enable development of anywhere from 500 acres to 2,118 acres of land that stretches north of Mineral Lake over a 20-year period for a campsite that would ultimately support 400 campers and 100 staff members.
Neil Stewart
Adna
