POULSBO — How much protection to give Johnson Creek ignited the first discussion about the city’s proposed Critical Areas Ordinance last Wednesday night. But whether the environmental powder keg will blow has yet to be determined.

Members of the Johnson Creek Association lit the fuse though, asking city council to give the creek a 300-foot buffer — the maximum protection allowed under state law.

However, many residents in the area asked the council to treat the creek as it does other Type III streams that fall under the city’s proposed CAO. Such streams have a 75- to 150-foot buffer.

“You have the capacity to do great harm. You have the capacity to do wonderful good. Choose wisely,” said Johnson Creek Association member John Lee.

As a construction worker, Lee said he knows how brutal construction can be to critical areas and encouraged the council to use the best available science in making its decisions regarding the CAO.

“Protect critical areas, and do so honestly,” Lee said. “To put your development in Urban Growth Areas you have to pay great attention to critical areas.”

Lee’s wife, Molly Lee, urged the council to set a 300-foot buffer along the entire length of Johnson Creek to preserve the salmon-bearing stream in its natural condition.

“The question is, ‘Who is going to pay for damage to my part of Johnson Creek?’” Molly Lee asked. “Johnson Creek has the potential to be one of the most productive salmon-bearing streams in the area.”

However, Ken Kendall, who also owns property near the creek, countered the Lees’ pleas for extra protection.

“I’ve been in the fishing business for 23 of the past 25 years,” Kendall told the council. “Johnson Creek is not very productive.”

Dogfish Creek, which runs through the city, is the primary salmon-bearing stream in the area, he said.

“We are obviously concerned with the setbacks and the top of the bank issue,” Kendall said. “I hope you take all that into consideration.”

Another Johnson Creek resident, John Johnson, pointed out that the Johnson Creek Association doesn’t speak for the majority of residents in the area.

“I think you’ll find many of these people are reasonable and want to do the right thing, but when facts are misrepresented and exaggerated, a great disservice is done to the city council and Planning Commission,” Johnson said.

Having the suggested 300-foot buffer would literally wipe out most of her family’s property, Linda Berry-Maraist told the council.

“Johnson Creek is just a Type III stream and science shows it should be a Type III creek,” Berry-Maraist said.

Johnson Creek has already been degraded by development including the Olhava Development, so it isn’t a pristine stream, said Brad Watts, who owns 20 acres along the creek.

“I’m not sure many people on my end of Johnson Creek can afford to have a 300-foot setback,” Watts said. “I would lose one-third of my property to that.”

The council should strongly look at the recommendations from the Planning Commission and make the setbacks for all streams consistent, Watts said.

Johnson agreed with Watts and said the Planning Commission has taken a fair and reasoned approach to the CAO.

“I would hope that tone and approach is one this council will continue to maintain,” Johnson said.