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NEWS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT |
Water right purchased to protect salmon in Cascade Creek
PRESS RELEASE: Salmon Habitat restored on Lopez Islandposted 10/27/2009
SJ Initiative Policy Group wrapping upMeeting Oct. 19 on Orcas San Juan Initiative will sunset at the end of the year. The SJI Policy Group meets from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Orcas Senior Center to discusss measuring success; key steps and lessons learned; and terrestrial assessment. Protection of the Island Marble Butterfly and the Indian Paintbrush flower are also covered in the ISSUE PAPER. Samish Indian Nation Names New Calf J-45Saturday, October 17, 2009, the Samish Indian Nation held a traditional potlatch naming ceremony for J-45, the newest J Pod calf in the Southern Resident Community of orcas. The Whale Museum participated in the ceremony by providing ceremonial gifts for the attendees as well as a greeting by Executive Director Jenny Atkinson. MORE INFORMATION Safe disposal of unwanted medicines from householdsposted 11/01/2009 CRUSH...DON'T FLUSH Please crush your medicines and mix them with cat litter or used coffee grounds; place this mixture into a container with a tight-fitting lid, and place into the trash. This practice is not perfect but is recommended by the Washington Department of Ecology as an interim measure awaiting development of a statewide take-back system. New Environmental Stewardship Fund Seeks to Establish Sustainable Funding for Local Projectsposted 04/18/2009
The Environmental Stewardship Fund is a membership fund open to all San Juan residents and organizations and will, through a collective review and voting process, advise the SJICF board on how to prioritize grant requests. " The San Juans are a unique island community, offering unmatched opportunities and challenges to restore, protect and preserve our natural environment and to thoughtfully consider the impact of the use of our precious resources," said Charles Anderson, Foundation chair. " This fund allows members to support the growing number of environmental stewardship programs through a combination of giving and decision making." The fund has, within weeks of its founding, raised and funded its first project: the Sustainable San Juans Earth Day Celebration which is taking place today, Saturday April 18. There are no fees applied to the Fund, 100% of every donation will go to support local projects. The Community Foundation serves as a non-profit philanthropic umbrella organization helping donors, non-profits and public organizations to achieve their goals through direct grants, organizational assistance and philanthropic resource management. The work of the SJICF is supported through individuals' direct contributions to the SJICF Operations Fund. If you would like to join with others in supporting Environmental Stewardship in our community or support the general work of the Foundation, please call Susan Matthews, SJICF Program Coordinator, 378-1001. SONAR Recorded off of San Juan Islandposted 04/10/2009
Recordings of SONAR and other sounds continued until Wednesday, April 8, 3 a.m. PST. The sounds from these hydrophones stream live via the internet on the public-accessible site www.orcasound.net. Samples of the recorded sounds are archived there. MORE INFORMATION Puget Sound Partnership seeks input on Action Agenda to save Puget SoundNew report on amount of toxic chemicals polluting the Sound underscores effort's urgency posted 11/07/2008 New analysis supporting the Action Agenda identifies some alarming facts and trends related to the health of Puget Sound. Each year, 52 million pounds of toxic chemicals – or nearly 150,000 pounds per day – inundate Puget Sound with contaminated runoff. This amounts to a toxic spill the size of Exxon Valdez every two years. The toxic chemicals include oil and petroleum products, lead, and phthalates – and 1 million pounds of toxic metals such as zinc and copper. These metals, despite being released in lower concentrations than oil and petroleum, can cause harm to threatened salmon species. MORE INFORMATION Alliance to Stop LNG applauds Powell River Regional District's No Greenhouse Gases and No LNG Tankers Resolutionposted 05/28/2008
The resolution is the Regional District's response to a proposal introduced in 2007 by WestPac LNG. WestPac wants to build an LNG import terminal and a 600 megawatt gas-fired generation plant on the north end of Texada Island. The terminal would accommodate 36 large LNG tanker shipments per year, through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and George Strait to Texada Island – and back again, for 72 transits per year. "We applaud and congratulate the Directors of the Regional District, and the membership of Texada Action Now who developed and approved this very progressive resolution," says Deborah Conner, Executive Director of the Georgia Strait Alliance. "It's timely, and a strong statement to the provincial and federal governments about the many risks to people, property, and the environment, of the WestPac proposal." "Our Regional District Directors have worked closely with us, and agree with Texada residents that the risks and impacts of tankers through our precious waters are not worth taking," says Chuck Childress, chair of Texada Action Now. “We agree with the Premier that the world faces a climate crisis, and that BC's greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced. He won't allow emissions from coal-fired generation; it only makes sense that he shouldn't allow GHGs from new gas-fired plants." "If the government's goal is energy self-sufficiency, we'd be going in completely the wrong direction by importing natural gas and generating electricity with it," said Conner. In 2007, fifteen community groups from around the Strait of Georgia banded together to fight the proposed LNG project on Texada Island. These include Georgia Strait Alliance and Texada Action Now. WSU Beach Watchers graduates class of 2008 Photo by Ruthie Dougherty posted 04/25/2008
Volunteers cleaned up county beaches
Members of 4-H Bits-n-Spurs Club picked up 260 pounds of garbage from Granny’s and Redoubt Coves on San Juan Island. By Jana Marks Sunday, April 20, 2008, in celebration of the 38th Earth Day, 51 volunteers joined sponsors National Parks and Friends of the San Juans and cleaned South Beach, San Juan Island. They picked up 660 pounds of garbage including nine tire floats, a 10-foot length of large hawser roop, a sand filled TV set, four large styrofoam chunks and bags full of little pieces of plastic and styrofoam, food wrappers, cigarette butts and lighters, clothes, bits of rope, netting, shotgun shells, etc. STORY Sea Otters in Washington - Draft Stock Assessment Available for Comment posted 04/18/2008
Although sea otters were native to Washington’s marine waters the original population was extirpated by market hunters in the early twentieth century. The current population stems from animals translocated from Alaska in 1969 and 1970 and is not protected under the Endangered Species Act. However, they are protected under the MMPA. The stock assessment report indicates that although Washington’s sea otter population continues to expand, it is vulnerable to disease or catastrophic events such as oil spills because of its relatively low numbers and limited range. Current surveys indicate only approximately 800 sea otters live along Washington’s coast from the Straits of Juan de Fuca to Grays Harbor. In the northern end of their range, the otters are thought to be expanding at a rate of around eight percent annually, while those south of La Push are expanding at more than twice that rate. One of the goals of the MMPA is to ensure that stocks of marine mammals occurring in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States do not experience a level of human-caused mortality and serious injury that is likely to cause the stock to be reduced below its optimum sustainable population level. To help accomplish this goal, section 117 of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361-1407) requires the Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare stock assessment reports for each marine mammal stock that occurs in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States. The stock assessments are to be based on the best scientific information available. The draft stock assessment report is available for public review and comment at: /www.fws.gov/westwafwo for 90 days. Comments may be submitted by e-mail to waseaottersar@fws.gov, they may be faxed to (360) 753-9405 or they may be mailed or hand-delivered to: Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, 510 Desmond Drive SE, Suite 102, Lacey, WA 98503. Comments must be received by midnight, July 16, 2008. The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. Marine Resources Committee sets goals for 2008MRC Work Plan approved by County Council posted 02/07/2008
Climate Change: Today's choices shape tomorrow's vulnerabilitiesBy Sharon Kivisto posted 02/13/2008
The estimate for sea level rise in the Puget Sound Region is 13 inches. An inference could be made that the estimates for the islands would be somewhere between the two estimates, according to Binder. Information was not provided on specific local regions because of the difficulty in getting localized information on vertical land movements. According to the report Sea Level Rise in the Coastal Waters of Washington State"Western Washington sits on the edge of the North American continental plate, under which the Juan de Fuca oceanic plate is subducting. This subduction tends to produce uplift in the western extent of the region over time." In other words the land mass rises. This happens more in the northern section than in the rest of Puget Sound, which accounts for the difference in the numbers. The worst case estimate for the islands is a 4-foot increase, Binder said. "That is a very, very, very low probability," she said. "That is given for people who are very risk averse." She also noted that the ocean levels don't rise when the ice that is already in the ocean melts. It's just like having a glass of water with ice in it. The amount is the same whether the ice is melted or not. When ice that is on land melts and enters the ocean the levels will rise and when the ocean temperatures rise and the water expands, the levels rise. The global estimates range from 7 to 23 inches increase overall. "Those estimates don't take into account the most recent melting from Greenland and Antarctica. The warming of the earth's climate is evidenced by reduced snowpack, longer growing seasons, earlier arrival of pollens, the shift north of plants' and animals' ranges, increased acidity of the ocean and earlier spring runoff. Some of the climate change is due to human activities and some to natural causes. The rate of change is expected to increase, she said. While the San Juans don't have snowpacks, the island commmunities will still be affected by political decisions made in the state as a result of water shortages. While scientists find it easier to predict warming temperatures, predicting changes in precipitation are more difficult, Binder said. The changes in timing of the snow melt and spring runoff will impact the salmon spawning cycle. While the focus has been on mitigation and such efforts are important, she said, "It is not an issue of being green, it is an issue of managing risk. Planning for climate change is about risk management." She showed a slide listing dozens of ways local governments can risk management for climate change into local planning. Building codes which require homes and businesses to use less water. Other suggestions included educational and informational programs. General Implementation Tools
A wealth of information is available on cses.washington.edu/cig/pnwc/pnwcoasts.shtml Volunteer SCUBA diver discovers
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Biology and Politics Report Card, 2007 |
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| Grade | Recipient | For what, and comments |
| A | Steve Simpson (retired) and the port | The Best Port Director Ever.
Compare our port with others. Note the parks, nice boat ramps with lots of parking. Enjoy the walking trails at the airport. And the art work, educational facilities, aquarium, and on. Steve and his team has done this, while at the same time meeting developmental goals. |
High resolution, infra-red, digital, aerial orthophotographs have been taken of entire county.
posted 01/03/2008
Anyone who has tangled their fishing lines probably won't be surprised to learn San Juan County has more than one third of the canopy kelp habitat of the inland waters in the state. A project by the Friends of the San Juans and the state Department of Natural Resources to protect kelp has provided an additional benefit to the public and county agencies - infrared photos of the entire county. FULL STORY
posted 10/03/2007 San Juan County Council discussed a list of 26 ways to reduce the county’s energy use and "carbon footprint" in response to global warming." Switching deputies from patrol cars to bicycles when patrolling Friday Harbor; mandating curbside pickup of garbage if a study shows emissions from vehicles would be less, instituting a county vehicle emissions program, purchasing more items locally were some of the items in the report.
Councilmembers Alan Lichter and Kevin Ranker worked together to develop the proposal which would formally pledge that San Juan County will take steps to reduce its contribution to the causes of global warming. Lichter opened the discussion by quoting a recent article from National Geographic Magazine which concluded that, "The scientific evidence [concerning global warming] is clear" and that human activity is the main cause of the current global rise in temperature. FULL STORY
posted 10/10/07
Washington Department of Ecology Director Jay Manning has
adopted new rules for electronic product recycling in Washington State.
The new rules establish how this groundbreaking manufacturer-funded
electronic recycling program will work and how it will be enforced.
Manufacturers of televisions and computers must write plans describing how these companies will provide collection services throughout the state. The manufacturers have until Feb. 1, 2008 to submit plans to Ecology for approval. The plans must be fully implemented by Jan. 1, 2009. MORE INFORMATION
posted 09/19/2007
PRESS RELEASE: Due to two blown outboard engines, the Soundwatch Boater Education team and its vessel Raydiance may not be back on the water this season educating boaters on the Be Whale Wise Guidelines and the new San Juan County Orca ordinance unless something extraordinary happens soon. Just before the busy Labor Day Weekend, one of the engines gave out, forcing the crew to limp home on one already stressed engine.
Kari Koski, Soundwatch Director Kari Koski said, "This was obviously an unfortunate time for the engines to give out. We have been pressing our luck all year and were hoping to make it through the season before having to work on an engine replacement strategy." Koski notes that they have been stepping up their efforts to work with their Canadian counterparts, the Straitwatch South Program out of Victoria B.C. to have continued education and monitoring coverage out on the water and have been encouraging enforcement officers with the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to help with vessel patrols.
Soundwatch is actively raising funds to replace the engines on the current vessel as well as to acquire a new larger vessel, engines and assorted equipment to be better outfitted for the future. "Our current 17-foot Safeboat is more than 11-years old and has been in need of upgrading for some time now. We want to put some energy towards that end as well as just replacing the current broken engines," says Koski. "As we have been forced into the situation earlier than we expected, we are trying to take advantage of the unfortunate situation and leverage some additional support for the program."
Soundwatch has already received some emergency donations and has recently learned that a portion of its funding under a current contract with NOAA Fisheries can be used for equipment purchasing. These funds have been put aside into a Restricted Soundwatch Engine & Vessel Fund and will be used to help match any future donations. The Whale Museum is also looking into sponsorships from regional dealerships and businesses. If you have any leads or would like to make a contribution please contact The Whale Museum Director Jenny Atkinson at jenny@whalemuseum.org or (360) 378-4710 ext. 26.
posted 09/19/2007
San Juan County Council approved spending up to $9,000 for law enforcement for eight days to enforce the orca ordinance. Four of the days would be during the upcoming salmon derby at Roche Harbor. State Fish and Wildlife officers are also planning to be on the water during the derby, ready to enforce the ordinance. The number of days would of course depend on the whales whereabouts.
The sheriff and deputies can cite violators. State Fish and Wildlife officers can only co-sign tickets since it is a county ordinance. If the deputies are not on the water when DFW officers observe a violation, the officer and boater must arrange to meet a deputy at a dock where the deputy can write the ticket. The DFW officer can then co-sign the ticket.
Sheriff Bill Cumming asked the council to encourage the state to adopt a similar ordinance.
Island Artisans' jury process for new artists and for returning artists for the 29th Annual Holiday Marketplace (at Friday Harbor Elementary School during the Thanksgiving weekend) will be held on Sunday Sept. 23, 2007. Please drop off your arts and crafts items to be juried at San Juan Island Yacht Club from 1 to 2 p.m. and return to pick them up between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m.
by San Juan County Noxious Weed Control Program Staff
posted 06/20/2007
We‘ve been asked why several of the unusual and showy garden plants listed in catalogues cannot be shipped to Washington. The answer lies in the State’s effort to combat the spread of noxious weeds. The rapid population explosion of invasive species is one of the principal causes of global loss of our biodiversity. Almost 80% of the invasive weeds that are in the Pacific Northwest have arrived as ornamentals, treasured by garden devotees and the nursery trade for their beauty, hardiness and ease of propagation.
To help prevent the introduction and slow the spread of some of the most damaging species, the Washington State Legislature, on the advice of the State Department of Agriculture and the State Weed Board and in cooperation with the nursery industry, enacted several state laws prohibiting the sale or transportation of all parts of certain plants, including flowers, roots and seeds. MORE INFORMATION
posted 04/13/2007
PRESS RELEASE:
On April 4th, private citizens on Shaw Island were alarmed to find a sea lion sitting on Blind Bay road. "The animal definitely was not acting right so we knew we had to call the Marine Mammal Stranding Network," said Tina Wylie-Echeveria, Shaw Island resident. And they did just that. Joe Gaydos, a wildlife veterinarian with the SeaDoc Society and a Stranding Network collaborator arrived on the scene at about 7PM. "I was so impressed with the community’s response," Gaydos said. "They had traffic cones out and people with orange vests were directing traffic around the animal."
Initial examination showed that the sea lion, an adult female California sea lion, a species not usually found in the region, was blind. It was taken to Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center where it has been cared for since. Nikki Ruggiero, rehabilitation manager at Wolf Hollow, said the sea lion appeared to re-gain vision after about 24 hours in their care and that they suspect the animal has been exposed to domoic acid, a naturally occurring biotoxin produced by the diatom species Pseudo-nitzschia. The toxin is concentrated in small forage fish like anchovies that the sea lions eat. It is a common occurrence off the coast of California, but like the female sea lion, a rarity in the San Juans.
Gaydos said that the sea lion was likely exposed to the toxin a while ago, maybe even off the coast of California. Because domoic acid can damage the brain permanently, animals can have periodic seizures and post-seizure blindness long after exposure. The sea lion is currently being monitored round the clock for seizures and other symptoms. Humans exposed to domoic acid by eating contaminated shellfish get amnesic shellfish poisoning, which causes short term memory loss, brain damage and even death in severe cases. "It's just one more example of how human health and wildlife and marine ecosystem health are tightly connected," says Gaydos.
Amy Traxler, coordinator of the Stranding Network, said,"this is an excellent example of how private citizens can do the right thing by calling the Stranding Network when they see a stranded animal." The San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network is run by the Whale Museum (www.whalemuseum.org) and handles about 200 stranding calls per year. They are currently looking for new volunteers and will hold mandatory training classes on San Juan and on Orcas Island on May 17th. People interested in the stranding network should contact Traxler at the Whale Museum to sign up (378-4710 ext. 31). Wolf Hollow also is looking for volunteers to help care for wildlife. Interested people should call Nikki Ruggiero at Wolf Hollow (378-5000).
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service listed the Southern Resident killer whales as endangered under the Endangered Species (ESA) on Nov. 18, 2005. The agency identified vessel effects, including physical interference and sound, as a potential contributing factor in the population’s decline. The proposed recovery plan for Southern Resident killer whales includes the evaluation of current vessel guidelines and the need for regulations and/or protected areas.
The Northwest Regional Office has opened a public comment period on potential regulations to protect killer whales in Washington State from the effects of various vessel activities. NOAA will consider and address all substantive comments received by 5 p.m. (Pacific Time) on June 20, 2007. You may submit comments by e-mail. See the Federal Register notice, below, for more information; or contact Lynne Barre, 206-526–4745.
Agencies and volunteers collaborate to remove hazardous materials from beaches
Sharon Kivisto photo
Beachwatchers Robert Demar and Jacki Riley with help from Bongo surveyed Jacksons Beach last August in preparation for the removal of creosote logs this year.
posted 02/20/2007
Creosote treated wood will be removed on February 20 from Jacksons Beach in a partnership that has brought together volunteers with state and local agencies. Funding for the removal comes from Northwest Straits Commission, Washington Department of Natural Resources and the Port of Friday Harbor.
"This removal effort is part of a Sound-wide strategy to make beaches cleaner for wildlife and families. Creosote contains many harmful chemicals that should not be on our beaches where forage fish lay eggs and kids play," says Ginny Broadhurst, Marine Program Coordinator for the Northwest Straits Commission. MORE INFORMATION
posted 01/27/2007
The Whale Museum has hired a new director. Jenny L.
Atkinson takes over from Dr. Rich Osborne who is moving to Port Angeles.
Osborne will continue as a participant in the Museum's Stranding Network and
other research projects.
Atkinson comes to the Museum from the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center based in Nashville, Tenn. For more than six years, she was the special projects coordinator seeking to raise awareness of First Amendment issues and rights through programs, musical events and exhibits. MORE INFORMATION
Sept. 2 photo of K20 (born 1986) traveling with her calf K38 (born 2004) in the San Juan Islands. Photo copyright Center for Whale Research www.whaleresearch.com
posted 02/01/2007
PRESS RELEASE: On January 24, 2007 a pod of “Endangered” Pacific Northwest Killer Whales was sighted along the coast of California just off San Francisco. The whales made an appearance near the W Buoy at approximately 1 p.m. and were later identified as members of the K-pod, as they’re commonly referred to by whale researchers in Washington State.
Following the chance encounter, photos were provided by California whale researchers to experts at the Center for Whale Research, based in Friday Harbor, Washington. The Center for Whale Research has maintained a continuous and comprehensive photo-identification study of the Pacific Northwest Killer whale pods for 30 years. MORE INFORMATION
Partnership Formed to Reintroduce Native Island Species
posted 01/26/2007
The San Juan Islands Western Bluebird Reintroduction Project will release 90 birds during the next five years. Release areas will initially be concentrated in San Juan Valley (due to its ideal bluebird habitat). Eventually birds may be released on Lopez Island as well. MORE INFORMATION
Registration for this year’s Marine Naturalist Training Program, presented by The Whale Museum will begin on January 23. Sessions will take place on five Saturdays and one Sunday beginning April 7, ending on Sunday, May 6.
The object of this popular program is to provide a learning experience that assists adult graduates to be qualified regionally as professional or volunteer naturalists. Certification is an option with a five-hour practicum. Continuing education credits and teacher clock hours are also available.
The contents of the course provide an overview of the natural history of The Salish Sea, the inland marine waters between Vancouver Island and the mainlands of Washington State and Southern British Columbia. The ecology and conservation of local marine species is a main focus of the training. Interpretive field techniques are developed in the areas of marine mammals, fishes, seabirds, intertidal ecology, geology, native plants, and the human history of the islands.
Information is presented during classroom instruction and field trips around San Juan Island. Each Saturday session runs from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Instructors include Dr. Joe Gaydos of the SeaDoc Society and Dr. Rich Osborne of The Whale Museum. Additional faculty includes professional naturalists, marine scientists and environmental educators active in the region.
Tuition is $350 and includes an orca adoption. There are no prerequisites other than high school graduation and a sincere interest to learn.
For more information or to receive your registration forms on or after January 23, please call Marcy Kober, Education Curator at 378-4710 extension 23 or email marcy@whalemuseum.org.
posted 1/9/2007
Alison Longley lives in Friday Harbor but works at the University of Washington during the week. When the price of gas went up last year, she did more than complain, she figured out ways to reduce the cost of her commute. The thriftiest route costs $3.75. The most scenic is $20. The second fastest ground transportation is $12.75.
She has compiled all of her research into "Ali's Gas-Saver's Guide". The yellow pamphlets are on sale for $2.00 at Griffin Bay Bookstore in Friday Harbor or by contacting alisguides@yahoo.com.
Longley includes information about planes, trains, transit buses, shuttles, and ferries. She details all the connections.
One of the biggest discoveries during her research was the Island County Connector bus. It links up with the other buses and makes the connections possible.
The routes are tested by Longley. The pamphlet is easy to read. Longley credits Emily Reed for helping her with the layout. "She had good suggestions," Longley said. Reed does "Emily's Guides" to the islands.
Anyone interested in saving money and/or the environment will find the information in Ali's Gas-Saver's Guide useful. Each route includes cost, detailed instruction, and time.
posted 12/23/2006
A private citizen from Orcas Island, who would like to remain anonymous, is offering a $5,000 reward to anybody who has information that will lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of the person who recently shot a Steller sea lion. The sea lion, listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act, was found dead off Orcas Island in late November. The carcass was collected by representatives of the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network and postmortem examination of the carcass revealed it had been shot in the head and killed.
Amy Traxler, coordinator of the Stranding Network, says "this is an excellent gesture by a private citizen and it just goes to reinforce my belief that the general public at large won't stand for this type of behavior."
Harming or killing a marine mammal is considered a federal offense and the NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the case. Any person(s) with information about who shot the sea lion should contact Enforcement’s toll-free hotline at (800) 853-1964 or Special Agent Hans Brubaker at (360) 676-9268 for further information or assistance.
The San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network is authorized to respond to marine mammal strandings by the National Marine Fisheries Service and is administered through The Whale Museum www.whalemuseum.org in Friday Harbor.
posted 12/16/2006
WA State Department of Natural Resources has released some guidance for home
and property owners on dealing with trees damaged by the storm. It is in a PDF
By Helen Venada, San Juan County Public Works
posted 12/13/2006
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans discard a whopping 25 percent more household waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day (packaging, decorations, broken toys, etc.)! San Juan County’s Solid Waste Division offers the following suggestions to help reduce holiday waste going to our landfills. FULL COLUMN
posted 12/13/2006
Saying that we must "do more" and "do it better" to protect and restore Puget Sound, Governor Chris Gregoire launched an initiative in December 2005 to revitalize efforts to improve the health of Puget Sound, one of the nation’s crown jewels. The Governor enlisted some of the region’s leading citizens to form a new public/private group called the Puget Sound Partnership to develop an aggressive 15-year plan to solve Puget Sound’s most vexing problems. To assist this group, she also convened a group of 11 scientists to provide scientific input and advice on how to accomplish this lofty goal. Orcas island resident Dr. Joe Gaydos, Regional Director of the SeaDoc Society, a program of the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center, was a member of the Science Working Group and has been intimately involved in this process for the last year. MORE INFORMATION
posted 12/06/2006
Wolf Hollow's Eagle Flight enclosure collapsed under heavy snow last week. Large sections of the roof of the 140-foot-long enclosure collapsed
beneath the weight of a foot of wet snow on Sunday night, Nov. 26, 2006.
A young eagle which was housed in the enclosure at that time was able to escape through the torn netting. He was in good physical condition and due to be released in the next couple weeks. MORE INFORMATION
posted 11/20/2006
PRESS RELEASE: The first of the five oil spill response trailers awarded by WA State Department of Ecology to the Port of Friday Harbor, the Port of Lopez, and the San Juan County Department of Emergency Management have arrived in the islands.Trailers are now in place at Rosario Resort and Deer Harbor on Orcas Island, the Port of Friday Harbor, and Shoal Bay on Lopez Island. The Port of Lopez trailer should be arriving next week. MORE INFORMATION
posted 11/29/2006
The National NOAA Fisheries Service released the Puget Sound Killer Whale Proposed ESA Recovery Plan November 29, 2006. Assuming a time frame of 28 years for delisting, the total estimated cost of recovery would be $49,540,000. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY and LINK TO ENTIRE PLAN
posted 11/16/2006
PRESS RELEASE: The state Department of Ecology (DOE) and Crowley Maritime Corp.
have entered into an agreement to station a company rescue tug at Neah
Bay starting Jan. 1, 2007.
The agreement fills a gap created when Foss Maritime opted out of its contract in August due to a shortage of tugs. Foss did agree to keep a rescue tug stationed at Neah Bay from Nov. 1 through until Dec. 31, 2006. MORE INFORMATION
posted 11/15/2006
PRESS RELEASE: A partnership of conservation organizations that includes the San Juan Preservation Trust, The Trust for Public Land and the San Juan County Land Bank has successfully purchased Turtleback Mountain on Orcas Island, one of the largest and most familiar properties in the San Juan Islands.
"This is a realization of a community dream," said Tim Seifert, executive director of the San Juan Preservation Trust. "Turtleback Mountain will be a gift from our generation to those that will follow."
The acquisition, the result of a six month, $18.5 million fundraising campaign, ensures that the mountain will remain an undeveloped conservation area accessible to the public. MORE INFORMATION
posted 11/15/2006
PRESS RELEASE:
The Island Marble butterfly, a recently-rediscovered species thought to have been extirpated for more than 90 years, will not be added to the Federal list of threatened and endangered species. Following a 12-month status review, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concluded the species does not warrant listing at this time because threats to the species are not as great as previously thought and the National Park Service (NPS) – the primary landowner of Island Marble habitat – is implementing actions, outlined in a conservation agreement with the Service, to ensure the conservation of the butterfly. MORE INFORMATION
posted 11/15/2006
San Juan County may end up with $4.5 million in funding for capital projects as part of Governor Gregoire's Puget Sound Partnership program. The governor asked the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council (PSSRC) for a list of projects totalling $80 to $100 million. They will be included in the draft of the next biennium state budget. San Juan County Councilmember Kevin Ranker is on the PSSRC and advocated for the county.
posted 09/03/2006
Next year's Easter Egg hunt at Jacksons Beach will be much healthier for island children thanks to the county Beachwatchers and Gov.Christine Gregoire. The governor added $2 million to the Puget Sound Initiative so the Dept of Natural Resources (DNR) could expand its creosote removal program. San Juan County Beachwatchers began estimating the amount of creosote logs at Jacksons Beach last week. FULL STORY
By Madrona Murphy
posted 08/05/2006
The sphagnum bogs of San Juan County are scarce ecological treasures that record our environmental history. Botanists and other scientists need to promote public appreciation of the unusual plants and irreplaceable information contained in living peat bogs, and encourage landowners to treasure, not drain or excavate their bogs. In the past few years some of the largest peat bogs in the county have been destroyed despite state and local laws supposed to protect them, and yet little has been done to discourage future distruction. As local scientist we need to share what we know about these wetlands with each other and with our communities. I would like to invite those with an interest in the flora, fauna, hydrology, chemistry and palynology of sphagnum communities to help me organize a November 2006 symposium on the peat bogs of San Juan County. Please contact me at madrona@graffiti.net or 468-2808. - Madrona Murphy.
posted 07/12/2006
San Juan County Conservation District (SJCCD) recently completed a three-year effort to improve water quality in the Port Stanley Lagoon on Lopez Island. Installation of a new, hydraulically-operated tide gate at the lagoon outlet in June restored daily tidal flow into the lagoon for the first time since the early 1960s. With the completion of the project, SJCCCD and its project partner the San Juan County Department of Public Works (DPW) expect to see not only improvement in the lagoon water quality but also improved habitat for fish and wildlife and reduction in flooding during severe winter storms.
Ever since a tide gate was installed to block tidal flow into the lagoon outlet in the 1960s, the lagoon gradually filled with sediment so that it became so shallow that only a stagnant puddle remained by late summer. In addition, without continuous tidal flushing, the tide gate's outfall pipe on the beach sometimes filled with sand, preventing winter storm runoff from draining properly. STORY
posted 06/27/2006
The review of the county's Critical Areas Ordinance, which is due to be updated by Dec. 1, 2006, includes several recommendations which the authors believe may trigger controversy. These include: MORE INFORMATION
posted 06/27/2006
San Juan County's Eco-based Management Initiative has received $375,000 in funding. Shared Strategies of Puget Sound Executive Director Jim Kramer said Councilmember Kevin Ranker's efforts were responsible for increased funding. The Salmon Recovery Fund Board was going to give the county $80,000, but increased the amount to $200,000 after prodding by Ranker. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Fund provided $175,000. PREVIOUS STORY
posted 06/23/2006
About forty years ago, I lived on one of the last original land grant ranches in the Santa Ynez Valley of southern California. Aside from the bottomlands along the river, which were devoted to walnut orchards, much of the land was pristine oak woodland intersected by chaparral canyons where the native flora was largely intact.
Recently I had the chance to revisit this landscape and found it drastically altered. Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), a weed uncommonly found in the valley forty years ago, has now become, along with milk thistle, the dominant plant. MORE INFORMATION
posted 06/11/2006
PRESS RELEASE: NOAA Fisheries Service proposes to designate areas in and
around Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca as critical habitat for killer whales.
The Southern Resident killer whale, whose population is separate from other killer
whale groups, appears in Puget Sound typically in May with some remaining into the fall
months. MORE INFORMATION
posted 06/02/2006
Governor Chris Gregoire's Ocean Policy Work Group is conducting a series of public forums designed to identify the ways in which state government can work more closely with coastal communities to address marine environment issues.
The Ocean Policy Work Group was formed in August 2005 in response to a legislative request to describe the conditions of the state's ocean resources and their contribution to Washington's character. The group will recommend measures to protect oceanic and coastal resources and improve ocean policy and resource management.
The sixth meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 7, at 6:00 p.m. at the University of Washington's Labs in Friday Harbor.
Log onto http://courses.washington.edu/oceangov/OPWG.html for more information on the Ocean Policy Working Group and the full Public Outreach Program Schedule.
Story by Helen Venada
Photo by Cameron Byington
InterConnection Director Charles Brennick and Rich Roth filled up a 24-foot truck with used electronic equipment Saturday at the Ecycle event.
posted 06/07/2006
The average lifespan of a computer today is less than five years. An estimated 220 tons of electronics are landfilled each year, much of which could be reused or recycled. San Juan County's Solid Waste Division and Seattle-based non-profit, InterConnection, co-sponsored a highly successful "E-Cycle Event" on San Juan Island on June 3, 2006. More than 125 participants delivered enough computers, monitors, laptops, accessories and TVs to the Fairgrounds to completely fill InterConnection's 24-foot truck.
InterConnection has been collecting unwanted computers since 1999 and providing hundreds of volunteers with free computers. Volunteers learn how to dismantle and assemble the computers during 25 hours of training. Upon completion of their training, they have new skills and a new computer. Hundreds of refurbished computers are sent to schools and non-profits in the U.S. and around the world. The Lousiana Library System received computers for use by Hurricane Katrina victims.
Interconnection follows the strictest procedures for testing and data wiping in compliance with the U.S Department of Defense data destruction standards. [Do-it-yourselfers can refer to www.killdisk.com for hard drive eraser software.]
Re-use is the highest end use for unwanted electronic equipment and InterConnection uses functioning components to upgrade working computers and to repair non-working computers; all parts that don't meet the reuse criteria are recycled through partner, Total Reclaim, Inc., to recover resources like gold, copper, and silver (found mostly in motherboards and processors) as well as all glass and plastics. One ton of old PCs has as much gold in it as seventeen tons of gold ore.
Toxic components like lead, cadmium, and mercury are also recovered. These heavy metals can leak into the environment from landfilled electronics and some communities have banned them from landfill disposal. San Juan County's solid waste is disposed of in the fully-lined Columbia Ridge Landfill in arid eastern Oregon which accepts electronic waste.
"I am so impressed with the large number of island individuals and businesses who brought in their electronic waste and paid for it to be properly reused and recycled. Many of them have waited for years for this opportunity to clear out their storage areas," said Helen Venada, SJC Hazardous Waste Coordinator. She would also like to thank volunteers, Marion Melville and Brian and Karla Pouillon, who put in hours of their time and effort to make this event happen and Tod Collins and Jeff Ludwig who collected and delivered two truckloads of electronics from Orcas Island. "Thanks too to Christine Miller, County Fair Coordinator, for letting us use the new 4-H building for this event, which, appropriately, ran simultaneously with the Health & Fitness Fair at the Fairgrounds."
What next for electronics recycling in San Juan County? Until the new Washington state Electronic Waste Recycling Bill, SB 6428, goes into effect on 01/01/09, other Ecycle events will likely be planned for the islands. Rock Island Technology Solutions in Friday Harbor will also continue to provide electronics recycling on an ongoing basis through InterConnection.
SB 6428 will require manufacturers to finance electronics recycling; it will allow consumers to safely and simply recycle their ecomputers and TVs at no cost.
This bi-partisan legislation provides manufacturers with the financial incentive to decrease their recycling costs by re-designing electronics with fewer toxins and more recyclable elements; this is based on the concept of "product stewardship" that is gaining momentum globally. The law, which goes into effect in January 2009, provides for the shared responsbility of consumers, retailers, governments, and manufacturers to reuse/recycle components and to reclaim valuable resources. It is also a big win for economic development and will create hundreds of new jobs.
posted 05/24/2006
Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) readily naturalizes in a wide variety of habitats including pastures, meadows, open forests, roadsides and shore cliffs. It is highly invasive, crowding out native plants and preventing regeneration of native trees such as Garry oak and big leaf maple. As a nitrogen fixer, it can successfully out-compete most native shrubs in our normally nitrogen-poor soils. Scotch broom has become such a severe problem that the Washington State Department of Agriculture has banned its sale (including all the various cultivars of the species) and the State Weed Board has listed it as a Class B noxious weed. In San Juan County it is legally designated for control, meaning that seed production must be prevented.
The San Juan County Department of Public Works has recently hired additional seasonal personnel on Lopez, San Juan and Orcas islands to help deal with the broom and other noxious weeds along the county's rights-of-way. It is extremely important that landowners along these work sites help out by controlling the broom on their own property to help prevent reinfestation along the recently cleared roadsides.
Control can be achieved by cutting it at the base, uprooting the plant or by the use of herbicides. Cutting mature plants at the base has been shown to be the best technique as it minimizes soil disturbance, thus doing less damage to the native plants and bringing fewer seeds to the surface where they germinate. Cutting is most effective when plants are stressed by summer drought and have had their energy sapped by flower production and are more than 1/2 inch in diameter at the base.
During the winter and spring, when the soil is moist and broom is less than 1/2 inch, broom can be removed by hand, or, for larger plants, with a weed wrench. Care needs to be taken to minimize soil disturbance and trampling nearby vegetation. Herbicides such as glyphosate (e.g. Roundup) or triclopyr (e.g. Brush-B-Gon) also help control broom. Apply the herbicide to the freshly cut stump, or, when treating the whole plant, spot spraying or application with a wick to concentrate the herbicide on the target plant and minimize contact with other plants. Under San Juan County regulations herbicides may not be used on any county rights-of-way.
Treat isolated plants before moving into denser stands, thereby preventing the formation of new dense stands. The first step is to remove flowering plants as the prevention of seed production is critical to any control effort. In all cases, it cannot be over emphasized that follow up treatment on a yearly basis is essential. The seed life of Scotch broom may be up to 80 years and young plants may produce seed in their second year.
For further information on Scotch broom or other noxious weeds or herbicide use, or to find out about borrowing a weed wrench, contact The County Noxious Weed Control Board at 376-3499 or, in the evenings, Judy Jackson at 376-2674 and Rich Lee at 376-4095.
posted 04/26/2006
Foamy runoff collected in the cachement system at a wholesale nursery after spraying inspired Colleen Howe to eliminate manmade chemicals from her nursery. Howe and her husband Bruce Gregory already ran one of the most environmentally friendly operations - Mitchell Bay Farm & Nursery on San Juan Island - but Howe was challenged to take the nursery to the next step. The most difficult part was dealing with rooting hormone, she said. It took two years, but the nursery became the first ornamental one in the state to be certified organic.
She didn't succeed the first year because she used aspirin and water as a fungicide. She didn't pass certification. "Aspirin is made in a lab," she said. "Instead of being discouraged, I became more challenged." She resolved the aspirin problem by using willow tincture. To figure out the correct acidity, she borrowed her neighbor's hot tub PH kit.
Besides the benefits to the environment in general, the environment in her rooting box has changed. "My rooting box smells wonderful," Howe said. She uses a solution of lavendar, teatree and roesmary essential oils for the cuttings. She is not the only one appreciating the change. A tiny frog took up residence followed later by a teenier baby frog.
Howe and her husband, Bruce Gregory, own and operate Mitchell Bay Farm & Nursery located at 1071 Mitchell Bay Road on San Juan Island. It is open Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Beach Watchers include (not in order): Steve Belluomini, Dennis Linden, Ginger Ridgway, Jackie Riley, David Hastings, Dick Lally, Richard Weisbrod, Phil Green, Nan Simpson, Robin Donnelly, Robert Demar, Chris Cassidy, Russell Sadler, Gayle Bodorff, and Brian Pouillon (not present).
Tom Schultz, WSU Extension Director and Rowann Tallmon, Extension Coordinator Beach Watchers Program are pictured at lower right.
posted 04/12/2006
Fifteen people became the first WSU San Juan County Beach Watchers yesterday. They completed 100 hours of training, received their certificates and badges and were ready to begin their volunteer work. Each Beach Watcher will work 100 volunteer hours participating in scientific surveys, exploring the beaches, talking with students and the public or similar activities. The Beach Watchers program promotes science-based marine stewardship through education, research, public awareness and example. More information about the program is available at www.beachwatchers.wsu.edu/
posted 1/20/2006
Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) has awarded more than $319,000 to support three salmon recovery projects in San Juan County. The projects submitted to the SRFB from San Juan County fulfill critical roles in supporting salmon recovery. The primary salmon recovery strategy for San Juan County is protection of the over four hundred miles of relatively pristine and intact nearshore habitat. The local strategy, which is also a chapter in the Puget Sound Shared Strategy Salmon Recovery Plan, is based on increased protection through improved information. MORE INFORMATION
posted 1/12/2006
With help from private donors and local volunteers, the SeaDoc Society, a locally-based regional marine conservation program, has put together a harbor seal skeleton. The 6-foot long skeleton came from an adult male harbor seal that died and stranded on the beach in San Juan County. It was professionally articulated by Albert Shepard and a museum quality mobile exhibit case was built by Ron McDowell and Phillip Archie.
"It is a beautiful piece of art that will inspire our children and adults to learn more about marine wildlife, our marine ecosystem, anatomy, physiology, and the amazing world in which we live," says Joe Gaydos, Regional Director of the SeaDoc Society.
The skeleton exhibit is available for free to island educators and businesses.
posted 11/22/05
It is that time of year to participate in the Christmas Bird Count with San Juan Islands Audubon on Sunday, December 18th. Get your neighbors together to walk your road for a few hours and count birds and enjoy nature in winter. You can also count the birds in your yard or feeder. Many routes need better coverage so call today. For more information and to join call: Barbara Jensen, 378-3068.
A Bit of History - In 1900 ornithologist Frank Chapman along with other conservationist were disturbed at the slaughter of birds in the annual holiday event called the "side hunt." The team that shot the most birds and other small animals was the winner. As a protest, Chapman organized 27 friends in 25 locations on Christmas Day, 1900 to count live animals instead of shooting them.
posted 11/11/05
Armed with shovels and clad in rubber boots, a crew of volunteers gathered early one recent fall morning at the Land Bank's Weeks Wetland Preserve on Fisherman Bay. The task at hand was the removal of a patch of invasive, non-native spartina from the preserve's sweep of tidelands. This bright green, vigorous clump of grass may look innocuous - but it's a plant that islanders are advised to start paying attention to. MORE INFORMATION
posted 05/14/05
PRESS RELEASE: It is not very often that private citizens are invited to speak at international scientific meetings, but last week Orcas Islander Ron McDowell gave a keynote presentation to a group of over 100 scientists. The organizers of GeoHab 2005, an international forum on Marine Geological Habitat Mapping, heard about Ron's involvement in local marine science projects and invited him to speak during the conference opening. FULL STORY
posted 07/20/04
Have an old computer and don't know how to dispose of it? Office Depot and HP have developed the first free, nationwide, in-store electronics recycling program. Customers can drop off any brand of unwanted electronics at any of the 850 Office Depot retail stores in the U.S. between July 18 and September 6, 2004. Among the items that can be recycled are computers, cell phones, fax machines, digital cameras, etc.
All will be recycled at HP's recycling facility in Roseville CA and Nashville TN. More than 102 million pounds of computer products were recycled globally by HP in 2003.
Full instructions and drop-off locations are available at www.officedepot.com/recycle. The offer is restricted to one item per customer per day.
Dell, Inc. customers in the U.S. who purchase a new Dimension desktop or Inspiron notebook computer can recycle their old computer free. Printers are already included in the recycling program. Dell guarantees that no parts will end up in overseas landfills. This offer may be limited.
Home pickup of used computers can be arranged for $5/unit. Those participating will get further directions upon receiving their new systems. Included in the new computer's shipping box will be pre-paid shipping labels and instructions. Customers can then place their old computer, which can be any make or model, into the same box, attach the shipping label and arrange for home pick-up by visiting www.dhl-usa.com.
posted 07/09/04
K-pod was sighted near the south arm of the Frasier River Thursday, July 8, 2004, according to Joan Lopez, a naturalist with Vancouver Whale Watch. Observers were worried because K-pod usually shows up earlier in the waters off the San Juan Islands.
posted 07/08/04
How many of the 13,826 acres of oyster tracts in San Juan County are being used improperly? Under state law, the only activity allowed on those aquatic lands is commercial production of oysters. Placing docks or buoys over the oyster tracts is prohibited. The state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will review the ways the oyster tracts are being used. FULL STORY
posted 06/30/04
Concerned about navigational problems created by a proliferation of mooring buoys, the state Department of Natural Resources will conduct an aerial survey and GIS mapping of the buoys in Fisherman Bay, Deer Harbor, Friday Harbor, West Sound, Barlow Bay and Fish Creek this summer. The maps will be used determine the location of unauthorized buoys. FULL STORY
posted 06/29/04
Every July SCUBA divers around the country take to the water to count fish. Like the annual Christmas bird count, this annual fish count acts an index of how fish and invertebrate populations are doing. It also introduces recreational divers to the idea that they can help monitor and steward our living marine resources. By recording the fish and invertebrates seen while diving and submitting a free survey sheet to REEF Environmental Education Foundation, local divers can be our eyes underwater. To date over 175 volunteer surveys have been completed in the San Juan Islands and over 1500 have been done in Washington state. Anybody can see where these surveys were conducted and find out which species were seen by visiting the REEF Web site . MORE INFORMATION
posted 06/26/04
Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans has called off the capture of Luna/Tsuux-iit for the time being. DFO had been working with the Vancouver Aquarium on a project to reunite the killer whale with L-pod. Their plan to capture the orca and relocate it was thwarted this week by members of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht tribe. The First Nations believe the whale is the reincarnation of the late Chief Ambrose and prefer to let nature take its course. DFO will work with the First Nations to find a solution. FULL STORY
posted 06/09/04
The ballots are counted and four orca calves have been named as the result of The Whale Museum's naming contest. A fifth calf, J-39, was named Mako by researchers at the Center for Whale Research on San Juan Island. FULL STORY
posted 04/26/04
San Juan County Marine Resources Committee is the first MRC in the Washington to have an office. It is located in the pink section of the Jensen building at 512 Guard Street. FULL STORY
posted 04/10/04
If you've seen this boat on the water around the Islands and wondered what it was doing, you're not alone. During the past week, the R/V Vector, a 130 foot Canadian Coast Guard vessel out of Patricia Bay, British Columbia, has been turning heads and raising eyebrows as it worked in Eastsound, Wasp Passage, President's Channel and other areas. The crew and research team were conducting geological surveys around the San Juans and in the transboundary U.S.-Canadian waters. FULL STORY
posted 03/31/04
Washington State Parks is looking for people who
love exploring the waterways with their boats to volunteer as hosts at
marine parks this summer. In exchange for serving a minimum of two weeks (28 hours per week), marine park hosts receive free moorage, use of the park and are covered by Labor
and Industries for job-related medical costs. MORE INFORMATION
posted 03/31/04
The Land Bank, the Noxious Weed Board and Public Works not only have programs in place that address the spread of noxious weeds, but they invite the community to borrow their equipment and work toward a common goal to protect fragile native plants from being overtaken by invasive noxious weeds. Common invasive weeds include tansy ragwort and scotch broom. FULL STORY
posted 03/31/04
Now is the time to get that winter-stored manure spread on your fields. If you want to borrow the Conservation District's manure spreader for free, please call 378-6621 to make arrangements.
updated 03/15/04
The 2004 Friday Harbor High School Leadership Class has designed a Pedal for the Planet program for students at Friday Harbor High School. This goal is to improve students' health and to fuel a movement towards a heightened environmental awareness throughout the school and the community. MORE INFORMATION
posted 02/11/04
PRESS RELEASE: Dr. Sally Hodson will step down from active duty as Executive Director of The Whale Museum in February, and will be replaced by Associate Director of Programs, Dr. Richard Osborne. FULL STORY
posted 02/10/04
No definitive evidence linking the deaths of 11 harbor porpoises to a May 2003 U.S. Navy sonar exercise in Haro Straight has been found according to a preliminary scientific report. UC Davis wildlife veterinarian Joe Gaydos of Orcas Island was one of the authors of the report released Feb. 9, 2004. Gaydos said the investigation was difficult because some of the carcasses were rotting when they were collected. FULL STORY
posted 01/29/04
The Jan. 28, 2004 signing ceremony for the resolution establishing San Juan County Marine Stewardship Area included a variety of people. From Samish Tribal members, whose people have recognized the importance of the waters surrounding the islands for hundreds of years, to former U.S. Representative Jack Metcalf, sponsor of the original legislation which resulted in the Northwest Straits Commission, to Marine Resources Committee Chair David Loyd who thanked the citizens of San Juan County who will participate in the next steps. FULL STORY
posted 01/10/04
Skagit Land Trust, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the land of Skagit County, has documented the presence of 575 Great Blue Heron nests on March's Point near Anacortes. "We think this is now the largest heronry in North America," said Brenda Cunningham, stewardship director at Skagit Land Trust. "The number of nests has increased every year, making this a very significant nesting site for herons in Puget Sound."
In 1994 Bud and Vera Kinney donated 3.5 acres of their land on March's Point to Skagit Land Trust. Great Blue Herons have been nesting on the forested property since the 1950s and the Kinneys wanted to see the area protected. At the time of the donation there were over 100 heron nests in the area. In December 2003, 575 active nests were counted at the site. FULL STORY
posted 12/20/03
Charlie Ratcliffe of San Juan Island sent in this photo of Friday's spectacular sunrise.
posted 12/19/03
SeaDoc Society recently awarded $210,000 in funding to support targeted research focused on restoring health to Washington's troubled marine waters and their wildlife. This brings the total to more than $1 million in four years. All of the funding has come from private donations by local citizens. "The results of research we have funded are already helping to improve the health of the marine ecosystem and I'm excited about these new projects doing the same," says Joe Gaydos, the regional director of the SeaDoc Society and a resident of Orcas Island. FULL STORY
posted 12/11/03
San Juan County Marine Resource Committee has one more benchmark to reach - creation of a marine protection area. To achieve that, the MRC is proposing San Juan County be designated a Voluntary Marine Stewardship Area. The Board of County Commissioners will discuss a draft resolution Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003. FULL STORY
Mike Bertrand of Friday Harbor took this photograph of an aurora after midnight Thursday, Oct. 30 by Jensen Boatyard. Visit spaceweather.com for information on auroras
posted 09/19/03
In 2000 approximately 45 acres of eelgrass (Z. marina) grew in Westcott Bay on San Juan Island. In 2003 it was virtually eliminated. Eelgrass is also gone from Garrison Bay. The areas include documented herring spawn sites. According to a recently released report:
This sequence strongly suggests that the Z. marina population in Westcott
Bay ceased to be self-sustaining at some point between 1998 and 2000, began to thin, and then
crashed in 2003. FULL STORY
posted 09/10/03
An additional $1.5 million in research funding has been awarded to study the decline in the Puget Sound Southern Resident orca population and to support ongoing recovery efforts. "I remain extremely concerned about the fact that our orca population has declined twenty percent over the last few years," Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said. "These research funds will help us understand the challenges facing their recovery." FULL STORY
posted 07/19/03
Friends of the San Juans (FOSJ) and Marine Refuse Project (MRP) Manager Nick Nash are gearing up for their second field season of on-water debris removal. Under the direction of fisherman Nash, the MRP has removed tons of floating debris from local waters and beaches. Events organized by the FOSJ involved students and residents in beach cleanups and surveys. FULL STORY
posted 07/16/03
I watched a Rufous Hummingbird lift off its nest for the first time not long ago. It didn't fly far on its brand new wings - just far enough to experience the possibilities of flight. Its mother soon appeared to feed the little Rufous some nectar - a boost of energy, perhaps, after the momentous undertaking. It was an auspicious occasion for me, too, watching the finely feathered fledgling levitate from a nest that was a wonder of green lichens and bits of bark fastened to the bough of a cedar tree with spider silk and a prayer. FULL COLUMN and PHOTOS
posted 07/16/03
The Whale Museum and the Seattle Aquarium invite the public to cast their votes to select names for two orca calves, K-33 and K-34. FULL STORY
posted 06/30/03
Once again it's harbor seal pupping season in the islands-and a sensitive time for harbor seal moms and their pups. From now until mid August offshore rocks will be home to these moms and their pups. Any disturbance could result in harm or death to these animals, especially the pups. FULL STORY
posted 06/12/03
Whale Watch Operators Association Northwest donated $10,000 to The Whale Museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program, the largest donation the association has contributed to the program thus far. The Whale Museum created Soundwatch in 1993 to educate boaters on the least intrusive ways to watch whales in the wild.On the water each summer, Soundwatch aims to be out every day during the whale-watch season monitoring and contacting all boaters who engage in marine wildlife viewing. FULL STORY
posted 05/22/03
PRESS RELEASE: What state are Washington’s beaches in? The answer may be alarming to the thousands of Washingtonians expected to visit the beach this summer. That’s the news from the Surfrider Foundation, which released its annual State of the Beach Report today. Washington’s coastal water quality is one concern raised in the report. Washington is one of only two states in the country that does not currently have uniform statewide ocean water quality standards or regular monitoring. FULL PRESS RELEASE
posted 05/20/03
As part of the San Juan Island School District/University of Washington
Marine Lab K-12 Out Reach Program, third-gGraders at Friday Harbor Elementary
School assisted their partners at the UW Labs with the collection of data. FULL STORY
posted 05/05/03
Four-year-old Grace Willows helped carry on a hundred-year-old tradition Saturday, May 3, 2003. University of Washington Friday Harbor Labs Development Advisory Board Chair Barbara Cable and Grace christened Labs research vessel Centennial. FULL STORY
posted 05/04/03
The May 3, 2003 Open House at the University of Washington Friday Harbor began with a kelp cutting ceremony. The biannual event was an opportunity for islanders to meet scientists and students at the Labs and see the research and teaching facilities. FULL STORY
posted 04/29/03
The latest installment of nearshore habitat data developed by the Friends of the San Juans and the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee has been distributed to 46 local and regional land managers and scientists, including local government, state agencies, federal agencies, tribes, universities and non-profit organizations. FULL STORY
posted 04/22/03
The season of blue camas is upon us. The delectable lily and icon of Northwest prairies is now in flower and our island scape will soon be lush with its legendary blooms. FULL COLUMN
GOOD NEWZ is an online newsletter produced by San Juan County Washington's Solid Waste Division, in line with its "Trash to Treasures" project goals. Take a look at the THIRD ISSUE.
posted 04/24/03
Students from the Friday Harbor Middle School Builders Club conducted a beach cleanup at Jacksons Beach after school on Tuesday in celebration of Earth Day. MORE INFO
posted 04/21/03
April 26, 2003, Friends of the San Juans (FOSJ) will discuss the Forage Fish Spawning Habitat Assessment Project with high school students attending the YMCA Eco Retreat at Camp Orkila. Over 150 students from the greater Settle/Everett/Tacoma area will learn how forage fish, including herring, surf smelt and sand lance, play a critical role in the marine ecosystem as major food items for over 100 species, including salmon, bottomfish, sea birds and marine mammals. FULL STORY
posted 04/22/03
Nestled among the fir trees on Orcas Island, the Exchange has been a Horseshoe Island institution for the past 20 years. Bicycles diverted from a trip to the transfer station, lean against trees. Lamps no longer needed after a resort remodel are lined up on shelves. And in the center of the thousands of items are works of art. FULL STORY
posted 04/09/03
PRESS RELEASE:
The Pacific Marine Conservation Council (PMCC), a nonprofit organization founded by West Coast fishermen, has developed a sophisticated method for assessing the impacts of fisheries policy impacts on local economies. A massive database containing historic and current information on the groundfish fishery is just one portion of the framework developed through the Groundfish Fleet Restructuring Information and Analysis Project, known as the GFR project. FULL STORY
posted 04/07/03
VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Almost 800 people attended the 2003 Georgia Basin / Puget
Sound Research Conference, held in Vancouver, B.C. March 31-April 3, 2003. Included in
that group were over 20 people from San Juan County. FULL STORY
posted 04/07/03
At a time when Canadian/US relations seem to be at an all-time low, a growing grassroots initiative is proving that beneath the surface, Canadian and US citizens can and are working together -- in this case, in a joint effort to defend marine biodiversity. FULL STORY
Photo and story contributed by the Center for Whale Research
posted 04/05/03
J 11, a 31-year-old killer whale has a new calf. The birth was confirmed April 3, 2003 by Ken Balcomb and Dave Ellifrit of the Cwenter for Whale Research. Tom McMillan of Salish Sea Charters reported sighting the whale. FULL STORY
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