What's New
Restore America's Estuaries
The 5th national conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration is on November 13-17, 2010. The conference theme is Preparing for Climate Change: Science, Practice and Policy. For more information, or to submit a proposal for a session, presentation or poster, click here.
Comments on the Proposed Regulations to Protect Killer Whales
The Northwest Straits Commission has submitted a comment letter to NOAA on the proposed regulations to protect killer whales from vessel effects in inland waters. Click here to read the letter.
Puget Sound Rockfish Advisory Group
The WA Department of Fish & Wildlife has established an ad-hoc committee to advise the agency on proposed changes to rules on sport fishing for rockfish, and to assist in the development of a final plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the conservation of rockfish in Puget Sound. Kit Rawson, Chair of the San Juan Marine Resources Committee, and Ginny Broadhurst, Director of the Commission, were both appointed to this committee. To see a complete list of members click here.
Northwest Straits Conservation Funding Included in Final Spending Bill
U.S. Senator Patty Murray announced that the $1.6 million she secured in a 2010 spending bill for the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative has been included in the fiscal year 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act. "The Northwest Straits Initiative is leading the nation in showing what an innovative, grassroots conservation effort can be," said Senator Patty Murray. "This funding will allow the nationally-recognized group to continue and expand upon their excellent work researching, restoring, and conserving our marine environment.” Click here to read the full press release.
US House of Representatives passes Northwest Straits Reauthorization bill
The House of Representatives passed the NW Straits Initiative Reauthorization Act (HR 1672), legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, by voice vote December 7. Click here to read the full press release.
Derelict Fishing Net Project Funded through NOAA
Go to www.derelictgear.org for more information about the derelict fishing gear removal program. Click here to watch the NBC Nightly News coverage of the Northwest Straits derelict gear removal program.
Next Commission Meeting
The next Commission meeting will be on February 26 in Island County. Agenda and directions coming soon.
Member Spotlight
Jerry Masters, Snohomish MRC
To Jerry Masters, participating in the MRC is like traveling the world without leaving home: he’s able to expand his world and see his place within it from a different perspective. An online oceanography class at Bellevue Community College inspired him to look into local volunteer opportunities. Coincidentally, it was around the same time that an opening was announced for a representative of economic interests on the Snohomish MRC.
Raised on the Skagit River delta on a dairy farm, Jerry attended La Conner high school and headed to Stanford University with interests in art history and literature. Life took him on a different path, and after marriage and two kids he moved back to the Northwest, where he’s the general manager for a building supply company. During his time on the MRC, he’s come to better understand the importance of some of the products he sells which help reduce the impact construction has on local streams and Puget Sound. He is already looking toward the future and how his business can evolve and succeed as building practices become more sustainable.
Elected chair shortly after joining the Snohomish MRC, Jerry has now served two years. He describes the learning curve as being like “drinking from a fire hose”, but recognizes that it isn’t necessary to have all the answers in order to keep moving forward. Under his leadership, the MRC has taken on a lot of projects, and he’s particularly enthusiastic about the work the MRC is doing at Kayak Point County Park. The MRC has been the catalyst in bringing together volunteer groups, county departments and other partners toward making sustainable improvements to the shoreline. The interagency connections make this a great example of the strength of a citizen group such as the MRC.
Some of Jerry’s best memories involve the simple enjoyment of living near Puget Sound – as a kid catching kings on the Skagit, or with his own kids enjoying a basket of Ivar’s fish and chips while watching the sunset at Mukilteo’s Lighthouse Park. He’s hopeful that the MRC will continue to “tell the story” so that decision-makers make Puget Sound a high priority.
Newsletter
Click here to see the current edition of the Northwest Straits Initiative's monthly newsletter.
Skagit MRC Restoration Initiative Annual Workplan Approved
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March’s Point in Skagit County will be the site of two projects included in the recently approved Skagit MRC Restoration Initiative annual workplan. The first project involves removing a groin associated with an old boat ramp on east March’s Point. Removing this groin will help restore sediment transport processes in this drift cell and improve conditions for forage fish spawning. The second project is a partnership with the Skagit River System Cooperative (SRSC) that will enhance beach nourishment activities SRSC has already been planning for beaches along west March’s Point. Both these projects are part of larger plans to restore sediment transport processes and forage fish habitat along all of March’s Point.
The workplan, approved by both the MRC and the Foundation board, outlines how a Natural Resources Damage Assessment payment related to the cleanup of the old Scott Paper Mill site on Fidalgo Island will be used to help restore nearshore and marine habitat in Fidalgo and Padilla Bays. The funding, $500,000 over four years, will be paid to the Foundation, with annual workplans developed, approved, and implemented by the Skagit MRC.
Who We Are
The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative, authorized by Congress, is nationally recognized as an innovative approach to bring sound science and an ecosystem perspective together with citizen energy and entrepreneurship.
Volunteers from seven county-based Marine Resources Committees select restoration and conservation projects that meet performance benchmarks, attract diverse partners, and engage large numbers of community members in the process.
The Northwest Straits Commission coordinates these efforts and conducts regional projects. The Commission also brings together scientists and marine managers to help improve everyone's efforts to save Puget Sound.