Jefferson County MRC
Jefferson MRC website: http://www.jeffersonmrc.org.
Jefferson County’s 254 marine shoreline miles include a rocky stretch on the northern outer coast, bounded by Clallam County to the north and Grays Harbor County to the south; the easternmost extent of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Admiralty Inlet and northern Hood Canal. Most of the County’s 30,000 people live in its eastern edge, with Port Townsend the county seat and largest city at nearly 9,000 residents. Port Townsend has a vibrant marine trades economy, with nationally-renowned shipwrights, sail makers and riggers, systems/fabrication experts and marine industrial firms. It is home to the Northwest Maritime Center, a variety of marine science and maritime education programs, and the Wooden Boat Festival, which drew 35,000 visitors in 2010.
The Jefferson MRC serves as an advisory group to the Board of County Commissioners. Its 17 members hold experience in shellfish aquaculture, conservation, education, land-use, arts and marine science, as well as state, county and local government. MRC members work closely with homeowners, business owners, outdoor enthusiasts and fishermen to reduce impacts to marine habitat in an ecologically-rich area. Jefferson MRC has created effective stewardship messages aimed at local and visiting boaters.
In an effort to reduce plastic debris in marine waters, the MRC partnered on a public display which attracted 200 people; and co-hosted an annual watershed day with 50 participants and a keynote presentation on the effects of stormwater pollutants on fish. They also participated with Clallam MRC in supporting the designation of Protection Island Aquatic Reserve by the Department of Natural Resources. The Reserve encompasses 23,778 acres of state-owned tidelands and bed lands around this beautiful island, an important stopover for many migrating birds.
Data collected during annual surveys of Olympia oyster restoration sites showed the continued health of a naturally-occurring population. Habitat restoration efforts were given a boost at Maynard Beach, an adjacent site at the head of Discovery Bay, for a project in partnership with North Olympic Salmon Coalition that will remove shoreline armoring and restore a pocket estuary.
For the 7th year in a row, marker buoys along the Port Townsend waterfront that designate a voluntary no-anchor zone succeeded in preventing boaters from anchoring in critical habitat for young salmon and other marine life. New surveys of eelgrass were conducted in Discovery Bay, Mats Mats Bay and Port Ludlow. Building on the success of the voluntary eelgrass protection zone, the MRC worked with the Department of Health to approve the continued harvest of shellfish in Mystery Bay, while allowing a limited number of boats to moor there.
Jefferson MRC's recent projects include:
- Education and Outreach - Partnered on a display on bottled water debris; co-hosted the 12th annual WSU Watershed Day
- Eelgrass Mapping - Completed surveys in Discovery Bay, Mats Mats Bay and Port Ludlow
- Marine Stewardship Program - Beach Watchers program trained 19 new members and contributed approximately 560 volunteer hours to MRC projects. Hosted 15 events reaching more than 360 participants with stewardship messages
- Maynard Beach Restoration Project - Initiated pre-project studies to restore 1,800 feet of marine nearshore and create a two-acre pocket estuary
- Mystery Bay Harbor Management Plan - Developed a plan resulting in approved shellfish harvest. Removed three derelict mooring buoys; installed marker buoys for eelgrass/shellfish harvest protection and monitored compliance
- Oak Bay Archeological Survey - Completed a cultural resource survey, which located an intact shell midden
- Olympia Oyster Monitoring - Monitored out-planted oysters with 96% survival rate
- Shore Stewards Support - 26 new members pledged to improve their stewardship practices
- Voluntary Eelgrass Protection Zone - 7th season on Port Townsend waterfront, 99% compliance with no-anchor zone
Click here to see a list of reports in our bibliography from Jefferson MRC.
MRC Members
- Michael Adams, Chair
- Al Bergstein
- Shannon Davis
- Phil Johnson-Ex officio, Jefferson County Commissioner
- Gordon King
- Anne Murphy
- Andrew Palmer
- Pat Pearson
- Tony Petrillo
- Mary Pitts
- Dave Robison
- Shelby Smith
- Judy Surber
- Steve Tucker, ex officio, Port of Port Townsend
Contact
Pat Pearson
201 West Patison
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
pearsonp@wsu.edu
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.