MRC Projects
All seven MRCs in the Northwest Straits region engage local citizens to set priorities and design projects of local importance to help protect and restore the marine environment. The MRCs receive funds and support from the Northwest Straits Commission to initiate and carry out scientifically based projects that meet the Initiative's benchmarks. Below are a few examples of projects undertaken by the MRCs.
Snohomish MRC Kayak Point County Park Restoration
The Snohomish County Marine Resources Committee is investigating restoration options at Kayak Point County Park to restore beach processes through the removal of a bulkhead, asphalt road and potentially some fill material in existing lawn areas and to re-vegetate some portions of the shoreline.
First steps include conducting a detailed topographic site survey and sea level rise impact analysis, followed by a feasibility study and design alternatives that includes general road siting recommendations and conceptual beach and backshore designs. This project will have ongoing opportunities for community involvement and is being done in partnership with Snohomish County Parks & Recreation and many other partners.
Clallam MRC Shoreline Inventories
Clallam County contains more than 210 miles of shoreline bordering both the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean. The MRC is conducting a shoreline inventory of physical processes, shoreline features, and fish use from the west end of Freshwater Bay to the tip of Dungeness Spit. The inventory will provide information on the current state of the shoreline; provide a baseline from which to identify changes and trends; and help identify potential sites for additional study, conservation, restoration, or monitoring.
For the fish use inventory, student interns from Peninsula College’s fisheries program are collecting nearshore juvenile fish using seining nets and other collection equipment, and identifying and documenting each kind of fish encountered. Results from the beach seine projects will help identify areas of special interest during the update of Clallam County’s Shoreline Master Program. The project has yielded a wealth of data regarding fish stocks, fish use timing, and fish use locations.
In 2006, the MRC contracted to measure and map eelgrass resources from the western end of Freshwater Bay to the eastern tip of Dungeness Spit, motivated b y the upcoming removal of the two hydroelectric dams on the Elwha River. The MRC intended to collect pre-removal baseline data in the restoration area anticipated to receive most of the sediment released during and following removal and in a control area not anticipated to receive measurable sediment from the Elwha River. However, the budget for the mapping project in 2006 was insufficient to map the interiors of Port Angeles Harbor and Dungeness Bay, which are comparable fine sediment deposition zones for the respective study areas. The removal of the Elwha dams has been pushed back from its original date several times, and the latest estimate is for the winter of 2011/2012. The MRC is now working to fill in data gaps in its 2006 mapping project. The MRC expects to conduct eelgrass mapping in mid-2009.
Island MRC Cornet Bay State Park Restoration
Funded by the National Fish & Wildlife Federation, the MRC in 2007 embarked on several side-by-side restoration projects at Cornet Bay in Deception Pass State Park on the north end of Whidbey Island. These projects focus on creosote removal, eelgrass bed protection and forage fish habitat area improvements. Washington State Parks is an enthusiastic partner, leveraging the MRC investment with additional contributions of funding, equipment and labor.
The MRC views the Cornet Bay projects as an important opportunity to showcase successful restoration to the Island County community. Both the local state park biologist and the full-time, interpretive specialist plan on making this work a part of park outreach projects for the next several years. The power of the MRC's Cornet Bay work is leveraged when combined with the regional state parks plan for the heavily-used fishing, boating and picnic areas at Cornet Bay, which are being funded for at least $500,000.
These and about a hundred other restoration and protection opportunities were identified during an earlier, MRC-sponsored study of feeder bluffs and accretion shoreforms along the Island County shoreline. The potential sites are mostly derelict or failed structures no longer serving a purpose, whose removal would likely benefit forage fish spawning areas or eelgrass habitat, or that would otherwise help restore natural shoreline processes. Through a systematic process, the MRC has prioritized sites on both Whidbey and Camano islands for future restoration and protection.
Whatcom MRC Cliffside Beach Restoration
Cliffside Beach is located to the east of the Nooksack River delta in Bellingham Bay. For many years, heavy accumulations of fine wood particles and small wood pieces have been noted overlying the sand and gravel substrate along the beach. The source(s) of the woody debris are unknown, though several possibilities have been considered. In recent years, there has been an interest in exploring the sources of the wood debris, as well as the feasibility of removing the surface wood debris layer in terms of the ecological benefits, sustainability of the restored beach, and the logistics of a removal and disposal/reuse action.
The MRC partnered with local and state agencies to conduct an assessment of Cliffside Beach focused on the logistics of the removal and disposal/reuse of the surficial wood debris layer, as well as the historic trends and possible sources of wood debris accumulations along the beach. Phase two of the project will entail the removal of wood debris and the restoration of the beach.
Skagit MRC Olympia Oysters
In 2006 the Skagit MRC spread 20 yards of oyster spat at four sites in Fidalgo Bay and March’s Point. Over 250,000 native oyster seed have been dispersed by the MRC since 2002. This project has brought together many partners. Technical support is provided through the Puget Sound Restoration Program. The MRC monitors growth and reproduction of the oysters. In 2006, successful reproduction was documented in some of the newly planted areas. The Skagit County MRC works to evaluate past successes in this program and has continued to monitor results of past plantings.
Jefferson MRC Voluntary Eelgrass Anchor Free Zones
The Jefferson MRC's signature project is an eelgrass protection zone that they established along the City of Port Townsend's waterfront to keep boat anchors from harming eelgrass. This is a cutting edge project that is demonstrating the strength of education and non-regulatory programs. The MRC worked with the boating community and downtown businesses to develop broad support. The MRC designed and installed interpretive signs, places marker buoys around the eelgrass and developed an education program so boaters know where to anchor boats without damaging eelgrass. During big festivals and events, the MRC has volunteers on hand to provide information to boaters. First installed in June 2004, the buoys are part of the MRC boater education campaign that has a near 100% success rate based on boat counts and photo monitoring.
San Juan Marine Stewardship Area
The San Juan MRC's main efforts are focused on the Marine Stewardship Area (MSA) that encompasses all the county waters which was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners in 2004. The goal of the MSA is to protect the unique and valuable marine resources of the islands while allowing sustainable use of marine resources to continue forever. The MRC has focused on identifying the top threats to local marine resources and developing strategies to mitigate these threats. This assessment and planning process was done in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, top regional marine scientists, local businesses, managers, local decision makers and the local community. As a result of this effort, the MRC presented an action plan for protecting and restoring San Juan County's marine ecosystem that has been adopted by local elected officials.