February 2009

In this issue:

News Items

Puget Sound Georgia Basin Ecosystem Conference

Many of us from the Northwest Straits attended the conference and shared our stories with conference attendees. The conference was huge – over a thousand people attended. Our table got a lot of traffic and the Northwest Straits Initiative had a significant presence throughout the conference. 

Here’s a summary of our oral and poster presentations:
Simon Geerlofs participated on a panel about transboundary ecosystem management. Ginny presented and chaired a session on derelict fishing gear. Rex Porter and Joe Hillers gave a tag team presentation on reclaiming surface and waste water from Penn Cove. Joe Gaydos presented a SeaDoc science prize to Ken Balcomb at the Seattle Aquarium reception on Sunday and was a witness for the closing plenary session. Kathy Fletcher participated on a panel about oil spill risk management. Charlie O’Hara chaired a session on traditional ecological knowledge. Daryl Williams presented on the state of tidal energy research. MRC poster presentations included the Skagit Pigeon Guillemot Census, Whatcom MRC’s citizen clam surveys, Snohomish MRC’s Kayak Point project, WSU Beach Watcher/Island MRC’s eelgrass assessment project, Island MRC’s Breeding Pigeon Guillemot project and Snohomish MRC’s Contaminant Trends in Puget Sound and the Georgia Basin: Mussel Watch 1986-2007.

Island County Beach Watchers pull off Another Amazing “Sound Waters University” 

Nearly 600 people crowded Coupeville high school on February 7 to learn and spread the news about Puget Sound during the third annual Sound Waters “one day university for all”. Beach Watcher volunteers planned and organized the entire event, which featured a key note by Mary Ruckelshaus as well as more than 60 classes about Puget Sound geology, history, marine life, island living, plant life, and wildlife.

Northwest Straits Commission staff member Simon Geerlofs joined DNR’s Lisa Kaufman and Melissa Montgomery to teach a class about marine debris. Simon presented on the Initiative’s derelict fishing gear removal program, while Lisa and Melissa shared DNR’s creosote debris and derelict vessel removal programs. More than 20 people attended the class.

Congratulations to WSU Beach Watchers for demonstrating once again the power of citizen volunteers! Island MRC supports Sound Waters by budgeting some of Dan Pederson’s time to generate press articles for local papers. Click on the articles below if you’re interested in learning more:

Whidbey News Times, 1/10/09
Whidbey News Times, 2/10/09

MRC Highlights

MRC Deliverables update

All MRCs have submitted their January grant deliverables to the Northwest Straits Commission and Commission staff are busy with the review process. Invoices are also in, and once the review is complete, will be submitted for reimbursement. Once again, thank you to all MRC project leads and staff for their hard work preparing and submitting these materials. The quality of grant deliverables reflects very well on the quality and value of your work!

Pre-proposal Meetings

Simon, Sasha, and Ginny met with each of the seven MRCs to discuss their work plans for the upcoming grant. MRCs presented an impressive mix of continuing projects as well as plans for entirely new and innovative work. At the April 24th Commission meeting, we will dedicate the day to MRC project presentations. These presentations are to focus on a key project or projects that will be carried out in the future grant. This is an excellent chance for NWS Commission and Science Team technical review and we urge MRC members to attend and stay for the whole day if possible.

Northwest Straits Commission Highlights

Science Team Update

Last year at our annual retreat, the Northwest Straits Commission requested that we establish a Science Team to broaden and formalize our work with scientists. The Commission’s Technical Committee drafted a detailed description of the role of a Science Team and proposed names of experts from various fields to be invited. The Northwest Straits Commission’s Science Team is now formed and consists of: Raechel Waters, Washington Sea Grant; Eric Beamer, Skagit River Systems Cooperative; Stuart Glasoe, Department of Health; Suzanne Shull, Padilla Bay NERR; Ron Thom, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories; and Shane Phillips, Coast Harbor Engineering. We are excited to welcome these scientists to the Northwest Straits Initiative and look forward to working together. An introductory meeting is expected to occur in March.

Link to the Janauary MRC reports to the Commission

Link to draft of the Commission's January meeting minutes

Bulletin Board

It’s a Girl!

Congratulations! Sasha Horst who, after months of anticipation, gave birth to a healthy 8 pound 10 ounce baby girl named Fiona Grace Harris. Mom and baby are doing great.

On the Horizon

Save the Date!

The 2009 MRC Conference will be on November 6-7. This year the conference will be in Whatcom County at the Lakeway Inn in Bellingham.

MRC Publications

MRC Publications Recently Added to our Online Bibliography:

San Juan Annual Report
Skagit MRC Report the Community in 2008