In this issue:

News Items

The Buoys are Back in Town

The Port Townsend waterfront boasts an eelgrass protection area that is a model for citizen-led habitat conservation. The seasonal eelgrass marker buoys were recently installed thanks to coordination by Jefferson County MRC staffer Gabrielle LaRoche, and aided by members Mike Porter and Caroline Gibson, commercial divers re-attached seven brightly-colored ‘no anchor zone’ buoys to permanent anchors in the seabed. This voluntary stewardship project is highly effective at protecting local eelgrass and preventing vessels from drifting aground. By informing recreational boaters, many of whom are visitors to the area, that eelgrass beds teaming with marine life lie hidden below, the buoys and associated MRC outreach have resulted in close to 100% voluntary compliance for anchoring outside of the area. Eelgrass provides important shelter and food for many of the region’s iconic species, including Coho and Chinook salmon, herring, smelt, Dungeness crab and Brandt geese.

Coastal Training Program Eelgrass Class

Several MRC members recently took the Commission up on the offer to cover registration fees for trainings with the Coastal Training Program. Mary Knackstedt of the San Juan MRC attended “Planning for Protection and Restoration of Eelgrass Habitats” on May 21, and provided this review:

The eelgrass class at the Coastal Training Program provided a thorough overview of eelgrass in the Salish Sea with information ranging from ecology, distribution, protective regulations, mapping and restoration. It was interesting to learn about technologies for increasing light under docks and restoration methods such as seed buoys, which broadcast seeds and reduce the need to disturb healthy beds for shoot transplants.  We lost the eelgrass beds at Westcott Bay (on San Juan island), so protecting the health of our remaining eelgrass beds is important. I plan to pass the information I received on to our county planner who’s leading the update of our Shoreline Master Program.

Marine Park, Bellingham

The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association named Marine Park one of the 10 “Best Restored Beaches” at their 2009 Conference. A description of Marine Park and the beach restoration written by Jim Johannessen, Coastal Geologic Services, is in the article attached (see page 11). It is the kind of project that could be replicated elsewhere in Puget Sound to improve habitat for people and marine life. Jim mentions the significance of the clam surveys done by the Whatcom MRC in his article. Congratulations to Coastal Geologic Services. Click here to see a copy of the report on pages 11-16.

Northwest Straits Commission Highlights

Welcome Caroline Gibson, Marine Program Manager

This month we’d like to introduce you to Caroline Gibson, the Northwest Straits Commission’s newest staff member in the Marine Program Manager position.

First, a practical matter: Caroline pronounces her name with a long ‘i’ sound, so that it rhymes with ‘fishing line’, not ‘dorsal fin’.

Second, everything she has done to bring her to this point relates back to a serious obsession with sharks. That might seem incongruous for a person from Newfoundland, Canada (not to mention someone from the “Jaws” generation), but early on Caroline set herself on a path to meet and work with one of the world’s premier shark biologists. This led her to work at Wood’s Hole Oceanographic Institution on Cape Cod, the Bahamas, the Middle East, and ultimately as a commercial fisheries observer based in Maine.

Over the years, Caroline has transitioned from spending much of her time on the water doing research, into communications and policy work. She spent the past nine years working for the Pacific Marine Conservation Council, a non-profit organization working with fishing communities to foster sustainable fishing practices and protect marine ecosystems on the West Coast. Caroline established the organization’s Washington office in Friday Harbor, where she became involved in the work of the San Juan MRC. After moving to Port Townsend in 2003, she joined as a member of the Jefferson MRC.

Caroline will be making the rounds to attend a meeting of each of the Marine Resources Committees in the next few months. We are thrilled to have her working with us. You can reach Caroline at gibson@nwstraits.org or 360-428-1057. 

Benchmark Account

Proposals for the Benchmark Account must be received by 5 pm, June 15 to be eligible for consideration. No late proposals will be accepted. Any MRC that is submitting more than one proposal should rank them. Reviews and evaluations will be done by a representative from each MRC, two Commissioners and two Commission staff. Proposals will be sent to reviewers the morning of June 16 and they will have until June 24 to get their reviews completed. We are hopeful that a final decision on project(s) to be funded will be approved at the June 26 Commission meeting. Please call Ginny or Sasha if you have questions on this process. Proposals should be sent to Connie at price@nwstraits.org.

Commission Meeting Minutes

Click here to see draft of the May Commission meeting minutes.

MRC Happenings

Skagit Marine Resources Committee – Olympia Oyster Restoration

Skagit Marine Resources Committee has been working on restoration of the native Olympia oyster for the past seven years, starting with planting native oyster seed in 2002. That was followed by additional plantings in 2003, 2004 and 2006, with a total of over 1.4 million seed planted. The MRC plans additional plantings as needed, and is now monitoring the survival, growth, and reproduction of the now-established populations in south Fidalgo Bay. Click here to read more.

A group of volunteers recently spent time on the beach and in the lab, evaluating native oyster settlement on shells put out last season, monitoring planted areas of Fidalgo Bay, and spreading additional cultch for oysters to settle on. Survival of the oysters planted to date is high - an estimated 1.35 million have survived. The monitoring effort is now focused on finding out whether planted oysters are naturally reproducing. The overall goal of the project is to establish a self-sustaining population that produces larvae that distributes to other areas by water currents.

The Skagit MRC’s effort to restore healthy populations of Olympia oysters in Fidalgo Bay is being done in partnership with the Puget Sound Restoration Fund, the Samish Indian Nation and Shannon Point Marine Center. This project was recently published in the Journal of Shellfish Research (Vol 28, No. 1, 79-85, 2009). More information is available on our web site.

Smart Sponge

Paul Dinnel (right) of Skagit Marine Resources Committee demonstrates a Smart Sponge at the Depot Arts Center in Anacortes on May 20. The device prevents debris, oil and grease from reaching marine waters by trapping contaminants in the storm drain. Click here to read a news article. Click here for more information.

Snohomish MRC Says Goodbye and Welcomes New Members

Welcome and congratulations to Mike McHugh, Keeley O’Connell, and Brent Hackney who recently joined the Snohomish MRC. Goodbye to Daryl Williams, Kirby Johnson, and Chet Motekaitis from Snohomish. Thank you all for your contribution and dedication to the MRC.

Click here to see the June MRC reports to the Commission.

On the Horizon

Canoe Journey Water Quality Project in 2009

This summer the Northwest Straits Commission is providing support for the second year of the Canoe Journey Water Quality project, where Tribal and First Nations canoe families sample water quality on routes through the Salish Sea region. This year, the Canoe Journey will be hosted by the Suquamish Tribe, with canoes landing August 3. The 2008 water quality pilot project was recently recognized with the Department of the Interior’s Partners in Conservation Award. For more information on the 2009 Canoe Journey, go to http://www.tribaljourneys2009.com/.

Calendar of Events

June 20, 2009 - Boathouse & Beach Work Party & Learning Day-1:00-7:00pm at Woodstock Farm, Bellingham. Click here for more information.

June 20, 2009 - Outer Coast MRC Community Forum and Workshop. 10:00am-2:00pm in Aberdeen. Contact Garrett Dalan at (360) 249-4413 or gdalan@co.grays-harbor.wa.us for more information.

Snohomish County MRC Beach Expos

• June 20, 2009 - Picnic Point County Park, Lynnwood
• July 23, 2009 -  Mukilteo Lighthouse Park
• August 22, 2009-  Kayak Point County Park, Stanwood