Featured Project
On Common Grounds
Action by Whatcom MRC volunteers and other project partners will make a one mile stretch of the Cherry Point Reach a bit cleaner.
Whatcom MRC received an additional grant from the Northwest Straits Commission to remove creosoted debris. Lumber treated with creosote is a continuous source of pollution along some of our shores. Over 300 chemicals are combined in its manufacture. When toxic lumber is present, whether as pilings, structures or wave action moving rogue logs, those chemicals that are soluble begin to percolate to the sediments and into the water. The resulting impacts on marine life are not fully understood, but creosote has proven especially harmful to forage fish, including Pacific herring. Creosote debris comes from broken up pilings, piers, railroad ties and landscaping features.
The Whatcom MRC and the City of Bellingham, in collaboration with Department of Ecology, were among the first entities in this region to focus on creosote removal projects; several other MRCs followed suit. One year ago, a group of volunteer Whatcom Beach Watchers teamed up with Blaine High School students to inventory creosote debris between the Intalco and BP Cherry Point piers in Bellingham. Together they flagged an estimated 10.5 tons of material.
In early October, DNR field staff and their trained volunteer crew will haul the flagged creosote logs and lumber off the beach, and transfer it to an approved disposal site.
News Items
Derelict Net Removal Update
We have four vessels working full time in Puget Sound surveying and removing derelict fishing nets thanks to $4.6 million of funding the Northwest Straits Foundation received through NOAA. Since 2002 we have removed 1,598 nets and 1,946 crab pots. We currently are not targeting derelict crab pots for removal but we do pick up ones that are caught in nets or right in the area of net removals. To keep current on our project, go to our web site www.nwstraits.org.
Department of Fish and Wildlife Appoints New Director
Congratulations to Phil Anderson who was recently appointed to be Director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife by the Fish and Wildlife Commission. Phil served as interim director of the department for over nine months. We are pleased to see him in the position on a permanent basis and look forward to working with him. Click here to see the WDFW press release for more details.
Marine Resources Committee Happenings
Member Spotlight: Jonathan White, San Juan MRC
Jonathan White is a builder by trade, writer by calling, and member of the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee and the Northwest Straits Commission, among other things. He came to the Northwest from California as a teenager and immediately felt drawn to the area. Following adventures in the Caribbean and stints in other areas of the United States, he returned to start a non-profit boat-based education institute in the early 1980s. That experience gave him skills that have served him well over the years. The MRC and Commission have benefitted from his experience working with boards, fundraising and managing programs.
Jonathan’s work building custom homes keeps him geographically focused, but he’s a big-picture person at heart. His recognition that problems in the marine waters took many years to create motivated him to join the MRC in order to be part of solving those problems. While he says the learning curve has been “steep”, he enjoys the ongoing education and has found meaningful ways to contribute. He joined the MRC in the midst of developing the Marine Stewardship Area Plan, and he’s proud of the MRC for that accomplishment. He finds that it is a great foundation for the work they do.
Jonathan’s favorite place on the water is wherever he happens to be at the time – just getting out on the water is the key – but that doesn’t stop him from going to great lengths to get to distant and exotic locations. The Mentawai Islands off the coast of Sumatra are a favorite surfing area. Closer to the home he shares with his wife and son on Orcas Island he does a lot of sailing. He’s also a diver and even surfs in the cold waters off Vancouver Island.
Elected to represent the San Juan MRC on the Northwest Straits Commission in 2006, Jonathan served as vice chair and is currently the chair of the Commission. He feels fortunate to be a part of the Northwest Straits Initiative, and marvels at the idea that a builder can become chair – a testament to the bottom-up nature of the organization. He’s looking forward to being part of the ongoing reinvention and growth of both the MRC and the Commission.
2009-2011 MRC Grants
The 2009-2011 grant awards to Marine Resources Committees are now underway. Click here to see a summary table of projects. For additional information, contact Sasha Horst or the MRC.
Car Wash Kits
Skagit MRC recently completed a project to make water filtering kits available for car wash events in Skagit County. Click here to watch the video.
MRC Reports
Click here to see MRC reports to Commission for August.
Northwest Straits Commission Highlights
Jefferson MRC Project Presentations
Eelgrass protection project
Gabrielle LaRoche, project manager for Jefferson MRC, showed a video on the eelgrass protection project. Gabrielle said the MRC is planning the next video on drift cell restoration and alternatives to shoreline armoring.
Mystery Bay Harbor Management Plan
Gabrielle gave a presentation on the Jefferson MRC and Northwest Straits Commission Benchmark project. Click here to see a copy of the presentation.
Commission Tours the Northwest Maritime Center
Last month, members of the Northwest Straits Commission were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Northwest Maritime Center facility (http://www.nwmaritime.org), encompassing 27,000 square feet on the downtown Port Townsend waterfront. Dave Robison, Project Manager of the Center, serves on the Jefferson MRC and led the group. A complex of buildings will house the many programs offered by the Center and the Wooden Boat Festival, as well the H.W. McCurdy library, classrooms, boathouse, a chandlery, and beautiful office spaces for a wide array of tenants.
The Northwest Maritime Center facility was over 10 years in the making, fueled by public and private funding from hundreds of private citizens and an impressive list of local, regional, and national entities. Robison kindly took an hour to share myriad interesting facts surrounding the facility’s purpose and design, the world-class backdrop, huge beams, doors and impressive electrical system; even a pilot house from which visitors of all ages can use navigational instruments and communicate with passing cargo ships. A community opening was held on September 10. Be sure to visit and take advantage of all that happens there in coming months and years!
Northwest Straits Foundation News
Foundation office open!
The Northwest Straits Foundation has opened its Bellingham office. It is on the third floor of the Bellingham Herald building at 255 North State Street, Suite 322. The phone number is 360-733-1725.
This office is available to MRCs and Commissioners for meetings or events. It can accommodate meetings with up to ten people. It has full conference calling capabilities, wireless internet, and (most importantly) a microwave, fridge, and coffeemaker.
Please drop by and visit! Call Joan if you would like to schedule a time to work there or hold a meeting.
Committee Happenings
Weaverling Spit Project Underway
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This month the Samish Tribe begins a project partially funded by the Northwest Straits Commission to stabilize an eroding bank at Weaverling Spit in Fidalgo Bay. When complete, this project will restore the eroding shoreline using a soft shore stabilization approach, protect an archeological site in danger of eroding, and provide shaded habitat for forage fish in an area with documented forage fish spawning.
"The timing of this project is critical to preserve this important cultural resource," says Christine Woodward, natural resources director for the Samish Tribe. "We're also restoring habitat for forage fish to spawn, making it a win-win project."
Sand Lance Workshop
On September 16, the Northwest Straits Commission hosted a scientific workshop on Pacific sand lance. The turnout was terrific, and we accomplished the goal of convening regional experts to review what is known and not known about this important forage fish species. There was unanimous agreement among the group that, despite sand lance being such an important driver of the region's marine food web, very little is known. In large part because they are not commercially harvested in Washington state, there has not been impetus for funding and supporting necessary research.
The workshop began with presentations aimed at providing background information for discussion of major knowledge gaps: biomass, age and population/genetic structure, predation, basic biology and more. The efficacy of data-gathering methods such as beach seining, trawling and acoustic surveys was discussed, and Jim Norris of Marine Resource Consultants showed video footage of his prototype trawl net. Gary Greene, a marine geologist based on Orcas Island, described one promising means of determining biomass of sand lance, through high-tech mapping of associated geological features such as underwater sand fields. John Piatt, a seabird biologist specializing in foraging ecology in the North Pacific and Atlantic, lent valuable expertise on sand lance life history characteristics and research methods in colder climes. And Dan Penttila, a pioneer in Puget Sound forage fish research, reviewed studies by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on intertidal spawning habitat use, before fueling the group with a personal donation of freshly-trapped and tasty crustaceans.
A workshop summary will be posted to our website shortly, and plans for next steps in support for sand lance are already in the works.
Bulletin Board
2009 MRC Conference Update
The deadline to receive the reduced room rate at the Best Western is October 6. The registration deadline is October 13. Click here to get the latest conference information and agenda. If you did not receive your invitation with registration information via email, please contact Connie at price@nwstraits.org or 360-428-1064.
November 5, 7 pm. A Sea Change, a film about ocean acidification will be showing at the Pickford Cinema in downtown Bellingham. A brief question and answer time will be held afterwards with Dr. Jennifer Hoffman from EcoAdapt. Sponsored by the Northwest Straits Foundation and RE Sources for Sustainable Communities.
New! Derelict Gear Apparel
Here’s your opportunity to purchase apparel with our unique Ray Troll artwork, recently commissioned for the derelict fishing gear removal program. T-shirts and sweatshirts are available for pre-order, and will be available at the MRC conference on November 6 (or items can be shipped for an additional postage fee). Click here for more information and to download an order form. Pre-orders are due by October 20.
Upcoming Events
Ocean Conservancy Hosts 24th Annual International Coastal Cleanup
This Saturday, September 19, the Ocean Conservancy will host its 24th Annual International Coastal Cleanup day. In partnership with organizations and individuals across the globe, Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup engages people to remove trash and debris from the world's beaches and waterways, identify the sources of debris, and change the behaviors that cause marine debris in the first place. Click here to find a location near you to volunteer.
September 19, 2009 - Fidalgo Bay Day, Fidalgo Bay Resort in Anacortes.
October 9-10, 2009 - Bremerton's 1st Annual Environmental Film Festival.
Click here for more information.
November 5, 2009 - 'A Sea Change' at the Pickford Cinema in Bellingham. 7:00pm
November 6-7, 2009 - 2009 MRC Conference, Best Western Lakeway Inn, Bellingham.
Click here for more information.
Recent News Articles
Peninsula Daily News –
"Crews save ocean life by cleaning up lost, abandoned fishing gear from Jefferson, Clallam waters"