Kelp Monitoring Program
Concern over the decline of bull kelp has sparked an effort to monitor this species, which is of great ecological and cultural importance to Puget Sound. The Commission has developed a small boat-based monitoring protocol, which will be a resource for MRCs to track changes in local bull kelp presence over time.
At the July 25 Commission meeting in Coupeville, Commission intern and NOAA Hollings Scholar Emily Bishop sharef information about major aspects of the protocol, and results of initial field trials with MRC volunteers in Island and Jefferson counties.
Photo: Jefferson MRC member, Tony Petrillo, tests his idea for a kayak-towed quadrat. Credit: Emily Bishop
Discovery Bay Olympia Oyster Relocation
Volunteers from the Jefferson MRC, Beach Watchers and WDFW relocated more than 5,000 oysters in an Olympia oyster "rescue mission" on June 25th, to move them out of harm's way prior to a major nearshore restoration project. The volunteers collected the old shells and rocks the oysters were attached to within the proposed construction zone, and placed them into tidal channels that would not be disturbed during the construction phase.
The project involves removing riprap and an old creosote railroad trestle as well as lowering the height of the railroad berm to allow tidal overwash into the adjacent lagoon, to enhance habitat for salmon and forage fish. Restoration work at the site is being led by the North Olympic Salmon Coalition. Read more about the project on the Jefferson MRC web site.
Clallam MRC Internship Program Engages Community
The new Clallam MRC internship program is off to a great start. Emily Larson, outreach and education intern, and Sarah McDougald, marine debris intern, staffed an outreach table at the Feiro Marine Life Center in Port Angeles on July 4 with marine and tsunami debris information, Elwha dam removal updates and a kid's activity aimed at beach cleanup education. Tori Cantalow, the MRC's Olympia oyster restoration intern, gave a presentation entitled "Washington's Lost Oysters," which told the story of Olympia oysters and current restoration efforts in Sequim Bay by the MRC and Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe. The following day, volunteers gathered on Ediz Hook for a beach cleanup organized by Emily, where they filled garbage bags with copious amounts of firework debris and other garbage. The MRC has a fourth intern, Loretta Creasey, who is focused on oil spill prevention and response.
Photo: Beach cleanup crew on Ediz Hook
New Fact Sheet: Ocean Acidification in the Pacific Northwest
Thank you to the West Coast Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Science Panel for the new Ocean Acidification in the Pacific Northwest fact sheet that summarizes our growing understanding of the causes and consequences of ocean acidification in Pacific Northwest marine waters.
Click here to view the fact sheet.
Citation: R. Feely, M. Chadsey, J. Newton, T. Klinger, B. Hales and J. Mathis (2014): Ocean Acidification in the Pacific Northwest. West Coast Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Science Panel.
Diggin' for Dinner
On June 17, the Jefferson MRC co-sponsored a collaborative public education program on clam harvesting called "Diggin' for Dinner." WDFW staff provided instruction to 42 enthusiastic attendees, and everyone came away with new knowledge about sustainable clam harvesting, the connection between water quality and shellfish, as well as their daily limit of delicious clams! A second event will be held on July 26, click here for more information.
Northwest Straits Commission Meeting
The next Northwest Straits Commission meeting will be held on Friday, August 22 via WebEx conference call. For information about past and upcoming meetings click here.
Newsletter
Click here to see the current edition of the Northwest Straits Initiative's monthly newsletter. If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter click here.
16th Annual MRC Conference
To be held Dec. 5-6 at the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend, WA. Information about the MRC Conference can be found here.
The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative is nationally recognized as an innovative approach to bring sound science and an ecosystem perspective together with citizen energy and entrepreneurship.