SIXTEEN NEW WATER BEACH WATCHERS JOIN THE POOL.Chuck full of talent, enthusiasm and curiosity, this group will create change in Jefferson County! It was a watershed year. The training was intense, the skies sunny for field trips, and the level of laughter in the Spruce room elevated. Congratulations to: Alan Brown, Paula Anderson, Jon Eden, Noreen Parks, Heather Wallace, Carol Scrol, James Scrol, Diana Hughes, Burt Howells, Karen Swanson-Woolf, Sheila Garcia, Mike Porter, Lisa Messenger, Carol Baker, Bill Kaune and Matt Berberich.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR APRIL
Call Jadyne at 379-5610 x 230 or jadyne@jefferson.wsu.edu if you are interested in volunteering for any of these offerings.
PET WASTES
Jefferson County pets produce 3000 pounds of poop a day! The effect on water quality is significant, but has been overlooked. Not for long! Eight members of the 2008 class are taking it on: Researching regulations, existing facilities, partnering agencies and businesses, and best practices for dealing with the wastes.
EARTH DAY
The topic this year is Stormwater Runoff. Add a little pet waste to the runoff and voila...you have non point source pollution. Come visit the booth, or better yet come help outreach the message of clean water to attendees.
CREOSOTE LOG INVENTORY
Tuesday, April 22nd, 8am at the Fort Flagler Ranger Headquarters. We'll be helping out on the W shore of the park, flagging and collecting small materials in helicopter bags. Just dress warm and bring some snacks/lunch.
CRAB POT ESCAPE CORD
If you have ever set out crab pots this is the opportunity for you! Newer crab pots are equipped with biodegradable release cord so crabs aren’t imprisoned in lost pots. Older pots don’t have this feature. Water Beach Watchers in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, Clallam and Jefferson County are producing cards with attached cords to distribute at marinas and boat launches to retrofit older pots. The training will be in May? Interested?
JUEVENILLE SALMON TRAPPING
Glen Gately at the Conservation District would like volunteers who want to help set out traps. He will train you individually on how to set the trap, capture and identify the salmon species. Glenn is also looking for volunteers to measure stream flow in area streams. And...he is going to work with Water Beach Watchers to begin a series of visits and monitoring of the Shine stream estuary and tidal marsh. Call if you are interested in any of these three opportunities with the Conservation District.
NOXIOUS WEEDS
They’re back and blooming! Those little yellow flowers are popping up everywhere. Join Fowler Stratton and the noxious weed brigade pull the invasive species out of Kah Tai Lagoon Park. April 9th and 16th, 9:30 to 11:30 in the mornings and 1:30 to 3:30 in the afternoons. Also on Saturdays, April 12th and 19th, from 1:00 to 4:30 in the afternoons. Tools will be provided and some gloves will be available, but wear sturdy clothes and shoes and bring water. The goal is to remove the invasives and restore native plants to the area. For information, or to sign up, call 360-379-5610 ext 205 or email noxiousweeds@co.jefferson.wa.us. The weed pull is co-sponsored by Jefferson County Noxious Weed Control Board and the Audubon Society.
PVC REMOVAL FROM QUILCENE BAY TIDELANDS
WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife, WA SeaGrant & local shellfish growers are looking for volunteer to complete a multi-year clean-up of public tidelands in Quilcene Bay. When WDFW purchased these tidelands for public use in the mid 1990s, they had been in operation for oyster longline aquaculture using PVC tubes and polypro line to suspend oysters above the substrate. They have been working to remove the plastic debris and move the over-populated oysters to a location on the tidelands closer to the recreational access point. Work involves pulling approximately 3' PVC tubes out of the substrate and stacking them on a barge, and loading oysters into totes for relocation. The work is not difficult, but it does require stooping, squatting, pulling and getting muddy! This is a great chance to work alongside professional oyster pickers and shellfish biologists AND help remove some nasty plastic garbage from YOUR local marine environment. Meet on Wednesday, April 9th (tomorrow) at Quilcene Bay WDFW Tidelands public access point, located on Linger Longer Road in Quilcene, on the way to the Quilcene Marina. Bring gloves and appropriate footwear for a muddy beach.
OTHER NEWS
BADGES
WSU/Water Beach Watch badges are FINALLY here for the class of 2007.
I’ve also ordered patches for those of you how are actively out in the county and want to be identified as a Water Beach Watcher as you work. Please contact me if you are interested in getting one. Gloria Hill, Merrill Coulson, Linda Brewster, Margo DeVries, Victoria Mansfield, Marlene Herman, Don White, Jim McKenna, Holly Mulich come and get your official badge.
PORPOISE PRESENTATION
Porpoise Conservation is the topic of the April meeting of the Point Wilson Sail and Power Squadron. Come hear retired research scientist Aileen Jefferies speak about native porpoises. April 15th, 7pm at the Port Townsend Yacht Club. Aileen Jeffries describes herself as an avid kayaker with a passion for porpoises. She will speak about the current status and conservation of Dall's and Harbor porpoises in our region. Due to a lack of research funding basic management information about these marine mammal species like 'how many are there', 'where do they live', 'are their populations stable or in decline' is largely unknown. Aileen hopes to generate interest and participation in a grassroots porpoise monitoring project she is developing in cooperation with local boaters.
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