January 2009

Traffic and Watersheds
A Smart Trips workshop is being offered as part of the SR 19/20 corridor planning process. Vicki Steigner of DOT will present the Smart Trips program as pioneered in Whatcom County as a strategy for reducing congestion and increasing safety on Highway 19/20. Ms. Steigner will show how the program has significantly increased ride-sharing, transit use, van-pooling, walking and bicycling in four years. The workshop will take place on January 23 from Noon to 2 p.m. at the Masonic Hall located at Jefferson & Van Buren.Questions? Ask fellow Beach Watcher Marion Huxtable mhuxtable@olympus.net

Bingo for NOSC on Wednesdays.
Wednesdays in January the proceeds from the Bingo games at the Hilltop Tavern are for NOSC. Buy an extra card for $1.00 and help fill the coffers while you have a good time. Jean Erreca said they raised $250 last week! B-I-N-G-O!


Tree planting at Morse Creek
NOSC needs help planting trees. January 23, 1-3pm at 384 Morse Homestead Road, Port Angeles. Bring sturdy shoes, water & excitement to get those plants into the ground!!!
Questions? Need Directions? Please contact Alicia Aguirre at the NOSC office: 379-8051 or stewardship@nosc.org

Sound Waters 2009
Each February, Beach Watchers in Island county offer a "one day university for all". This year the date is Saturday, February 7th in Coupville. It is a Beach Watcher dream for learning about Puget Sound with speakers and workshops on marine, nearshore and environmental education. This year's keynote speaker will be Dr. Mary Ruckelshaus, of NOAA Fisheries, who will speak on "A Sound Future". For more information/registration go to http://www.beachwatchers.wsu.edu/island/soundwaters/


NOSC needs your help with Discovery Bay data.
"This is a good project for people who can’t move a shovel, but like listening to music in a lab and sorting" Intrigued?
To measure the changes in water quality before and after the restoration project, NOAA sent a macro-invertebrate specialist to the site before the restoration. In October, she collected samples from the contaminated tidal channel and another at a control site across the estuary. 40 samples were taken and are now backlogged. NOAA is returning in February to do post sampling. NOSC need help catching up. Here is how you can help. The Port Townsend Marine Science Center has donated their lab and 30 dissecting scopes. Betsy and Owen would love your help. You don't have to like bugs or know how to work a microscope...they'll happily teach you. It would be a magnificantly, insectafabulously experience. Call Owen at NOSC 379-8051.