RECYCLING AT THE CANOE JOURNEY
On August 1st Beach Watchers provided support to the 2009 Tribal Canoe Journey by providing recycling at the canoe landing on the beach at Fort Worden. Due to our efforts recyclable and compostable materials were gathered and disposed of properly. We recycled 3 bags of plastic (mostly water bottles), glass and paper and also 2 large bags of compostable fruit waste. Involved in the effort were Beach Watchers Denny Justis, Dee Pumplin, Karl Meyer, Kate Dwyer, Carol Baker, Jaya Banwell, Linda Smith, Bill Wise and Terry Wagner. This was a great community effort and was really appreciated by the tribal members.
FIELD TRIP TO PT WATERSHED
As part of the Beach Watchers Advanced Training we took a tour of our watershed with the City of Port Townsend's Ian Jablonski in August. We learned where the city of Port Townsend’s water comes from (28.5 miles away at the Big Quilcene River), how it gets to Port Townsend and where it is stored and treated. We also got a chance to visit the Big Quilcene Fish Hatchery.
STORMWATER VIDEOHomeowners, Beach Watchers, homebuilders and landscapers from Jefferson and Clallam counties, along with staff from Jefferson County Conservation District, Clallam County and the city of Port Townsend viewed a webcast on stormwater hosted by WSU Jefferson County Extension and the Beach Watcher program. The video webcast titled, Stormwater Management: One Backyard at a Time was broadcast on September 15 and featured stories on how communities across the west are handling their stormwater. Click here to view a video of the webcast.
MEGALOPS STUDY CONCLUDESBeach Watchers and other volunteers across the straights and Hood Canal participated in a study this summer to find a Dungeness crab larval form called megalops. Most of our sites did not turn up many megalops but that is the point of the study – to learn where they are and where they aren’t. Many thanks to Jeffery Hartman, Eva Coffin, David Burrows, David Jenkins, Don Lee, Jack Sherting, Susie Darrow, Deb Wills and Gene Brandon. We had sites at Port Hadlock, Port Ludlow, Cape George, Discovery Bay, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center and the Northwest Maritime Center. Once the results are available, we will be sure to let you know.
OCEAN CRUISEOne of the great perks of being a Beach Watcher is taking advantage of the great opportunities that come our way. This summer we were invited to join citizen scientists from other organizations on an ocean cruise! We toured Port Townsend Bay and the straights, stopping in four locations to collect data. We all got a chance to try our hands at water quality sampling. Fun!
DOG BOOKMARKS REPRINTEDArmed with 6000 new educational bookmarks on dog waste, the Beach Watchers continue their fight to ensure clean water. Dog waste continues to be a great concern, but awareness is growing. Beach Watchers are placing the bookmarks all over the County to help raise awareness about this issue. For more on Dog Waste, click here.
BEACH WATCHERS AT THE FAIRBeach Watchers joined other WSU volunteers and staff for the Jefferson County Fair. Jaya Banwell scored by working not only the crowd at the Fair, but also the other WSU volunteers in the booth! She found several potential Shore Steward applicants amongst the other volunteers. Karl Meyer, Deanna Pumplin, Linda Smith and Andy Neison also worked the crowd passing out dog waste book marks and other information.
WATERSHED DAY ON HALLOWEEN!
They’re in your backyard, they’re in your home, and now….. they’re in Puget Sound!!!! Invisible Invaders! Creepy Chemicals!!! Scary, we know! But this serious topic will be the topic of the 11th Annual Watershed Day on October 31. The event starts at 9am and is an advance training for Jefferson Beach Watchers. It’s open to the public too!
Saturday, October 31, 2009; doors open at 8:30, event starts at 9am
Jefferson County Extension Office - Spruce Room
201 W. Patison, Port Hadlock
This year Watershed Day features:
- Keynote speaker Dr. John Stark, Director of WSU’s Puyallup Research Center and WSU's Salmon toxicology research laboratory. He will discuss pesticides in our water and the potential impacts they are having on aquatic life.
- Brittany Kimball, coordinator of Sound Citizen.org will discuss the results of water quality research being done by citizen scientists in Puget Sound.
- Former WSU Extension Agent Mary Robson will provide a look at alternatives to using pesticides and herbicides in your home garden.
Hosted by: WSU Jefferson County Extension
The event is FREE, but Space is limited. Save your spot by RSVPing to darcym@wsu.edu or call 360/379-5610 x230
WANT TO BE A BEACH WATCHER TOO?
Of course you do! Email darcym@jefferson.wsu.edu to receive emails about next year's class. The class will start March 1, 2010 and end on the 31st. Class is all day Monday and Wednesday with mornings in the classroom and afternoons in the field. Intense? You bet! Fun, rewarding and wonderful? Oh yeah!