WSU Jefferson County Beach Watchers

'SCOOP the POOP' video is Live!

2012-02-09T14:49:00.000-08:00

To help reduce the pet-waste contamination of Puget Sound, Steven Urbanc, a member of WSU Jefferson County Extension’s Beach Watchers, wrote an original song, “Scoop the Poop,” that is now on You Tube. Professionally produced by Mountainstone Productions in Port Townsend, in conjunction with WSU Jefferson County Extension and the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee, the short video can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfiBpMX4iEY.

This video is a useful tool for individuals, non-profit organizations, schools and others in spreading the word of the importance of keeping pet-waste pollutants out of Puget Sound. Publishing the link to the video in newsletters would help spread the word on this crucial program.

The video, suitable for both children and adults, includes scenes of Steven Urbanc singing his song in the Toolshed Studio, dogs and people at Point Hudson in Port Townsend, and scenic views of Mount Rainier and Mount Baker. It combines the song’s vital message with the joys of summer on the Olympic Peninsula. This combination makes the 2.5-minute video worthy of viewing multiple times.

Steven Urbanc, knowing the value of music and humor as teaching tools, originally wrote the song as part of his WSU Beach Watchers training in the spring of 2011. Each member of the 2011 Beach Watchers class gave a five-minute presentation on the final day of training. Urbanc’s song was an immediate hit with his fellow students, and he has received numerous requests to sing it. This interest spread to WSU Jefferson County Extension and the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee, and this soon led to its recording by Mountainstone Productions and posting on You Tube.

'Reduce Your Use of Plastics' campaign comes to the Wooden Boat Festival

2011-10-25T21:53:00.000-07:00

During this years Wooden Boat Festival, a remarkable and very successful campaign took place to educate the public on the evils of plastic and to reduce the use of plastic water bottles at the festival.

It all started when long- time Water Watcher, Burt Howells, was taking a tour of the Wooden Boat Festival storage facility in order to locate some gear which was needed for traffic and parking. He came across 2 boxes containing 64 stainless steel water bottles with the Wooden Boat Festival logo etched on them. Kaci Chronkite, Director of WBF explained that they had tried to sell them at earlier festivals for $5 each with very little success. Burt had been active in the past at reducing plastic water bottle usage and had the idea that by pulling together some resources, they might be able to sell these beautiful water bottles and raise awareness about the pitfalls of plastic. Kaci said she would provide some space for the project at the festival if Burt wanted to take this on. Of course he did!
There were 7 days before the festival began.

This is were the miracle began. Burt contacted every resource he could think of for help and everyone came through like champs! PTMSC offered their big 5 gallon water jug. WSU Extension Water/Beach Watcher program offered educational displays on the evils of plastics in the environment. Jefferson County Democrats offered their canopy. The Port Townsend Farmer's Market offered tent weights to hold down the canopy in case of gusty winds, and most of all, Andi Niesen and
MaryJo Nichols said they would staff the booth during the festival.

The booth came together like magic: canopy delivered, gusty wind weights at the ready, table provided by the WBF Committee, Andi appeared with the educational materials and it was

"OPEN for BUSINESS". It was decided that the old price of $5 was so low, it gave people the idea the bottles were of inferior quality, so it was decided to charge $10. The water bottles were 1st class product - stainless steel. Within 5 hours on day 1, Andi sold every bottle he had except one which was saved as sample product. We had to close early.

Because MaryJo Nichols knew where to find more WBF water bottles, the booth was able to

open on day 2. She sold 33 more bottles within 3 hours. Altogether 97 water bottles were sold and $970.00 was given to the Wooden Boat Festival. AND. . . we were a source of education to help people become aware of the need to reduce our consumption of plastics, and to keep what we do use out of the ocean!

All this in 7 days. Next time we can do more! It will be the 2nd Annual Wooden Boat Festival

'Reduce Your Use' campaign. A huge THANK YOU to Andi Niesen, MaryJo Nichols, Kaci Chronkite, Jefferson Co. Democrats, PT Farmers Market, PTMSC, WSU Jefferson Co. Beach Watchers and last but NOT least, Burt Howells

Quilcene National Fish Hatchery Centennial

2011-09-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

On August 20, 2011, the Quilcene National Fish Hatchery celebrated 100 years of work with important fish stocks in Jefferson County and the Puget Sound/Hood Canal Region.

The hatchery was completed in August 1911, the brainchild of F.W.Hastings, who introduced a bill in 1903, calling for a fish hatchery on the Big Quilcene River. “The enormous catches of prime salmon which have recently been the order on Puget Sound prove conclusively even to the inexperienced mind that the supply will eventually be exhausted unless the propagation of this fish is carried on to an extent at least approaching the terrific inroads made in the salmon schools by the fishermen, and it is to conserve and promote the profitable industry that the government has taken a hand in scientifically propagating the salmon in the federal hatcheries.”

- Port Townsend and Jefferson County Leader, 1903

To learn more about the history of the Quilcene National Fish Hatchery, check this site from the Port Townsend and Jefferson County Leader, 2011:
http://ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=29783

2011 Beach Watchers, Katie and Keith were on the scene before the gates opened, setting up the display titled "Stormwater - the major polluter of Puget Sound"
Katie and Keith, along with fellow 2011 graduate, Tina, put in many hours before the event took place to zoom in on a message that would be appropriate to an event celebrating healthy fish.
The display points out that stormwater is toxic, coming from sources like yard run-off, roadways and car washing areas, animal waste and failing septic systems. It then leads you to the side showing things that you can do to help.

The hand-outs also centered on things a person could do to be a part of the solution: Turning the Tide on Toxics, Taking Care of Streams, Pick Up after your pet bookmarks, Rain Garden manuals and resources, Welcome to Your Watershed papers and Shore Stewards applications.

Over 100 people took a look at the booth and visited with us about water quality. We were glad to have been a part of the many agencies sharing in this super event.
If you would like to know more about the Quilcene National Fish Hatchery, please visit their site http://www.fws.gov/quilcenenfh

This is a wonderful site celebrating the centennial anniversary. It has links about the day-to-day operations of the hatchery, a link about the history and links to many of the projects undertaken by the hatchery. Take a moment and take a virtual tour.

“In the early years, you didn’t hear the word conservation, it was all about fishing and industry and economy and development. Today, restoration efforts involving threatened species of Pacific salmon continue to grow in importance.”
-Dan Magneson, fishery biologist, Quilcene National Hatchery

2011 Canoe Journey

2011-08-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

A fog was settled down on the water and the air was very still. Coming into town, the morning of July 19, it was good to see the sun breaking through the mists . . . a beautiful morning for the landing in Port Townsend, ancestral home of Chief Chetzemoka.

The first canoe to land that morning had been three days into the journey - traveling from British Columbia. As the canoe approached, they announced themselves, introducing the tribes and peoples they represented. They were welcomed by Marlin Holden, a direct descendant of Chief Chetzemoka of the Jamestown S'Klallam tribe. Each canoe that approached announced themselves and were then welcomed, sometimes with singing and drumming. Family and friends were reunited upon landing and equipment and supplies were hauled from the canoes to the camp where many would spend the night.

Most of the canoes arrived by early afternoon and the beach was a buzz of activity as many came to watch and experience this cultural event. Bystanders were sometimes invited to help carry a canoe onto the beach and then the task of cleaning up after the pull commenced.

Many volunteers from the community were there with refreshing snacks for the pullers. ‘Unbottled’ water was once again made available. Beach Watchers were busy with the jobs of recycling and clean up. Barrels were labeled for recycling or trash and there was even a compost barrel for rinds and seeds.

Many thanks to the helping hands that worked at this event!