Coastal Geology with Hugh Shipman

2013 Beach Watcher Training begins April 2nd.  Apply now! 

Beach Watchers Training includes great field trips like this one...

Every year, Hugh Shipman, a Coastal Geologist with the Washington Department of Ecology, teaches Beach Watchers about how beaches, coastal bluffs and other shoreline features form and change over time. After a 2-hour morning lecture on coastal processes, we head to a local shoreline for immersion learning. Each year we explore a different shoreline.  In 2012 we went to Hood Head to study the source and movement of beach sediments. “Drift cells”, areas where sediment is transported and deposited, are critical habitat for many marine species.

Hugh Shipman (right) leads field trip

In 2012, Beach Watcher Coordinators Mary and Michael Adams added to the fun by cooking salmon and clams as part of the class. There were fresh oysters on the grill plus additional treats supplied by the Beach Watchers.

Definitely a memorable and very busy day!

Recreational Crabbing

The Chef’s Night for Dungeness Crab event on August 9 was a delightful ending to the 2012 Recreational Crabber Outreach Project in Jefferson County. Beach Watchers from Jefferson and Clallam counties met at the Northwest Maritime Center Courtyard in Port Townsend for expert instruction on preparing freshly caught crab.

Local shellfish farmer and Beach Watcher 2012 curriculum developer, Michael Adams, demonstrated techniques for cleaning and cooking. He reviewed crab biology while showing how to ‘open’ a cooked crab. Questions about how to tell male from female were answered during the biology lesson.

Local chef and Beach Watcher, Steve Urbanc, provided a variety of suggestions for preparing crab, including using shells in crab bisque. He reviewed the classics like crab dip and crab cakes and also encouraged people to add crab to recipes they may already make, like coleslaw, pasta salad, scalloped potato and omelets.

Recreational Crabber Outreach Training was available to Beach Watchers in July. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about Dungeness crab biology, harvest methods, trap operation, preventing loss of crab pots and using natural fiber escape cord. Training also included crab fishery management and history, commercial and recreational harvesting, recent (2010) WDFW revisions to crabbing policy, and efforts to improve compliance on minimum size, catch recording and reporting. The instructors were Don Velazques from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Michael Adams.

In July, Beach Watchers also gathered for a Packet Party where they assembled information packets for recreational crabbers and shared a pizza dinner afterwards.  Packets were distributed to multiple sites in Jefferson and Clallam counties including retail licensing locations, marinas and fairs. 

Beach Watcher Training in 2012: The Outdoor Classroom

The 2012 Jefferson County Beach Watchers completed most of their training on field trips to local beaches, streams, forests and wetlands. Curriculum Coordinator Michael Adams and Volunteer Coordinator Mary Pitts organized this packed schedule of learning activities.

Beach Watchers learn about raising clams on Indian Island

The course started with classroom instruction in watershed ecology, biology, soil science, water quality monitoring and related topics.  This lecture material was quickly put to use. On the second day of class the Beach Watchers were already in the field learning about storm water management while visiting a bioswale in Port Townsend.

Matt Berberich explains rain garden construction, planting and maintenance

There were several field trips to watershed restoration projects. Peter Bahls led a tour to multiple sites in the Tarboo Watershed Restoration.

Field trip to Tarboo Watershed Restoration

The North Olympic Salmon Coalition (NOSC) team provided opportunities for Beach Watchers to become actively involved in the NOSC riparian and salt marsh restoration projects.

Beach Watchers plant trees at NOSC Snow Creek Restoration

A few adventurous Beach Watchers participated in Fyke netting in Discovery Bay. Nets were placed in the bay to temporarily capture fish for observation and counting.  NOSC uses data on the types and numbers of fish to evaluate restoration efforts.

Fyke netting in Discovery Bay

Hardy Beach Watchers don wetsuits for Fyke netting on a chilly March morning

The Little Quilcene delta complex restoration provided a perfect location for the official Beach Watcher 2012 group photo.

A Fresh Crop of Beach Watchers!

Nineteen Beach Watchers graduated from the WSU Jefferson County Beach Watcher training held in March, after a fast-paced, intensive 80-hour training. The course provided an overview of water issues and the near-shore environment in Jefferson County and prepared the students for volunteering in the community.

The new Beach Watchers have already accomplished a lot since graduating March 31. They have seeded over 1 million clam seeds and over 800 bags of oyster seeds to ensure healthy shellfish populations and conducted the annual microplastic monitoring at Fort Flager - part of an ongoing study by the Port Townsend Marine Science Center.

Beach Watchers observing water "disappear" into previous concrete in front of Sea Marine.

Beach Watchers will continue their service to the community, putting in a minimum of 100 hours over the next two years. Look for the Beach Watchers at Earth Day Every Day at Fort Worden on April 16, where they will be demonstrating the new car wash kits purchased by the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee. The kits, which are available to the community for check out, will reduce the amount of pollutants going into our waterways. Beach Watchers will also be at the Earth Day celebration at Wild Birds Unlimited on April 23 with a "touch tank" of marine critters and their informative display about plastic.

The new Beach Watchers bring the total of Beach Watchers to more than 190 trained by the WSU Jefferson County Extension program. Last year the volunteers provided 2,800 service hours in Jefferson County, valued at more than $52,000. The Beach Watchers provide support to WSU Extension programs and to partner organizations such as the North Olympic Salmon Coalition, the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Jefferson County and the Jefferson County Conservation District.

2011 Beach Watcher Training Underway!

The 2011 Beach Watcher class is underway. Nineteen participants are braving the weather and the powerpoint presentations to complete their 80 hours of core training in the month of March. Here are some photos from the class so far.....




Cool stuff in tanks at PTMSC

Oh Yes! We have NURDLES!!
Ahh - the septic test pit.....
Weeding in the rain, just Weeding in the rain!

Demonstrating the rubber ducky method of stream flow monitoring (in case of high flow or severe budget cuts)

We are having fun! Stay tuned for more scenes from the 2011 class.

2011 Beach Watcher Training

It's that time again!

Applications for the 2011 WSU Beach Watcher Training for Jefferson County are now available online. Class begins March 1st. Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 4:30pm through March 31. Space in the class is limited.

This fast paced class will provide participants with an overview of the activities, issues and organizations involved with water in Jefferson County and beyond. Participants will gain new skills, learn from experts, meet new people and join in a tradition of service to the community. You will also have a wonderful time, meet new friends and make a difference! For more information on the training and an application click here.

After graduating, participants will be provided with a wide variety of exciting options to complete 100-hours of volunteer service. To learn more about current Beach Watcher activities, scroll through this blog.

Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 4:30pm through March 31. Most classes will be held at WSU Extension in Port Hadlock. The class cost is $40. Scholarships are available. The application process will include a free orientation in mid-February. For more information or a printed application, please email Darcy at darcym@wsu.edu or call 360/379-5610 x230.

Reports from the Field: MV Indigo & Indian Island

Beach Watcher Nicole Frenzl reports on her experience during an Advanced Training on the MV Indigo. This opportunity was provided to Beach Watcher volunteers by COSEE.

Nicole reports: I'm happy to report a fascinating, educational cruise on the "Indigo" research vessel. It was a beautiful day, and we got quite good results from the various tests, i.e., water quality, turbidity, etc. We took water samples from 2 different depths, then looked at the phytoplankton and zooplankton under microscopes. That was wonderful.

Two divers went down with underwater camera and showed us the live pictures on the tv screen on the boat. They images were much more colorful and teeming with activity than I would have thought. Then they brought up some marvelous creatures for us to see. The staff/crew were very knowledgeable and interesting and fun!

Also this summer WSU Beach Watchers and WSU Master Gardeners had an opportunity to tour Naval Magazine Indian Island together. Our tourguide, Environmental Manager Bill Kalina was informative and answered -- oh, about one million questions about the facility from our curious group. We got to see surprises like a pioneer gravesite and learned about the history of the Island. We also learned about the super fund sites that are delisted and cleaned up. Of great interest to Beach Watchers was the soft shore armoring done at one of the sites - instead of riprap or a concrete bulkhead. Bill invited us back for a hike sometime. Any takers?

Beach Watchers In Action
3/1/10:
2010 Training Begins

Twenty Students -- Eager to Learn!



What IS it??? eeeewwww?



























Ahhhhh Judy D'Amore explains.
Thanks to Port Townsend Marine Science Center for the great day!







And what a day at Irondale Park!




Sunny and (reasonably) warm!








Good in the woods too!







Heading out for more learning.
Check back soon for more from BWT 2010.
Click here for details of the first week.