Beach Watchers Reunion

Several Beach Watchers from all four classes attended the picnic yesterday at South Beach. The food was wonderful and plentiful. Updates on various activities from some of the areas scientists and marine advocates were given. Thank you Shann for arranging a great event. I hope others who attended will add more information so those that missed it will be informed. I hope this is an annual event.

County Meeting Scheduled for CAO

The County Council has scheduled a workshop on possible revisions to the county’s Critical Areas Ordinance for August 25 at 1 p.m. in the San Juan Island Community Theatre.

Critical Areas Ordinance

As Beach Watchers it is important for us to educate ourselves on the CAO. The following link to the San Juan County website contains all the documents you will need to better understand the potential new regulations. Follow the link: http://www.sanjuanco.com/cdp/default.aspx?dept=cdp&listname=CAO

Orcas Library Fair

Volunteers are needed to help with the Beach Watcher Booth at the Orcas Island Library Fair, Saturday August 8th. Please contact Ulanah McCoy if you are interested in volunteering your time. Ulanah needs several volunteers during the fair, 10am-3pm, 1 person to help set up at 8:30am and 1 person to help break down at 3pm. You may contact Ulanah at sharksneedfins@earthlink.net or 376-3427.

Have Kayak? People for Puget Sound Needs You to Survey Spartina

PPS is asking for volunteers with kayaks to be trained to locate and record Spartina infestations. Training sessions will be held in July through mid-September. After training you will be qualified to go out on your own. For more info check the website: http://pugetsound.org/soundspotlight/spartinakayak or call Rachel Benbrook, trainer and project coordinator, at 360-230-1353.

Beacher Watchers needed to staff BW Booth at County Fair!

The San Juan County Fair is coming up on August 12-15. We need volunteers to help staff the booth! It is a great time to celebrate community and wonderful way to let others know about Beach Watchers and about stewardship of our marine environment. Pencil in the dates and watch for an email soon to come.

Whale Museum Lecture - July 15 - Southern Resident DNA Analysis

The Whale Museum's 2009 Lecture Series continues with a talk from Michael Ford of NOAA on Wednesday, July 15 at 7 pm. In his presentation entitled "Who's Dad?, DNA-based Paternity Analysis in Southern Resident Killer Whales," Michael Ford will be discussing the DNA parentage studies on the endangered Southern Resident orcas.

4th of July Beach Watchers Booth on Orcas

Marcia Spees did a fabulous job putting together a Beach Watcher information booth at the Orcas Saturday market on the 4th of July. Bruce Hall, Ulana McCoy, and Kim Secunda all volunteered to help Marcia educate the public. It was a big success.

Pictured are Nancy Alboucq, Marcia Spees and Bruce Hall.

Tue. Jul. 28 Beach Watchers Get-together on SJI

Potluck. Details of time, location, and program to be announced