The Dana Lyons concert on Lopez last Friday helped to launch Kwiaht's third "Marine Health Observatory" project in the Islands - this one focused on Lopez Island's Fisherman Bay. Dana, who has been performing all week in the San Juans, entertained a relatively small but enthusiastic crowd with his environmental songs and commentary throughout the evening. During the intermission, Russel Barsh showed slides of Fisherman Bay, and described the marine life found in the bay and on its shores, and also the fish, birds and other marine specimens that are no longer part of its ecosystem. For a number of the attendees, Russel's assessment that Fisherman Bay is in a less healthy condition than its larger and more developed counterparts - Fishing Bay and the Port of Friday Harbor - came as a surprise. Russel noted the the flushing action Lopez's harbor needs has not been possible since the flow of seawater over the tombolo was cut off when the level of the road to the peninsula was raised a number of years ago. The bay is gradually silting up, and the contaminants that enter it have no place to go. Among the signs that the quality of the bay is deteriorating are the disappearance of eelgrass beds, and the fact that the diving ducks who used to fish there, have been largely replaced by their dabbling cousins.
Russel outlined ideas for the Fisherman Bay project, beginning with an inventory of its seabirds and other marine creatures this summer, followed by baseline monitoring projects similar to the work going on in Eastsound and Friday Harbor. He is looking forward to working with Lopez Beach Watchers, Lopez school students, and other interested volunteers.
Stay tuned for further updates!
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