Water Quality Monitoring expands to Friday Harbor

Russel Barsh has compiled and tabulated the data collected in 2009 from Fishing Bay in East Sound. As plans progress for Beach Watchers to continue this work next year, Russel is simultaneously expanding this monitoring program to the Port of Friday Harbor. Russel met with a number of Beach Watchers at the Friday Harbor labs on Tuesday, Oct. 20. After a preliminary discussion of plans for next year, the group moved to the FH Port and observed and collected plants and animals from the docks. Preparatory work on this project will continue, and active monitoring will begin in the spring.

Meanwhile Russel, on behalf of Kwiaht, is taking preliminary steps to establish a similar monitoring program on Lopez, hopefully in conjunction with the 2010 Beach Watchers class.

Micro-Plastics Monitoring on local beaches

On Monday, Oct. 19, Jen Kingfisher from the Port Townsend Marine Science Center met with Beach Watchers at San Juan Island's Jackson Beach. In conjunction with the Department of Ecology, the PT Marine Science Center is sampling beach debris in all seven Washington counties that border the U.S. portion of the Salish Sea for "micro-plastics." -- the small fragments that often are ingested by marine animals. Jen's paraphernalia included buckets, sieves, and garden trowels, which she used to demonstrate the sampling protocol. Three 1-meter square sections of the beach are chosen at 30 foot intervals from which sand and other beach debris are gathered. These bucketfuls of material are then shaken through different-sized sieves to collect the human-made debris that remains, after the organic material is removed. The debris is then analyzed and counted by category. The sampling is being done twice a year - with samples from all beaches collected the same week in October, and again in March. Samples and data sheets are forwarded to Jen for further analysis and recording.

After the group practiced the techniques by collecting samples from three quadrates on Jackson Beach on Monday, Jen left the sampling gear behind to use on other island beaches. Kim Secunda and Susan Muckle collected samples from Orcas and Lopez, and the San Juan Beach Watchers met in the rain at South Beach on Wednesday.

The data collected will provide a baseline for determining the quantity and types of plastics that are showing up on Salish Sea beaches, as a first step towards finding local solutions to this world-wide problem.

Everyone is encouraged to help with the 2nd sampling session in March; more information will be posted when the date gets closer.

Chemistry 101 - a workshop with Russel Barsh

Several Beach Watchers met on Orcas on Oct. 15 as a follow-up to the Fishing Bay monitoring the group has been doing this year in East Sound. At this first of two workshops designed to evaluate the monitoring already done and plan for next year, Russel devoted a good portion of the time to an in-depth look at the molecular structure of anionic and non-ionic surfactants, to help us understand why they work the way they do, and why they are so harmful to the marine environment. Russel feels that it is important that we as "citizen scientists" have a solid understanding of the work we're doing and its scientific foundation. The day ended with a look at the different kinds of research equipment that can be used to measure surfactant concentration in the water. The second workshop on October 29, also at the Orcas Fire Station, will continue this discussion and lead into planning for next year's research. All Beach Watchers are welcome at the second workshop, starting at 10 am.

TOXINS IN OUR WATER

After the Hedrick Smith Evening at the Orcas Center in August I went away with more questions than answers. The event was very informative in many ways, but was lacking in answers to the questions of 'what can we do to help'. I think that was the general feeling from the rest of the audience as well. Everyone wanted more information on how to help, what products to buy, or not buy. Here is a link to the 'Friends' newsletter that has a good article on surfactants. There are lists of good resources and a list of the 'dirty dozen'--top product ingredients to avoid.

Please read the 'Toxins in our Water" article

http://www.sanjuans.org/news/Newsletter%20Summer%202009_WEB.pdf

If you have any information that may be helpful, please comment on this blog. If you use products that you have researched and know are safe, please share that information so we can all be better stewards of the earth.

Thanks, N. Alboucq

GREAT NEWS regarding California's sustainable seafood bill!

Success! Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed California's Sustainable Seafood Bill (AB 1217) into law!

"The bill was sponsored by the Monterey Bay Aquarium and we were pleased to work with Assemblyman Bill Monning in shaping this important legislation. At a time when the oceans are in crisis, commercial fishermen are struggling and fisheries are in decline, it's more important than ever to support those who fish responsibly. This bill will ensure that fishermen get the assistance they need to seek official certification of their fisheries and bring sustainable seafood to market." - quote from the Monterey Bay Aquarium newsletter.


Click on these links to read more about the new bill.


http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/AB_1217/


http://app.bronto.com/public/?q=preview_message&fn=Link&t=1&ssid=10832&id=3jrde320tntjh86k2v667ogxxscbb&id2=1frmzoqiyee6n0ek4fou4rydjfbvj&subscriber_id=bkvphtotibkoshhatfhiaymvpowxbmf&messageversion_id=ajltxqaquxzvzczlgdcpgvcpkjtbbjc&delivery_id=bzemehfvw

NOAA Public Hearing on Whale Protection Proposal

On Monday, Oct. 5, NOAA will hold a public hearing at the Grange on San Juan Island from 7 to 9 pm for public comment on the proposed vessel regulations to further protect the Southern Resident Killer Whales. Plan to attend if you can.

The final deadline for receipt of public comments by NOAA is Oct. 27.

Indian Island monitoring - analysis of 2009 and planning for 2010

In case you haven't already received this information, Russel Barsh has scheduled two workshops in October for volunteers and teachers interested in the Indian Is. Marine Health Observatory program in Eastsound. The first on Oct. 15 will focus on what has been learned from this year's monitoring, and include discussion of the quality and reliability of testing methods. The second workshop on Oct. 29 will be a review of this year's data and what it means for the health of the Indian Island ecosystem. Discussion will include planning for next year's program. Both meetings will be at the Eastsound fire station from 10 am to 1 pm

Puget Sound Partnership TV Ads

The Puget Sound Partnership will be airing a number of TV ads with the theme: "Puget Sound Starts Here." You can view the ads on UTube - here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqP9mFoqygM

Shann wishes they had chosen to use The Salish Sea instead of Puget Sound, but the message is good.

Upcoming SEA DOC Lectures

The SeaDoc Society has announced it's 2009-2010 Lecture Series. Dates and topics are listed below. All lectures are at 7 pm at Camp Orkila. Call 376-3910 for further information.

Oct 13: The Western Grebe: a vanishing icon, by Joe Gaydos, SeaDoc Society

Nov 10: Whales, echolocation and noise, by Jason Wood, The Whale Museum

Dec 8: Sharks of the San Juan Islands, by Gene Helfman, U of Georgia
Family night: free dinner at 5 pm, program starts at 7 pm

Jan 12: There is no such thing as a sea gull, by Thor Hanson, Author and biologist

Feb 9: Tracker dogs: saving killer whales, by Katherine Ayers, U of Washington

Mar 9: Super Suckers: Giant Pacific Octopus & other cephalopods, by Tim Carpenter,Seattle Aquarium

Orcasphere.org - Scott Veirs

As a result of publicity about John Ford's report on the salmon population and the Northern and Southern Residents, Scott has written a comment on his blog - Orcasphere http://www.orcasphere.org/ His link will be added to our site as well.

Resident Orcas & Salmon Study by John Ford

On the Discovery News website is an article with the results of the most recent study by John Ford, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and others on how the decline or increase in the salmon populations affect both Northern and Southern Residents. In particular, El Nino years have had the most dramatic effect on the residents.
The article can be viewed at http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/09/16/killer-whale-salmon.html

John Ford, with Kenneth Balcomb from the Center for Whale Research and two other colleagues, reported the findings this month in the online edition of the journal Biology Letters .

GREAT NEWS FOR MARINE INVASIVE SPECIES MONITORING

MISM has been funded for another two years (through June 2011) and Nahkeeta NW will continue as the program coordinator working under contract with WDFW.
San Juan County has 14 beach watcher volunteers who participate in this program. Hopefully everyone has been successful in monitoring the beaches they have chosen and entered the information on the Nahkeeta website for Ann Eissinger. There were some computer glitches at the beginning of the summer that she believes have been taken care of.
Ann is asking for comments and suggestion from the volunteers that will help to improve the MISM program, make it a rewarding experience for everyone and provide useful information.
You may either use this forum for your comments, or send them directly to me at zencamp@comcast.net.
Personally, I have enjoyed this monitoring very much. Not only have I learned about the invasive species that we are looking for, but I have also learned a lot about the native species that live on the beaches in our islands. I have seen many interesting animals that I have never come across before, and probably wouldn't have come across unless monitoring. I have several questions and comments for Ann, and I hope that if you do, you will post them or send me an email.
Ann is working with Padilla Bay National Estuarine Reserve to develop specialized workshops that focus on Species ID of certain taxa such as tunicates, whelks/drills and crabs. She will send out an announcement once the programs are set up.
Nancy Alboucq
SJBW-MISM coordinator

Puget Sounds Starts Here--New Website

A new website http://www.pugetsoundstartshere.org will be a "clearing house" for volunteer opportunities to educate and engage in the recovery of Puget Sound. The website was organized by ECO Net, part of the Puget Sound Partnership http://www.psp.wa.gov/econet.php

Please check it out frequently as organizations will be posting events and volunteer opportunities at any time.

Travel with WSU Extension Beach Watchers to Africa

Beach Watchers will join Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) next year for their "Safari Serengeti: Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari" tour! This 12-day trip will depart September 12, 2010. If we fill our group, non-profit Beach Watchers will receive a cash donation from OAT. Travel with local friends and benefit Beach Watchers too. Here is a link to this incredible tour:http://www.oattravel.com/gcc/general/default.aspx?oid=262689

For more information about how to sign up, or to ask questions, please call: Sandy Dubpernell at 360-678-3765 or Linda Ridder at 360-579-2521.

Naming of Salish Sea

Interesting article from The Bellingham Herald. http://bellinghamherald.com/102/story/1072836

If you care to write regarding the adoption of the name, here is the info. It is not too late as the meeting will be on October 30.

Caleb A. Maki
WA State Dept. of Natural Resources
Engineering Division - Resource Mapping Section
WA State Board on Geographic Names

Phone: 360-902-1280
Fax: 360-902-1778
Email: caleb.maki@dnr.wa.gov