EVENTS: Jefferson County Natural History Society

Posted on October 31, 2026 by Al Bergstein

Outing: Explore the Duckabush

Join us on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10:00am-2:00pm for a field trip to the Jefferson Land Trust’s Duckabush Oxbow Preserve and the nearby USFS Ranger Hole site. We’ll explore lush, lowland forests; look for mushrooms and wildlife; and maybe see coho salmon moving upstream to spawn. We’ll start at the Preserve on a gentle trail down to the Duckabush River, then return to our cars and head to the Ranger Hole parking area for lunch and an afternoon walk through a more mature verdant forest on a fairly level 2-mile loop trail (elevation gain 292’). Carpooling and final trip details will be provided to registrants. RSVP to Cheryl Lowe at cheryl.lowe@outlook.com

Book Club Selection

The Natural History Book Club will meet at Rosewind’s Common House on Monday, November 23, from 3:00 to 4:30 to discuss Wild Souls by Emma Marris. Please bring $1 for the facility. Find more information about the Book Club at: olympicnature.org/book-club/.

Filed under: environmental education, Events, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

Event: Salmon Advocates to Rally in Sequim

Posted on October 21, 2026 by OlyOpen

On Thursday, October 22, the Let Our Salmon Come Home campaign will hold a rally and press conference, followed by a procession of voices for change ahead of the public comment period during the Pacific Salmon Commission’s 2026 Fall Meeting.

The Pacific Salmon Treaty, a harvest agreement between the United States and Canada, is currently being renegotiated, and decisions made now will determine the fate of our salmon, Southern Resident killer whales, and coastal communities for the next decade or more. The public has its most consequential opportunity in a generation to call on decision-makers to reform unsustainable ocean fisheries and Let Our Salmon Come Home to the rivers, ecosystems, and coastal communities that depend on them.

SCHEDULE
11:30 AM | Rally | Gardiner Community Center (view map)
The day of action kicks off with a morning rally where salmon advocates from across the region will gather for music, food, and solidarity.

1:00 PM | Press Conference | Gardiner Community Center (view map)
The press and members of the public are invited to hear speakers from across the coast share what’s at stake for our salmon, Southern Resident killer whales, and coastal communities. Speakers include Adrian Tuohy, Let Our Salmon Come Home campaign; Riley Starks, commercial fisher; Dylan Tomine, Washington recreational fisher; Paul Engelmeyer, Oregon conservationist; and others to be announced.

2:00 PM | Procession and Demonstration | 7 Cedars Casino (view map)
Participants will walk from the parking lot to a site adjacent to the casino, where the Pacific Salmon Commission meeting is being held, to raise their voices and amplify the coastwide call to Let Our Salmon Come Home. Backbone Campaign is producing a large-scale visual display, providing strong photo and video opportunities.

3:30–5:00 PM | Public Comment Period | 7 Cedars Casino (view map)
Per the Pacific Salmon Commission’s guidelines, media may attend open sessions under the same registration and conduct rules as the public, but recording, photography, and livestreaming of proceedings are not permitted. Learn more on the Pacific Salmon Commission’s website.

Let Our Salmon Come Home is an international grassroots movement and advocacy campaign led by individuals, organizations, and businesses from California to Alaska, united by a shared commitment to reform unsustainable ocean fisheries and bring our salmon home. Learn more at www.letoursalmoncomehome.org.

Filed under: Clallam County, Environmental Activism, environmental education, Environmental Protection, legislation, Salmon | 2 Comments »

Audubon Holds State Meeting in Bellingham

Posted on October 12, 2026 by Al Bergstein

Time to read

4–6 minutes

I just returned from Bellingham where I participated in the state Audubon society that held their annual meeting with chapter leaders and other interested members.

The agenda was to review the successes that Audubon had achieved in 2026 and the policy goals for 2027. Aububon is a powerhouse environmental organization, both nationally and in the state. Given that one of Washington Audubon’s major achievements in the late 1970s and early 1980s was the work to create the Protection Island National Wildlfe Refuge, I was wondering whether there would be any mention of the brewing controversy over the request by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe to transfer the refuge to the Tribe. But there was no mention made of it at all.

The primary goal of Audubon nationally is working to reverse the destructive downward trend of wild bird populations . Audubon themselves, though working as best they could, has seen a decline of an estimated 3 Billion birds lost since 1970. Their goal is to reverse this as quickly as possible.

Programs for 2027

Audubon has two main focuses for the state in 2027.

Lights Out Washington Program

A success in 2026 was the adoption of the Lights Out Washington resolution. This program is a state wide effort to educate the public on the issue of mitigating the effects of lights in the night on migratory birds. Huge amounts of light pollution lighten the night sky, whether from cities, harbors, street lights and other general light sources. Anyone walking outside in the middle of the night can likely see stray light sources lighting up the sky. The long term goal is to convince both homeowners, businesses and municipalities to take actions to reduce or eliminate light sources that are not needed. One example discussed was terminal port activities that keep a huge amount of light on all night regardless of whether it is needed or not.

The organization trained the audience to help them prepare for Audubon Lobby Day 2027 to promote additional bills of support for Lights Out Washington and other environmental bills.

Migratory Bird Day

The celebration of World Migratory Bird Day educates the public on challenges of bird migration. Audubon has been promoting an online tool called, “The Migratory Bird Explorer” an amazing compilation of data from scientists and amateur birders across the continent and hemisphere.

Migratory Bird Explorer

Helen Engle Volunteer of the Year presentation

Helen Engle was the president of Seattle Audubon and also Washington State Audubon in the seminal growth period of 1970- 1980s. From Wikipedia: She co-founded various environmental organisations, including the Tahoma Audubon Society, the Washington Environmental council, Washington Wilderness Coalition, The Arboretum Foundation, Nisqually Land Trust, and Citizens for a Healthy Bay in Tacoma. She was a board member of National Audubon Society. The award honors her legacy of environmental activism, a trait sorely missing in so many environmental groups today. I had the honor to meet and travel with Helen to a state convention around 1980. She was a formidable environmental leader.

The Helen Engle Award was given to Alan McCoy from Spokane Audubon. As chapter president he has headed an incredible team of volunteers to expand the chapter and it’s protections for birds in the Spokane area.

Protection Island & Dungeness Spit Land Transfer

I spent a few minutes talking to Csenka Favorini-Csorba, who is the policy director for Washington State Audubon. I asked her about the issue of Protection Island and at first she stated that there is no bill for them to take issue with or support yet so she was not going to comment on it. However as we talked further about the issue, she said that other land transfers, in her opinion, had been very successful. She saw no reason to worry about whether or not the land transfer would be beneficial or not for the birds and the tribes were good stewards of the lands that have been transferred . I reminded her that Jamestown has a significant aquaculture business and that they have already been proposing putting 80,000 bags of oysters on the bottom of Dungeness Bay, right next to the refuge, where diving birds fed .She did not seem to be aware of that or the lawsuit by another environmental organization against the tribe that had stopped this proposal for the time being. Her point of view seemed to be very supportive of tribal land transfers in general saying that the land had been “stolen” (her words) from them long ago and it would be appropriate in some cases to be giving it back to them. (historically it would be more accurate to state that the 1855 treaty that the Jamestown signed along with other tribes ceded land in exchange for the right to hunt and fish in perpetuity. That Treaty and that specific language was the reason for the successful outcome of the Boldt decision in the 1970s for the northwest tribes). I asked her if Audubon Washington might support simply keep things as they were with the tribe co-managing the property so all Americans including the tribe could be able to weigh in on issues of management through the United States Fish and Wildlife. She said that it would be better to wait until the bill came out. It would appear from our conversation that Audubon Washington has little interest in either getting involved in the land transfer when it happens or opposing it in any way shape or form. In her defense, Audubon has to work with many other tribes in the state in order to achieve their goals, and I can understand why they would not be willing to make any statements pro or con until the bill is actually out. I left wondering whether or not Audubon members throughout the state would feel the same way about giving away a refuge that former Audubon leaders including Helen Engle, Hazel Wolf, Lorna Smith (nee Campion in the 1970s), the Nature Conservancy along with thousands of members and the public had spent a huge amount of time putting in the federal reserve system in the first place. That obviously will be a question to be answered next year.

Filed under: Environmental Activism, environmental education, Environmental Law, Environmental Protection, Environmental Science, Olympic Peninsula, Protection Island | Tagged: | 2 Comments »

EVENTS: Upcoming events at Fort Flagler

Posted on October 1, 2026 by Al Bergstein

Some great new environmental educational events happening over on Marrowstone Island’s Fort Flagler WWII Theater

Ocean with David Attenborough, 10/15@6:00pm, WWII Theater

Registration:Register for Ocean with…

“Ocean with David Attenborough” is a 2025 National Geographic documentary in which Sir David Attenborough explores Earth’s oceans, their threats, and the hope for large‑scale marine recovery. The documentary highlights the beauty and ecological importance of coral reefs, kelp forests, and the open ocean while addressing industrial fishing, ocean warming, and mass coral bleaching. Attenborough emphasizes that restoring ocean health is essential for planetary stability.

Fort Flagler State Park, WWII Theater

Critters of the Salish Sea: Underwater Photography 10/17 @ 4PM

Registration: Register for Critters…

Larry McGaughey is a retired Environmental Engineer. He spent his career working primarily in Texas and Washington, characterizing and cleaning up contaminated industrial and governmental sites as well as doing environmental permitting. He holds degrees in chemical and environmental engineering. Larry also served 9 years as an interpretation volunteer at the Seattle Aquarium and as a docent for about 2 years at the Port Townsend Maritime Center aquarium.

Larry got his scuba diving certification in 2008, doing open water dives in Puget Sound, just north of Seattle. He soon began cold-water diving regularly, initially logging around 100 dives a year and got his wife and daughters into Puget Sound diving. Larry got his first underwater camera setup in 2010 and started taking photos on almost every dive. Diving and underwater photography have taken him and his wife to Mexico, Honduras, Grenada, Iceland, St. Eustaitius, Turks & Caicos, British Columbia, the Philippines, the Maldives, Palau, and Indonesia.

Fort Flagler State Park, WWII theater

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A word from Eleanor Stopps’ Granddaughter about Protection Island

Posted on September 21, 2026 by Al Bergstein
Eleanor Stopps. Named Citizen of the 20th Century in Jefferson County and creator of the Protection Island Wildlife Refuge

Donna Armstrong, Eleanor Stopps granddaughter sent this to me for publication.

Protection Island is more than a place on a map. It is an island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca that provides nesting habitat for tufted puffins, rhinoceros auklets, pigeon guillemots, and many other species. After failed farming and development attempts, parcels were purchased for the purpose of creating a public wildlife refuge. In 1974, Eleanor Stopps (my grandmother) and Fayette Krause of The Nature Conservancy helped create the 48-acre Zella Schultz Washington Seabird Sanctuary.

Over the next decade, Eleanor, Lorna Smith, and many individuals and organizations volunteered to acquire private lots. One example was the “Adopt a Seabird” campaign, which raised $50,000 to purchase 23 lots. I was eight years old when I adopted a seabird.

Now, U.S House of Representative Emily Randall will be sponsoring the Jamestown S’Klallam Land Transfer Act of 2026, which proposes transferring ownership of Protection Island and Dungeness Spit National Wildlife Refuges into trust through the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.

Eleanor, Lorna, and many others worked tirelessly for years with elected officials and public agencies. In 1982, Congress established Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge, with conservation purposes that included protecting wildlife, scientific research, education, and interpretation.

Since then, Protection Island has been stewarded through collaboration among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, conservation organizations, scientists, and the public. In August 2024, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe joined this framework through a co-stewardship agreement, creating opportunities to include Tribal knowledge and perspectives. When environmental challenges arise, this model brings Tribal partners, public agencies, scientists, and managers together for solutions.

Representative Randall’s proposal would repeal the 1982 law and remove Protection Island from national refuge status and the protection that provides. I am firmly against taking this action and I am sure my granddmother would have been also. Protection Island exists today because Eleanor, Fayette, Lorna, and many others gave their time, resources, and determination to establish it from private land. That history is part of public trust, future generations can believe in a democracy that can still work for them.

To learn more, visit the protect refuges website https://protectrefuges.org and People for Protection Island & Dungeness NWR on Facebook People For Protection Island & Dungeness NWR | Facebook

Editor’s Note: Eleanor Stopps was named Citizen of the Century by Jefferson County for her efforts.

Zella Schultz & Eleanor Stopps

Filed under: Environmental Activism, environmental education, Environmental Protection, Jefferson County, Protection Island, Straits of Juan de Fuca | 1 Comment »

Event: Stream Stewards – Salmon Biology & Restoration

Posted on August 23, 2026 by Al Bergstein

Here’s a great volunteer opportunity to get you outside and into the stream of things! Watching salmon counting in the stream was a fun morning. Plus you’ll see places you rarely get to see without being part of one of these trainings. Check it out

The Stream Stewards Program, originally developed by Washington State University’s Jefferson County Extension and now hosted by the Salmon Coalition, provides Jefferson and Clallam County residents with the opportunity to turn environmental knowledge into action. Through this 5-week course, participants learn about connections between our lands and waters by diving into topics such as stream ecology and restoration, salmon biology and habitats, managing urban watersheds, riparian forests, tribal roles in restoration, and fisheries management. You will connect with local natural resource experts in classroom sessions and field experiences and learn about opportunities to get involved in local efforts to steward and restore our local watersheds.

Upon completion, volunteers are asked to commit to 20 volunteer hours to an organization of their choice over the following year. Volunteer hours can be applied to a wide range of opportunities that work toward the larger goal of improving local ecosystem health. From getting involved in a citizen science project to engaging in public outreach, volunteers can connect with opportunities that fit their skills and interests. Through this program, we hope to connect you to many of these organizations that host volunteer opportunities.

Throughout the training, organizations will provide participants with information about local projects and offer exciting opportunities to plug in and make a difference on the Olympic Peninsula.

The 5-week course fee will be $100 and classes will take place every Wednesday in September from 9am – 2pm at various locations in Jefferson and Clallam Counties.

Want to just take one or two of the classes? We have now opened up single session registration. You can register for one or multiple sessions individually. Each single session is $25.

Filed under: Clallam County, education, Environmental Activism, environmental education, Environmental Science, Events, Jefferson County, Salmon | Tagged: | Comments Off on Event: Stream Stewards – Salmon Biology & Restoration

Looking back over 200 years of the salmon killing tire chemical 6PPD

Posted on July 22, 2026 by Al Bergstein

Fascinating story. Untangling chemical names and looking back over 200 years of 6PPD history.

The tire chemical 6PPD is known worldwide for its deadly effect on salmon, but it also has a complex history. We look at how this history connects to important breakthroughs in modern transportation and medicine and how the unique chemical structure of 6PPD makes it an environmental hazard.

https://www.eopugetsound.org/article/history-and-chemical-structure-tire-chemical-6ppd-q

And for a more comprehensive look at the issue we face with tires killing salmon, read any of the stories at the following link.

https://www.eopugetsound.org/seeking-alternatives-to-6PPD

Filed under: Around the Salish Sea, environmental education, Environmental Science | Comments Off on Looking back over 200 years of the salmon killing tire chemical 6PPD

Plastics An exposé of the plastic industry – Fresh Air

Posted on April 1, 2026 by Al Bergstein

I’ve written about the “end of environmentalism”over the past two years. Here’s another reason why I haven’t changed my mind. If you don’t understand how the oil industry is poisoning us and lying to us, you need to hear this podcast by NPR’s Fresh Air. It’s “Big Tobacco” all over again. It’s worse than you think. Get angry, demand change. Buy at the Co-op where they use less plastic on produce. But you can’t avoid it and the industry banks on it. Literally.

In award-winning journalist Beth Gardiner’s new book, ‘Plastic Inc.,’ she traces how plastic went from a wartime miracle to the survival strategy of the fossil fuel industry. What Gardiner found after years of reporting is that while millions of us were recycling and using less fuel, the companies that make plastic are producing more to make up for it. She spoke with Tonya Mosley about recycling, microplastics in the human body, and the environmental impact.   

https://www.npr.org/2026/04/01/nx-s1-5770396/an-expose-of-the-plastic-industry

Filed under: Environmental Activism, environmental education, Environmental Protection | 4 Comments »

Pacific Chorus Frogs Welcome Spring

Posted on March 18, 2026 by Al Bergstein

If you are like me, the first real sign of spring is the vast chorus of the Pacific Chorus Frogs in the evening. We have a pond near our house and early March has been about the time they show up. It’s one of the really spectacular natural events that are easy to enjoy. Just open your window when you go to sleep. Better than yowling coyotes!

Pacific Chorus Frog Pseudacris regilla
The Pacific Chorus Frog (also known as the Pacific Treefrog) is perhaps the most abundant amphibian on the west coast of North America. The geographic range of these little frogs extends from British Columbia down to Baja California, and from the Pacific Ocean to Nevada and Montana. Within this huge area, Pacific Chorus Frogs can be found from sea level to over 10,000 feet, in habitats that include deserts and redwood forests. If you live within the range of this frog, you have probably heard them calling, or seen them hopping about. Michael F. Benard writes. (Mr. Toad)

Filed under: Around the Salish Sea, environmental education | 3 Comments »

Upcoming Events from Friends Fort Flagler

Posted on January 31, 2026 by Al Bergstein

Common Garden Pests and their Prevention/Curative Strategies Via Zoom

February 25, 2026  2 – 3:30 PM 

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Common garden pests can challenge even the most experienced gardeners, but effective management doesn’t have to come at the expense of our environment. This online presentation explores common garden pests found in the Puget Sound region and highlights prevention and curative strategies that protect plants while keeping waterways clean and healthy. Attendees will learn environmentally responsible approaches that reduce chemical use, safeguard soil and pollinators, and help preserve the health of Puget Sound for generations to come.

Brandon Hudson is a respected agronomist with KIS Organics. He has been an agronomist for nearly four decades of cultivation experience. Raised in a farming family in East Tennessee, he grew up immersed in sustainable agriculture and plant science from an early age. Over the course of his career, he has worked across a wide range of cultivation systems—from hydroponics to fully organic living soil—ultimately dedicating himself to soil-based, biological growing methods that allow plants to reach their fullest natural expression.

Today, Brandon resides on Marrowstone Island, Washington, where he consults with organic farmers, gardeners, and commercial cultivators throughout the country. At KIS Organics, he provides soil testing, plant diagnostics, and farm-system guidance, drawing on years of hands-on experience including his previous role managing propagation and greenhouse operations at a large commercial hemp farm. Through education, research, and personalized consulting, he continues to help growers transition to regenerative, data-driven practices that improve soil health, crop quality, and long-term sustainability.

Discover the World of River Otters@WWII Rec Center

March 7, 2026  2:00 – 3:30 PM

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Playful, intelligent, and endlessly curious, river otters are among the most captivating residents of Puget Sound. Join us for an engaging program that explores the hidden world of these remarkable mammals — from their family life and denning habits to their hunting strategies, play behaviors, and the ways they communicate with one another.

Our speaker, Sara Penhallegon, will share stories from the field and provide a behind-the-scenes look at what happens when otters face challenges in the wild. Learn how injured, sick, or orphaned otters are cared for and rehabilitated, and how community members can help these incredible animals thrive.

🎙️ About the Speaker: Sara Penhallegon

Sara Penhallegon is the Founder and Executive Director of Center Valley Animal Rescue (CVAR) in Quilcene. She has worked with licensed wildlife rehabilitators since 2000 and became a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator herself in 2012 — the same year CVAR became a fully permitted wildlife rehabilitation facility.

Under her leadership, CVAR has become a trusted resource for caring for injured and orphaned wildlife, with special expertise in the rehabilitation of wild mammals and wild birds. Animals arrive at CVAR for many reasons — vehicle strikes, domestic animal attacks, habitat disruption, or early separation from their parents — and Sara’s team works tirelessly to provide safe recovery, proper housing, and eventual release back into the wild.

To learn more about Center Valley Animal Rescue, visit: https://centervalleyanimalrescue.org/

Fort Flagler State Park, WWII Rec Center

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Earth Day – Beach Clean-up and Invasive Grass Pull 11:30-3:30

April 4, 2026  11:30 – 3:30

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Join us to help remove debris and invasive sea grass from our beach. This will help protect our marine life and native species grasses and enhance the health of our park. Your contribution makes a tangible difference!

Fort Flagler State Park, Lower

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Easter Egg Hunt at Fort Flagler Lower Campground @ 10am

April 4, 2026 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Join the fun and bring your children aged 2 to 14 to FoFF’s Easter egg hunt. We’ll meet at the Lower Campground by the bathroom. Children will be grouped into three age groups so the young ones have better odds (no child will come away empty-handed). Please feel free to bring baskets for the egg hunt.

Fort Flagler State Park, Lower Campground by playground

Discover How Your Backyard Composting Helps Our Parks – Zoom Presents

April 8, 2026  2:00 – 3:15 PM

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Join us for a special virtual presentation with Laura Tucker from Jefferson County Environmental Health, a knowledgeable educator who has led composting classes across the county. Laura will share simple, effective ways that individual composting can make a big difference—not only in your own garden, but throughout our state parks and surrounding natural areas.

Learn how composting reduces landfill waste, cuts harmful greenhouse gases, and builds healthy soil that supports native plants. Healthy soil, in turn, creates stronger habitat for pollinators, birds, insects, and the wildlife that depend on them. Laura will also explain how home composting helps limit invasive species, protects water quality, and reduces the pressure on fragile park ecosystems.

Whether you’re a seasoned composter or just curious about getting started, this session will show how small actions at home contribute to a healthier environment for everyone—including the beaches, forests, and wildlife we all enjoy in our Washington State Parks.

Bats of Washington State and Marrowstone Island – Zoom Presentation

April 22, 2026  2:00 – 3:30 PM

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Are you curious about the bats of Washington and the species that live right here at Fort Flagler and on Marrowstone Island? This introductory talk will explore Washington’s native bat species, with a special focus on those most likely to be found in and around Fort Flagler State Park. Learn where local bats roost and forage, how the park’s forests, open fields, and shoreline support bat habitat, and why bats are such an important part of the island’s ecosystem. We’ll also discuss current conservation challenges facing bats in Washington and what FoFF members and park visitors can do to help protect these often-misunderstood nocturnal neighbors.

Nick Moore (He/Him) is the Assistant Species Lead in the Wildlife Division at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, where he supports science-based species conservation and recovery efforts across the state. He works closely with agency staff, partners, and stakeholders to advance effective wildlife management and habitat protection. Nick has an educational background in wildlife biology and natural resource management, which informs his collaborative, data-driven approach to conserving Washington’s native wildlife for current and future generations.

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Native Bee Habitat Walk

May 2, 2026  8:00 AM

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Timing is everything for native bees. Observing them during the period in which they construct nests, mate, and provision natal cells can be the most illuminating time to observe them. Kris, a native bee enthusiast with the Washington Native Bee Society, will lead a tour of some of Fort Flager’s most active bee habitats. With a little luck, she hopes to share them while they exhibit some of these fascinating behaviors, helping to inspire your future observations, in the wild or your backyard.

Kris Ethington is a citizen scientist, native bee enthusiast, and photographer. Her curiosity for the natural world began with learning to garden for butterfly habitat in southern California. She has participated in Monarch parasite and migration citizen science studies and led environmental outreach programs. She pursued a certificate in landscape design before leaving CA and served as a garden ambassador for the California Native Plant

Society after designing and re-planting her landscape with mostly native plants. It was in this garden that she became a garden naturalist, photographing plant/pollinator interactions and documenting her observations through iNaturalist.org for expert identification and scientific research. After retiring to Port Townsend in 2021, she applied these skills to gain knowledge of Washington’s wild bee populations and explore their nesting habitats. Her bee surveys have covered over 16 sites in east Jefferson County spanning three years. As an active member of the Washington Native Bee Society, Kris contributes to its advocacy and conservation efforts by creating regional awareness through educational outreach.

Fort Flagler State Park, Beachcomber Cafe

Explore the Layers of Time: Geology Beach Walk at Fort Flagler

May 17, 2026  8:00 – 11:00 AM

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Join us for a fascinating geology talk followed by a beach walk of 2 miles round trip at Fort Flagler State Park, timed perfectly with a minus tide to reveal hidden natural features and ancient stories embedded in the land. Led by Professor Ralph Dawes and assisted by Carol Serdar and Scott Minor from the Quimper Geological Society (QGS). This walk begins at the lower campground and proceeds to Marrowstone Point and follows the beach trail westward along the base of the bluff.

This walk is a unique opportunity to witness Fort Flagler’s geologic wonders up close and to learn how tides, glaciers, and time have sculpted the landscape we see today. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes suitable for uneven, rocky beach terrain, and bring your curiosity for this one-of-a-kind coastal adventure!

Ralph Dawes: Originally from Edmonds, Washington, he has a degree in literature from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, OH, and degrees in geology from WWU (BS) and the UW (MS, Ph.D.). He taught at Wenatchee Valley College for 26 years and now lives at Cape George with his wife, Cheryl Dawes. He is passionate about sharing how the geologic history of the Pacific Northwest gives insight into the landforms, landslides, floods, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. In recent years, he has been involved in research on volcanic rocks near Wenatchee and glacial landforms in north central Washington. Keeping it local, he is now transferring his focus to unanswered questions about the geology of the Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound.

Carol Serdar Tepper: Born and raised in southern Puget Sound, Carol’s master thesis included a description and analysis of a large landslide and related salmon impacts. She is a Licensed Geologist; retired from Washington State regulatory work (surface mine reclamation, landslide mapping, forest practices regulatory, and water quality compliance); and formerly WA State Secondary Science Teacher, 10 years which included developing a middle-school science curriculum based on Pacific Salmon life history and habitat. Carol gleefully retired from state service with 32 fun-filled years in February 2022.

Scott Minor: BSc at UC Santa Barbara and MSc in Geology at the Univ. of Colorado. Retired Research Scientist at USGS—Denver. Focus on geologic framework, fault kinematic and paleostress histories of strain transfer and accommodation zones of the Rio Grande rift. Experience with fault-related fluid flow within poorly consolidated sediments as well as geologic mapping and geologic framework characterization.

Fort Flagler State Park, WWII Rec Center

Decode Your Plants: A Hands-On Guide to Visual Plant Diagnosis

May 30, 2026  2:00 – 3:30 PM 

Registration:  Friends of Fort Flagler

Decode Your Plants: A Hands-On Guide to Visual Plant Diagnosis 5/16@4PM

Learn how to use a dichotomous key to visually diagnose plant health issues by observing leaf color, growth patterns, and other tell-tale signs. This practical, easy-to-follow approach empowers growers to identify nutrient deficiencies and plant stress with confidence. The session will also cover trusted sources for organic nutrients and soil amendments, giving you tools to correct problems naturally and keep your plants thriving.

Brandon Hudson is a respected agronomist with KIS Organics. He has been an agronomist for nearly four decades of cultivation experience. Raised in a farming family in East Tennessee, he grew up immersed in sustainable agriculture and plant science from an early age. Over the course of his career, he has worked across a wide range of cultivation systems—from hydroponics to fully organic living soil—ultimately dedicating himself to soil-based, biological growing methods that allow plants to reach their fullest natural expression.

Today, Brandon resides on Marrowstone Island, Washington, where he consults with organic farmers, gardeners, and commercial cultivators throughout the country. At KIS Organics, he provides soil testing, plant diagnostics, and farm-system guidance, drawing on years of hands-on experience including his previous role managing propagation and greenhouse operations at a large commercial hemp farm. Through education, research, and personalized consulting, he continues to help growers transition to regenerative, data-driven practices that improve soil health, crop quality, and long-term sustainability.

Fort Flagler State Park, WWII Rec Center

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Event: SALMON RECOVERY INTEGRAL TO SAVING ORCAS

Posted on November 13, 2025 by Al Bergstein

PLEASE JOIN US VIRTUALLY

THURSDAY   NOVEMBER 13, 2025  @ 7PM

REGISTER:  PPF@olympus.net

With CHERYL BAUMANN & TARA GALUSKA

Southern Resident Killer Whales which inhabit Puget Sound are one of the most imperiled marine mammals in the world. They are listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). A significant cause of stress for Orca is the lack of Chinook salmon, their preferred food source. Their survival is contingent on recovery of healthy populations of Chinook salmon, also endangered and protected under the ESA. So the fate of these iconic Washington animals is intertwined. Hear from two key scientists what is being done to help bring both Southern Resident killer whales and Salmon back from the brink, with a look at Olympic Peninsula salmon populations particularly important for Orca feeding and survival.

Darlene Schanfald, Ph.D.
Protect the Peninsula’s Future

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ToxicDocs database of industry documents

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Al Bergstein

From the Press release of Collaborative for Health and Environment.

Greetings CHE Community,

I hope you’re all doing well on this 10th annual Children’s Environmental Health Day! This national observance offers opportunities to raise awareness, celebrate successes, and share new initiatives protecting children’s health.

To mark the day we’re sharing a new collection of articles from leading experts in the latest issue of the SF/Marin Medical Society Journal. See commentary from Dr. Bruce Lanphear,Dr. Anne-Louise Ponsonby, Nse Obot Witherspoon, and others in a special children’s environmental health section of the journal, available now in the CHE Resource Library. See the full list of articles and authors below.

For those in Northern California — there’s still time to get your tickets for our in-person fundraising event on Sunday, October 26 to support our Zero Breast Cancer program! You’ll hear UCSF’s Dr. Kimberly Badal and CHE advisory team member Dr. Ted Schettler discuss cutting edge research on chemical mixtures and breast cancer risk, and enjoy a gorgeous seaside walk along the Bolinas bluffs. If you’re not in California — or can’t make it but would like to contribute — please make your donation here. Many thanks to those who’ve already purchased tickets! 

We hope you can join us for these upcoming webinars:

On Tuesday, October 14 at 11am PT/2pm ET we will host ToxicDocs: A database of once-secret chemical industry documents. The ToxicDocs website contains millions of pages 

dusty pile of paper documents

of industry documents about lead, asbestos, silica, PCBs, and other toxic substances. This collection includes internal memoranda, emails, slides, board minutes, unpublished scientific studies, and other documents that became publicly available through toxic tort litigation. The resource has been tapped by researchers, journalists, and others exploring environmental health risks. In this webinar one of ToxicDocs’ founders, Dr. Merlin Chowkwanyun, will give an overview of this growing dataset, introducing the interface, explaining the technology behind it, and offering a tour of the searchable content. RSVP here.

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EVENT: Friends of Ennis Creek walk

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Al Bergstein

Friends of Ennis Creek – Explore and Learn!

October 19 and October 25

We are offering TWO special tours in October. Join us to visit what we call “our last best chance of a salmon stream in Port Angeles.” Please help spread the word. Space is limited, and we got some walk requests at our Forever StreamFest booth last month. Reservations accepted in order received.

Sunday October 19: A walk to Ennis Creek on Robbie and Jim Mantooth’s trails. Visit a magnificent stretch of healthy salmon stream that Robbie and Jim and fisheries experts from the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe have been restoring and protecting, with help from North Olympic Land Trust. 

Volunteers from Clallam County Streamkeepers will demonstrate some equipment they use as part of regular water monitoring on the stream. And just savor the peace and beauty of the beautiful area! 

Dress to enjoy fall weather, with good walking shoes (expect a short steep bit of trail returning). Even rain is delightful under tree canopy on trails. We can lend out some hiking poles, but if you have them, you might want to bring them.

Time and Directions: 1:00 p.m. Drive to the east dead end of Lindberg Road (first left from Del Guzzi Drive if coming from east, or first left from Golf Course Road from west). Park on Lindberg Road or go under log entry for Ennis Arbor Farm to limited parking area. 

RSVP: Paul Pickett, (360) 359-3435, earthwater@gmail.com

Saturday October 25: A walk to the mouth of Ennis Creek on the Olympic Discovery Trail. Learn about and see first hand the former Rayonier Mill site, where the Department of Ecology is developing cleanup plans. 

Darlene Schanfald, a leader with Olympic Environmental Council and Sierra Club North Olympic Chapter, will tell us about the history of the site and the proposed cleanup. 

We will also learn about restoration possibilities for the mouth of Ennis Creek, a critical part of the site cleanup and rehabilitation. 

Dress to enjoy fall weather – the ODT trail is mostly paved and fairly flat. 

Time and Directions: 1:00 p.m. Take Ennis Street north to the parking area at the end of the street, and meet by gate to Olympic Discovery Trail. 

RSVP: Paul Pickett, (360) 359-3435, earthwater@gmail.com

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Thanks as Seattle Times’ Environmental Reporter Lynda Mapes retires.

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Al Bergstein

Over the decades, we have come to appreciate the reporting of Seattle Times’ environmental reporter Lynda Mapes. In August, she retired. Here’s her last column. Thank you Linda for all your great coverage. You will be missed.

“EARLIER THIS MONTH, I SAID goodbye after nearly three decades as a staff reporter at The Seattle Times, specializing in coverage of the environment, nature and Native American tribes. During this time I have seen so much change. “

Seattle writer Lynda V. Mapes thanks readers for decades of inspiration

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News from the Puget Sound Partnership Local Team

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Al Bergstein

Volunteer Opportunities  

Streamkeepers of Clallam County (Ongoing!)Streamkeepers monitors water quality and stream flow of Clallam County streams. Volunteers receive one-to-one training and are key to the success of the program. No prior experience necessary! Current opportunities include:

  • Summer Quarterly Monitoring throughout August
  • Pollution Investigation and Correction Stream Flow Team
  • Public outreach and education
  • Data entry

Please contact Joel Green, Streamkeepers Coordinator, for more information.

Salmon-Friendly Volunteers Needed at Jefferson County Fair

Help the North Olympic Salmon Coalition with their interactive salmon education activities, including Fin the Giant Migrating Salmon. Learn more and RSVP HERE.

Date: August 8th and 9th

Time: Varies

Place: Jefferson County Fairgrounds

Volunteer Training: Spawner Surveys

The North Olympic Salmon Coalition is offering training to participate in their Hood Canal Summer Chum surveys in Chimacum Creek. The training is mandatory if you want to join this citizen-science effort! Learn more and RSVP HERE.

Date: August 28th

Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 noon

Place: Finnriver Farm and Cidery, Chimacum

See “Training” section for information about NOSC’s Stream Stewards Training

Forever StreamFest 2025

The Fourth Annual Forever StreamFest will bring together environmental organizations to connect with the public, including potential new volunteers and supporters! Strait ERN has had a booth in the past and would be happy to support a booth this year if members were interested in sharing a space. I will likely be out of town, unfortunately, but please let me know if you’re interested in a shared booth.

Date: September 20th

Time: 10:00 am to 3:30 pm

Place: Pebble Beach Park, Port Angeles

  Community Events  

Wednesday Morning Bird WalksEvery Wednesday, join a band of birders on a 3/4-mile bird survey along the Olympic Discovery Trail. Bring your binoculars and meet in the Dungeness River Nature Center’s parking lot.
Date: August 13th and every WednesdayTime: 8:30 amPlace: Dungeness River Nature Center, Sequim

Trees: Weavers of the ForestLearn about the wonders of trees and never look at a forest the same way again. More information and registration HERE.
Date: August 16thTime: 1:30 to 3:30 pmPlace: Fort Flagler, Nordland

Lecture: Vegetation Zones of the Olympic Peninsula

Learn about native plant communities of the Olympic Peninsula from sea level to alpine summits with botanist Dr. Fayla Schwartz. Register HERE.

Date: September 20th

Time: 4:00 to 6:00 pm

Place: Fort Flagler Hospital, Nordland

  Training and Conferences  

PSEMP Communication Training with Message Box

Learn how to use and leverage the communication tool Message Box. This hands-on training will help you build your skills in communicating your work effectively. Register HERE.

Date: August 12th

Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 noon

Place: Virtual

Opening the Gates: Solutions for Fish Passage and Flood Control

Join speakers and a panel discussion for a half-day virtual workshop on the latest science, tools, and innovation for improving fish passage at tide gates. Register HERE.

Date: September 10th

Time: 1:00 to 4:00 pm

Place: Virtual (Zoom)

Pacific Northwest Indigenous Aquaculture Summit

The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation will provide a forum for Indigenous peoples to learn from each other about aquaculture operations. Learn more and register HERE.

Date: September 15th to 18th

Place: 7 Cedars Resort, Blyn

Stream Stewards Training

The North Olympic Salmon Coalition is offering their annual Stream Stewards training for anyone wanting to learn more about our streams and rivers. This five-week course will prepare you to actively support healthy riverine ecosystems. Learn more and register HERE

.

Date: Wednesdays, September 17th to October 15th

Time: 9:00 am to 12:30

Place: Varies across Clallam and Jefferson Counties

Salmon Summit 2025: Reconnecting Habitat, Restoring Rivers, Recovering Salmon

Call for abstracts! Submit an abstract for this year’s Salmon Summit in Bellingham, WA. Submit an abstract HERE. Learn more about the summit HERE.

  Jobs  

Project Manager | North Olympic Salmon Coalition

NOSC is hiring a new project manager to lead salmon habitat restoration projects across the North Olympic Peninsula! Learn more about the position with this great team HERE.

Washington Conservation Corps

The WA Conservation Corps is currently hiring! This program helps young adults (18-25) jumpstart careers in the environmental field. Local organizations like the North Olympic Salmon Coalition and many others use WCC crews to help with noxious weed control and habitat restoration projects. Learn more and apply HERE.

Executive Director, Puget Sound Partnership

The Puget Sound Partnership works to collectively recover and protect Puget Sound, partnering with Tribes, state and federal government, nonprofits, businesses, and local communities. The Executive Director is part of the Governor’s Cabinet. Learn more HERE.

Date: Applications close August 19th  News  

Field and Flow Recap: Floodplains by Design ConferenceIf you missed the Floodplains by Design conference in June, you can now have a virtual experience through presentation videos and slide decks. Check them out!

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Event: Lecture – Vegetation Zones of the Olympic Peninsula

Posted on July 18, 2025 by Al Bergstein

Saturday, September 20 · 4 – 6pm PDT

Registration:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1471644390989

Fort Flagler Hospital

10541 Flagler Rd Nordland, WA 98358

From crashing ocean waves to alpine peaks, the Olympic Peninsula is home to a stunning array of native plant communities. In this dynamic presentation, botanist Dr. Fayla Schwartz will guide us from west to east and sea level to summit, revealing how elevation, soil, moisture, and temperature shape each vegetation zone.

Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist or just plant-curious, you’ll walk away with a new appreciation for the Peninsula’s unique habitats—and maybe even a few new favorite species!

About the speaker:Dr. Fayla Schwartz earned her Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Washington with a specialty in plant taxonomy. She taught biology and botany at Everett Community College until retiring to the Olympic Peninsula in 2017. Now Chair of the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society, she also teaches plant ID at Peninsula College.

Don’t miss this chance to deepen your connection to the natural world right in our own backyard!

Friends of Fort Flagler is a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoring, preserving and protecting the natural and historic resources of Fort Flagler State Park.  Please support our state park by becoming a member, volunteering, or donating to our organization.  To learn more, visit https://friendsoffortflagler.org

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Don’t Poison the Owls

Posted on July 3, 2025 by Al Bergstein

If you find you have a rat problem, you may be tempted to either contract with a pest service or purchase those black bait boxes at a farm supply store. However, here is the story on that bait box and its dangers to our local population of rat predators, meaning the owls, hawks and eagles we have in our area.

The most common poison for rats these days is bromadiolone. I queried the Ai program, Perplexity about the dangers of bromadiolone to predators. Here’s its answer.

Even at a mix rate of 0.005% per 1 oz. block, it poses a significant danger to owls that eat rats poisoned by it. Bromadiolone is a second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR), which is known for its high risk of secondary poisoning—when a predator like an owl consumes prey that has ingested the poison.
Key points:
   •    Bromadiolone is classified as a moderate to high secondary poisoning risk for birds, including owls.
   •    Residues of bromadiolone can persist in rodent carcasses for over 100 days, meaning poisoned rats can remain toxic to predators long after death.
   •    Owls and other birds of prey have been found with bromadiolone residues in their livers, and studies show widespread contamination among wild owl populations.
   •    Owls are particularly vulnerable because they have a limited ability to detoxify anticoagulant rodenticides, making them more susceptible to poisoning than some other birds or mammals.
   •    Even sub-lethal doses may impact owl health and survival, especially during periods of stress or food scarcity, though the exact effects of low-level, chronic exposure are not fully understood.


In summary: Using bromadiolone as a rodenticide creates a real risk of harming owls and other predatory wildlife through secondary poisoning, regardless of the specific concentration in bait blocks. Safer alternatives or non-chemical rodent control methods are recommended to protect owls and other non-target species.

Filed under: environmental education, Olympic Peninsula | 1 Comment »

Update from the Strait Ecosystem Recovery Network

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Al Bergstein

From the Strait ERN newsletter.

Hello friends!

I hope you are all enjoying our beautiful spring weather and finding reasons to be outside as often as possible. My native plant garden – planted a little under two years ago – is thriving, with Oregon grape, huckleberries, red-flowering currants, twinberry, and tiny bleeding hearts all in bloom, with more on the way. I’ll confess here my great love for the non-native daffodil, which I keep in the front yard. Those cheery blooms are almost done for the year, but my neighbors have stopped by to say how happy they are to see them. Whatever your plant preferences are, this is a great time of year!

Along with the abundance of new life springing up, there is an abundance of news and information to share. Much of it is time-sensitive, so we’re not waiting a month in between newsletters. In this newsletter, you’ll find:

  • Funding opportunities
  • Volunteer events
  • Community/education events and training
  • News and information
  • Jobs and board openings

Funding Opportunities

Department of Ecology 6PPD Funding WA Department of Ecology is excited to announce a funding opportunity to support stormwater research projects that help to better understand how to manage 6-PPDQ in stormwater and prevent salmonid deaths. Ecology can fund projects with public organizations through Interagency Agreements (IAAs) and are prioritizing projects that partner with Tribal Nations and/or benefit overburdened communities. There is $2.9 million of funding available which can fund 5-15 contracts, and the duration of the projects will be from July 2025 – June 2027. There is no application or deadline for this funding. 
Please contact madison.bristol@ecy.wa.gov to learn more and apply.
Catalyst Fund RFP for 2025 Funding Round | Network for Landscape Conservation

The Catalyst Fund strives to accelerate the pace and practice of collaborative landscape conservation and stewardship across the United States by investing in Landscape Partnerships. The Fund couples financial support (through a competitive grant program) with capacity-building support (through in-depth Peer Learning) to catalyze Partnership efforts to achieve long-term conservation and stewardship goals. A portion of the Fund is reserved specifically to advance Tribal-led Partnerships. Grants are for one or two years, up to $25,000. Learn more here.
Date: Proposals due Friday, May 16thRCO Outdoor Learning Grant This is a collaborative program between RCO and the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction that supports federally recognized Tribes and outdoor education providers who partner with Washington public schools to create outdoor learning experiences for students. Find more details here. 

Date: Application period is April 9 through June 3NOTE: This program is temporarily on hold pending finalization of the state budget.
Stormwater SIL RFP to be Released May 7

Neighborhood Stormwater Assistance and Education Projects – $1 million available. The Stormwater SIL is looking for projects that support neighborhood-scale stormwater improvements, including:* Developing tools, resources, or programs to educate landowners and influencers (real estate agents, Homeowners Associations (HOAs), land use consultants, contractors, and others) about stormwater practices  
* Providing technical assistance such as pre-application and compliance support and incentives to implement and maintain green stormwater infrastructure  
* Community outreach events, such as restoration plantings or Low Impact Design (LID)/Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) educational seminars and trainings
* Developing long-term plans, agreements, and funding mechanisms for developing and maintaining stormwater infrastructure within local individual catchments; or  
* GSI training and/or certification programs aligned with community affordable housing, workforce development, and environmental justice goals.  

If you are considering an application under one or more of these opportunities, please submit this short Interest in Applying form as soon as possible to help the team connect you with resources to develop a strong application!

Date: RFP to be released May 7th with proposal deadline of July 9thVolunteer Events

Potting Up Plants with the North Olympic Salmon Coalition

Join us as we pot up plants for future riparian restoration projects. We will be stocking up our nursery with trees and shrubs that will eventually become future forests along our local creeks and rivers. Our nursery is located in Chimacum at the Finnriver Farm & Cidery. Gloves and tools will be provided, but if you have your own bring ’em.

Date: April 29th 

Time: 10am-2pm

Place: Finnriver Farm & Cidery, Chimacum

RSVP here!DNR Stewardship Planning for Kelp & Eelgrass Elwha Unit Priority Area Volunteer your time and knowledge at this in-person workshop about how to best leverage and prioritize key implementation actions to protect and conserve kelp and eelgrass habitat in the Elwha Unit. Contact Cynthia Harbison for more information.

Date: June 3rd

Place: Port Angeles

Community/Education Events and TrainingRCO City Nature Challenge 2025City Nature Challenge (CNC) is an annual international event to collaboratively record as many wildlife observations as possible during a four-day challenge. People from all over the world explore nature in their neighborhoods and cities to find and document wildlife. Every year, they record how many observations of nature are gathered, how many different species are documented, and how many people help this global scientific community better understand nature all over the world. With this data we can better protect urban nature globally. This year, three near-by cities are participating, but there’s already information about adding your city for next year on their 

website.

Date: Friday, April 25th to Monday, April 28

Time: 24/7

Place: Olympia, Seattle, Victoria BC – next year in your town/city?!

10th Annual Puget Sound Day on the Hill 2025 Puget Sound Day on the Hill is an annual event organized by the Puget Sound Partnership and the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission that supports effective policy and continued federal investment in Puget Sound restoration and salmon recovery efforts. Representatives from tribes, state agencies, local governments, nonprofits, and businesses, along with concerned residents, lend their voices in support of action to restore Puget Sound and uphold tribal treaty rights. Register here!

Date: Week of April 28th

Time: Various

Place: Washington, DC

Birding by Ear with the Jefferson Land TrustHave you ever heard a bird in the forest but couldn’t see it and wondered what it was? Join ornithologist Dr. Jackie Canterbury as she leads tours through Quimper West Preserve in the protected Quimper Wildlife Corridor, and shows how, by training your ear, you can identify birds through their unique songs. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited to 15 people each session, and you must register in advance. 
Date: May 1st
Time: 8:30 – 10amPlace: Register to receive location

Spring Bloom Walk at Kah Tai Prairie PreserveThe Olympic Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society is leading a walk to see/identify spring blooms at Kah Tai Prairie Preserve. The walk will start at the prairie kiosk and include a longer route to visit other emerging prairie sites and Hastings Pond riparian habitat. For more information send email. 
Date: May 4th
Time: 2pmPlace: Kah Tai Prairie Preserve, Port Townsend

May Chumsortium Meeting

Come join the conversation about all things salmon in eastern Jefferson County. This virtual meeting will take place via Zoom.

Date: May 7th

Time: 10:00 to 11:30

Ready, Set, Grant! Getting Your Organization Grant Ready

Join Rural Development Initiatives (RDI) for this 5-session virtual grant-writing and fund preparedness training targeted to small, rural nonprofits in the Pacific Northwest. See the website for session descriptions and registration information.

Date: May 8 through June 5 (one day per week)

Time: 10 am to 12 noon

Place: Virtual 

Cost: $75.00Forest Shomer Presentation: Olympic Peninsula PrairiesThe Kul Kah Han Native Plant Garden is excited to present a bi-monthly speaker series focusing on the importance of planting native plants in your garden. The speaker for this installment is Forest Shomer, owner of Inside Passage Seeds. All talks will be in the Salmon Shelter – some seating available, but feel free to bring a lawn chair! Rain or shine!

Date: May 10thTime: 1 – 2pmPlace: Salmon Shelter, Kul Kah Han Native Plant Demonstration Garden, H.J. Carroll Park , Chimacum

Salish Sea Science Roundtable: Transboundary Threats: European Green Crab in the Salish Sea (via Zoom)

Drs. P. Sean McDonald (University of Washington) and Thomas Therriault (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) bring nearly 50 years of combined expertise in the science and management of invasive European green crab (EGC). Their presentation will delve into the challenges posed by EGC in the transboundary waters of the Salish Sea, highlighting ongoing science into the species’ detrimental effects on native species and habitats, as well as threats to cultured and wild shellfish resources.

Date: May 13th

Time: 10:30

Place: Via Zoom – learn more and register here!News and Information

Puget Sound Legislative Wrap-up: What Was and Was Not Funded in Olympia

The 2025 Session of the Washington State Legislature has adjourned Sine Die on April 27. A robust budget deficit and debates about state spending and revenue dictated the session’s flow and outcomes, especially in the final weeks. Due to concerns about implementation costs, many bills aligned with Puget Sound recovery failed to pass and many more were trimmed back to reduce the associated workload. And the final budget included a series of budget cuts that will slow the work of Puget Sound recovery. At the same time, several new policies and budget items survived the legislative process and will provide benefits to Puget Sound recovery. Read the full review of the budget session as it affects funding for Puget Sound recovery efforts. 

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Poster Released!During the National Marine Sanctuary System’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2022, a commemorative poster series was launched to capture the beauty and diversity of each site in the system.  On April 17, 2025, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries announced the release of the 12th poster featuring iconic species and features of this west coast sanctuary. The poster can be downloaded (and admired)  at Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Poster | Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. OOCNMS thanks all of the artists and partners who contributed to this effort!Jobs and Board Openings

Clallam MRC Seeks New Members and Alternates

The Clallam Marine Resources Committee has several openings to fill, including a Community at Large member and a representative for Conservation and Environmental Interests. You can find the full list at the bottom of this page.If you’re interested in any of these roles, please apply via the Clallam County website or contact MRC Coordinator Cathy Lear for more information. 

Call for Applications – Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) Science Panel

PSP’s Leadership Council is seeking applications to join the Science Panel. Call for applications here. For questions, please contact Amber Raney, Boards Program Coordinator at Amber.Raney@psp.wa.gov.

Date: Application materials are due June 20th

Strait Ecosystem Recovery Network

See what’s happening – Strait Eco Events Calendar!

Email: coordinator@straitern.org

Website: www.straitern.org

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New Global Warming Research

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Al Bergstein

Rising temperatures are fueled, in part, by declining cloud cover — which could be a potential climate feedback loop. From Washington Post

Latest NASA data prior to Trump takeover.

“Two new studies offer a potential explanation: fewer clouds. And the decline in cloud cover, researchers say, could signal the start of a feedback loop that leads to more warming.”

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Glyphosate: more bad news for Roundup™️?

Posted on August 14, 2024 by Al Bergstein

Glyphosate is the chemical agent in RoundUp, perhaps the most widely used pesticide in the world. It is now found in a huge percentage of Americans that have beentested for it, and its possible implication in degenerative nerve diseases and lymphomas is a subject of debate. Today in the New York Times, a very disturbing story of a cluster of rare cancers and neurological illnesses in New Brunswick may be leading back to the chemical.

The story, found here with a subscription (or at your local library), opens with “Doctors in Canada have identified dozens of patients with similar, unexplained symptoms — a scientific puzzle that has now become a political maelstrom.”

The symptoms that showed up in people in a small area of New Brunswick, included an incredible wide range of patients with no common thread except living in a small geographic location, a classic medical cluster. While it was not specific as a cancer cluster, it can be considered a medical cluster. Scientists have a specific definition of a cancer cluster. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) define a cancer cluster as a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases that occurs within a group of people in a defined geographic area over a specific period of time. These type of clusters were found in areas like the Love Canal back in the 70s.

This is not a small cluster. According to the Times article, “The number of undiagnosable patients currently under his care has risen to more than 430, 111 of whom are under age 45. Thirty-nine have died. ” The doctor who first identified this also noticed that, “… had noticed a pattern of new referrals peaking in the late summer and early fall, when pesticide use is at its highest, and wondered if there could be a connection.”

After having incredibly frustrating stop and start support from the Canadian government, and a number of years attempting to get to a root cause, the doctor who originally identified the cluster managed to get independent testing of many of the people suffering from it. What he found were extremely high levels of glyphosate in many of his patients.

Ninety percent of Marrero’s patients came back with elevated amounts of glyphosate in their blood, in one case as high as 15,000 times the test’s lowest detectable concentration.

This area of New Brunswick sees widespread use of Glyphosate in forestry.

The conclusion of this incredible story is that the government of Canada, after at first taking this cluster and the findings very seriously, mysteriously backed off and has done little to nothing, handing the investigation back to the province. They are now claiming that the cluster is not a cluster. Many people suspect that some kind of industry led lobbying may have stymied the investigation. The doctor who first discovered this cluster of patients is continuing to attempt to find a cause, while wondering why the federal government has given up any pursuit of a root cause to this group of his patients.

The point here is that all of us alive today in the Pacific Northwest likely have glyphosate in our bodies. Given the increasing amount of evidence, both direct and circumstantial about possible effects of glyphosate, it is worth reducing our intake of this potentially cancer causing chemical.

According to ConsumerNotice.org

Key takeaways:

  • 81% of Americans have had recent exposure to glyphosate.
  • The volume of glyphosate applied to crops has increased 100-fold since the late 1970s.
  • The introduction of glyphosate-resistant crops in 1996 added to the exposure.
  • Roundup is the most widely used herbicide in the world.
  • Bayer was supposed to stop selling Roundup in 2023, citing risks to farmworkers and consumers. It has not.
  • One study found glyphosate in more than 95% of the oat-based food samples.

A national health survey released in June 2022 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention observed detectable levels of glyphosate in 80% of urine samples tested.

https://wwwn.cdc.gov/Nchs/Nhanes/2013-2014/SSGLYP_H.htm

NBC News.

According to Microsoft CoPilot: Bayer Corporation has not stopped producing Roundup (though it has been banned in some specific states, counties or towns). They continue to manufacture it while managing ongoing litigation related to its safety. Bayer has implemented a five-point plan to address and mitigate the risks associated with Roundup litigation12. This includes new formulations for the U.S. Lawn & Garden market and ongoing legal strategies to handle current and future cases1.

It is worth educating yourself on what to possibly avoid to minimize ongoing Glyphosate in your diet. Eating organic is a good start, but even some supposedly organic products have been found to have glyphosate in them. The ConsumerNotice.org article is a good start. https://www.consumernotice.org/environmental/pesticides/glyphosate-in-food/

A good overview of Glyphosate was done by NBC. https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/toxic-herbicides-map-showing-high-use-state-rcna50052

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