Kai Tai work party this Saturday

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Al Bergstein

Come join the hardy among us at the Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park Saturday January 8 from 9:30am-12-30pm. We will be removing holly, ivy and Scot’s broom in the grove of trees near the Kearney street entrance. Park near the bathrooms and walk the main trail toward Kearney Street. Look for the bright green “volunteers at work” banner. I will also have a table set up with cookies and water for volunteers and a sign up sheet. Wear work clothes and bring work gloves and pruners if you have them. Scot’s broom pullers will be provided. They also work well on the small holly trees. Those that prefer to pick up garbage, garbage bags will be provided. See you there.

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Contaminants in Killer Whales – Lecture 11/18 PTMSC

Posted on November 15, 2010 by Al Bergstein

A member of J Pod passes by PTMSC (photo by Travis Krause)

"Contaminants in Killer Whales"

Thursday, November 18th

Natural History Exhibit

7:00 pm

Gina Ylitalo, a scientist from the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, will present information on a range of contaminants currently found in orca populations, such as PCBs, DDT, and flame retardants.The potential health effects of these toxins on other marine mammal species will be discussed as well, including fish.

"Gina was one of the scientists who analyzed the body of the orca, CA-189, who was stranded near Dungeness Spit in 2002," said Anne Murphy, executive director for the PTMSC. "This orca, named Hope by students visiting PTMSC this summer, is at the center of the story we are preparing to tell through our Orca Project, and whose skeleton we will be displaying in our new Ocean Science Hall."

The orca’s blubber when she was found contained a level of contaminants that was among the highest, if not the highest, ever measured in orcas. The PCB level discovered in the orca was dozens of times higher than concentrations know to affect the growth, reproduction and immune system of another marine mammal, the harbor seal.

Gina YlitaloYlitalo has worked for the Northwest Fisheries Science Center since 1989. Her current interests include establishing links between exposure to chemical contaminants and potential health effects on marine mammals and fish. She also works on methods for analyzing new contaminants in marine resources.

Admission to the presentation is $7 (adults), $5 (youth) and for PTMSC members, it’s $5 (adults) and $3 (youth).

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Navy NW Training Range EIS now out – Comments welcome

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Al Bergstein

In case you missed it, (which wouldn’t be hard to do), the Navy have finally released the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed NW Training range. This range, which would include helicopter training over the triangle that makes up Admiralty Inlet and a bit beyond, would greatly increase noise levels at any and all hours of day or night that the Navy sees fit. Add to that the heightened security for all us boaters to deal with, the meshing of Navy traffic with freighter traffic, threats to sea life, and general raising of security seems to make this an unwanted project for our area.  This blog certainly appreciates  our military, and it’s job protecting our country from threats. But training sailors and soldiers in the midst of a population center like Port Townsend, given that we have seen (and heard) Navy training jets from Whidbey Naval Station flying at all hours of day and night, along with the likelyhood of increased accidents and sealife threats (noise etc.) just seems like a recipe for problems.  It would be great to see this training idea moved further west, perhaps off Neah Bay area, where they already train.

Comments are due by OCTOBER 12th.  Please visit the Navy web site, http://www.NWTRangeComplexEIS.com to download, read and comment on this proposal.

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PT Mill applies to generate electricity – Concerns raised, comment period open

Posted on July 18, 2010 by Al Bergstein

The PT mill, has filed for the ability to generate “green” energy by building a steam fired electricity plant, apparently fueled by biomass (meaning forest slash, etc.), recycled paper, and other reclaimed materials. Some emissions will be increased by this move, some decreased, further evaluation of the request is needed to understand it’s true affects. A public comment period of thirty days has been opened from July 16th to August 18th, but the public meeting won’t be held until August 17th (!). This is a very suspicious move by Ecology, and leads one to wonder about the motives of this permit.  Port Townsend Air Watchers and the Sierra Club have already asked for an extension on this, and this publication also believes that giving one day to the public to comment after the hearing does not constitute a decent interval for concerns about an ‘upgrade’ that will lead to significant new pollutants being dumped into the air we breathe.

The steam turbine would be fueled by “Hog Fuel” which is an unprocessed mix of barks and wood fiber. It is ground up after logging activities. It takes ‘slash’ that might be recycled on the ground and burns it. There is some controversy about this process, and whether it is ‘green’ or not. It appears that it is better than burning petroleum products. But, for example, would we be experiencing as much pollution from this if it were to burn natural gas?

While lowering some pollutants, like particulate matter, and Sulfer Dioxide,  we can expect to see increases in the following:

  • Fuel handling, mainly particulates, read ‘dust’ or ‘soot’
  • Carbon Monoxide pollution will increase by 43 Tons a year. This will bring us up to having 635 tons of CO put into our air, a year. Mainly people downwind or in the plume will be affected.  CO is a major component of smog, and may be contributing to ocean acidification. CO changes into CO2, the major component being considered as a contributor to global warming. It also leads to ozone depletion (remember concerns with the ozone hole in Antartica?)
  • Volitile Organic Carbons (VOC) will be increased by 1.1 Ton a year.

So how “green” is this steam plant going to be? That is debatable. You can add your input on this, learn more, and ask questions, as you will be living with this new pollution levels for decades to come. Questions also have been raised about the affects of stripping the forests of slash.

If you want to ask Ecology to extend the comment period, please call Angie Fritz at Ecology, (360)407-7393.

The copy of the proposed order can be viewed at the PT Library or at :

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/industrial/pulp_porttown.html

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PT Marine Science Center Brown Bag – Tuesday Noon to 1

Posted on June 27, 2010 by Al Bergstein

Volunteer Brown Bag Lunch—Tuesday, June 29, noon to about 1pm, Marine Exhibit classroom.  Our volunteer brown bag lunches are like ‘continuing ed’ and ‘party’ wrapped into one.  Jen Kingfisher will give an update on the plastics projects, and volunteer Rachel Gaspers will talk about the flotsam exhibit on the dock.  There will be time for questions, general volunteer announcements, and socializing.  Bring your lunch, (microwave is available) we’ll provide drinks and cookies. RSVP requested but not required.

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Dungeness Crab Mortality Due to Derelict Pots

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Al Bergstein
From the NW Straits June Newsletter

People at the Crab Mortality PresentationJeff June, Natural Resources Consultants, is the derelict fishing gear removal field manager for the Northwest Straits Foundation. Jeff presented results from the recent study of Dungeness crab mortality from derelict pots supported by the Stillaguamish Tribe and Northwest Straits Foundation.

Jeff reported that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates that 12,193 crab pots are lost each year in Puget Sound. Each lost crab pot without escape cord kills approximately 30 crabs each year until deterioration. Jeff provided several ways to prevent crab pot loss:

· Don’t fish in marine transit zones

· Weight your pots so they don’t move in high currents

· Make sure line is long enough for the depth you are fishing

· Use multiple floats in high current areas

· Don’t set pots too close together

· Always use escape cord – 120 thread count is regulation but a better rule of thumb is to use 1/8 inch diameter cord.

· Report lost pots

A recent change in regulations allows enforcement agents to ticket crabbers for transporting illegal pots on marine waters, instead of only ticketing for actively fishing illegal pots. Jeff explained that there are some areas of concentrated accumulation of crab pots that will be targeted for this enforcement.

Click here for a pdf copy of the presentation.

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Crab Management in Washington State

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Al Bergstein
From the NW Straits June Newsletter

Rich Childers, Shellfish Manager with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, recently gave a presentation on the management of Puget Sound’s Dungeness crab fishery. This is one of the most complex fisheries in the world to manage, involving 17 tribes and three natural resource agencies. This year the state will assess a $10.00 penalty for failure to report crab catch, in an effort to more accurately estimate the recreational harvest. Rich reported that the crab fishery is sustainable, and currently all marine areas except for South Hood Canal have the highest catches on record.

Click here for a pdf of Rich’s presentation.

If you are interested in crabbing at all,you should read Rich’s great presentation.

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Tonight! 10/22/2009 – Artist Tony Angell to speak at PT Marine Science Center

Posted on October 21, 2009 by Al Bergstein

Tony Angell Book Events

Sept-Oct 2009 calendar of book readings by Tony Angell of his book, Puget Sound Through an Artist’s Eye

Readings and Book Signings by Tony Angell, author of Puget Sound Through an Artist’s Eye

People For Puget Sound, in association with University of Washington Press, presents artist and naturalist Tony Angell in readings from his new book that captures his art and the natural history of Puget Sound.

READ AN INTERVIEW WITH TONY ANGELL HERE.

SEE A SHORT YOUTUBE CLIP OF TONY’S TALK HERE.

SEE THE COMPLETE BAINBRIDGE LECTURE HERE.

Readings and book signings of Puget Sound Through an Artist’s Eye will be held at the following times and locations:

Thursday, October 22– Port Townsend Marine Science Center, 200 Battery Way Port Townsend 98368-3621.

All readings begin at 7 PM except Seattle Public Library’s reading which beings at 2 PM. All readings are open to the public.

Copies of Puget Sound Through an Artist’s Eye will be available for purchase for $35 and for signing by the author with proceeds from book sales going to People For Puget Sound’s education and advocacy programs.

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angell.jpgFor nearly fifty years Tony Angell has used Puget Sound’s natural diversity as his artist’s palette. In this book, he describes the living systems within the Sound and shares his observations and encounters with the species that make up the complex communities of the Sound’s rivers, tidal flats, islands, and beaches: the fledging flight of a young peregrine, an otter playfully herding a small red rockfish, the grasp of a curious octopus.

Tony Angell is an illustrator, sculptor, and author. Angell has won numerous writing and artistic awards for his work, including the prestigious Master Wildlife Artist Award of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and the 2006 International Victoria and Albert Museum Illustration Grant Award. His sculptural forms celebrating nature are to be found in public and private collections throughout the country.

In 2002, Angell retired as Washington State Director of Environmental Education after thirty years of service. A devout conservationist, he received The Oak Leaf Award, the highest recognition given by the national office of The Nature Conservancy.

He is author of He is author of In the Company of Crows and Ravens; Ravens, Crows, Magpies, and Jays; and Owls,

He lives in Seattle with his wife and two daughters.

People For Puget Sound is a citizens group working with people for a clean and healthy Sound. Since 1991, we have educated and activated citizens to take actions in Puget Sound environmental policy, science and restoration.

See Tony Angell, Master Artist

Also see University of Washington Press

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Action item: Contact lawmakers on Navy Testing Plan

Posted on September 16, 2009 by Al Bergstein

We have covered the proposal by the Navy to create an expanded testing range here in Admiralty Inlet before on olyopen.net. In order for you to be better informed on this, I’ve included this California site which has a good overview of the issues facing us if this goes through.

I think I agree with some who say we Washington residents should be requesting that the government hold a hearing in Washington State.  On the White House web site there is a place to put in comments. 

Read up, and make up your own mind on whether this sounds like a good idea for the waters off our shores here on the east end of Jefferson County. If you agree, you may want to send in, or call in a comment asking for such a hearing to be held locally.

http://www.californiaskywatch.com/white_house_request_comments_on_oceans.htm

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NY Times on the local fish net removal project

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Al Bergstein

Great work by our local NW Straits Initiative team (with kudos’ to Ginny Broadhurst and Jeff June), who have brought back $4.6 million in stimulus money to fund the efforts to get divers to go down and remove sunken abandoned fishing nets (known as ‘derelict gear removal’). The nets, which continue to kill sealife, have been mapped prior to this, and will now be removed. 40 new local jobs are created for a few years, some local boats are hired to get the divers down, and the Sound and Straits are helped be rid of the scourge of the abandoned nets. A win all around for taxpayers. Read the whole story at The New York Times (link below) or link to the NW Straits website off the left side of this page:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/25/us/25fishnets.html?ref=todayspaper

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Jefferson County SMP update – new info

Posted on August 21, 2009 by Al Bergstein

The Jefferson County Department of Community Development has weighed in with their recommendations to the County Commissioners on the draft SMP update from the Planning Commission’s modified SMP. As you may recall, after the DCD and assorted scientific and citizen’s advisory committees met over the last three years and drafted a decent start to the SMP, enforcing solid environmental regulations that could protect our shorelines better, the Planning Commission, headed by an owner of an geoduck farm, made major modifications to the document, including gutting it of conditional permitting of aquaculture. The DCD staff, has made a series of recommendations, (document available from the http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commdevelopment/Shoreline_DCDStaffRec.htm ), and we like what we see.  They call for reinstituting the conditional permitting on aquaculture, prohibit net pen fish farming, request reinstating the 150′ buffer and ask to restore the 10′ mininum setup for building on shorelines. These were all things recommended by science and the majority of citizen’s advisory committees. As the amount of actual lots that will be affected by this is small, and many workarounds exist, both for existing structures and new construction, we support these changes.  We hope you will come out on September 8th to the next county commissioners meeting and show your support by testifying in support of these staff requests for changes.

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Video on the pressures facing Puget Sound

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Al Bergstein

8/18 Seattle Times
Video | How will Puget Sound respond to competing pressures?
Part 1- Forests and Puget Sound; Part 2- Estuaries and Puget Sound
By Michelle Ma

The forests, estuaries and open waters of Puget Sound are distinctly separate, yet wholly connected. That means what we do in the forests and mountains ultimately impacts what happens at sea level. Over the years we have drastically changed the natural environment to accommodate our population growth, and it shows. Puget Sound is not healthy.

Leaders around the region are grappling with how to restore and protect the Sound. Developers say they must build more homes as our population grows. Tribes and farmers are trying to make a living, and biologists are fighting for healthy salmon runs. How will the Sound respond to all of these pressures?

A group of journalists from around the country and Canada convened here this summer as fellows with Institutes for Journalism and Natural Resources to learn about the complex issues in this region. They spent nine days in the field, talking with scientists, business owners, farmers, tribal members, politicians and local residents. Seattle Times reporter Lynda Mapes served as director of the trip.

These videos present a snapshot of the journey. The issues are deeper and opinions more varied than what can be captured in several short videos, but the people and places you”ll see are part of the larger conversation about Puget Sound: its past, present and future.

View at
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2009679524_webpugetsoundvideos.html

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Call for Nominations for Eleanor Stopps Award

Posted on August 8, 2009 by Al Bergstein

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center is seeking nominations for the 2009 Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership Award. As someone who knew how hard Eleanor worked in the 1970s and 80s to make Protection Island a protected national treasure. Recieving this is a truly an honor. Here’s the story…

Eleanor Stopps is a powerful advocate for lasting protection of the North Olympic Peninsula environment. In the 1960s and 70s she recognized the need to protect the uniquely important marine environment of the Salish Sea.  With no special political base or powerful financial backers she testified before the Washington State Legislature and the United States Congress and was instrumental in getting legislation and public support for protection of the area.  She was responsible for the establishment of the Protection Island Sanctuary, which was the only refuge created during the Reagan administration. Today, it is a critical link in the preservation of the whole Salish Sea region. 

Since 2005, Eleanor’s example and legacy of citizen leadership in efforts to protect our environment in the North Olympic Peninsula (Jefferson and Clallam Counties) has been recognized through the Environmental Leadership Award.

The Leadership Award is awarded annually to a citizen of the North Olympic Peninsula who has:

  • Led a successful resource conservation effort that benefits the north Olympic Peninsula and its residents directly;
  • Acted as a community catalyst for programs, initiatives or ventures that demonstrate a commitment to the future of the earth and its biodiversity;
  • Become a model for future leaders in business and education; or has been an exemplary citizen or policy maker who has implemented decisions that, though they may entail risks, have helped our communities take the next step towards environmental sustainability.

 

2009 nominations for recognition of citizens on the North Olympic Peninsula who have provided leadership in protection and stewardship for our environment may be made by downloading the nomination form from www.ptmsc.org, info@ptmsc.org or calling (360) 385-5582 and requesting a form.

 

NOMINATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL OR BE RECEIVED IN THE PTMSC OFFICES AT FORT WORDEN BY AUGUST 31st, 2009.

 

Winners and runners up will be honored at the PTMSC Stewardship Breakfast at the Fort Worden Commons at 8 a.m. on October 1st, 2009.  Contact JoAnne Heron at jheron@ptmsc.org for questions about the breakfast or the award.

 

Previous winners include:  2005: Katharine Baril, natural resource educator and planner Washington State University;  2006: Anne Murphy, Executive Director, Port Townsend Marine Science Center; 2007: Tom Jay and Sara Mall Johani, artists and environmentalists; 2008: Al Latham, Jefferson County Conservation District Ranger.

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Event – Talk on Ocean GeoEngineering and Climate change – PTMSC 8.13 @7PM

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Al Bergstein

Lecture:  “Ocean Geoengineering and Climate Change” by Richard Jahnke, Professor Emeritus, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography. Thursday, August 13, NHE 7pm.  $5 members/$7 non-members The presentation will provide an update on some of the critical measures of ocean climate change .

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Event-Jefferson Land Trust Picnic – 8/15 12:30 to 3:30

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Al Bergstein

Meet at North Beach Park Picnic Shelter. Progress report will be given on Quimper Wildlife Corridor. Questions to 379-9501 or email at jlt at saveland.org (replace the at with @).

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