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Lawrence M Dill, PhD Where: Landing Mall, Port Angeles |
https://www.facebook.com/events/474396532571246/
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: Puget Sound | Comments Off on Event: Lecture on Open Net Pen Aquaculture – Tuesday, August 14, 2012, 6:30pm
A “reasonable” turnout of 42% of the Jefferson County voters give us a probable look at how the county might vote in November.
With the primary now over, we can evaluate the winners and their relationships with environmental issues. From the “bottom” up to the “top”.
Locally to Jefferson County:
County Commissioners: David Sullivan and Phil Johnson easily advanced. Both have been strong supporters of environmental issues locally.
State Representative 24th- Kevin Van De Wege ran unopposed, and Steve Tharinger has advanced. Tharinger has raised the hackles of local environmental supporters over his unwavering support of the controversial biomass conversion proposals, and some have wished for an alternative democratic candidate to support in this race. It will be interesting to see whether a larger voter turnout in November will bring his opponent any closer to winning. However, to be sure, his opponent is likely to be worse on environmental issues.
State Senator, District 24 – Long time State Senator Jim Hargrove advanced easily. Jim has supported environmental proposals in the past.
State Commissioner of Public Lands: Peter Goldmark, a strong supporter of environmental initiatives in a very difficult role to satisfy everyone, advanced handily.
State Attorney General: Bob Ferguson supported by the environmental coalition, did advance.
State Auditor: Pridemore possible loss Craig Pridemore is a State Senator, and former Washington Conservation Voter (WCV) Legislator of the Year, who understands that the State Auditor has an important role to play in protecting and enforcing I-937, the voter-approved Clean Energy Initiative. He was in second place but latest numbers show him slipping into third. More to come on this.
Governor: Jay Inslee easily advanced along with Rob McKenna. Jay has a long record of supporting environmental legislation, and more importantly, opposing anti-environmental legislation.
State Supreme Court – The loss of Bruce Hilyer in Position 9 is the one dark cloud on the horizon for environmental legislation. Both McCloud and Saunders are strongly in favor of property rights over the notion of local, state and national environmental regulation. However, the advancing of Susan Owens and Steven Gonzales holds out the hope that whichever of the two candidates wins, will be a minority opinion voice.
U.S. House: Derek Kilmer easily advanced. Surprise here was how wide the margin was. At the State level, he has voted consistently for environmental bills, such as banning mining on Maury Island, conversion of coal fired electric plants, reducing greenhouse emissions, banning PBDE’s which were getting into the Sound, and setting minimum renewable fuel requirements.
Federal:
Maria Cantwell easily advanced. Cantwell received the highest rating possible from the League of Conservation Voters for her environmental voting record.
Sorry to see my old friend Greg Rankich go down to defeat in his first campaign over in the legislative district 1. Greg is part of a wide range of ex-Microsoft people who are continuing to get into politics after leaving MSFT. He would have brought an unconventional and likely fresh point of view to Olympia. I did not follow his campaign as it’s not ‘here’ but I wish him the best going forward.
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: election, politics, Puget Sound | Comments Off on ELECTION 2012 – Some environmental wins, some losses
As the debate in Jefferson County about allowing fish farming goes on, a second B.C. salmon farm is under quarantine .
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: Puget Sound | Comments Off on Second BC Salmon Farm Quarantined After Tests–Times Colonist
Seeking Nominations for the 2012
Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership Award
The Port Townsend Marine Science Center is seeking nominations for the 2012 Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership Award. This award recognizes significant contributions in the protection and stewardship of our North Olympic Peninsula natural environment. The award pays tribute to Eleanor Stopps whose vision, advocacy and determination exemplify the power and importance of citizen leadership.
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.
The Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership Award is awarded annually to a citizen of the North Olympic Peninsula (Jefferson and Clallam counties) 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.
Port Townsend Marine Science Center is pleased to sponsor this award and invites nominations so we can continue to recognize positive leadership. You may nominate someone by downloading the nomination form from http://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 5:00 PM AUGUST 31st, 2012.
Winner(s) will be honored at the PTMSC Stewardship Breakfast at the
Fort Worden Commons at 8 a.m. on Thursday, October 4, 2012.
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; 2009: Peter Bahls, NW Watershed Institute; 2010: Sarah Spaeth, Executive Director, Jefferson Land Trust; 2011: Dick & Marie Goin, lifelong Olympic Peninsula salmon habitat restoration activists
Filed under: Around the Sound, Jefferson County, Olympic Peninsula, Port Townsend | Tagged: eleanor stopps, Marine Science, Olympic Peninsula, Port Townsend, PTMSC | Comments Off on Seeking nominations for the 2012 Eleanor Stopps Award
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: Puget Sound | Comments Off on Lecture on Orcas Friday 3 August
Chris Dunagan reports on DSP found in Central Hood Canal.
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/jul/26/new-found-shellfish-toxin-raises-concerns/
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: hood canal, Puget Sound, Shellfish, toxin | Comments Off on New Shellfish Toxin discovered in Hood Canal
Congratulations, Laura! KIRO 7, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land (TPL), announced Laura James as Western Washington’s 2012 Cox Conserves Hero. As her nonprofit of choice, Sustainable West Seattle will receive $10,000.
Laura gracefully allowed me to use some of her underwater footage for the follow up to Voices of the Strait.
As an eco-friendly scuba diver, she volunteers her time to removing batteries and other pollutants from the water. James was nominated as a Cox Conserves Hero for her commitment to the Puget Sound.
KIRO 7 Announces Laura James as Western Washington’s 2012 Cox Conserves Hero http://www.marketwatch.com/story/kiro-7-announces-laura-james-as-western-washingtons-2012-cox-conserves-hero-2012-07-26 See also: Congratulations! Laura James wins Cox Conserves Heroes award, gets $ for Sustainable West Seattle http://westseattleblog.com/2012/07/congratulations-laura-james-wins-cox-conserves-heroes-award-gets-for-sustainable-west-seattle
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: KIRO, Laura James, Puget Sound, Scuba | Comments Off on Diver Laura James awarded Conserves Hero
The news article that accompanied Chris Dunagan’s blog post. Of specific interest to some of you are the roundup of stats on Puget Sound and the issues involved in cleanup of it.
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/jul/18/governor-praises-hood-canal-mitigation-program/
Filed under: Around the Sound, Government, Places, Projects | Tagged: Christine Gregoire, governor gregoire, Hood Canal, Norm Dicks, Puget Sound Partnership | Comments Off on Governor praises Hood Canal mitigation program–Kitsap Sun
Kitsap journalist Chris Dunagan sat down with the Governor on her recent tour of the Sound recovery projects. It’s not a very hopeful take, “I created it, they can un-create it”. But it’s good primary journalism that anyone that cares about the Sound, and it’s recovery, ought to read.
The sad thing about all this is that it took a discussion with Norm Dicks, of all people, to get this moving. We should remember that there already was a blue ribbon advisory council in place, and had excellent people at the helm. That the Governor needed another politician to come up with an entirely new bureaucracy, headed up by his son, is quite, well, odd. Why did the governor feel that she had to destroy the existing group, rather than work through their excellent advice? People such as Kathy Fletcher, and the Northwest Straits Initiative, among others. They likely would have been thrilled to have her pay attention to them. And having them all on board to rejuvenate the process, with their huge background in the existing problems, would have likely led to a much more exciting process to get to where we are today. one that could have leveraged the past rather than reinvented it.
http://pugetsoundblogs.com/waterways/2012/07/19/gov-prepares-to-pass-the-baton-on-puget-sound/
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: Puget Sound | Comments Off on Governor prepares to pass the baton on Puget Sound–Kitsap Sun
The Northwest Straits Foundation received $660,000 to finish the job of removing derelict fishing nets from shallow subtidal waters of Puget Sound. The Foundation estimates there are 500 shallow water derelict nets left to remove. The Foundation is aiming to complete the work by December 31, 2013. Funding comes from the US Environmental Protection Agency through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. This funding will be combined with current and pledged funding from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, NOAA Marine Debris Program, ConocoPhillips Migratory Bird Fund, US Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program, Lucky Seven Foundation, Tulalip Tribes and private donations.
The new funding also pays for a new response and retrieval program designed to prevent future re-accumulations of derelict nets by responding to reports of newly lost nets immediately. The Foundation will be developing this new program in close coordination with the Puget Sound fisheries co-managers.
Filed under: Olympic Peninsula, Straits of Juan de Fuca | Tagged: coast, debris, environment, Olympic Peninsula, tsunami, Washington | Comments Off on Derelict Fishing Gear Funding Received – NW Straits Foundation News
A story of global warming, and its effects on one group here on our peninsula. Moving to higher ground is happening, now. Planning for the rest of the Peninsula coastal towns should not be put off any longer.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/science/july-dec12/quileute_07-05.html
Filed under: Climate Change, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: Olympic Peninsula | Comments Off on ‘Twilight’s’ Quileute Tribe Fights to Regain Land–PBS
Our sympathies to the large extended family and friends, of Guy McMinds. Guy was a leader in the changes that established Treaty rights again. Another of that crucial generation that fought so hard against enormous odds and power, passes. You don’t replace people like Guy McMinds. You only create many shoes out of his, and hope there are enough people with the skills to fill them.
http://nwifc.org/2012/07/long-time-treaty-rights-warrior-guy-mcminds-passes/
Filed under: Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: Olympic Peninsula | Comments Off on Longtime Treaty Rights Warrior, Guy McMinds, Passes – NWIFC
Another highly critical view of the Governor’s surprise firing of the head of the Puget Sound Partnership, and the installation of a new, more outspoken one. The takeaway here is that author Todd Meyers believes that we are in for more politics and less science. Not sure we are so skeptical. Many of the projects that the Partnership faces are ones involving engineering on a scale that the Corps is familiar with, such as the eventual replacement of old fashioned highway culverts that block returning salmon. We’re willing to withhold judgment on the Director while he finds his feet, and shows us what he made of.
http://crosscut.com/2012/07/12/puget-sound/109541/puget-sound-partnership-executive-science/
Filed under: Government, Puget Sound | Tagged: Puget Sound, Puget Sound Partnership | 1 Comment »
Scientists knew ocean-going fish would eventually return to the Elwha River on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula, once two massive concrete dams were torn down. They just didn’t think it would happen so soon. Biologists tracking fish in a tributary of the Elwha last month spotted wild steelhead that likely made it on their own past the site where the Elwha Dam stood for nearly a century — before it was dismantled in March as part of the nation’s largest dam removal project.
With 1 of 2 dams down, fish return to Elwha River
http://www.king5.com/news/With-1-of-2-dams-down-fish-return-to-Elwha-River-162079635.html
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: Puget Sound | 1 Comment »
Appears that some of our beaches on the Peninsula Coast look like a land fill. This would be great work for a federally subsidized project to hire younger people, who are experiencing high unemployment rates. Anyone in DC listening? (like our Senator that is up for re-election?)
http://ikkatsu.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/phase-ii-complete/?blogsub=confirming#blog_subscription-2
Filed under: Olympic Peninsula, Places | Tagged: Clallam County, Ikkatsu Project, Olympic Peninsula | 1 Comment »
John Gussman’s next chapter in the adventure of taking out a dam on a major salmon spawning river.
http://www.elwhafilm.com/blasting/video/index.htm
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: elwha dam, Puget Sound | 1 Comment »
We have completed our campaign voters guide page to the primaries. Look under the 2012 Elections tab on our front page.
While the slate looks like a sweep of Democrats, we continue to view this blog as non-partisan, and await any Independent or Republican who can step forward and take environmental stands on issues.
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: politics, primaries, Puget Sound | Comments Off on Environmental Voters Guide for the Primaries
Folks. Please stop throwing plastics overboard…
Seabirds eat everything from twine, candy wrappers and Styrofoam, and their stomach contents show there’s been a dramatic increase in plastic pollution off the Pacific Northwest coast in the last four decades, a new study suggests.
Plastics in Seabirds survey 2012
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: Puget Sound | Comments Off on Seabirds on B.C. coast eating bellyfuls of plastic: Vancouver Sun
Oysters on the half-shell – what’s a summer without them? For thousands of years oysters were considered inexhaustible in the Pacific Northwest. But loss of habitat, over-harvest and, most recently, ocean waters saturated with greenhouse gases are undermining stocks. Can these rich succulent marine creatures be reestablished in community shellfish farms? Martha Baskin takes a look and brings us the story.
http://greenacreradio.blogspot.com/2012/07/july-5-2012-oyster-reclamation-one.html
Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: Puget Sound | Comments Off on Oyster Reclamation: One Estuary and Community Shellfish Farm at a Time–Green Acres Radio
Congratulations to Anne and her staff. The $56,848 grant will help to create a new permanent educational interactive exhibit, with a first phase scheduled to open in September.
Marine center wins $56,848 federal grant for toxin studies http://peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120703/news/307039989/marine-center-wins-56848-federal-grant-for-toxin-studies
Filed under: Port Townsend | Tagged: Port Townsend | Comments Off on Port Townsend Marine Science Center wins Federal Grant!–PDN
