Olympic Peninsula Environmental News

I cover this because our Peninsula Tribes participate in this. It is an important event for them to carry on their traditions, as the article states.

The arrival on July 29 of about 13,000 American Indians, representing some 130 West Coast tribal communities, dressed in regalia and landing in beautifully carved cedar canoes, sounds a lot like another spectacular Olympia party. It is not. Charlene Krise, a member of the Squaxin Island Tribal Council and executive director of the tribe’s Museum Library and Research Center, says the revival of the canoe journey has rejuvenated tribal nations to reclaim their traditions. 

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/06/24/2151654/support-squaxin-tribes-journey.html

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The representatives of the world’ came together as global warming and greenhouse emissions continue to build and wreak havoc with the planet. What do they choose to do? Nothing. We get told by the Op-Ed in the NY Times that we should do something, I would argue that those of us on the grassroots level *have* been doing something, and it’s our governments, whether the Chinese authoritarians, or the current Obama administration that continue to squander opportunities before it is too late to do anything constructive. Crisis management is always the choice, it seems.

The Rio+20 summit ends with an agreement from world leaders that charities say represents a "missed chance" to tackle environmental problems.

Rio ends with corporates warning http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/science-environment-18561223

But: Government progress on the environment is slow, but the world’s people can assert their power to fix problems. Op-Ed: We Have Met the Solution and It Is Us http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/23/opinion/after-rio20-we-have-to-solve-the-earths-problems.html

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The public can comment through July 16 on an updated draft management plan that will be used to operate the hatchery program for chinook salmon in the Elwha River watershed. The draft plan, written by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, describes the operation of the artificial production program for chinook salmon in the Elwha River and the potential effects of the program on wild fish species, such as salmon and steelhead, that are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act.

 http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/06/24/2192499/comments-open-for-updated-elwha.html

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The captain of the schooner Adventuress has received a $10,000 fellowship that he intends to use to develop a program to develop “green” standards for building boats.  Joshua Berger is one of 40 recipients nationwide of awards given by Toyota and the National Audubon Society.

Adventuress Captain story

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Some Native American tribes have started receiving their shares of a $1 billion settlement with the U.S. government over mismanagement of their money and trust lands, while others are waiting and remain undecided on what to do with their funds. The Makah tribe in Neah Bay — one of 44 tribes across the nation who are receiving money from the settlement — is receiving $25 million. 

http://peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120624/NEWS/306249997/tribes-start-receiving-settlement-money-makah-are-beneficiaries-of

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Lots of good news here for fishing and crabbing. Please be sure to record your catch, as it helps gather the data to do a better job managing the resources.

After a banner Puget Sound Dungeness crab fishery last summer, many are gearing up for another good season beginning July 1.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2018512713_outn24.html

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The demolition of environmental protections and science in Canada is shaping up to be the big story of the year. With a new majority government in place, the stripping of environmental protections for the Canadian people is stunning to see happen as fast as it it. Likely this will all end up in the courts. Now the scientists themselves are becoming publicly vocal in their opposition to these moves.

Three scientists from B.C. have used an internationally prestigious journal to launch an attack against changes to the federal Fisheries Act currently before the Senate. In a letter published online Thursday in the journal “Science,” the scientists from Simon Fraser University criticize cutbacks at eco-toxicology labs and an aquatic research facility and changes to the act itself, saying the government’s rational for making the changes is not supported by fact. 

Three BC Scientists Attack Changes to the Fisheries Act

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This is the most compelling news articled yet as to the dangers we face of ocean acidification.

A Willapa Bay shellfish company is shifting some of its business to Hawaii because of ocean acidification that scientists believe is killing tiny oyster larvae in shellfish farms along Washington’s coast.

Read the whole story here:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018496037_oysters22m.html

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Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire announced Monday a state plan to address tsunami debris that reaches the state’s coast from Japan but stressed that federal help is needed. Gregoire announced a “Clean Shoreline Initiative” to be led by state’s top emergency management leader, Maj. Gen. Timothy Lowenberg, and to include the state Departments of Health, Ecology and other agencies. 

Cleanup plan readied for tsunami junk http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/06/19/2186368/cleanup-plan-readied-for-tsunami.html 

See also: Tsunami Debris That Washes Ashore Tested For Radiation http://earthfix.kcts9.org/water/article/tsunami-debris/

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While we are thrilled that Senator Cantwell is proposing this, there are a vast amount of prevention measures we’d love to see her taking on as much as cures that really won’t prevent significant and irreversible harm in the first place. But progress is good on this front. – Editor

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) has introduced legislation to jumpstart research and development into new oil spill response technology. Her bill – the Oil Spill Research and Technology Act of 2012 (S. 3298) – would create grants to support the research and development of new technologies to better contain and clean up all types of oil spills. In addition, the bill requires the United States Coast Guard to establish a program to evaluate and implement ‘best available technology’ to effectively respond to and clean up oil spills. 

http://www.sanjuanislander.com/island-newshome/government-news/us-government/4376-cantwell-bill-would-bring-oil-spill-response-into-20th-century

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While killer whales and salmon dominate the public spotlight, researchers are focusing increasing attention near the bottom of the food web and on the physical processes that support all life in Puget Sound. Herring, sand lance and surf smelt are called "forage fish" for a reason. They make up a critical food supply for a large variety of seabirds and fish — including salmon, which feed killer whales and many other species. Without the forage fish, the food web would collapse along with the abundance of life in Puget Sound. Chris Dunagan reports. 

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/jun/17/looking-for-kinks-in-the-food-web/

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Trees, shrubs and other vegetation hugging miles of levees in Puget Sound provide shade and key habitat for many of the Northwest’s struggling salmon. But hundreds of trees have been cut down in recent years to satisfy the Army Corps of Engineers, which says vegetation compromises levees that prevent flooding. Phuong Le reports.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018453992_treesonlevees17.html

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You’d be a fool to shell out big money for a trip to Alaska this summer, when the odds of hooking salmon in our neck of the woods will be equally rewarding

Read the rest of the story in the Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2018446576_outn17.html

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500 people polled seems to be  a statistically valid sample – Editor

Voters in Washington’s 6th Congressional District Overwhelmingly Support Wild Olympics Proposal, Poll Finds

Contact:  Connie Gallant (360) 710-7235

QUILCENE, Wash. (June 15, 2012)—A new poll of likely voters in the 6th Congressional District shows strong support for a proposal to designate approximately 130,000 acres of wilderness and protect nearly 20 rivers and tributaries as “Wild and Scenic.”

Nearly two out of three (64 percent) likely voters expressed approval for the Wild Olympics plan proposed by Rep. Norm Dicks (D), who represents the 6th District, and Sen. Patty Murray (D). A near majority (49 percent) not only supported the proposal but also supported it “strongly.” Twenty percent of the district voters polled said they were undecided. 

“Our poll finds overwhelming support for the Wild Olympics proposal to protect rivers and streams on the Olympic Peninsula,” said Mark Mellman of the Mellman Group, which partnered with Public Opinion Strategies to conduct the poll. “Even after being told of restrictions on commercial activity and motorized vehicles in wilderness areas, support for the proposal was more than four times the mere 15 percent who opposed it. Support for the Wild Olympics proposal is demographically broad-based, including majorities of Democrats and independents, and a large plurality of Republicans. Support also extends to a wide range of those who use these lands for recreational purposes, including majorities of hikers/campers, anglers, and hunters.

More than six in 10 men, women, younger voters (ages 18 to 39), seniors (60 and older), those with a high school education or less, and those with a college degree or more back the proposal. Majorities of Democrats (82 percent), independents (54 percent), and a near-majority (48 percent) of Republicans support the Wild Olympics proposal. In addition, a wide range of recreationists favor the plan—69 percent of hikers and campers (16 percent oppose), 65 percent of anglers (18 percent oppose), and 56 percent of hunters (13 percent oppose).

“Support for the proposal is widespread and reaches across party lines,” said Lori Weigel, partner at Public Opinion Strategies.

“These results come as no surprise,” said Connie Gallant, chair of the Wild Olympics Coalition. “In the three years we have been listening to voices in the community—from all backgrounds and interests—we have found common ground in a desire to move forward to safeguard the peninsula’s most priceless natural treasures: our towering ancient forests, free-flowing rivers, critical fish and wildlife habitat, and our clean water. This new poll confirms that voters in the 6th Congressional District want to see this special place remain as it is for our children and grandchildren.”

The survey of 500 likely voters in the 6th District’s new boundaries was conducted June 7 to 10 by the Mellman Group and Public Opinion Strategies for the Pew Environment Group, at the request of the Wild Olympics Coalition, of which Pew is a member. Republican and Democratic polling firms were engaged to ensure the most independent and impartial results and to help educate the public about the proposal. The poll’s margin of error was +/-4.4 percent.

Wild Olympics Campaign

P.O. Box 214, Quilcene, WA 98376

www.wildolympics.org

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Oh Dear…where are our Federal protectors when we need them? Does anyone in WA DC even care? Or how about our State Governor or Legislators?

Ikkatsu 2012 – Leg 1 Synopsis

The following is intended to be a short synopsis of the first leg of the Ikkatsu Project, the sea kayak-based survey of Olympic beaches, specifically documenting tsunami debris. This leg traveled from Neah Bay to Hobuck Beach, via Cape Flattery and Tatoosh Island. Dates were June 10-13.

Two Standing Stock Surveys, using established NOAA protocol, were accomplished: the first on Tatoosh Island on June 11^th and the second on Cape B Beach (2 miles north of Hobuck), on June 12^th. Although there was significant debris on Tatoosh, no hazardous material was located. On Cape B Beach, the debris was larger and more substantial, and several hazardous items (kerosene, acetone) were sampled. More details, including details of each random transect surveyed, will be available as PDFs and will be posted soon.

Notable debris included what we suspect is part of a house – including the bathroom – found on Cape B Beach. We found a large quantity of milled lumber, cut to metric dimensions, which was marked with a Japanese stamp and serial number – 5501128. (Preliminary research has suggested that the source of the lumber was originally the Daiwa Pallet Housou Company of Osaka.) The reason we think this was part of a residential bathroom is that we found items consistent with this hypothesis: cough syrup, iodine, a portion of a child’s potty seat, etc. The individual pieces of lumber were in relatively good condition, suggesting that the house, or portion thereof, washed ashore in one piece and then was shattered on the rocks.

In addition to the two surveys, we also conducted four separate I/C (Inspection and Collection) efforts on smaller, pocket beaches at various locations. We chose small areas where we could do an effective clean up with just the three of us. Debris was bagged and collected to a single location above the high tide line; lat/long of locations to follow. One example, a 25’x35’ beach on the west side of Tatoosh, yielded the following:

-       – 33 plastic liquid containers, mostly water or soda, mostly Asian in origin

-       – 12 fishing floats/buoys (or fragments), including one Type 6 black buoy

-       – 2 metal canisters

-       – 1 food can

-       – 1 foam shoe insole (Japan)

-       – 3 foam webbing fragments

-       – 15 styrofoam fragments > 6” diameter

-       – 44 styrofoam fragments > 3” diameter

Over the course of the surveys, a half-dozen lighters were collected. Radiation testing revealed no hazards.

The second segment of the Ikkatsu Project (Hobuck Beach to La Push), will run from July 2-11. More information will be available following that leg. If there are any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us at any time.

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