Olympic Peninsula Environmental News

Sarah L. Sterling, an adjunct Assistant Professor in the Anthropology Department at Portland State University, presents:

Integrating the Seismic and Occupational Chronologies at Tse-whit-zen

Friday, April 27, 2012 at 6:00pm at the Landing Mall Conference Room

In 2003, work began to excavate a dry dock in Port Angeles Harbor. The construction footprint exposed portions of the ancient Klallam village of Tse-whit-zen; one of the largest known precontact villages in Washington State. The site was occupied beginning around 2700 years ago, and more intensively from about 1800-100 years ago. Tse-whit-zen village is situated in the midst of the Cascadia subduction zone and apparent gaps in the radiocarbon record of village occupation are broadly synchronous with great earthquakes in the region. In this presentation, Dr. Sterling will discuss the current state of knowledge about the relationship between the occupational and seismic chronology at Tse-whit-zen, and how recent field work in the vicinity of the site will help further resolve understanding of the past and future of this geologically dynamic shoreline.

For more information call 360-417-6254

Landing Mall, Conference Room 205

115 Railroad Avenue, Port Angeles

Suggested $5 donation

Sponsored by Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and Feiro Marine Life Center

Deborah Moriarty

Feiro Marine Life Center

360-417-6254

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This is news for us on the Peninsula because our Representative Kevin Van De Wege has been a member of ALEC, which is a primarily conservative organization that is writing what most would consider “Republican” laws that often are at odds with environmental protection, among other issues that are considered Democratic issues. While Kevin has offered defense of why he has been a member, it seems time for him to resign his post with ALEC or get serious questioning of what he really stands for.

The whole story of ALEC is more of what is poisoning of our political process. A secretive organization (press are not allowed into their meetings) that includes numerous politicians, primarily of Republican persuasion, along with industry lobbyists, that create policy and draft laws that are put in front of politicians who often don’t understand where the law language came from. It could almost be considered, given it’s success in passing it’s drafts, and the power it wields with politicians, to be a ‘shadow government’. It seems that the calls for an end to it’s non profit status, is a worth while discussion. Kevin should really distance himself from this before it seriously damages his credibility and fundraising efforts.

– UPDATE – Since posting this I have found out that Kevin has resigned from ALEC on April 11th. See comment to the post to get his letter to supporters.

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Open government advocates accused a conservative legislative group Monday of falsely claiming tax-exempt status while doing widespread lobbying.

Advocacy group Common Cause said Monday it had filed an IRS complaint accusing ALEC of masquerading as a public charity. ALEC is formed as a nonprofit that brings together lawmakers and private sector organizations to develop legislation and policy.

ALEC says its work is not lobbying.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/23/alec-irs-complaint-common-cause_n_1445175.html?ref=daily-brief?utm_source=DailyBrief&utm_campaign=042312&utm_medium=email&utm_content=NewsEntry&utm_term=Daily%20Brief

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How big do marine reserves need to be to protect resident rockfish for their entire lives? Oregon State University graduate student Tom Calvanese is tracking six species of rockfish. He captured 30 different fish inside the reserve and inserted acoustic tags into them. He set receivers inside the reserve and along the reserve boundaries. And for about a year now he’s been collecting data from the receivers that show how much time the fish spend inside and outside of the reserve. Watch the results of Tom’s research:

http://ecotrope.opb.org/2012/04/inside-a-marine-reserve-adopt-a-rockfish-and-see-if-its-protected/

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The sediment behind the Elwah dams is one of the factors that makes the $325 million Elwha restoration the largest dam removal project ever anywhere, with some 24 million cubic yards of sediment to manage. Much of the material will remain behind in the watershed, distributed along the river’s middle and lower run. But a lot of it is also rinsing out to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, where it is expected the material will help rebuild the near shore and beaches eroded to ankle-turning cobble. Here it comes: sediment starts to really hit the Elwha

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/fieldnotes/2018020167_here_it_come_the_sediment_starts_to_really_hit_the_elwha.html

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The federal government is closing B.C.’s command centre for emergency oil spills at a time when the province is facing two possible pipeline projects and a potential spike in tanker traffic in West Coast waterways. Ottawa has said it will shut down B.C.’s regional office for emergency oil-spill responders, located in Vancouver, and centralize operations in Quebec in the wake of the cost-cutting March 29 federal budget.

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/spill+centre+moving/6483914/story.html

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Reseachers say that preliminary findings seem to point to the whale being killed off the mouth of the Columbia and drifting north to Long Beach. It seems highly odd that a whale would be drifting north in a current that seems to usually go south. But perhaps I’m not aware of how the currents work off the mouth of the Columbia. 

Read more:

Article in the Times Colonist

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Researchers said Wednesday they have conclusive evidence that ocean acidification is at least partly responsible for killing oysters on the West Coast. 

oceanacidification killing oysters

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While we can cheer the growth of sea lions, our sea birds are vanishing, and have been for some years now.

To the untrained eye, there is nothing remarkable about the loose knot of waterbirds bobbing innocently just offshore, south of the Tsawwassen ferry terminal. To biologist Pete Davidson, however, they are signs of trouble brewing in the Salish Sea. Coastal waterbirds in B.C. slipping away

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Coastal+waterbirds+slipping+away/6463446/story.html

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Larry Pynn in the Vancouver Sun writes: “The shared inland waters of Juan de Fuca Strait, B.C.’s Strait of Georgia, and Washington state’s Puget Sound may once again approach its former greatness. Steller sea lions have thrived since the federal government afforded them protection in 1970 — with new abundance estimates pegging their population at 48,000 animals in winter on the B.C. coast. The breeding population had dipped to an estimated 3,400 animals before their protection. Similarly, harbour seals today total an estimated 105,000 animals, one of the densest such populations on earth, compared with fewer than 15,000 in the late 1960s.”

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/oceans/Marine+mammals+coming+back+Salish/6456476/story.html

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If you like to watch: KCTS 9 and EarthFix on Wednesday at 7 PM chronicle the historic removal of two dams from the Elwha River, and show how it will impact people, salmon and the environment for years to come.

Undamming the Elwha http://kcts9.org/undamming-elwha

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Clallam County invites you to attend, learn more about, and comment on the Shoreline Master Program Update at one of the 4 upcoming public forums.

The updated draft SMP Update incorporates information from the existing SMP.  It proposes new policies and regulations intended to achieve the goals of the Shoreline Management Act and the community’s vision for shoreline management.  See the Forum Schedule below.  For more information visit the Clallam County SMP webpage at:  http://www.clallam.net/RealEstate/html/shoreline_management.htm

EVENT

Day/Time

Place

SMP PUBLIC FORUM #1

Tuesday—April 24, 2012

5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Sekiu Community Center, Lower Level

42 Rice Street, Sekiu

SMP PUBLIC FORUM #2

Wednesday—April 25, 2012

12:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Pioneer Memorial Park, Sequim Prairie Garden Club Bldg.

387 East Washington Street, Sequim

SMP PUBLIC FORUM #3

Wednesday—April 25, 2012

5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Clallam County Courthouse, BOCC Room 160

223 East 4^th Street, Port Angeles

SMP PUBLIC FORUM #4

Thursday—May 10, 2012

5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Forks Community Center, Main Dining Room

91 Maple Avenue, Forks

Public Forums begin with a half hour Open House, followed by a presentation of the draft SMP Update, and end with time for public comment.

The SMP Public Forums Flyer is at the following  link: http://www.clallam.net/RealEstate/assets/applets/SMPFlyer042012.pdf

The SMP Public Forum Press Release link is:  SMP Public Forum Press Release

Please feel free to forward it to interested folks.

Thank you,

Hannah Merrill

DCD Natural Resources Planner
Clallam County Dept. of Community Development
223 East 4th Street, Suite 5; Port Angeles, WA  98362-3015
T:  360-417-2563  W:  http://www.clallam.net/RealEstate/html/shoreline_management.htm

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This is excellent news. While not perfect, this will lower green house gases, and it’s pretty cheap at current. A win all around while on our way to non polluting sources altogether, which likely will be end of century the way things are going…
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Two large Puget Sound-area ship operators are planning to spend $100 million each to convert their vessels from diesel fuel to liquefied natural gas — and they expect to save a lot of money in the process. The Washington State Ferries and cargo operator Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) are just two among many big energy users turning to natural gas as its price plummets. State ferries seek $100M conversion to liquefied natural gas

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/print-edition/2012/04/06/state-ferries-seek-100m-conversion-to.html

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The 2012 salmon fishing seasons, developed by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and treaty tribes, were finalized yesterday during the Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Seattle. The package sets regulations for salmon fisheries in Puget Sound, Washington’s ocean and coastal areas and the Columbia River.

http://blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure/2012/04/05/washington-tribes-agree-to-salmon-fishing-seasons-for-2012/

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North Sound Baykeeper blogs: “What happens when a dozen farmers, a half dozen interested citizens, a shellfish farmer, a Skagit County Commissioner, staff from Skagit County Public Works and the Skagit Conservations District, and a couple environmentalists all get together? A lot of ideas are generated! This happened during a recent meeting at the Alger Community Hall hosted by the Skagit Conservation District. The purpose of the meeting was to give everyone a chance to talk about ways to solve fecal coliform pollution in the Samish River caused by animal waste.”

Brainstorming for Clean Water at the Alger Community Hall – Got Ideas?

http://northsoundbaykeeper.blogspot.com/2012/04/brainstorming-for-clean-water-at-alger.html

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The Port Townsend Marine Science Center  invites you to come learn from distinguished lecturer, Dr. Steve D’Hondt. speaking about "Life in the Subseafloor Ocean."

Date: April 16th

Time: 7:00 pm

Where: Natural History Exhibit building (across from the pier) at Fort Worden State Park

Fee: Donation

Discovery Pass: Not required if parked near the the Natural History Exhibit

More about out the lecture:

Dr. Steve D’Hondt

Earth’s subseafloor ocean contains a vast ecosystem. Exploration of that ecosystem by scientific ocean drilling directly addresses several fundamental topics such as Earth’s total biomass, the distribution of life, and the factors that control it. We also determine the impact of subsurface life on Earth’s surface, ocean and atmosphere. Additionally we discover new organisms, measure the rates at which they live and die, and chart the border of the organic-fueled world. Finally, we examine the possibility of life on other worlds.

Dr. Steve D’Hondt was co-chief scientist of the first and second ocean drilling expeditions to focus primarily on life beneath the seafloor. He is a professor of oceanography at the University of Rhode Island.

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The Port Townsend Marine Science Center has announced that Eleanor Stopps, the great citizen activist who was extremely influential in seeing Protection Island turned into a national bird sanctuary, is in failing health.

We wish our best to this enormously influential lady, who shows again how much one person can do to make a positive difference in this world.

Eleanor has lent her name to a yearly award that celebrates the people making a difference on the Olympic Peninsula.

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: Puget Sound | 1 Comment »

Got a good idea for a project? Marine Reseach, education or public outreach allows a wide range of opportunities. Be creative!

Subject: Request for Proposals: North Pacific Coast MRC 2012-13

The North Pacific Coast Marine Resources Committee (NPC MRC) is soliciting project proposals to be completed on the ground between July 2012 and June 2013. Attached is the application package. PROPOSALS ARE DUE May 11th, 2012.

Projects must be for marine oriented research, education or public outreach activities that focus on the Washington State outer coast between Cape Flattery and Kalaloch, or also engages the other Coastal MRCs for a coast-wide project. Proposals can range from $500 to $20,000 and can be stand alone or part of a match for a bigger project. If you want more information or have any questions please email or call at the contact information below.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DISTRIBUTE.

———————————————————————-
Richard Osborne, Restoration Coordinator / Planner II

North Pacific Coast Lead Entity & MRC (WRIA 20)
Clallam County, DCD, Natural Resources

223 E. 4th Street #5, Port Angeles, WA 98362

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