2019 Fall Issue of IOSA Responder Newsletter

IMPORTANT: IOSA needs your vote!

On November 5th, San Juan County voters will be asked to approve Proposition 2, which renews an existing tax levy supporting a wide range of County programs like Parks, Senior Services, 4H, WSU Extension, etc. Included in that levy is long term sustainable funding to launch IOSA into a bright and exciting future. When combined with industry support, grant funds, and charitable donations, this levy creates a steady source of help for IOSA that will ensure success and operations for years to come.

Help IOSA by spreading the word that this levy will work towards guaranteeing that spill response is alive and well in the islands, in addition to benefiting a range of other programs core to the islands and our communities. San Juan County has a Fact Sheet and FAQ online that explain details of levy and tax implications.

Writing letters, talking to friends and neighbors, spreading the word about IOSA's value. This all helps. And if you want to take a more active role in organizing levy support, reach out to Ken Carrasco at orcasleaf@gmail.com. Thank you all!

SIGN UP for HAZWOPER Classes: November 8th & 9th!

The 1 day HAZWOPER classes you've been anxiously awaiting are here! This 8 hour class is for both new volunteers and also supplies the required annual refresher for all previously HAZWOPER certified volunteers. We know some folks took this in May of this year, some in August and some took it in October of 2018. Getting the November class will get everyone on the same calendar date so next year we'll all be on the same refresh schedule as much as possible. Please sign up!

This class is focused on oil spill response. If you're new to IOSA this is the basic level of training required to be an IOSA spill response or wildlife volunteer. One class will be on San Juan Island and the other will be Orcas or Lopez TBD. Classes will be 8 hours and starting approximately 8:30 AM and lasting until 4:30 PM depending on ferry schedule. Classes will be instructed by Brian Johnson of DH Environmental (who is a great instructor!). Signing up early/now lets us know the amount of people for classroom locations, size of room, tables and chairs, handouts if applicable, times to accommodate ferry’s etc etc.

In addition to HAZWOPER, there's a First Aid CPR class for IOSA Volunteers on November 16th in Friday Harbor.

Please sign up for HAZWOPER and the First/Aid & CPR classes HERE.

Board Member Spotlight:

Kai Sanburn from Lopez Island is one of eight IOSA Board members who have joined in the last year. She shared some thoughts about her experiences so far:

"IOSA is an expression of grassroots love and commitment to these islands and the waterways that surround us. For some thirty years, IOSA has been there, ready and waiting to respond to the call to investigate oil in the water or to contain the damage done by a boat on the rocks. Volunteers are trained and trained again in spill response, wildlife assistance and boat handling. It is love of place made manifest.

It was a year ago that I joined the Board. I was invited and its mission resonated, so I ignored the ‘just say no’ voices and said “Yes.” Very soon thereafter, IOSA operations were put on hold and what had been presented as monthly phone call meetings became much more involved.

Word of IOSA’s challenges brought forward strong expressions of public, county and agency support. Brendan Cowan, of the County Emergency Management Department, stepped in to help and through his wizardry, an Action Team was convened. At the first meeting in January, it was clear there were committed experts in the packed room, people willing to go the distance to restore IOSA’s capacity to once again be on stand-by, prepared to respond when and where needed. In and among these experts, for me, a retired nurse, the acronyms of the agencies and the language of spill response were foreign and I was uncertain if I belonged there.

The sea looms large in my life. My mother spoke often of the sea and sailing. Moving to Hawaii, we grew up on and in the ocean. I headed north and fished for salmon in Southeast Alaska in my twenties. Habituated to islands by then, I made my way through a few more (Manhattan, Bainbridge) before finding ‘home’ on Lopez and settling to raise my children here. I do have a deep love for this place and a strong desire to protect its health and well being. Lacking more official credentials, I think that's enough. IOSA is an organization built on heart and passion, and that I have.

Last Saturday, rainy and grey, I joined a handful of folks on the Sea Goose, IOSA’s ‘big’ boat, for the eight hour class required to get a boat handler’s card. Next month there are more training opportunities as IOSA continues to prepare to fulfill its purpose again. I’d love to see you all there."

Boats Ship Shape!

All four of IOSA's response vessels recently came out of the boat yard after full inspections, tune-ups, and with some long deferred maintenance taken care of. Just in time for the September drill. Along with the recent replacement of two aging trailers, the effort to thoroughly update and modernize IOSA's equipment is well underway.

The Green Heron, hauled, fully inspected, tuned up, and headed back to the water.

Off Season Advice for Boat Owners:
courtesy of Adam Eltinge at Island Petroleum Services

Now that summer is over, here's some boat and fuel related advice for the off season:

Keep the tank full with non-ethanol fuel and treat it with a stabilizer. Having a full tank will keep condensation from building inside your tank. All tanks are exposed to the atmosphere to keep pressure constant when fueling or as the tank gets drawn down from use. This is where moist air is introduced to the tank. By filling the tank, you eliminate the surface area water can collect.

Use ethanol free fuel. Ethanol has hydrophilic properties; meaning it attracts water. It doesn’t take much for fuel with 10% ethanol to go into phase separation. Running an engine with phase separated fuel will ruin your day and pocketbook. Diesel has a different additive that keep Microorganisms from growing where the diesel meets water inside your tank. Using BioGuard will inhibit the growth of these beasties that can clog your filter. If possible, I strongly recommend “exercising" your engine monthly in the off-season. That means starting the engine and getting it up to temperature. The added benefit is if something breaks, you will have time to fix it before you need it.

And finally some advice about fueling: when you come into the marina please be very careful topping off your boat. Full doesn’t mean spilling. Please know your boat and never overfill. If you feel you must get the fuel to the very top, then add fuel with a gas can once you have put the boat in dry storage or at the gas station. Much better to drip fuel on a tarp or concrete than in the water. If you are careless with filling and fuel does get into the water, please assist in the clean-up with absorbents. That does not mean pull out the dish soap. Thank you!

IOSA in the News!

Did you see the recent article in local papers about the September on water exercise IOSA conducted off of Jackson Beach on San Juan Island? Or how about this article from early in the year about the launching of the effort to revitalize the organization? The work is ongoing, progressing well, and we're excited about the future of IOSA. If you have energy and enthusiasm for the cause, please don't hesitate to get involved!

Long time IOSA volunteer Becky Hawley at the September on the water exercise!

Fall 2019 issue of the IOSA Responder Newsletter!

**Fall 2019 issue of the IOSA Responder Newsletter!**