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Whatcom MRC: focus on North Chuckanut Bay
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North Chuckanut Bay has been closed to recreational shellfish harvest since the mid-1990s due to water quality issues, although the bay supports many species of clams. Five years ago, Whatcom MRC reinvigorated water quality work in the bay, with a goal of restoring the recreational shellfish area. Since then, they’ve done intensive water quality sampling in both the marine and freshwater, septic system evaluations, and increased community outreach.
The MRC’s community outreach includes their most recent newsletter to the Chuckanut watershed neighborhood with information about the water quality sampling being conducted by the MRC, along with information on wildlife tracking, rebates for small farm improvements and septic system evaluations.
MRC staff and Whatcom County staff recently developed a comprehensive report of all of the efforts in the area to improve water quality, mostly by the Whatcom MRC, which was shared with the Washington Department of Health to help inform a discussion about potential next steps. The document describes water quality patterns, on-the-ground work completed, continuing efforts and other recommendations. Follow the MRC’s progress on this effort on their website.
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Raingarden success in Quilcene
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Volunteers after the raingarden installation. Photo: Cheryl Lowe
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Jefferson MRC partnered with WSU Extension to install a new rain garden in Quilcene last month. Nine volunteers, including Greg Brotherton, one of the Jefferson County Commissioners and Cliff Moore, the new WSU Jefferson County Extension Director, joined the staff of both organizations to create a lovely new space where road runoff will be filtered and cleaned before entering a creek that flows directly into Dabob Bay. Students from the local school also joined for a brief hands-on class, in preparation for their work on another rain garden project on their school grounds later this fall.
This garden brings the total completed by Jefferson MRC and partners to 10 gardens installed covering nearly 8,000 square feet. Track the MRC's progress on rain gardens on their website.
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Skagit students learn marine science hands-on
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Volunteers to the Kids on the Beach fall program. Photo: Skagit MRC
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Skagit MRC’s successful program to engage local students in research activities, “Kids on the Beach”, continued this month with Conway School’s 8th graders. One class spent their field day beach seining and looking at fish diversity and abundance, while another collected samples to look for forage fish eggs. Following their post-fieldwork classroom work, they’ll be ready to present the results of their work at a symposium next month.
In addition to Conway kids, Skagit volunteers created a special one-day program for a 5th grade school group, who were able to try out forage fish sampling at Camp Kirby on Samish Island. The Kids on the Beach program is led by the Skagit MRC and supported by a fantastic and collaborative team of people and organizations.
A key to the success of the program is the volunteers who come out to share their expertise and help these emerging scientists on fieldwork days. As one shared after a recent day on the beach, “This added another great event with great volunteers to my list of many. I love to think that we made a difference in at least one little still-forming brain and nothing beats leading by example, which we do very, very well. Our group picture really says it all, those smiles are real and so is our love for these events...and it shows!”
Thanks to all who are part of this program! To learn more or find out how you can volunteer, check out their website.
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Northwest Straits in the news
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Samish scientists seek to save struggling species, The Journal of the San Juan Islands – September 19, 2019
Entertainment 360: Pumpkin festival, markets, panackes, Skagit Valley Herald – September 25, 2019
Front Porch, Everett Herald – October 14, 2019
EYE ON CLALLAM: County budget to be reviewed, Peninsula Daily News – October 20, 2019
Olympia Oysters making a comeback in Disco Bay, Port Townsend Leader – October 23, 2019
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Orca Week: Snohomish Orca forum and Orca Recovery Day
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Volunteers at an Orca Recovery Day planting. Photo:Kenny Clarkson
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Mid-October was busy for the Northwest Straits Foundation as they participated in multiple Orca-themed events for the 2019 Orca Recovery Day.
On October 16, more than 100 attendees packed the Rosehill Community Center in Mukilteo to attend the Orca Recovery Day talk. Marine scientists Jacques White and Rich Osborne presented at the talk, giving detailed presentations, which included information on Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) recovery efforts and problems facing our SRKWs. The Northwest Straits Foundation partnered with the Snohomish County MRC and Snohomish County Conservation District to host the event.
For this year's Orca Recovery Day on October 19, planting parties and various other restoration events took place throughout the Salish Sea region. Partnering with the Whidbey Island Conservation District and Island County MRC, the Northwest Straits Foundation held native vegetation planting parties at the restored sites at Sunlight Shores and Cornet Bay.
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