Links were accurate on the post date.

June 2011

Natural Resource Teacher Workshop, June 27-29, 2011.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The workshop familiarizes teachers interested in incorporating natural resource-based environmental education into their classrooms with relevant, standards-based curriculum. In Walla Walla.

Latest invasive weed not following usual script.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Shellfish growers want Japanese eelgrass declared a noxious weed so they can spray herbicide or mow the invader down. California has already done so. KUOW.

South Sound beaches pass first check.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Working with local health departments, tribes and volunteers, the state Department of Ecology keeps track of bacterial contamination at popular, high-risk beaches throughout Puget Sound. The Olympian.

Experiment could help restore kelp forests in Puget Sound.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
During the 1980s kelp beds disappeared and never returned to many areas where the giant plants had grown for decades. Kitsap Sun.

Carpenter Creek project: A bridge for cars, a gateway for fish.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The project is intended to restore a natural exchange of water between Appletree Cove and the estuary. It will also improve habitat for salmon and other marine species. Kingston Community News.

Fishing for the ghost nets of Whatcom County.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
They’re known as ghost nets -- old tangles of synthetic lines snagged on underwater rocks or reefs and left behind by fishermen as long as seventy years ago. KPLU.

The journey to Swinomish.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Since 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey has equipped five canoes with probes that collect data about pH levels, salinity, temperature, turbidity and dissolved oxygen in the water. The data is being used to track the health of this inland sea -- and hopefully identify pollution sources. Indian Country Today Media Network.

Is tidal energy affecting sea life?
Thursday, June 09, 2011
The deep-sea eavesdroppers are pulled up one after the other. They've spent a lonely month studying the habits of sea life from 180-feet down. KING 5.

People For Puget Sound Director Kathy Fletcher's exit interview .
Thursday, June 09, 2011
People for Puget Sound has helped pass laws regarding copper brake pads, storm water standards and shoreline restoration. What effect have they had? KUOW.

The Puget Sound Shuffle.
Thursday, June 09, 2011
Understanding how sea life will react to ocean acidification, and to devise systems to help seafood and fishing industries cope with those changes, gained new urgency with the recent discovery of surprisingly acidic waters along the Pacific Coast and in Puget Sound. Sightline Daily.

North Kitsap's Carpenter Creek restoration finally moves forward.
Thursday, June 09, 2011
After more than a decade of working and waiting, the Carpenter Creek estuary restoration project finally breaks ground later this month. Kitsap Sun.

State continues to bolster preservation of Stavis' prized ecosystem.
Thursday, June 09, 2011
Many of Stavis Creek's tributaries and wetlands lie within the natural area, which also includes portions of Boyce and Seabeck creeks -- all three important for a variety of salmon, including the threatened Hood Canal summer chum and Puget Sound steelhead. Kitsap Sun.

The 12 Marine Protected Areas proposed by the CPAWS.
Thursday, June 09, 2011
The ecosystems within the strait are severely threatened by overfishing, pollution and climate change. The Globe and Mail.

Sockeye should get boost when hatchery is done.
Thursday, June 09, 2011
While all eyes will be on the Ballard Locks when fish counts for sockeye salmon begin June 12, others are keeping their sights on the final construction phases of the permanent Cedar River Hatchery east of Maple Valley. Seattle Times.

Puget Sound less polluted than expected, study concludes.
Saturday, June 04, 2011
According to data released this month by the Washington state Department of Ecology, each year Puget Sound streams receive 710,000 to 800,000 pounds of petroleum contamination, 250,000 to 300,000 pounds of zinc contamination, and 61,000 to 140,000 pounds of copper contamination. Western Front.

Focus on Liberty Bay water quality improvement plans.
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Stormwater runoff and other pathways carry contaminants into streams, lakes, and estuaries where they can infect people through drinking water, skin contact, or eating fish and shellfish. Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal.

County approves conservation futures acquisitions.
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Projects on the approved list included $500,000 to assist the City of Mukilteo in its efforts to acquire 98 acres of property in Japanese Gulch for trails, habitat for salmon and wildlife and water quality protection for Puget Sound. Snohomish Times.

King County Council protects Issaquah Creek salmon habitat.
Saturday, June 04, 2011
The council members approved a 50-year lease agreement May 16 for 30 acres along Holder Creek and near Carey Creek -- tributaries of Issaquah Creek. Issaquah Press.

Suquamish seine offers snapshot of Dyes Inlet's ecosystem.
Saturday, June 04, 2011
With help from kids and adults on shore, the 100-foot-long net, with buoys on top and weights on the bottom, was cast to encompass the most area underwater. The seine was then pulled toward the shore, capturing within it a treasure trove of marine life. Kitsap Sun.

Rain water tours, June 11th, 18th and 25th.
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Polluted runoff is the number one threat to the health of Puget Sound. It flows off our roads, down our streets, and across our parking lots. Join us for this fascinating tour and learn from the experts what you can do to help address this problem.

May 2011

Nightlighting Zooplankton.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Waters teem with life at the all-night buffet as forest resources graduate student Dave Hays takes us "nightlighting" at UW's Friday Harbor Laboratories.

Naturally competitive.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Many of the students visiting the shellfish farm on the shores of Little Skookum Inlet have never visited the Puget Sound shoreline, let alone a working shellfish farm, said Bordeaux Elementary School teacher Tamara Twiddy. Tacoma News Tribune.

Stormwater cleanup bills die in Olympia.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
A major priority of state environmentalists -- levying a new fee to aid stormwater cleanup statewide -- failed to pass the Legislature this year. Seattle PI.

Experts create first legal roadmap to tackle local ocean acidification hotspots.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
In a paper published in the journal Science, experts from Stanford University's Center for Ocean Solutions and colleagues make the case that communities don't need to wait for a global solution to ocean acidification to fix a local problem that is compromising their marine environment. Physorg.com

First ever hybrid porpoise recovered in San Juan County.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
In May the National Park Service notified the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network of a dead porpoise stranded on a pocket beach at American Camp. Island Sounder.

NHS science symposium honors two seniors.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Asif studied the winter habits of a killer whale known to live in the Salish Sea. Much is known about the killer whale's habits during the other seasons, but research during the winter months is scarce. Nanuet Patch.

North Cascades Stewards.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
North Cascades Institute invites you to become a North Cascades Steward. Our revitalized stewardship program is focused on connecting people to our public lands through meaningful service projects starting in late spring 2011.

Eagles, May 28th.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
People of all ages are encouraged to attend and learn about eagle habits and habitat requirements and the many steps that can be taken to protect our national symbol. 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the Adopt A Stream Foundation’s Northwest Stream Center in Snohomish County’s Mc Collum Park, 600 -128th Street SE in Everett.

Make A Difference Summit, June 1st.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Once a year, students come together to give reports on the progress of their projects at the Make a Difference Summit. 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday at IslandWood.

National Trails Day, June 4th.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Join Friends of the Cedar River and King County Parks for National Trails Day and help maintain Taylor Mountain Forest in Hobart. 9:00am- 2:00pm on Saturday.

National forest rules face controversial overhaul.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Considerable disagreement persists over how thoroughly the U.S. Forest Service should be planning to protect viable wildlife populations and watersheds that, originating deep in federal forests, provide half the water supply to residents of the West. Los Angeles Times.

West Seattle volunteers help provide safety net for budget-slashed Salmon in the Classroom.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
One day before their schedule of salmon releases ends, the gavel is scheduled to fall on the special session of the State Legislature. And with that gavel, it will be official: No state money for the program that has facilitated the releases over the years, Salmon in the Classroom. West Seattle Blog.

Action plan to clean up pollution.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
The Puget Sound Partnership has released a 10-point action plan to clean up pollution caused by fecal bacteria in Samish Bay and its tributaries. KAPS News.

Should we tag orcas to save them?
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Scientists, however, don't agree on tagging. For some, tagging could help in understanding a beloved but endangered animal. For others, tagging would provide little value but do real harm to orcas. Seattle PI.

King County Council protects Issaquah Creek habitat.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
King County Council members approved a lease agreement Monday to protect sensitive salmon habitat in the Issaquah Creek basin. Issaquah Press.

Connelly: No longer a sewer, Puget Sound still in danger.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Foaming tobacco spit colored waters of Bellingham Bay -- laden with pulp mill pollution, raw sewage and (later) mercury -- were featured in full color a half-century ago when Life magazine devoted its first full issue to the trashing of America's natural environment. Seattle PI.

Students tutor one another on environmental projects.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Holding up several photos, 11-year-old Jacklin Marshall explained how a student-constructed "rain garden" filters dirty runoff at Breidablik Elementary School in North Kitsap. Kitsap Sun.

New whale-watching rules kick in on U.S. side.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Whale-watching boats are facing new rules on the water this week as the U.S. doubles the distance for watching cetaceans. Victoria Times Colonist.

Research robots roam the Ross Sea.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Antarctica's Ross Sea is no place for swimming. Covered in ice in its southern half, the frozen bay's summer temperatures hover just enough above freezing to spark a yearly retreat of melting sea ice. USA Today.

Octopus ballet.
Monday, May 16, 2011
This octopus was filmed with a high-definition underwater video camera at a depth greater than 2000 metres (at 6600 feet). London Guardian.

Jefferson County group advocates 'no retreat' strategy for DNR land.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Jefferson County residents call it the "no-retreat strategy." Their goal is for the state to find ways to keep valuable forestlands in public ownership throughout East Jefferson. Kitsap Sun.

We live in a bird watching paradise, here's how to get started.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Bird-watching can be addictive, and not all that strenuous, really. It's a great way to get outdoors, get some exercise and learn a little (or maybe a lot) about nature. Everett Herald.

Invasive spartina has been nearly eradicated from state's shorelines.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Its total acreage has been reduced from 9,000 acres in 1995 to today's estimate of 12 acres of small patches scattered along the coast and throughout Puget Sound. Kitsap Sun.

Student video contest and Puget Sound lessons.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Are you interested in engaging your middle and high school students in learning about issues related to keeping Puget Sound healthy? Sign up for updates on lessons and the video contest.

Green Tales at IslandWood, May 21st,
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Local storyteller Jo Walter and others will share tales of environmental awareness and sustainability. Come hear green tales along IslandWood’s trails! 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.on Saturday at IslandWood on Bainbridge Island.

Science in their harbor backyard.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Gig Harbor High School students looking for a hands-on science class don’t have to go far -- for the past two decades, veteran teacher JoAnn Moore has been taking her marine biology and field ecology students to the beach, streams and on other outings so they can study Puget Sound critters and marine ecosystems away from the textbook. Kitsap Sun.

State Department of Agriculture begins spartina treatments for 2011 season.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Spartina, commonly known as cordgrass, is an aggressive noxious weed that severely disrupts the ecosystems of native saltwater estuaries in Washington. Washington State Department of Agriculture.

Nisqually Tribe extending search for steelhead.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
The Nisqually Indian Tribe is expanding a search to determine the range of troubled steelhead in the Nisqually River watershed. Nisqually Valley News.

The Greendays Gardening Panel on rain gardens.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
The gardens use native plants and rocks to filter rain water, keeping toxins out of the Puget Sound. KUOW. See a related workshop: Building a Rain Garden on May 14th in Vancouver, Washington.

Cascadia is our country -- Seattle the capital.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
It is a community that is 15 Million people strong, a region that is defined by rain, the Columbia River, by mountain ranges and volcanoes, by the Puget Sound and the Salish Sea. Sounder at Heart.

From "Land to Sea" - the Adventuress Video Project.
Monday, May 09, 2011
Your school or youth group could win a 3-hour sail aboard Adventuress! Sound Experience challenges kids, teachers and parents in Peninsula schools and youth groups to create a short video that answers the question, "Why do YOU want to sail on Adventuress?"

Bird Fest, May 12-15th.
Monday, May 09, 2011
Celebrate spring and the return of migratory birds in spectacular north-central Washington! Activities include field trips led by experts in their field, concerts, a keynote address and BBQ dinner, art shows, family activities--something for everyone. Thursday through Sunday at Barn Beach Reserve, 347 Division Street in Leavenworth,

Richard Louv: The Nature Principle, May 12th.
Monday, May 09, 2011
Louv, author of the bestselling Last Child in the Woods and the new The Nature Principle, says that when we consciously reconnect to nature and tap into its restorative powers, we can boost mental acuity and creativity, heal illness, increase immunity, broaden our compassion, and strengthen human bonds. 7:00 pm on Thursday at Town Hall Seattle.

Penn Cove Water Festival, May 14th.
Monday, May 09, 2011
The Penn Cove Water Festival features annual tribal canoe races, Native arts and crafts, demonstrations, storytelling, dance performances, artist demonstrations, authentic Native foods, children's activities, and exhibits and displays. 11am to 6pm at the Coupeville Waterfront.

National Marine Estuarine Research Reserve, May 25th.
Monday, May 09, 2011
Susan Wood of Breazeale Interpretive Center at Padilla Bay will talk about this National Marine Estuarine Research Reserve: what it is, educational programs for the public and research efforts supported by the center. 7:00 to 9:00 pm on Wednesday at the Camano Multi-Purpose Center (Blue bldg)

Say bye bye to La Nina, hello to storms.
Monday, May 09, 2011
Climatologists with the National Center for Environmental Prediction say La Nina is finally winding down, meaning our colder-than-usual weather won’t be sticking around forever. Next up in the weather cycle? A neutral period of climate patterns through the end of the year, according to KIRO Radio. Seattle PI Blog.

One fish, two fish, false-ish, true-ish.
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Two University of Washington scientists have just published a study in the journal Conservation Biology in collaboration with colleagues from Rutgers University and Dalhousie University arguing that the gloomiest predictions about the world’s fisheries are significantly exaggerated. New York Times.

State: Cleanup efforts for Sinclair, Dyes inlets working.
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Cleanup efforts in Sinclair and Dyes inlets started even before the study was launched 10 years ago, Lawrence noted. And the work has paid off with cleaner water, along with success in reopening 3 miles of shellfish beaches in Dyes Inlet in 2003. Kitsap Sun.

Come to the Watershed Fun Fair, May 21st.
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Come to this fun family event in Yost Park and learn why we say "Puget Sound Starts Here"! 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday at Yost Memorial Park, 9535 Bowdoin Way in Edmonds.

Education, prioritization provide answers to runoff pollution.
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Unfortunately a silent source of pollution, stormwater runoff, threatens the treasured waters of the state. This was the message participants heard at a recent public forum we co-sponsored at the state Capitol. Everett Herald.

A mysterious fish: What we know and don't know about sand lances
Thursday, May 05, 2011
In spring, sand lances form schools of hundreds of thousands in many of our bays, where we have found that they comprise about three-fourths (by weight) of the prey of juvenile Chinook salmon. Islands Weekly.

Endangered frog likely survives in Whatcom County foothills.
Thursday, May 05, 2011
The Oregon spotted frog is spotted, to be sure, but it also lives in British Columbia and parts of Washington. Now you can add Whatcom County to the list of possible homes for the critter. Bellingham Herald.

Shorelines for Real Estate Professionals, May 3rd.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Participants will learn how to identify potential hazards, reduce risks of living on or near a shore, ask the right questions, and know what to look for. They will explore the natural shoreline processes, interactions and effects of human land use on these processes, as well as present current regulations. 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday in Olympia.

Whidbey Island beach monitoring.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Beach Watchers volunteers will conduct marine bioassessments and monitoring of various sites throughout the island during May and June.

New law puts federal government on hook for stormwater fees.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Until now, many federal agencies have refused to pay stormwater fees, because the federal government is exempt from local taxes. But the new law states that stormwater fees are not taxes but "reasonable service charges." As a result, the federal government should pay them. Kitsap Sun.

Goldmark appoints new manager to lead DNR operations in South Puget Sound Region.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
DNR’s South Puget Sound region includes more than 250,000 acres of state trust lands managed for forestry, habitat, and clean water. Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

Edmonds Wildlife Habitat celebrates Native Plant Appreciation Week, May 14-15th.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Visitors taking the tour will be able to view native plants in residents’ yards to get ideas on how to use these plants in their own landscaping plans. Edmonds Beacon.

Dive team investigates sunken vessel near Locks.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
The Team will inspect the vessel for any hazardous materials, batteries, fuel tanks, etc. The Cutter is lying on the bottom of the Lake Washington ship canal, in approximately 25ft. of water, near the Ballard Locks. My Ballard.

April 2011

Science and sailing expedition for high school students on the waters of Puget Sound.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
This is an opportunity for individuals and small groups of students to participate in an expedition with Salish Sea Expeditions. Saturday, May 7th through Tuesday, May 10th, 2011, departing from Cap Sante Marina, Anacortes.

Join Ecology in creating a statewide strategy.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Washington Department of Ecology, in collaboration with local, state and federal partners, is developing a strategy to raise public awareness and increase citizen engagement in restoring and protecting Washington’s shorelines. A survey of groups or individuals that have an interest in protecting Washington’s shorelines is underway through May 6th.

Earth Day Celebration, April 30th.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
In addition to a variety of booths, participants can help restore Allen Creek by planting, removing blackberries and spreading mulch. 10:00am-2:00pm rain or shine at Jennings Nature Park, 5315 64th St NE in Marysville.

Washington releases new management plan to protect Puget Sound rockfish.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Puget Sound Rockfish Conservation plan includes policies, strategies and actions designed to help restore and maintain abundance, distribution, diversity and long-term productivity of rockfish populations in Puget Sound. Tacoma News Tribune.

Big Smoke not killing off Fraser sockeye: Report .
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Despite a burgeoning Lower Mainland population and an ongoing development boom, researchers have found no evidence that localized pollution or habitat damage is a major factor in the decline of Fraser River sockeye salmon. BC Local News.

Gas spill a reminder of fragile state of wild salmon.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
We should take the Goldstream River fuel spill as a chance to consider if we are doing enough to protect our wild salmon. Goldstream News Gazette.

Interpreting Our Watery World, April 27th.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
The Spring Workshop "Interpreting Our Watery World" will be hosted at several sites around Region 10, linked via video conference for the keynote presentation and regional business meeting. The workshop sites include Tacoma, Portland and Girdwood, Alaska. At the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium.

Guiding Student and Classroom Environmental Projects, April 26th
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Through the Pacific Education Institute's Connections Workshop, community members, natural resource professionals and educators will experience first-hand PEI's Project-Based Learning Model, which can be used to involve classrooms or senior project students with real-world project opportunities in local environments. 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday at Pierce County Environmental Services Building, Training Room, 9850 64th Street West, University Place.

Leaders agree to program to reduce polluted stormwater flowing into Hood Canal.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
A program to track down and reduce polluted stormwater flows into Hood Canal was approved Wednesday by the Hood Canal Coordinating Council. Kitsap Sun.

National Drug Take Back Day is April 30.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
National Drug Take Back Day highlights the critical need for ongoing and sustainable safe drug disposal programs to reduce the rising rates of prescription drug abuse, overdoses, and accidental poisonings. Ballard News Tribune.

Poor season for sunshine is great one for spores.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
After a particularly rainy winter (thank you, La Niña) and now amid a particularly rainy early spring (thanks again), the atmosphere has been ideal for moss to multiply. And so it has been doing just that. New York Times.

Environmental concerns sparked by Oak Harbor sewer plant siting.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
It doesn't have to smell like roses, but Oak Harbor's new wastewater treatment plant better not stink. It should also be environmentally sensitive and built to last. Seattle PI.

Bellevue Police to take back people's unwanted medicine.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
There are environmental risks that occur when people flush medicines down drains or toilets, or put them in the trash. Improper drug disposal creates environmental contaminants that threaten water quality, aquatic species, and the soil. Seattle PI.

Reclaiming the Duwamish River.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
In 2 ½ years, mostly to satisfy his own obsession, this West Seattle sailor has made almost 90 trips down the Duwamish, trying to rid its banks of debris. Seattle Times.

Front Porch: Learn about stream rehabilitation projects.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
The project aims to improve fish habitat and reduce water pollution in small streams flowing directly into Puget Sound, including Perrinville Creek in Edmonds, Lunds Gulch Creek in Snohomish County just north of Edmonds, and Picnic Point Creek in Mukilteo. Three presentations are planned this week in Lynnwood, Mukilteo and Edmonds. Everett Herald.

More protection from oil spills.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
"More than 4,000 vessel transports and 15 billion gallons of oil regularly travel to and from ports of call in the Northwest Straits and Puget Sound each year," according to People for Puget Sound. North Kitsap Herald.

Learn about orcas as you watch from shore: The Center for Whale Research launches a new program.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
If you are planning to come to Washington state’s San Juan Island this summer, you will be among the first to enjoy a new, free, educational about orcas, and chances are that you will see these beautiful whales from the shoreline. Seattle PI.

Call for nominations for 2011 Salish Sea Science Prize.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Every two years the SeaDoc Society Awards the Salish Sea Science Prize to a prominent scientist or team of scientists whose work has resulted in the marked improvement of management or policy related to the conservation of marine wildlife and the Salish Sea marine ecosystem.

Saratoga Grays, April 27th.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Howard Garrett of Orca Network will present 'The Saratoga Grays: Farming the Mudflat for Shrimp and Worms". Our resident gray whales that return every spring. 7:00-9:00 pm on Wednesday at the Camano Multi-Purpose Center (Blue building).

Earth Day Family Fun Festival, April 23rd.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
This promises to be a fun day of lively games and hands-on activities for all ages. Both fun and learning activities are included. 10am-2pm on Saturday at the Oak Harbor Yacht Club.

'Shark Men' scout out shark nursery.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Starting Sunday with a double episode, Shark Men (National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m. ET premiere) returns for its second season of shark wrangling. USA Today.

Study confirms septic tanks contribute to Hood Canal fish kills.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Septic systems in Southern Hood Canal appear to play a pivotal role in the massive fish kills that plague the waterway, according to a long-awaited report by a team of scientists.Kitsap Sun.

Swimming in Lake Washington: no chlorine, no lane makers, no crowds.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
While the local swimming pool seems easy, warm and safe, open-water swimming invites a whole new set of obstacles and challenges Woodinville Patch.

Puget Sound cleanup crew expected soon.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
The Washington Conservation Corps, which hires 18- to 25-year-olds to work in parks, habitat conservation and other natural resource-oriented projects throughout the state, will add Puget Sound Corps crews dedicated to projects in the Sound’s watershed. Tacoma News Tribune.

Rain Garden Basics, April 16th.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Learn the basics of building a rain garden to slow and filter storm water. Rain Gardens can clean storm water run off on site, while providing wildlife habitat in a low maintenance, water-wise landscape. 2:00 pm on Saturday at the Oak Harbor Library.

Shellfish beds re-opened yesterday.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
The Washington State Department of Health re-opened Samish Bay shellfish beds yesterday after recently collected water quality monitoring data showed the bay is again safe for harvesting. KAPS News.

Clallam shoreline plan forums start Monday.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
County-hired consultants with ESA Adolfson of Seattle will gather ideas from the public about how to update the Clallam County Shoreline Master Program, which was adopted in the mid-1970s. Peninsula Daily News.

Life abounds in Port Gamble Bay despite lingering contamination.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Port Gamble Bay is considered the second-most important Pacific Herring spawning ground in the Puget Sound region, but it's not just forage fish that thrive along its sandy shores. North Kitsap Herald.

New rules approved to protect orcas from boats.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
New federal rules will require whale-watching boats to stay 200 yards away from endangered killer whales -- twice the current distance allowed under federal guidelines. Kitsap Sun.

Sailing the plastic seas.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Millions of tons of broken-down plastic waste particles are floating in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch located in the North Pacific Gyre, a current in the Pacific Ocean between the California and Hawaii coasts. E Magazine.

Puget Sound Starts Here, April 12th.
Friday, April 08, 2011
Find out what local experts are doing and how you can help. Learn about Low Impact Development techniques that slow and purify stormwater where it falls. 5:30-6:30pm on Tuesday at Oak Harbor City Hall.

Restore America's Estuaries to lead effort to introduce coastal wetlands restoration onto international carbon markets.
Friday, April 08, 2011
Restore America's Estuaries (RAE) announced today that it will lead a landmark initiative to help coastal wetlands restoration and protection projects issue carbon credits on the international voluntary carbon market for the first time. Fly Rod & Reel.

County signs deal to protect Vashon shoreline.
Friday, April 08, 2011
A deal was signed Tuesday that will protect one mile of shoreline on southwest Vashon Island from development and preserve Camp Sealth, owned by Camp Fire USA Puget Sound. Seattle PI.

All you need to know about stormwater runoff.
Friday, April 08, 2011
As rainwater streams off roofs and over roadways and landscaped yards, it mixes a massive toxic cocktail. It scoops up oil, grease, antifreeze, and heavy metals from cars; pesticides that poison aquatic insects and fish; fertilizers that stoke algal blooms; and bacteria from pet and farm-animal waste. Sightline Daily.

Puget Sound habitat restoration bill sent to governor.
Friday, April 08, 2011
Habitat restoration in the Puget Sound basin would be expanded under a bill that cleared its last legislative hurdle last week. Peninsula Daily News

Land Trusts: Together conserving B.C.'s future.
Friday, April 08, 2011
With one million acres of protected private lands in our province, 29 land trusts work to steward, restore, and manage the long-term protection of the natural and cultural heritage of British Columbia.Victoria Times Colonist.

My turn -- Protect water quality for shellfish -- and future generations .
Sunday, April 03, 2011
What many people don't know is that right now Washington's waters are being poisoned by a steady flow of toxic runoff. Water runs over our streets, picking up toxins and chemicals, into our drains, and then dumps into our waterways -- everything flows into Puget Sound. Kitsap Sun.

New rules to protect fish are clear as mud, cities say.
Sunday, April 03, 2011
Building near shorelines may get a lot more complicated this fall. That's when new rules are scheduled to take effect that further limit development in floodplains. Everett Herald.

Ecology extends Whatcom Waterway comment period.
Sunday, April 03, 2011
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is extending the public comment period on proposed changes to cleanup plans for some areas of the Whatcom Waterway cleanup site on the Bellingham waterfront.

Duwamish Alive! Earth Day river restoration, volunteers needed.
Sunday, April 03, 2011
Environmental forces will join together at the semi-annual Duwamish Alive! Earth Day river restoration event on Saturday, April 16th. West Seattle Herald.

Tidal power: another blessing from Puget Sound?
Sunday, April 03, 2011
Since 2005, Polagye has been studying the Puget Sound as a potential site for tidal power, energy garnered from turbines placed on the seabed. Crosscut.

Padilla Bay center's aquariums offer unique look at local ecosystems.
Sunday, April 03, 2011
After more than a year of construction, the new aquariums are open at the Breazeale Interpretive Center, part of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Center. Bellingham Herald.

March 2011

Whidbey Green Home Tour, April 2nd.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
From 10 am-3 pm, participants can explore green living and a variety of energy-saving, ecological building styles and low-impact development techniques at five South Whidbey locations. Informational displays and talks by experts on-site will add to the experience.

Return of the kings: Effects of dam removal on biodiversity in the Elwha River floodplain, April 6th.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Dam removal is expected to restore what was once one of the most productive salmon streams in Washington State, opening access to more than 70 miles of protected habitat within the Olympic National Park. Find out about the series of greenhouse experiments Western Professor James Helfield is conducting to characterize the growth of native and invasive plants on sediments dredged from the bottom of the reservoirs. 6:00 pm at the REI Flagship Store, 222 Yale Avenue North in Seattle.

Tsunami threat could catch Northwest off guard.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Scientists say it's inevitable that an offshore seismic menace called the Cascadia Subduction Zone will one day unleash a megaquake. The last time it happened was 300 years ago when a magnitude-9 shaker spawned enormous ocean waves that slammed into the West Coast and damaged Japanese fishing villages. KOMO News.

Pilot projects seek way out of forest logjam.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
This path would make good on the elusive promise that federal forests nationwide can produce timber that creates jobs in struggling rural timber towns, and habitat for fish and wildlife on the brink of extinction -- all without going up in smoke every summer. Bellingham Herald.

SLAMM 2.0 models possible impact of rising sea.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The newest version of a Web application enables researchers, managers, policymakers, and the public to explore impact scenarios of sea-level rise on specific coastal wetlands. Environmental Protection.

Lobbying for waterways.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
In its first year, Alexander says, the coalition has worked with Congress to advance dozens of restoration measures, argued for improvements in water projects, and worked on a court brief that highlights the impact of manmade climate change on water resources. Boston Globe.

Watershed Reflections: Student environmental art and expression contest.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
The contest theme is "We all live in a watershed." The contest is open to all student artists in grades 3-12. Entries must be received by 5pm on April 1st, 2011.

How to make organics recycling "business as usual."
Saturday, March 26, 2011
"Green infrastructure" means using natural systems (such as soil and vegetation) to provide services that supplement or replace built system services, e.g. for storm water management, water and air quality, energy conservation, climate mitigation and adaptation, water conservation, waste recycling, and food security. BioCycle.

Being thankful for clean water - and the people and laws that protect it.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
One purpose of World Water Day is often -- and rightly -- to highlight the horrific consequences of inadequate water supply and sanitation around the world. Natural Resources Defense Council Switchboard.

State to rebuild Blaine Road fish culvert.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Crews with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will replace a culvert beneath Blaine Road (SR 548) this summer to allow fish to move through it more easily. The Northern Light.

Snoqualmie Tribe helps restore historic habitat to Fall City park.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Today, the tribe is attempting to restore the area’s historic habitat by planting native plants, including species that can be harvested. Sno-Valley Star.

93-year-old Arlington tree farmer honored for his role in forestry, ecology.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Small forests clean the air. They retain water, which helps prevent flooding and filter the water that runs from creeks, into rivers and out to Puget Sound. Everett Herald.

Island Press Thought Leaders Panel: Climate Adaptation, March 29th.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Climate change poses challenges to some of the key resource-management issues of our time -- invasive species, corridors and connectivity, ecological restoration, pollution, and many others. 6:00 pm on Tuesday at Seattle Town Hall.

Island Press Thought Leaders Panel: Climate Adaptation, March 29th.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Climate change poses challenges to some of the key resource-management issues of our time -- invasive species, corridors and connectivity, ecological restoration, pollution, and many others. 6:00 pm on Tuesday at Seattle Town Hall.

Inquiry-based science and field research on the waters and watersheds of Puget Sound.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Salish Sea Expeditions invites you to join us on one of our fully funded (no cost to participants) spring teacher trainings, scheduled for March 26th, April 2nd and April 3rd.

Crabs and Crabbing in Puget Sound, March 23rd.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Don Velasques, biologist in the Puget Sound Shellfish Program (Department of Fish and Wildlife) will talk about life cycle of Dungeness Crab, threats, habitat improvements and regulations. 7:00 - 9:00 pm on Wednesday at the Camano Multi-Purpose Center (Blue building).

Open house for landscapers, property managers and home owners associations, March 22nd.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Come to this free seminar at the Oak Harbor Public Works Shop and get tips on how to properly build and maintain a rain garden, safe use and storage of pesticides and fertilizers, irrigation systems, backflow devices and cross connections.

While fishing for laughs, Obama hooks a regional issue.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
He may not know his kings from his silvers or a humpy from a chum, but President Obama's mention Tuesday night of the Northwest's signature fish seems to have resonated with the public -- though probably not as he'd hoped. Seattle Times.

Squishy, spiky gather at Tacoma pier.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Children in life jackets, there on the pier, peered down. Hence the name, Pier Peer, the third in a series of Saturday night adventures hosted by People for Puget Sound and Foss Waterway Seaport. Tacoma News Tribune.

Abandoned gear a threat to marine life.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Lost in storms or torn off by rocks, commercial fishing nets and traps can continue to fish on the ocean bottom for countless years after their owners have written them off and returned to safe harbour. Vancouver Sun.

Pacific Northwest Clean Waters Challenge.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
By taking the Challenge, as a resident of the Pacific Northwest, you are participating in stewardship of their local watershed.

Japan’s quake, tsunami and what it teaches the Northwest.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
You may have heard Washington has an earthquake fault similar to the one that devastated Japan. While there are many fault-lines criss-crossing western Washington, the only one that bears a strong similarity is under the ocean, parallel to our coast-line. It’s called the Cascadia subduction zone. KPLU News.

The tsunami that rocked Japan 300 years ago.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
According to a U.S. Geological Survey expert and a University of Washington scientist, the great tremor of 1700 and ensuing "orphan tsunami" could happen again, and Seattle isn't nearly as well-prepared as Japan. Seattle Weekly News.

March, photo contest celebrate Mountains to Sound Greenway 20th anniversary.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Every decade, the trust holds an anniversary march, making this the third time people will hike and ride from Eastern Washington to the sound. Issaquah Press.

FISH executive director to step down March 31.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
"We know that we can’t replicate Gestin, but we’re looking for a good communicator and someone who is able to quite quickly absorb a lot of complex information about fish — fish biology, fish habitat and all those sorts of things that are very important to getting the Puget Sound chinook back in better shape," Issaquah Press.

Logs fly at Indianola estuary.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Crews are removing hundreds of treated logs from the the marshland this week as part of a project coordinated by the state Department of Natural Resources and the Suquamish Tribe. North Kitsap Herald.

2011 Storming the Sound Conference, Central Sound, March 25th.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Environmental and sustainability educators are invited to explore and foster models and best practices for Puget Sound environmental and sustainability education. At the Seattle Art Museum.

World Water Week, March 21st-25th.
Monday, March 14, 2011
World Water Week will promote understanding of the relationship between members of our local community with water here and around the world, with the emphasis on improving that relationship through conservation and local action addressing equal access for all global citizens. At Chief Sealth International High School in Seattle.

Wetland Planting, March 19th
Monday, March 14, 2011
Join Friends of the Cedar River Watershed in restoring wetland habitat at Marymoor Park in Redmond by planting natives. 10:00am- 2:00pm on Saturday.

Classroom culprits? Invasive crayfish threaten western waterways.
Monday, March 14, 2011
The Rusty crayfish is one of several crayfish that are shipped around the country to, roughly, probably 25 percent of elementary classrooms throughout the United States. PBS News Hour.

Sharing a passion for nature.
Monday, March 14, 2011
During a recent drizzly Saturday afternoon, UW senior Audrey Djunaedi encouraged Seattle middle school students visiting the Marine Life Center in Bellingham to get to know the plants and animals living at our shores. UW Columns.

Environmental study of shipyard site begins March 14 in Fairhaven.
Monday, March 14, 2011
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) will oversee work that will identify the type and extent of contamination from past shipyard operations.

Secrets in the Sound, March 24th.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
In this stunning documentary, you will dive into the waters of Puget Sound to discover the amazing and rich marine life living in your own backyard.

Ecology starts review of Federal Way shoreline program update.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) seeks public comment on the City of Federal Way’s recently updated Shoreline Master Program.

Ecology seeks public comment on proposed changes to Whatcom Waterway cleanup.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The Department of Ecology is seeking public comment on proposed changes to cleanup plans for some areas of the Whatcom Waterway cleanup site on the Bellingham waterfront.

For the health of Puget Sound, floodplains must be healthy.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Floodplains play a quiet but vital role in the health and productivity of Puget Sound. When functioning properly, they support a variety of ecological processes that contribute to the region’s rich landscape. Tacoma News Tribune.

Tides of March auction Saturday benefits Port Townsend Marine Science Center.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
As budgets are cut and programs eliminated, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center is keeping our schoolchildren and their environmental education in mind. Port Townsend Leader.

Have you ever sailed the Salish Sea?
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The threat to the sustainability of these marine resources is greater than ever before, according to Chrys Bertolotto, who coordinates the Beach Watchers program for the Washington State University Extension.

SeaDoc Society.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The SeaDoc Society, founded in 1999, conducts and sponsors scientific research in the inland waters of the Pacific Northwest, also known as the Salish Sea. KIRO TV.
[See a similar article about the Orca Network.]

Riparian planting parties, March 12th.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Join Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group for our upcoming planting to restore riparian habitat at Savage Slough. 10:00 am. on Saturday in Concrete.

Work party: Burke Gilman Trail, March 6th.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Help reforest by planting bareroot plants from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm on Sunday.

Kitsap health inspectors continue battle for clean water.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Water-quality inspectors regularly monitor 58 streams throughout the county, a surveillance program unequaled by any in the state. Through its Pollution Identification and Correction Program, the health district has cleaned up dozens of streams throughout the county. Kitsap Sun.

State updates environmental protections at boatyards.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has issued a new, updated Boatyard General Permit that increases environmental protection from pollution caused by work at approximately 80 boatyards in Western Washington.

WDFW schedules public meeting on Ebey Island salmon habitat restoration study.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has scheduled a public meeting March 15 at its Mill Creek office to discuss a draft study that evaluates the feasibility of restoring salmon habitat on the Ebey Island portion of the Snoqualmie Wildlife Area. KBKW.

Public meeting March 9 on Port Gamble Bay cleanup plans.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
A presentation and public meeting are scheduled March 9, 4:30 p.m., in the Hood Canal Vista Pavilion in Port Gamble. North Kitsap Herald.

GreenRoads Project, March 8th.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
GreenRoads was developed at the University of Washington and is similar to the LEED or BuiltGreen certification for buildings. It includes energy efficient lighting, enhanced pedestrian and bike access, public art and many hidden features that will help make Oak Harbor a cleaner, greener place to live. Find out more at this seminar.

Ecology starts review of Lake Forest Park's shoreline program update.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) seeks public comment on the city of Lake Forest Park’s recently updated Shoreline Master Program.

Around the Sound... focus on Illahee and the nearshore environment.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Orcas were sighted near Illahee and at Enetai traveling north several times on the morning of Friday Feb. 4, as they were captured on film by Illahee resident Jim Smith. Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal.

When orcas are shareholders: Merging environmentalism & business process.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
This month, the Orca Whale was added to the constituencies fighting for the West Coast’s beloved but increasingly degraded Chinook Salmon population. Triple Pundit.

Impressive totals expected this fall for chinook return.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
If the projected return of 760,600 fall chinook comes anywhere close, it could equate to some memorable fishing off the coast and in the Columbia River during the late summer and fall. Seattle Times.

Comments sought on documents for 2 Port Gamble Bay cleanups
Thursday, March 03, 2011
The public is invited to review and comment on draft documents related to two cleanup sites on Port Gamble Bay on the Kitsap Peninsula.

Learn about Puget Sound, and how to protect it.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Here are three ways to get involved and learn more. All of them start this week and continue into spring and beyond.

February 2011

Backyard Habitat Programs for Adults, March 2nd - April 26th.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
At this series of five classes, you'll learn from experts from Seattle Audubon, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Native Plant Society and Woodland Park Zoo about how to attract birds and other wildlife to your backyard, select and care for native plants, recognize and remove invasive plants species, coexist peacefully with the wildlife you attract, conserve water, manage your backyard without the use of chemical herbicides and pesticides, place feeders and bird houses, and get your yard certified as a Backyard Habitat.

SB 5194: Seattle lawmaker fights fertilizers containing phosphorus.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Senator Scott White’s (D-46, Seattle) Senate Bill 5194, intends to protect water quality through restrictions on fertilizer containing phosphorus. Examiner.com.

Top three American health threats from climate change.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
"Changes in the harmful algal bloom season appear to be imminent and we expect a significant increase in Puget Sound and similar at-risk environments within 30 years, possibly by the next decade," said Stephanie Moore of NOAA in a news release by that organization. Discovery News.

Residents diving into water courses: Local watershed projects flow to Sound, beyond.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Like rain falling in the mountains, collecting in rivulets and flowing into streams that flow into the sea, concerns about water quality and water rights have been coalescing in the pool of public consciousness. Peninsula Daily News.

State requires shoreline programs to incorporate geoduck farming standards.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Commercial geoduck farms operating on public and private beaches will come under increased scrutiny as the result of new rules adopted by the Washington Department of Ecology. Kitsap Sun.

Teacher learns, then teaches biotech to Port Angeles High School students,
Saturday, February 26, 2011
The Teacher in the Lab program allows Port Angeles High School biology teacher Jennifer Duncan-Taylor the chance to explore the secret lives of fish. Peninsula Daily News.

Job opening: Puget Sound area.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Service, Education and Adventure (SEA) has an opening for a donor outreach coordinator to develop and coordinate SEA's donor plan, increase donation income and expand SEA's donor base.

Lecture: Sustainable Shoreline Development, February 23rd.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Katrina Hoffman from Sea Grant will present "Green Shores for Homes Project" -- choices to improve ecological function of residential shorelines. 7:00 - 9:00pm on Wednesday at the Camano Multi-Purpose Building. (Blue building).

Climate projections show human health impacts possible within 30 years.
Monday, February 21, 2011
A panel of scientists speaking today at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) unveiled new research and models demonstrating how climate change could increase exposure and risk of human illness originating from ocean, coastal and Great Lakes ecosystems, with some studies projecting impacts to be felt within 30 years.

PCC’s Edmonds store earns LEED Platinum, Salmon-Safe certificates.
Monday, February 21, 2011
The Edmonds location of PCC Natural Markets has earned two of the most prestigious certifications awarded to buildings for features and operations that support human and environmental health. My Edmonds News.

Killer whales' Puget Sound feeding habits under study.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Scientists with nets normally used to clean swimming pools tracked killer whales through Puget Sound recently, scooping up their oily poop. Seattle Times.

Death trap net raised in sea clean-up.
Monday, February 21, 2011
A death trap for fish is being carefully raised out of the water near South Pender Island in an effort to clean up the Salish Sea. Victoria Times Colonist.

Gardeners as Land Stewards, February 23rd.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Celebrity naturalist David Mizejewski introduces Entomology and Wildlife Ecology Professor Douglas Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home, who discusses how native plants sustain wildlife in our gardens. 7:30 pm on Wednesday at Town Hall Seattle.

Proposed bill would keep Capitol Lake as is.
Friday, February 18, 2011
The six House members from Thurston, Mason and Lewis counties are sponsoring a bill that would require the state to maintain the man-made, 260-acre Capitol Lake as a lake, not convert it to an estuary. The Olympian.

Sustainable developments reach Puget Sound shores.
Friday, February 18, 2011
New projects in the region have recently opened that exemplify how urban waterfronts are becoming showplaces for sustainable, community-oriented development. Daily Journal of Commerce.

AmeriCorps teams restore Squak trails.
Friday, February 18, 2011
The scrapes from shovels and the metallic ring from pickaxes splitting rock echoed across the morning stillness on Squak Mountain as AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps members remade a stretch of trail along a forested slope. Issaquah Press.

Don’t leave it to beavers.
Friday, February 18, 2011
"Beavers can create slow water and re-establish estuary lands," she said. "Don’t forget that coho spend one and a half years in fresh water -- they need places to be safe and to feed." Chinook Observer.

Edmonds-based Puget Sound Birdfest looking for volunteers.
Friday, February 18, 2011
The seventh annual Puget Sound Bird Fest, set for Sept. 9-11 in Edmonds, is seeking volunteers and committee members. The three-day event includes speakers, guided walks, land and water-based field trips, exhibits and educational activities for children and adults, and a tour of certified backyard wildlife habitats. My Edmonds News.

Foss Waterway Seaport "Pier Peer" night adventure, February 19th.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Join People For Puget Sound and Foss Waterway Seaport naturalists out on the docks for a nighttime adventure this Saturday, 8:00 - 9:00 pm.

I love trees work party, February 19th.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
After planting more than 800 trees we need to show them love!! Help us to mulch all the trees that we planted and to remove some invasive plants. Saturday at 10:00 am at 21656 184th Avenue S.E. in Renton.

Work parties, February 17th.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Work parties are scheduled for 10:00 at Warren G. Magnuson Park- Promentory Point and West Duwamish Greenbelt on Thursday.

Commission approves new fishing seasons for Lake Sutherland game fish, Puget Sound crab.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission approved fishing closures in the Elwha River Basin linked to the impending removal of two major dams and adopted new Puget Sound crab-fishing seasons for 2011 during a meeting on Feb. 4-5. Port Townsend Leader.

NOAA wants to save salmon for orcas
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
A U.S. environmental agency has rejected a four-year plan for Chinook salmon in Puget Sound because it might not leave enough fish for killer whales. UPI.

Sexy barnacles stand out from crowd.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The first stirrings of spring mean hot and heavy activity is picking up under the water at the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre and, as the aquarium focuses on the theme Sex in the Salish Sea, barnacles are the stars. Victoria Times Colonist.

Sustainable Shoreline Development, February 23rd.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Katrina Hoffman from Sea Grant 'Green Shores for Homes Project' will discuss choices to improve ecological function of residential shorelines. On Wednesday 7:00 - 9:00 pm in the Camano Multi-Purpose Building.

Let it rain.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
As well as the technical success and aesthetic appeal of sustainable rainwater infrastructure, its cost-effectiveness warms its welcome with municipalities struggling to maintain outdated and overburdened pipe infrastructure. GreenSource Magazine.

Ecology seeks comments on Everett Shipyard cleanup documents.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The public is invited to review and comment on draft investigation and cleanup reports for the Everett Shipyard cleanup site at Port Gardner Bay in Everett.

Ecology seeks comments on Lacey's updated shoreline program.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The updated shoreline program guides construction and development in Lacey’s more than three miles of marine, stream and river shorelines -- and portions of 950 acres of lake shorelines within city limits.

Designation of critical habitat for threatened lower Columbia River coho salmon and Puget Sound steelhead.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Andrews Kurth LLP is currently gathering information prior to proposing critical habitat for LCR coho and Puget Sound steelhead and encourage all interested parties to submit comments regarding the issues raised in this notice.

Head of hammerhead shark found off Alki Beach.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The head of a hammerhead shark found off Alki Beach over the weekend has local scientists scratching their heads. KING 5 New.

Application deadlines February 15th.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Tuesday the 15th is the deadline to apply for several programs: the Green Prize in Public Education, for the Master of Environmental Studies Program at The Evergreen State College, and for youth & educator scholarships to attend 2011 WSTA/EEAW conference.

Peter Calthorpe: Urbanism & Climate Change.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Relentless growth has led us to a point of reckoning regarding energy, climate change, and the way we shape our communities, says sustainability expert Peter Calthorpe -- and declaring, "Cities are green" is not enough. 6:00 pm on Wednesday at Town Hall Seattle.

Cedar River Planting Project , February 12th.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Come help us plant native trees and shrubs along the Cedar River! The project location, known as the "Monroe site" was acquired by Seattle Public Utilities as part of the Habitat Conservation Plan. Come learn about the fascinating history, the epic journey of salmon, and restoration efforts under way on this river by a Cedar River Salmon Journey Naturalist.

Two-mile Antarctic ice core could shed light on climate change.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
A research project being conducted by nearly 90 people from public and private U.S. universities and research institutions, including several University of Washington scientists, has succeeded in extracting a core more than 2 miles in depth from Antarctic ice. UW Today.

Orcas were partying at superbowl half-time In Elliot Bay yesterday -- watch for them today!
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
We can only hope that efforts to clean the sound and restore salmon habitat are beginning to pay off and that the orcas will become regular winter visitors to the urban shores of Puget Sound. Seattle PI.

Puget Sound Partnership steadfast in science-based solutions to environmental threats.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Despite the missed deadlines, Rockefeller said he believes the partnership is doing a good job, given the complex problems of Puget Sound. Kitsap Sun.

Work parties, February 5th.
Friday, February 04, 2011
Seven work parties involving planting, invasive plant removal, forest restoration and trails maintenance are planned in natural areas throughout Seattle for Saturday.

Conservancy buys land on Dabob Bay.
Friday, February 04, 2011
The Nature Conservancy has bought 17.4 acres on the west shore of Dabob Bay on Hood Canal, near Quilcene. It will be managed for conservation as part of the Dabob Natural Resource Area. GardenNews.biz.

Environmentally friendly wastewater and water reclamation project celebrates one year of construction.
Friday, February 04, 2011
After 52 weeks of active construction, the Belfair Wastewater and Water Reclamation Facilities Project is 70 percent complete, with full start-up expected by year-end. Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal.

Salt-water marshes to return.
Friday, February 04, 2011
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has given a final go-ahead to a plan to remove dikes and tide gates to allow salt water from Possession Sound to mingle with fresh water from Ebey Slough. Everett Herald.

Group plans upstream Issaquah Creek habitat restoration.
Friday, February 04, 2011
The restoration is scheduled to take place inside the Log Cabin Reach Natural Area on a section of creek upstream from Issaquah and near the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill. Issaquah Press.

State accepts Jefferson County's shoreline program.
Friday, February 04, 2011
Ecology Director Ted Sturdevant called the county's work a landmark effort that will result in significant improvements in the protection, use, development and restoration of over 500 miles of shorelines and the water quality of many river, lake and stream shores in the county. Peninsula Daily News.

Most permitted industrial sites reporting polluted runoff, others face fines (Southwest Washington).
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Owners of most permitted industrial business sites in Washington are working with Ecology to keep a watchful eye on their polluted stormwater runoff -- they have to as required under the Clean Water Act. Washington Department of Ecology

Bellingham studies possible hydro plant on waterfront.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
The city expects to spend up to $200,000 in 2011 to find out if an industrial water main from Lake Whatcom to the waterfront can be used to run a turbine to generate cash as well as electricity. Bellingham Herald

Trumpeter swans try to dodge a bullet.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
The trumpeter swan, or cygnus buccinators, winters along hundreds of miles of the Pacific Northwest. For more than a decade, however, large numbers of these birds have died from lead shot -- not shot fired at them, but historical deposits of shot fired from shotguns of days gone by. Miller-McCune.

Northwest Salmon Derby Series starts at Roche Harbor.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
The kickoff for the Northwest Salmon Derby Series, the biggest series in the United States, begins Thursday with the Roche Harbor Salmon Classic in the San Juan Islands. Seattle Times.

New agency would focus on Puget Sound restoration.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
The Washington Conservation Corps could be headed in a new direction -- straight to Puget Sound -- if several key legislators and state Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark have their way. The Olympian.

Pronghorns are back in Central Washington.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Pronghorns are reasserting themselves as the fastest land mammals in Washington, thanks to a sportsmen's group that joined with the Yakama Nation for an end run around state bureaucracy and environmental red tape. Everett Herald.

January 2011

Bill wants ‘boots on the ground' to clean Puget Sound.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
The Washington Conservation Corps might get a more visible presence in the western part of the state under a bill heard in the Senate Natural Resources and Marine Waters Committee Monday. Tacoma News Tribune.

Free wetlands class in Tukwila.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
The city of Tukwila will offer a free class for Tukwila residents on the care and maintenance of wetlands, streams and their associated buffers. The training will be held Wednesday, Feb. 23 from 6-9 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Tukwila City Hall. Federal Way News.

Tharinger introduces Puget Sound cleanup bill.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Washington State Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim, introduced a bill to the Legislature Jan. 18 seeking to consolidate the Washington Conservation Corps with the state Department of Ecology. Sequim Gazette.

Bills propose oil spill preparedness.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico three bills will be introduced to the state legislature to help prepare Washington state for the worst. The Western Front.

NMFS announces plan to propose critical habitat designations for lower Columbia River salmon and Puget Sound steelhead.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
On January 10, 2011, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking announcing the agency's plan to prepare critical habitat designation proposals for lower Columbia River coho salmon and Puget Sound steelhead, two species currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Roy celebrates salmon run without chum.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
The 20 to 50 wild chum that made it up Muck Creek as far as Roy this year passed through town a couple of weeks ago -- slightly earlier than organizers of the event expected.The Olympian.

Work party, January 25th.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Nature Consortium will host a volunteer work party on Tuesday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the West Duwamish Greenbelt.

The Circumference of Home with author Kurt Hoelting, February 8th.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
When Kurt Hoelting realized the gap between his convictions and his carbon footprint, he gave up traveling by car for a year and stayed within 100 kilometers of his Whidbey Island home. Tuesday at 5:30-6:30pm at Oak Harbor City Hall

Stormwater control projects in WA to get funding.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) has announced the list of 43 cities and counties that will get a share of $23.4 million to plan, design and build stormwater retrofit and low-impact development facility projects. WaterWorld.

Cleaning up Washington waterways -- the mess is ours.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Legislation is expected to be introduced in Olympia next week that seeks to collect a 1 percent fee on the wholesale value of hazardous substances that are significant contaminates of the state's waterways. Seattle Times.

LACEY: Salmon group to mark effort's 20th year.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group's 20th anniversary annual meeting is set for 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Lacey Community Center, 6729 Pacific Ave. S.E., Lacey.

Audubon birders rove Puget Sound to complete the Great Washington State Birding Trail
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Great Washington State Birding Trail is laid out in a series of detailed maps that each describe 50+ of the best sites across the state for observing birds in nature. Seattle Times.

Work parties, January 22nd.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Work parties are planned on Saturday for West Duwamish Greenbelt , Madrona Woods and Seward Park.

Planting Log Cabin Reach Natural Area, February 5th.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Log Cabin Reach Natural Area is a critical wildlife corridor that connects Tiger, Cougar, and Squak Mountain. We will be restoring stream side habitat by planting native trees and shrubs. 10:00am- 2:00pm on Saturday at the Log Cabin Reach Natural Area, Issaquah Creek.

Bottlenose dolphin spotted in Puget Sound.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Marine biologists have confirmed an unusual sighting of a bottlenose dolphin in Puget Sound. Spokane Spokesman-Review.

Wastewater discharge rules evolving to protect watersheds.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Regulatory requirements for wastewater treatment continue to evolve with increasing emphasis on nutrient control, potentially more restrictive federal ammonia criteria, and calls for development of water quality criteria for endocrine disrupting chemicals. WaterWorld.

Fewer than 90 orcas left in the Puget Sound.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Once, hundreds of killer whales swam the waters of Puget Sound, but now there are fewer than ninety. Scientists say many of those are dying. KSCW.

Sound Waters, February 5th.
Monday, January 17, 2011
With a theme of "All Things Puget Sound", Sound Waters this year will feature a keynote address by Dr. Rick Keil, University of Washington. Registration will remain open until Friday, January 28th. To be held at South Whidbey High School.

19th Annual Evergreen Community Opportunities & Internship Fair, January 26th.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Host organizations are invited to attend this year’s Community Opportunities & Internship Fair hosted by Evergreen’s Academic Advising, Center for Community Based Learning and Action, and Student Employment offices. Each year the Fair provides an opportunity for students and community organizations to make vital connections.

Work parties, January 20th.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Work parties are planned on Thursday for Warren G. Magnuson Park- Promentory Point and West Duwamish Greenbelt.

Grants help Cornet Bay salmon project.
Monday, January 17, 2011
The Northwest Straits Foundation, in partnership with the Island County Marine Resources Committee and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, has been awarded $268,875 from the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board to restore salmon habitat at Deception Pass State Park. Whidbey Examiner.

American Meteorological Society Teacher Workshop: Communicating Weather & Climate, January 23rd.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
The workshop, sponsored by the American Meteorological Society, is designed for elementary, middle and high school science teachers. Register by January 17th. On Monday at the Washington State Convention Center.

Work parties, January 17th.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Several work parties are planned for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. Find a project near you and help out!

Wildlife habitat program, January 19th.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Kat Morgan will present on Port Susan Bay 7:00 to 9:00 pm on Wednesday in the Camano Multipurpose Center.

Money battles ahead for Wash. environmentalists.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Along with every other interest group, environmentalists hope the programs they've fought for won't be gutted as the Legislature again tries to fix a huge deficit. Associated Press.

Folks gather to have say on Lake Tapps plan.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
The group of King County cities and water districts that owns Lake Tapps is gathering public input as it develops a plan to guide management of the popular East Pierce recreation spot heading into the summer and beyond. Tacoma News Tribune.

Setting environmental priorities and building up jobs in a down economy.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Each January a network of leading environmental organizations in the state holds a legislative workshop. They hope to fire up advance support for key priorities they want passed by the legislature. One priority this year is a proposed Clean Water Jobs Act. Seattle PI.

Cascadia: A Vision for a Restorative Future, January 17th.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
This second Thought Leaders Discussion on the Built Environment features short, sharp presentations from three impressive speakers on creating more sustainable cities. 6:00 - 7:30 pm on Monday at Town Hall Seattle.

State board limits developers' ability to avoid water regulations.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Far from the shores of Puget Sound lurks an under-the-radar environmental legal case that holds the potential to significantly set back efforts to protect the Sound from its largest source of toxic pollution. Crosscut.com

Time to commit to a wider approach to cleaning up the Duwamish River.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency named the Duwamish as one of the 1,000 most toxic waste sites in the country a decade ago. Seattle Times.

More nets removed from Puget Sound.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Fishing nets left in Puget Sound can be deadly traps for fish, seabirds and other marine life. But now the water's a little safer. A local group has completed a major effort to clear out the underwater hazards. KUOW News.

Threatened salmon will get protected habitat.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
The National Marine Fisheries Service will designate critical habitat for threatened populations of the lower Columbia River coho salmon and Puget Sound steelhead, according to an advance notice of proposed rule making released by the agency. Courthouse News Service.

Job opening: People for Puget Sound.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
People For Puget Sound seeks a Director of Individual Giving to develop strategy and manage all aspects of individual prospect and donor cultivation, solicitation, recognition, stewardship and communication.

Call for proposals for the December NTSA conference.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Submissions are now being accepted for the National Science Teachers Association's 2011 area conferences in Seattle on December 8-10, 2011. Science area categories include earth/space science, biology/life science, chemistry/physical science, physics/physical science, environmental science, or integrated/general.

McAleer Creek Restoration, January 17th.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Help us restore critical stream-side habitat on McAleer Creek-- a salmon-bearing stream. Help us remove invasive English ivy that is threatening tree canopy and stream-side habitat. Come learn about the epic journey of salmon who call this stream home. 10:00am- 2:00pm on Monday at McAleer Creek, Lake Forest Park,

Juanita Woodlands Planting Project , January 15th.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Help us plant young conifer saplings underneath this cottonwood forest. We will be bare-root planting in the upland Juanita Woodlands forested area 9:00am- 2:00pm on Saturday.

Storming the Sound, January 27th.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Billed as a regional gathering of north sound environmental educators, this year's gathering will feature a wide variety of planned sessions organized by leaders of our region's environmental education community. 9 am - 4 pm on Thursday in LaConner.

Co-management holds promise of sustainable fisheries worldwide.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Encouraging new evidence suggests that the bulk of the world's fisheries -- including small-scale, often non-industrialized fisheries on which millions of people depend for food -- could be sustained using community-based co-management. UW Today.

In our view: Cheers & jeers.
Sunday, January 09, 2011
Cheers: To the Columbia Land Trust's latest deal, which preserves 6,900 acres of forest land on the northern border of Clark County, near Swift Reservoir. Clark County Columbian.

Basic survival: water supply and quality.
Friday, January 07, 2011
The challenges go to fundamental questions of who and what uses will get water, and how we provide, regulate and pay for life- and job-sustaining water. Seattle Times.

Squaxin Island tribe further testing mushrooms as water quality solution.
Friday, January 07, 2011
Mushrooms might help treat one of the most widespread causes of water pollution -- fecal bacteria from human and livestock waste in stormwater runoff. And if it works, the system can be used to protect the rich shellfish heritage of Puget Sound. WaterWorld.

EPA unveils options for Duwamish River cleanup.
Friday, January 07, 2011
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has unveiled 11 possible options for cleaning Seattle's most polluted waterway, the Duwamish River. Indian Country Today.

$1.9 million for salmon recovery projects in South Sound.
Friday, January 07, 2011
Sixteen projects valued at more than $1.9 million in Thurston, Pierce and Mason counties have been approved by the state Salmon Recovery Funding Board. Tacoma News Tribune.

Two ways to look at the sea, and a search for objective facts.
Friday, January 07, 2011
Some see the ocean as a trove of resources there to be harvested, others as a vast habitat inadequately protected. Now comes a quest for new data to inform their debate. Crosscut.

Way of Whales Workshop January 29th, 2011.
Friday, January 07, 2011
Orca Network invites you to join us at our annual workshop about the wonders of Pacific Northwest Whales and research being conducted to learn more about the whales in our region and protect them for future generations. Seattle PI.

Work parties, January 8th.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Lend a hand in restoring Golden Gardens, participate in an urban reforestation project at Alder Creek Natural Area, work on the Burke Gilman Trail, or remove invasive plant species and lay mulch at the Longfellow Creek-Delridge Natural Area. All on Saturday.

It's time for a new direction in our federal forests.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Management for our federal forestlands is being driven primarily by an effort to recover the spotted owl.

The Problem with Plastics, January 11th.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
All you ever wanted to know about plastics but were afraid to ask. This seminar will change the way you cook and store your food and beverages. Please bring your questions for retired WSU Professor Abdel-Monem. 5:30-6:30pm on Tuesday at Oak Harbor City Hall.

Filling the tidal-power impact void.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Just because they don't produce noxious emissions, doesn't mean they don't have environmental impacts. We're coming to understand this about many renewable energy sources, but when it comes to tidal power, the knowledge void has been especially large. International Business Times.

Sockeye report extensive.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Fish scientists got together this past summer to examine their evidence and shed light on the 2009 Fraser River sockeye crash. They presented their work to the Cohen Commission trying to establish the various causes, and recently have begun giving evidentiary evidence. Victoria Times Colonist.

Outdoor issues for 2011.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
From Rainier roads to Elwha dams, major developments are on the agenda for the new year . The Olympian.

Professional development grant applications invited.
Sunday, January 02, 2011
Classroom Earth is supporting middle and high school teachers around the country who want to make wildlife conservation part of their curriculum. The deadline is February 1, 2011.

State poised to close more eastside elk winter range.
Sunday, January 02, 2011
Elk of the Colockum, including management of their winter range, will be the focus of an evening meeting held by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on Jan. 6 in Ellensburg. Bellingham Herald.

Suquamish Tribe's creek project wins $1.7 million.
Sunday, January 02, 2011
When salmon return to Chico Creek, the most productive salmon stream on the Kitsap Peninsula, they must first maneuver through a troublesome culvert where the stream pours into Chico Bay. Seattle Times.

Tulalip Tribes restore creek for salmon.
Sunday, January 02, 2011
Ten years ago, Coho Creek was a drab, nameless, straight-as-an-arrow drainage ditch. Today, much of it is a meandering stream filled with salmon with a name to match. Seattle PI.

Swimmer interdiction security dolphins: Are they here?
Sunday, January 02, 2011
After a three year process of obtaining permits and doing an environmental impact study, the navy announced in early 2010 that the program to use dolphins and sea lions to patrol the waters of Puget Sound would be implemented within the calendar year:

Don't sacrifice natural resources for something as unimportant as money.
Sunday, January 02, 2011
The Washington legislature met in special session recently to begin fixing the $6 billion hole in the state's budget. We're afraid that when the smoke clears, natural resources will be the big loser. Belltown Messenger.

December 2010

Terry Husseman Sustainable School Awards.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
The Terry Husseman Sustainable School Awards promote sustainability and reward school efforts to reduce waste and increase environmental curricula. Applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2011.

Work party, January 3rd.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Come help propagate from live stakes and learn about native plants. 10am-2pm on Monday at Warren G. Magnuson Park Native Plant Nursery in Seattle.

The future of the forest can sustain communities and the trees, OSU's College of Forestry dean says.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Hal Salwasser's observations come across like forest clearcuts: Blunt, dramatic and starkly efficient. Just as some people think clearcuts are nothing but ugly, not everyone likes what Salwasser has to say. Oregon Live.

Otters journey from Liberty Bay to the Rio Grande.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Somewhere along the shores of New Mexico's Upper Rio Grande a river otter is hunting for fish 1,000 miles from its native home. North Kitsap Herald.

EPA unveils options for Duwamish River cleanup.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has unveiled 11 possible options for cleaning Seattle's most polluted waterway, the Duwamish River. Tacoma News-Tribune.

NOAA finalizes plans for 2011 hydrographic survey season.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
As the new year approaches, NOAA ships and independent contractors are preparing for the nation's 177th hydrographic surveying season, aiming to collect critically needed ocean and coastal mapping data for 2,525 square nautical miles in high-traffic coastal waters of the continental United States and Alaska. NOAA.

School program registration - for teachers
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
The Cedar River Watershed Education Center offers free 4th and 5th grade watershed education programs to public and private schools. Applications for Spring 2011 programs will be accepted until January 7, 2011.

Work parties, January 1st.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Parties are planned for Magnuson Community Garden, the West Duwamish Greenbelt and the Burke Gilman Trail.

UW researchers examine effects of tidal turbines through new energy project.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Researchers at the University of Washington will be measuring the environmental effects of tidal turbines through the first tidal energy project on the west coast of the United States. DailyTech.

Orca habitat could be at risk.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Environmentalists fear for the safety of the whales as the U.S. Navy prepares to expand its operations in its Northwest Training Range Complex, which stretches from the coastline of Washington state to northern California. The Province.

Developing Critical Thinking Skills Through Systems Thinking Strategies, January 7th.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
This Waters Foundation project allows teachers the opportunity to: share systems thinking techniques that they have found effective in the classroom and their work; practice and refine systems thinking techniques acquired in other systems thinking workshops; develop understanding and expertise with systems archetypes, stock/flow maps and computer simulations; apply what they have learned to their curriculum and work. In Portland.

Work party: January 1st.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Come to the Friends of Lincoln Park work party and burn up to 1000 calories in 3 hours of work! 9am-12pm on Saturday.

Issaquah schools face end of Salmon in the Classroom program.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
In the program, students raise salmon, learn about water quality and salmon habitat, and discover the relationship between Issaquah Creek and Puget Sound. State legislators eliminated dollars for the program in a round of budget cuts during the Dec. 11 special session. Issaquah Press.

Bellingham scientist wins the day for 'Salish Sea.'
Sunday, December 26, 2010
While doing research, Webber realized the waters form an ecological system. Bellingham Herald.

Puget Sound Partnership reaches a crossroads.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Can the state cleanup effort deliver on Gov. Gregoire's demands for measures of real progress? Or, more basically, can the Partnership convince the public that there is a real need for a cleanup? Crosscut.com.

County clean-water utility approved.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Island County took another step toward developing a comprehensive approach to managing its wide-ranging water issues on Monday with the approval of a countywide clean-water utility district. Whidbey Examiner.

Peninsula gets more than $2 million in salmon recovery grants.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
The grants are part of $20.7 million given to agencies throughout the state to fix damaged rivers and streams, replace failing culverts and replant riverbanks with the goal of helping recover salmon from the brink of extinction, the state Salmon Recovery Funding Board said Monday. Peninsula Daily News.

State DNR and City of Bainbridge Island enter into lease agreement for Eagle Harbor Open Water Marina.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the City of Bainbridge Island have entered into a 12-year lease agreement for an open water marina area in Eagle Harbor.

Local groups getting grants to improve salmon habitat.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Whatcom County is getting nearly $800,000 in state grants to help salmon. Close to $706,000 of that is headed to the Nooksack Tribe to build 20 logjams in the north fork of the Nooksack River at Wildcat Reach. KGMI News.

Oil spill a 'major threat' to region: Trust.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
The heads of the Islands Trust and San Juan County Council want the federal government to work alongside the U.S. and Canadian coast guard on a strategy to minimize the impact of an oil spill in the Salish Sea. Gulf Islands Driftwood.

Wondering about Wildlife, December 29th.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Visit the Education Center for this free family fun day and learn more about the wildlife who call this special place home. 10:00 am - 3:00 pm on Wednesday at the Cedar River Watershed Education Center in North Bend.

The big unknown: The sediment effect.
Monday, December 20, 2010
The Elwha Dam and another one, 13 miles from the mouth, are scheduled to start coming down next year -- the biggest dam removal project ever in the United States. No one knows how the approximately 17 million cubic yards of sediment behind the dams will affect the area's ecology once released. University of Washington Alumni Magazine.

Admiralty Inlet dubbed ideal for pilot tidal-power turbine project.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Nearly two years of monitoring show the Admiralty Inlet is an ideal place to harness tidal energy, University of Washington researchers say. Associated Press.

State's environmental agencies called on to change to respond to budget concerns.
Monday, December 20, 2010
"Efficiency" will be the name of the game next year among agencies that manage the state's natural resources. Kitsap Sun.

The View From Planet Kerth: Are the seas a-flush with spicy doom?
Monday, December 20, 2010
And now, researchers at the University of Washington who study water quality in Puget Sound warn us that we may be flushing our way to trouble. Naples Daily News.

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge gets new boardwalk.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Combined with parts of the estuary already restored by the Nisqually Tribe, nearly a square mile of habitat has been returned to its natural state, the biggest nature reboot north of San Francisco Bay. Seattle Times.

Assessing the environmental effects of tidal turbines.
Friday, December 17, 2010
A demonstration project planned for Puget Sound will be the first tidal energy project on the west coast of the United States, and the first array of large-scale turbines to feed power from ocean tides into an electrical grid. Bioscience Technology.

More sampling at G-P West site for possible early cleanup actions.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Crews will return to the Georgia-Pacific West cleanup site to sample areas where the Department of Ecology and Port of Bellingham are considering early cleanup actions, and to provide a clearer picture of contamination for an overall investigation. Washington Department of Ecology.

Environmentalists outraged at increased Navy training.
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Obama administration has approved a U.S. Navy plan to increase military training along the Northern Pacific Coast and many environmentalists are outraged. ABC News.

United effort can create a better Shelton waterfront.
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Squaxin Island Tribe recently announced plans to begin work on a fish and wildlife restoration project in Shelton Harbor, which is the southwestern most terminus of Puget Sound. The Olympian.

Satellite tagging of southern resident orcas, part two: Is it worth the risk? Your opinion matters!
Friday, December 17, 2010
So the question is, can we now justify applying painful tags to their dorsal fins in order to acquire data? Is it not a breach of the trust we offer them? Your opinion is important, and you have until December 23rd to let the permitting agency know how you feel about this issue. Seattle PI.

One Planet.
Friday, December 17, 2010
One Planet takes a boat trip with Tucker the sniffer dog and his team of zoologists in search of killer whale faeces. Their mission: to find out why the killer whales are dying. BBC.

Mud Bay Restoration Work Day, December 18th.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
With a goal of removing invasive vegetation to protect native plantings, this work party will meet 9 am - 1 on Saturday pm at the Randall site, Olympia.

Soundings: Daniel Pauly: Fisheries, Ecosystems, and Scientific Thought, December 15th.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
From 1995 to 2003, fisheries expert Daniel Pauly wrote about the massive global impact of modern industrial fisheries on marine ecosystems—a concept initially contested, but now broadly accepted by mainstream scientific and public opinion. 7:30 - 9pm on Wednesday at Town Hall Seattle.

Work parties , December 14th and 16th.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
The main restoration goal is reintroducing native conifer species to the Greenbelt, and we also focus on invasive plant removal, site maintenance and environmental education. Tuesday and Thursday at West Duwamish Greenbelt and Thursday only at Magnuson Park- Promontory Point

Salmon pond.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Tour the UW campus with a visit to the salmon homing pond, where Chinook and Coho have been raised, released and now return every fall. UW 360.

Job opening: Puget Sound Partnership.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
PSP seeks a qualified candidate for the position of Stewardship Coordinator. This position will assist the Partnership's mission by coordinating a variety of efforts across the twelve-county Puget Sound region to engage residents in on-the-ground recovery efforts. Applications are due December 17th.

Using the law to clean our water.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
For the third year running, the Washington environmental community will be pushing to establish a new funding source for stormwater projects. The issue remains high on their list because of the hugely damaging role polluted runoff plays in the state. Sightline Daily.

Job opening: Stormwater specialist.
Thursday, December 09, 2010
The Department of Ecology has a limited-duration opening in Lacey, Washington The application deadline is Monday December 20th.

State awards Pierce County $2.9 million in stormwater grants.
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Pierce County will receive $2.9 million in grants from the state to retrofit and build stormwater facilities that prevent pollution. Tacoma Daily Index.

Biofuels and buffelgrass, urban water and mangroves.
Thursday, December 09, 2010
USGS scientists, as part of the Puget Sound Ecosystem Portfolio Model ( PSEPM ), are determining conditions that influence park visitation for restoration planning and decision support. Media Newswire.

Commissioners approve sewer project -- and higher rates.
Thursday, December 09, 2010
A six-year construction plan, also approved Monday, includes an upgrade to the treatment equipment to produce effluent clean enough to be used for irrigation or to supplement flows in local salmon streams. Kitsap Sun.

Report: $3B, 5 years needed to clean Gulf of Maine.
Thursday, December 09, 2010
At least $3 billion is needed over five years to restore the environmental health of the Gulf of Maine, according to a new report described as the most comprehensive ecological needs assessment ever done for the gulf. Bloomberg Press.

Marine learning center gets environmental certification
Thursday, December 09, 2010
The Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend, Wash., recently achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold Certification. Trade Only Today.

Waterbird survey, December 8th.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
People For Puget Sound will be leading a waterbird survey (8:30 am to 10:30 am) at Titlow Park, Tacoma this Wednesday, December 8th.

Work parties December 11th.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Work parties are planned by the Green Seattle Partnership for a dozen sites throughout King County on Saturday.

Work party: West Duwamish Greenbelt, December 9th.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
During the fall and winter Nature Consortium's Urban Forest Restoration Project removes invasive species, mulches, and plants native plants and trees in the West Duwamish Greenbelt.

West Coast states offer a different vision in Cancun.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
A year ago, the United Nations' climate conference in Copenhagen failed to produce an international agreement on limiting greenhouse gases. Now, delegates from around the world are meeting in Cancun, Mexico to try again. But with the collapse of federal climate legislation in the U.S., regional efforts -- like those on the West Coast -- are coming back to the forefront. KPLU News.

It's official: King Co. will buy Maury Island site for park.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
The County Council on Monday approved a deal that would turn a former gravel mine into a protected park. Seattle PI.

Oakland Bay, Shelton Harbor sediment health focus of comment period, public meeting.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Ecology staff will talk about the study's findings and answer questions on Dec. 15, 2010, in Shelton.

Clean water utility forums planned.
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Now, local residents can get their first look at Island County's proposed clean-water utility at two public meetings in December. Whidbey Examiner.

Satellite tagging could track killer whales in winter ... but at some risk?
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Federal biologists are proposing to track Puget Sound's endangered orcas by using tiny satellite transmitters, attached to the whales' dorsal fins with a dart fired from an airgun. Kitsap Sun.

Not wanted here, otters find peace in New Mexico.
Sunday, December 05, 2010
After five interstate trips over three years, the last of 33 otters captured in Puget Sound was released into the stream late last month. Seattle Times.

New members named to Puget Sound Partnership Science Panel and Ecosystem Coordination Board.
Sunday, December 05, 2010
The Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council has named Wayne Landis and Linda Berry-Maraist to the Partnership Science Panel and Ecosystem Coordination Board.

County Council approves project to flood Smith Island for estuary.
Sunday, December 05, 2010
An infusion of grant money is headed toward a controversial Snohomish County-led project to restore salmon habitat on Smith Island, north of Everett. Everett Herald.

Fines from 2003 oil spill used to boost North Kitsap salmon habitat.
Sunday, December 05, 2010
A small estuary tucked inside Indianola's Miller Bay has been restored to functional condition, thanks to penalties assessed from a 2003 oil spill, officials say. Kitsap Sun.

Youth & Adult Environmental Summit in Seattle, December 10th.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
You're invited to join the YMCA Earth Service Corps and 150 teens and adults from the environmental community to tackle our most pressing environmental issues. 9:00am-12:30pm (summit), 1:00-3:00pm (service project) on Friday at Metrocenter YMCA in Seattle.

Widely-used measure of ocean health flawed.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Since the publication of a landmark paper in 1998, the health of the oceans' fisheries has often been measured by what's called a "mean trophic level" of catch. But now a new study suggests that that the standard may, in fact, not give an accurate representation of what's alive in the deep. USA Today Science Fair.

County adopts shoreline rules as Issaquah considers plan.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
King County leaders emphasized conservation along Issaquah Creek and Lake Sammamish in the shoreline rules adopted Tuesday. Issaquah Press.

Efficiency Connections Northwest Conference aims to maximize regional energy efficiency.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
During the two-day event, both local and national energy efficiency experts will join Northwest professionals from more than 20 utilities to collaborate on pressing energy efficiency opportunities in the Northwest. PR Newswire.

Clean water utility forums planned.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Now, local residents can get their first look at Island County's proposed clean-water utility at two public meetings in December. The meetings are set for 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8 at Trinity Lutheran Church at 18341 Hwy. 525 in Freeland, and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 at the Coupeville Recreation Hall, 901 NW Alexander St. Whidbey Examiner.

The Dugualla and Skagit Connection, December 14th.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Hear from the Whidbey Camano Land Trust about what they're doing to preserve habitat on land and on the water. Follow the salmon run from the river to our shores and discover the Skagit - Dugualla Connection. 5:30-6:30pm on Tuesday at Oak Harbor City Hall.

November 2010

King County Council gives thanks for local farmers.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Organizers created the campaign to accentuate the connections buying local has forms to the environment, the use of fossil fuels and energy, and support for local farmers. Issaquah Press.

Scientists worry North Pacific salmon may run out of food.
Friday, November 26, 2010
With the number of salmon in the North Pacific having doubled in the past 50 years, scientists are increasingly concerned there may not be enough food to support them, and changing ocean conditions could make it even worse. Miami Herald.

Ecology starts review of Renton's shoreline program update.
Friday, November 26, 2010
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) seeks public comment on the City of Renton's recently updated Shoreline Master Program, a landmark effort that will significantly increase the protection and restoration of Renton shorelines along Lake Washington, the Cedar, Green and Black rivers, May Creek, Springbrook Creek, Lake Desire and all associated wetlands in each of these planning areas.

Firms see tidal energy as wave of future.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Pilot projects or studies are under way in Washington's Puget Sound, in Alaska's Cook Inlet, off the coasts of Florida, California, Oregon and Hawaii, in New York City's East River, along the Mississippi River and elsewhere. The Columbus Republic.

Oh buoy! Harvesting wave power on the cheap.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Columbia Power Technologies believes it has a better way to tap the power of ocean waves for clean energy: Good-bye steel turbines; hello fiberglass, a lighter-weight material that requires less maintenance. Reuters.

City plans to improve drainage in gulch.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
The city is planning to fix ongoing drainage problems in the basin of Smuggler's Gulch with projects that include modifying detention ponds and adding rain gardens to public right-of-ways. Mukilteo Beacon.

State proposes $23.4 million for cities, counties, ports to plan, build stormwater-control projects.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
The projects will boost local economies by providing immediate good-paying jobs while protecting streams, lakes and Puget Sound from polluted stormwater runoff – the number one water pollution problem in the more populated areas of the state. Department of Ecology.

How the salmon affects where an eagle hunts.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
When salmon are scarce, eagles return to the shores of the Salish Sea earlier than in years of fish abundance.Vancouver Sun.

Educators open house hosted by Seattle Aquarium, December 4th.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Meet aquarium educators and learn about classes, outreach, continuing adult education, and more. Free admission for educators and up to four additional family members. 9:30am - 3pm on Saturday.

Professional development opportunity at Woodland Park Zoo and Seattle Aquarium, December 4th.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Spend a day at Woodland Park Zoo learning more about bear species found around the world and in our own backyards. 8:30am - 4:30pm on Saturday at at Woodland Park Zoo.

Dicks was passionate, effective champion for Puget Sound cleanup.
Monday, November 22, 2010
The movement to restore the health of Puget Sound was dealt a setback last week when David Dicks -- son of Congressman Norm Dicks -- announced that he was leaving his post as Director of the Puget Sound Partnership to take a position at the University of Washington's College of the Environment. Seattle PI.

A call to action on ocean acidity.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
States bordering water bodies that are becoming more acidic from the absorption of carbon dioxide should list them as impaired under the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency declared in a memo this week. New York Times Green Blog.

Department of Ecology approves Des Moines' updated shoreline plan.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
According to a press release, this is "a landmark effort that will significantly increase protection and restoration of Puget Sound shorelines and water quality." The Waterland Blog.

Ask the Burke: Where do Salish Sea orcas go in the winter?
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Members of the J Pod can still be seen in the Puget Sound during the winter months, but the K and L Pods leave the Puget Sound for the deeper waters of the Pacific Ocean in search of food. Seattle PI Reader Blogs.

Return of the southern resident orcas: Holding steady in a tough environment.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
sites, says Whale Trail founder, Donna Sandstrom, is to remind people they share Puget Sound with an endangered species. "We here in this urban environment have a tremendous responsibility to change the way we live so that orcas may also live." Seattle PI Reader Blogs.

First Nation, police pull together.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The Pulling Together canoe journey began 10 years ago with a vision to build bridges between First Nations youth and law enforcement officers. Peninsula News Review.

Oil spill safety not our job: Metro.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Preventing a major oil tanker spill will be the responsibility of Port Metro Vancouver and senior governments -- not the region. Maple Ridge News.

After suing, group says city on track to fixing sewage problem.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
At a time when the city's sewage plant was racking up Clean Water Act violations for dumping too much raw sewage into the Snohomish River, the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance felt it had no choice but to sue the city. Snohomish County Tribune.

Military needs a plan in place to deal with its growth in this area.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
A draft environmental impact study says the addition of an aviation unit at JBLM would create more traffic on I-5, generate more noise at the Nisqually Indian Reservation, impact water quality in Puget Sound and raise the risk of wildfires at the Yakima Training Center where helicopter crews would train. The Olympian.

Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater teamwork will pay off with projects.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
This year's priorities of the Thurston County Shared Legislative Partnership focuses on two issues: a request for $2.5 million to do a broad transportation study on the long-term functionality of Interstate 5 and its links and a series of projects to improve water quality in southern Puget Sound. They Olympian.

Kitsap County planning big, but costly, improvements to sewer systems.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The commissioners say they will push for better ways to manage both wastewater and stormwater under their countywide "Water as a Resource" policy. Kitsap Sun.

The plight of the harbor seal.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
On Alki Beach in West Seattle, a harbor seal pup nicknamed "ET" rested on a boat launch for seven days in October. The Western Front.

Gravel pit linked to third runway reverts to public ownership.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The site is the longest remaining piece of undeveloped Puget Sound shoreline in King County. Federal Way News.

Call for presentations for the 2011 WSTA/EEAW Joint Conference.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
The Washington Science Teachers Association (WSTA) and The Environmental Education Association of Washington (EEAW) invite session proposals. The deadline has been extended to Tuesday, November 30, 2010.

NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
The program provides a unique environment for learning and teaching by sending kindergarten through college-level teachers to sea aboard NOAA research and survey ships to work under the tutelage of scientists and crew. Apply by November 30, 2010.

Birds of Panama by Guido Berguido, November 18th.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
A native of Panama with a degree in biology from the University of Panama and guide certification through the (USA) National Association for Interpretation, Guido will share his extensive knowledge of birds, flora, fauna and culture of Panama. 7:00pm at the Barn at Barn Beach Reserve, 347 Division Street in Leavenworth.

Soundings: Robert Glennon: The Value of Water, November 18th.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Robert Glennon, author of Unquenchable, sees both tragedy and irony in America's coming water crisis -- and believes that only when we recognize water's worth will we begin to conserve it. 7:30 -9pm on Thursday at Town Hall Seattle.

New Elwha hatchery nears completion.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Construction crews are working feverishly on a new tribal fish hatchery, located just a short distance from the banks of the Elwha River where the largest dam removal in North America will take place next year. Seattle Times.

Wildlife Trees -- The Importance of Snags in Your Neighborhood, November 17th.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Join instructor Chris Anderson, a wildlife biologist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, for a lively presentation on the important ecological role of "Wildlife Trees" commonly known as snags. 3-4:30pm on Wednesday at NW Stream Center, McCollum Park, 600 128th Street SE, Everett.

Work parties in several locations , November 13th.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Parties are scheduled on Saturday at South Portage Bay, Kiwanis Ravine, Alder Creek, Orchard Street Ravine, Burke Gilman Trail, Thornton Park 6, Licton Springs Park, Golden Gardens Park, Fauntleroy Park, Ravenna Park, Hitt's Hill and the West Duwamish Greenbelt.

From gravel mine to park; King Co. buys Maury Island site.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Land that was once the site of one of the biggest fights between environmentalists and industry in King County will become a protected park. Seattle PI.

Update on DuPont settlement talks.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
The parties to a 1994 settlement agreement over a sand and gravel mine in DuPont today issued an update of their negotiations regarding the potential mine expansion and appropriate natural resource protections. Department of Ecology.

Upstream boost.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
A flood of funding for projects in the Stanwood area will lead to restoring valuable wildlife habitat and protecting surrounding farmland. Stanwood/Camano News.

Zoo to auction off behind-the-scenes animal experiences and artwork by animals.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Imagine your loved one opening a gift that promises to take him or her behind the scenes to watch an elephant bath, take a photo with a raptor, or meet an orangutan up close. Seattle PI.

America's Great Outdoors is accepting comments.
Monday, November 08, 2010
President Obama has launched a national dialogue about conservation in America to learn about some of the smart, creative ways communities are conserving outdoor spaces. His administration wants to hear about the places you love, your community's efforts to protect them, and how we can better support modern-day land conservation efforts happening in communities across the country.

Lake Baikal, Siberia: Will industrial development destroy the world's largest, cleanest lake? November 9th.
Monday, November 08, 2010
Lake Baikal, the biggest lake on Earth, a natural wonder and World Heritage Site located in Eastern Siberia, has been experiencing industrial, commercial, environmental, and social pressures for decades. 4:30 on Tuesday at the Evergreen State College Seminar II Building, Room C1105 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW in Olympia.

The mystery of Canada's huge 2010 salmon runs.
Monday, November 08, 2010
The return of the salmon to rivers large and small is, of course, a Northwestern commonplace. But can this seasonal appearance of big fish in small streams, of bright red males competing to fertilize the eggs pinkly visible in the gravel, their bodies half out of the shallow water, chasing each other across the rocks, ever be really commonplace? Crosscut.

Can a volcano spawn salmon?
Monday, November 08, 2010
Could a volcano erupting in the Aleutian Islands put money in people's pockets in Bellingham more than 2,000 miles away? KUOW News.

Eat a fish, save a rainforest: Professor says to weigh alternatives before we curtail fishing.
Monday, November 08, 2010
Replacing fish harvested from the sea with equivalent amounts of animal protein from pigs, cattle and chickens could take land resources equivalent to 22 times the rainforest we currently have, according to calculations by Ray Hilborn, UW professor of aquatic and fishery sciences.

Fifth annual Northwest Indian Storytelling Festival celebrates Tribal Canoe Journey.
Monday, November 08, 2010
Canoe travel and paddling traditions have been an important part of Northwest tribal life for thousands of years, but had almost disappeared from many contemporary communities until the Tribal Canoe Journey events began. Indian Country Today.

West Duwamish Greenbelt work party, November 9th.
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Each work party begins with a short informal forest ecology workshop. During the fall/winter months we remove invasive species and maintain our site. 10am - 2pm on Tuesday; RSVP is mandatory for all work parties as locations vary.

Lecture to present stormwater as resource rather than problem.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
A free presentation will discuss stormwater runoff as a resource rather than a problem. The lecture, hosted by the Clallam County Department of Community Development, will be at 6 p.m. Monday in Room 160 at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles. Peninsula Daily News.

Pacific Raceways proposed expansion could harm salmon runs.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
The clash between the owner of Pacific Raceways, Jason Fiorito, and local residents at a town meeting on October 13, has awakened a sleeping giant of community protest. Examiner.com.

Tacoma-area students think polar, act local.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Polar bears in Canada are running out of ice. To save them, students in Tacoma are planting shrubs and trees on three-fourths of an acre in Point Defiance. Tacoma News Tribune.

Drivers, fish may feel growth with new Army aviation brigade planned at Lewis-McChord.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
A new combat aviation brigade that the Army wants to form at Joint Base Lewis-McChord could create more traffic on Interstate 5, generate more noise at the Nisqually Indian Reservation and raise the risk of wildfires at the Yakima Training Center, according to a draft environmental study the Army released Friday. Tacoma News Tribune.

Army announces availability of draft PEIS, requests comments on proposed aviation growth, realignment and stationing.
Saturday, November 06, 2010
The Army has prepared a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the proposed growth, realignment, and stationing of new and existing Army aviation assets. Environmental impacts associated with the implementation of the proposed action would include significant impacts to transportation on the Interstate 5 corridor near JBLM and to fish and water quality in Puget Sound.

Thank the Forest work party, November 6th.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Please join us to thank the forest! We ask for your help to stack downed shrubs & trees for animal habitat, remove invasives and clear areas for planting. 10:00am - 2:00pm on Saturday at 21656 184th Avenue S.E. in Renton.

Natural History Workshops for Educators: Earth History, December 4th.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Using what we know about Earth's systems, structures, and processes we will explore the fossil record noting major events in the history of Earth. Dr. Elizabeth Nesbitt, Curator of Paleontology, and Burke Education staff will guide our study. 9:00 am - 3:00 pm on Saturday at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington.

Killer Whale Tales, November 6th.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
See Killer Whales "swimming" on the walls at the Northwest Stream Center. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at NW Stream Center, McCollum Park, 600 128th Street SE, Everett. Advance purchase necessary.

Organic Agriculture: The Root of Rural Development, November 12 - 14th.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
The Tilth Producers conference begins Friday at 4:00pm with a welcome reception and runs until Sunday 3:00pm at Fort Worden, Port Townsend.

The 3 Rs, Recycling at School or Work, November 9th.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Presented as part of the City of Oak Harbor's 2010 Sustainable Living Seminars, this will meet 5:30-6:30pm on Tuesday at Oak Harbor City Hall.

Peninsula seal saved from certain death.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Kirkham, who owns Island Camping, ferried quite a few injured seal pups to the Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre on Salt Spring as part of a volunteer network to get the youngsters out of harm's way and back into nature. Peninsula News Review.

Planting project on the Cedar River, November 20th.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
This critical habitat for spawning sockeye and a wide diversity of birds and wildlife has already undergone dramatic results thanks to volunteers like you! Invasive blackberries once infested the area; we are now working to restore a healthy forest by planting hundreds of native trees and shrubs. 10:00am- 2:00pm on Saturday at the Cavanaugh Pond Natural Area in Renton.

Sunnyside Waste Water Treatment plant right on schedule.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
The primary and ongoing driver for the project is water quality in Ebey Slough, the Snohomish River and Puget Sound. Lake Stevens Journal.

Tiny marine creatures could help diagnose the health of Puget Sound.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
University of Washington researchers are using tiny sea creatures called foraminifera to help diagnose the health of Puget Sound. PhysOrg.com.

Remember where our food comes from.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
The mud and the water have always been a source of food. But when we start to see shorelines and rivers not as places where we get our food, but where we can make money developing property for the best views and highest value, we dishonor the importance of our surroundings. Bellingham Herald.

Hatch-22: The problem with the pacific salmon resurgence.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
The number of salmon in the Pacific Ocean is twice what it was 50 years ago. But there is a downside to this bounty, as growing numbers of hatchery-produced salmon are flooding the Pacific and making it hard for threatened wild salmon species to find enough food to survive. Environment 360.

Protection Island Aquatic Reserve ceremony Wednesday.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
A ceremony designating 23,778 acres of state-owned tidelands and bed lands around Protection Island as a state aquatic reserve is planned in Gardiner on Wednesday. Peninsula Daily News.

October 2010

Private screening & benefit fundraiser for the Gulf Coast, November 4th.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Storm Surge is meant to raise awareness of the challenges people in the Gulf face and to inspire citizen volunteers from across the country to invest their time, talents and resources to help accelerate the regions recovery. 6:30-8:30pm on Thursday at Central Cinema, 1411 21st Avenue, Seattle.

The Structure and Function of Estuaries: A Focus on Puget Sound, November 3rd.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
TESC professor Dr. Chin-Leo will speak at 7 - 9 p.m on Wednesday at the new LOTT WET Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia.

Migration: The Transformative Power of Birds and Nature, November 12th.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Join us for an evening of photographs, humorous stories and inspiring tales about animals and birds who may just hold the hold the keys to enlightenment; or, at least know where the garage door opener is hidden. 7:00 p.m. Friday at the Barn Beach Reserve in Leavenworth.

Ebey's Forever Conference, November 5-6, 2010.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Ebey's Reserve and Whidbey Island are emerging as a model for heritage-based rural development. The conference includes a potluck, keynote, workshops and field trips.

In the Emerald City, the debate over trees heats up.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Tree lovers are now fighting proposed city rules that would remove current protections for large, exceptional trees, and do not include a requirement that property owners get a permit to remove a tree. Everett Herald.

Hood Canal's economic, environmental health focus of conference.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
The annual Hood Canal Environmental Achievement Awards and Conference will be held in The Commons at Fort Worden State Park from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5.

Plastic in our oceans.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Fionnuala Sweeney talks with Philippe Cousteau about the state of our oceans and the growing plastic waste problem. CNN.

Water Planet Challenge.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Join EarthEcho's Water Planet Challenge to improve the health of the environment in your community and around the world.

Upcoming South Sound restoration events, October 30th.
Friday, October 29, 2010
People For Puget Sound will be leading a restoration work party at the William Cannon Trail in Olympia this Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.

$900,000 available for Cedar habitat projects .
Friday, October 29, 2010
Habitat for endangered salmon and other wildlife in three King County watersheds will see added improvements, thanks to more than $1.5 million in Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration (PSAR) grants from the state Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB). Renton Reporter.

Storm-water rates could double in Arlington.
Friday, October 29, 2010
The Arlington City Council has scheduled a public hearing regarding the proposed rate increase -- and a presentation about why the storm water drainage improvements are necessary -- during the council's Monday night meeting.

CCGS Vector visits Ganges, giving look at life at sea.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Islanders got the chance to meet scientists from a research mission that's uncovering ocean mysteries in the waters that surround the Gulf Islands during the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Vector's one-day stop in Ganges Harbour on Thursday. BCLocalNews.com.

Lake snail quarantine working.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Recent surveys of lakes and streams within a 5-mile radius of the lake showed no snails at 85 different locations. Olympia Olympian.

Scientists, business interests, others to collaborate on new Hood Canal plan.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Now, a group of residents, business owners, scientists and others have launched what could be the most ambitious project yet: a strategy to restore the entire Hood Canal ecosystem with a heavy emphasis on human values, including recreation, housing, human health and commercial activities. Kitsap Sun.

Land trust purchase a boon to migratory birds.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Migratory songbirds from central Washington to central America will benefit from a 338-acre purchase of an increasingly rare swatch of oak woodland near the Klickitat River. Vancouver Columbian.

Once abundant local 'sea monsters,' giant basking sharks are now endangered.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Ottawa -- the same level of government that once sought to destroy the basking shark -- now begins to atone for its mistakes by conducting air patrols twice a month, May to October, in search of the animals. Vancouver Sun.

Locals join forces in Vancouver for salmon rally.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation (TFN) and Friends of Clayoquot Sound (FOCS) members are currently in Vancouver for the Paddle for Wild Salmon protest and Stand Up for Wild Salmon march. Westerly.

NOAA Science in the Pacific Northwest lecture series.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Upcoming lectures include Ocean Mapping (November 3rd), Ocean Acidification (November 10th), and Oil Spill in Puget Sound? (December 1st). At the Pacific Science Center's Eames Theater.

Aron Cramer & Zachary Karabell: Business & environmentalism, October 26th.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Aron Cramer and Zachary Karabell, authors of Sustainable Excellence, examine how 21st-century businesses will need to integrate their aims with environmentally responsible practices. 7:30 pm on Tuesday at Town Hall Seattle.

Salmon trail experience starts Nov. 6.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail gives visitors an up-close-and-personal view of chum salmon as they return to the creek to complete their life cycle. Tacoma News Tribune.

Altered shoreline raises future risk.
Monday, October 25, 2010
A sea wall to hold back the rising waters of Puget Sound could be the next major alteration in the long history of Olympia's changing downtown shoreline. Olympia Olympian.

Chum salmon on the move in Chico Creek.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Chum salmon are swimming into Chico Creek a little early this year, but they're finding no impediments at Kitsap Golf and Country Club, where a major stream restoration is nearing completion. Kitsap Sun.

Tla-o-qui-aht join forces with Wild salmon people.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Tla-o-qui-aht citizens will be joining paddlers from Homalco, Cowichan Valley, Washington, and Kitimat in Victoria to join Alexandra Morton, Elena Edwards, First Nations leaders and our flotilla in pulling together for wild salmon as they journey down the Fraser River. Marketwire.

Floating science suits students.
Monday, October 25, 2010
The Victoria visit wrapped up five days of Vector visiting communities around Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast as part of National Science and Technology Week. Victoria Times Colonist.

Green Mountain and Tahuya State Forest recreation plans open house October 26th.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
DNR is embarking on a recreation planning process for the Green Mountain and Tahuya State Forests located on the Kitsap Peninsula. We need your help in charting a course for the future of recreation in these state forests. 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday at North Mason High School in Belfair.

Tundra Connections, beginning October 28th.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
You're invited to meet and talk with some of the world's foremost authorities on polar bears and climate change during our live broadcasts from the tundra. Seven webcasts are scheduled from October 28th to November 16th.

Wolves and their Critical Place in Nature, October 25th.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
After more than 70 years wolves have returned to the Cascade region. Residents have noticed howls and tracks, and now scientists have confirmation that wolves have reached Washington's Okanogan Country. Now the question is how the return of the wolves will affect local ecosystems. 7:30 - 9pm on Monday at Town Hall Seattle.

Plant a tree on the Cedar River, November 9th.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
The Belmondo Reach Natural Area is critical habitat for a wide diversity of wildlife and is important for river migration. Help us in our continual efforts to restore the area by planting native trees and shrubs where volunteers removed blackberries earlier this year. Noon - 4:00pm on Tuesday the 9th.

The dog and the whale.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Radio 4 spends a day on a motor boat with Tucker the sniffer dog and a team of zoologists in search of killer whale dung, floating in the waters off the North American Pacific coast. BBC.

Paddle for Wild Salmon update (October 22) – Matsqui to Katzie.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Salmon Are Sacred's 'Paddle for Wild Salmon' launches from Matsqui (Abbotsford) at 10am this morning destined for Pitt Meadows where they will be hosted by Katzie First Nation. Environmental Communication Options.

$12 million given for salmon.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The state Salmon Recovery Funding Board awarded more than $12 million Tuesday to 39 projects designed to restore and conserve Puget Sound salmon habitat. Olympia Olympian.

Some Islanders say geoduck harvests work far too close to the shore.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The growing demand for geoduck has frustrated some Islanders, who say they're seeing increasing harvest activity off the shores of Vashon -- sometimes exceedingly close to the shoreline. Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber.

In our view: Sound logic.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
From the Olympic peninsula to the Palouse and from the Pend Oreille to the footprints of Lewis and Clark, Washingtonians know that we're all in this together. The Columbian.

Darigold fined for ammonia spill to Issaquah Creek.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Oct. 7, 2009, discharge caused a fish kill during a salmon spawning run. Department of Ecology.

Projects helping to improve water quality in state.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
There's been so much negative news recently -- crime and campaign ads -- that I thought I'd include information about the projects that are making a difference in water quality in the Puget Sound area. Seattle PI.

Science is cool aboard the Vector.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
On Wednesday, about 90 Timberline students, along with another 90 more from Carihi Secondary, were welcomed aboard the Vector. They came to learn more about the floating science project, the Salish Sea Expedition, and to find out about career opportunities in science or as a Coast Guard member. BC Local News.

All about bats.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Join bat expert Barbara Ogaard of the Sarvey Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for a voyage into the mysterious world of bats. See live bats up close and learn facts from myth. 7-8:30pm on Friday October 22nd at NW Stream Center Auditorium in Snohomish County's McCollum Park, 600 128th Street SE, Everett,

2010 tied (so far) for warmest on record.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
In North America, warming was especially pronounced in Alaska, where researchers recently announced that the growing season for the state's interior had expanded from 85 days in the early 20th century to 123 days today. New York Times.

Port takes a go at Kingston fast-ferry service to Seattle.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Commuters and day trippers enjoyed a free opening-day trip Monday on the new Kingston-Seattle passenger-only ferry.Kitsap Sun.

Puget Sound restoration makes great strides.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
While the price tag is significant, it's sometimes difficult for those of us on the ground to see first-hand how those restoration projects are taking shape. Olympia Olympian.

From Hell to Hope - Alexandra Morton rafts through Hell's Gate.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Wild Salmon People are gathering momentum with a raft through Hell's Gate tomorrow (19th) and the launch of the ‘Paddle for Wild Salmon' from Hope on Wednesday (20th). Environmental Communication Options.

Marine mysteries explored on floating science project.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
A "floating science project" will help solve some of the mysteries of the local marine environment when it pulls into the Inner Harbour on Friday. BC Local News.

Lake Crescent case study for student learning.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
This workshop for teachers only will involve developing testable questions; explore the lake by canoe; and analyzing your data, sythesizing your findings and translating your new knowledge about Lake Crescent to an important water body in your home community. 5pm on Friday October 22nd through 2pm on Sunday October 24th, 2010.

Storming the Sound Conference.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Storming the Sound is a one-day conference for environmental educators in the Hood Canal, Olympic Peninsula, and Straits region of Puget Sound. This is a great opportunity for teachers, non-formal educators, environmental organizations with education programs, and students with an interest in a career in environmental education to gather and learn together. 9:00am to 4:00pm on Friday October 22, 2010, at the Olympic Park Institute, near Port Angeles.

Recession mustn't stop restoration projects, Gregoire says.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Now is not the time to hold back efforts to protect and restore the Puget Sound ecosystem, Gov. Chris Gregoire declared Friday while touring Belfair's new sewage-treatment plant. Kitsap Sun.

Synergistic toxicity of pesticides hurts salmon.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Pesticides--all the insecticides, weed killers and fertilizers spread on yards and farms--aren't the only problem contributing to the decline of the wild Pacific salmon. Food Safety News.

Elected officials take cleaner-water tour.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Gov. Chris Gregoire renewed her pledge to work for a clean, healthy Puget Sound by 2020 during a five-stop, three-county tour of South Sound on Friday. Tacoma News Tribune.

Newborn orca spotted.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
A new killer whale calf has been born into L pod, one of the three groups of orcas that frequent Puget Sound and the Salish Sea. Seattle Times.

Salmon steward training at Carkeek Park, October 16th.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Carkeek Park is holding its annual salmon steward training, a great way to learn about salmon and your park, get experience with small-scale public speaking, be a naturalist-teacher for a few hours, or get service learning credit. 9:30am- 3pm at Carkeek ELC meeting room, 950 NW Carkeek Park Road in Seattle.

Cedar River riparian planting, October 23rd.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Help us in our continual efforts to restore the area by planting native trees and shrubs where blackberries were removed earlier this year. 9:00am-2:00pm on Saturday the 23rd at Cavanaugh Pond in Maple Valley.

Holmes Harbor Farm Planning Workshop, October 23rd.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Whidbey Island Conservation District staff will discuss how farm planning can protect Holmes Harbor while enhancing the farm. This seminar series is offered for residents of the Holmes Harbor Shellfish Protection District, but all are welcome. 9:00am to 12:30pm on Saturday the 23rd at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland.

Managing Mature Forests: A workshop & field tour on "Continuous Cover Forest Managment," October 16th.
Friday, October 15, 2010
This workshop is for forest owners and managers who want to manage mature forests for production. Derek Churchhill and Rolf Gersonde will present on practices, management logistics, and ecological aspects of forestry. 9:00am-5:00pm on Saturday the 16th at 302 Yelm Ave. E, Yelm.

Save energy and save money, October 21st and 28th.
Friday, October 15, 2010
In this free event, Puget Sound Energy representatives will explain how to increase the energy efficiency of your home, select and install the right back-up generator, and take advantage of a $350 instant rebate for a home energy assessment by a certified HomePrint contractor. 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. on either Thursday the 21st at the Coupeville Library or Thursday the 28th at the Freeland Library.

Washington highlights efforts to restore Puget Sound.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Governor Chris Gregoire on Friday will lead a five-stop, three county tour of the Puget Sound, highlighting key projects to protect and restore Washington's waters. Gov Monitor.

Ecology's stormwater strategy.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The Washington Department of Ecology has released its draft draft plan for beefing up its low-impact development requirements for controlling polluted stormwater runoff -- which is considered the top environmental threat to the Puget Sound and many other Northwest lakes, rivers, and streams. Sightline Daily.

Salmon returning to creek with Phase 2 of project.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Fish are jumping in Mukilteo sooner than anticipated, as nearly 100 salmon returned to a creek in Phase 2 of a three-phase project to improve fish passage. Mukilteo Beacon.

Aquatic reserve to be established.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Local residents are invited to be on hand for the official designation of the Smith and Minor Islands Aquatic Reserve at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 14 at Fort Ebey State Park. Whidbey Examiner.

The view from above shows restoration.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Elected officials from the Nisqually River watershed saw by air Monday four major initiatives under way to restore salmon habitat, then offered opinions on the immediate future of two of the projects.Olympic Olympian.

Regional nonprofit to assemble business leaders, scientists for pollution prevention roundtable and local environmental tours.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
On October 5-6, the Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center will be hosting the Pollution Prevention Regional Roundtable at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort in Suquamish. Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal.

Floating science project coming to Campbell River Oct. 20.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Students from Carihi Secondary and Timberline Secondary will experience firsthand how ocean science solves mysteries in their own marine backyard when the Canadian Coast Guard ship Vector comes to Campbell River on Wednesday, Oct. 20 to mark National Science and Technology Week. Canada.com.

Climate change - The four challenges to sustainability.
Monday, October 11, 2010
"Climate Change - The four challenges to sustainability" will be presented with live narration by W. Douglas Smith, Sr. Compliance Investigator (retired) with the US Environmental Protection Agency and Environmental Chair for the United Nations Association of Seattle. A prize-winning second documentary program will be shown, titled "A Crude Awakening - the oil crash." 7:00 pm on October 15th at St. Marks Cathedral Bloedel Hall, 1245 10th Avenue in Seattle.

Whidbey Island Beaming Bioneers Conference.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Each fall, the Bioneers Conference in San Rafael, California brings together leading innovators to speak and present their unique stories and solutions. The plenary lectures from the National Conference are "beamed" to more than 20 local sites around the country. This year's speakers include Jane Goodall, Lynne Twist, and John Warner. October 15-17, 2010.

Wilderness Aware School youth program fall visit days.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Parents and their children are invited to share a day with staff, students and other families to see the enriching school-year programs in action. Thursday October 14th.

Foundation For the Future: Peter Ward: Our Flooding World.
Monday, October 11, 2010
UW Professor Peter Ward will discuss mechanisms of sea level rise and fall and examine the consequences of varying sea-level rises on civilization. Ward will also sign copies of his latest book. 7:30 pm on Wednesday October 13th at Town Hall Seattle.

Salmon journey: Follow the Cedar River salmon migration.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Each summer and fall, you can join volunteer naturalists at the Ballard Locks and at five sites along the Cedar River to see spawning salmon. Open 11:00 am to 4:00 pm the last three weekends in October.

A river will re-run through it, this winter.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Rich Geiger, chief engineer for Mason Conservation District, said he expects dramatic improvements in natural functions as the outflowing Skokomish River interacts with tidal flows from Hood Canal. Kitsap Sun.

350 Seattle work party.
Saturday, October 09, 2010
We invite you to stand up, step forward and join us in taking clear and decisive action to help people throughout the Pacific Northwest protect the planet and achieve social and economic prosperity for ALL. Volunteer for a 350 Seattle Work Party 7:00-10:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 10th at Republiq Nightclub (SODO District - 2946 1st Ave S, 98134),

Small Boats Saturday at Cama Beach.
Saturday, October 09, 2010
This is an end-of-season gathering for people who love traditional small craft. Small boats will be on display both on land and in the water, accompanied by skills demonstrations and talks led by professionals, music, and fun. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Saturday October 16th at Cama Beach State Park on Camano Island.

Hot stuff: UW part of national effort to study global warming.
Saturday, October 09, 2010
In an arrangement that could mean many more millions of dollars in research funding in years to come, the University of Washington, Oregon State University, the University of Idaho and the U.S. Geological Service are to work together to establish the Northwest Regional Climate Science Center, one of eight planned centers throughout the country meant to identify and fund practical global warming research that can be used to better manage natural resources. Seattle PI.

County picks project to control North Beach sewer overflows.
Saturday, October 09, 2010
To control overflows of stormwater and wastewater that can occur during heavy rains, King County's Wastewater Treatment Division is proposing to build an underground storage pipeline in the public right-of-way beneath Triton Drive Northwest and Northwest Blue Ridge Drive. Ballard News-Tribune.

How much pollution falls onto Puget Sound?
Saturday, October 09, 2010
The study found that there's a lot less of the heavy metals - copper, lead, arsenic and such - falling into the Sound from the atmosphere than was thought; anywhere from 90 to 99 percent less. KPLU.

New stormwater treatment at Boeing Field will reduce toxic PCBs and help protect the Duwamish River and Puget Sound.
Saturday, October 09, 2010
The treatment system will greatly reduce the amount of toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are an on-going source of pollution to the Duwamish River. US Environmental Protection Agency.

First Green hosting unique teacher workshop.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Teachers will receive 6 hours of continuing education credit through the Washington State Office of Public Instruction for attending this day of informational speakers, learning labs and an educational field trip on the golf course. October 8, 2010, at the Glendale Country Club in Bellevue.

"Returning Salmon" discussion.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Whidbey Watershed Stewards, NAS Whidbey's Wally Hasselman and Swan Lake Preservation Group will discuss the local efforts to protect salmon along Whidbey Island streams and shorelines. 5:30-6:30pm on Tuesday October 12 at Oak Harbor City Hall.

Thurston County students learn by getting their feet wet, hands dirty.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
For the young people, it was a fresh air lesson on the ecology and economics of South Puget Sound aquaculture. Tacoma News Tribune.

Des Moines opens last link in creek trail.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
The completed paved bicycle and pedestrian trail winds through more than 2 linear miles of heavily forested salmon-bearing habitat from South 200th Street in SeaTac to Des Moines Beach Park. Federal Way News.

Two Whidbey beaches get an F for water quality.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
A California environmental watchdog group says that while most regularly monitored Washington state beaches report good water quality, two on Whidbey Island earned failing grades. Everett Herald.

Port of Vancouver tar sands tankers plying BC coastal waters.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Today, 2 tankers per week ship tar sands crude oil through Vancouver. The oil companies have a plan to expand this to 10 tankers per week. Pacific Free Press.

Ocean Acidification: An evening with seminar with scientific experts.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
This seminar will share the current state of knowledge regarding ocean acidification and provide an overview of scientific research being conducted in this region. Free and open to the public at 6:00 pm on Thursday October. 7, 2010, at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water Street, Port Townsend.

Report casts world's rivers in 'crisis state.'
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Instead of investing billions of dollars in expensive remediation technologies, strategies such as protecting watersheds, for example, can reduce the costs of drinking water treatment, preserve floodplains for flood protection and enhance rural livelihoods. US News & World Report.

Urban creeks, urban run off from you & me and Puget Sound water quality.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Neighborhood activists, elected officials and a water quality planner are here to learn more about the biggest threat facing Puget Sound -- runoff from roads, land and hard surfaces, run off that washes into the Sound when it rains. Seattle PI.

Zimo: Using stimulus money for outdoors projects makes sense.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
If you find clear trails, new trails and bridges, smoother backroads and improved campgrounds while you're out hunting or camping this fall, thank Uncle Sam's stimulus funds. Bellingham Herald.

Festivals over, Port Townsend returns to downtown projects.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
This week, city officials will begin mapping out a schedule for the completion of a variety of continuing projects that will change the complexion of the north end of town, Development Director Rick Sepler said. Peninsula Daily News.

Sport crab fishery likely to be extended.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
The state Fish and Wildlife Commission approved by a vote of 7 to 2 late Friday to make management changes that could increase the yearly sport catch by as much as 45 percent of the nontribal share. Seattle Times.

Waterfront Work Party.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Bring your work gloves and shovels to help remove the alien invaders! Scotch broom and thistle are invasive non-natives that we'll remove to give the native shrubs a better chance and provide good habitat for wildlife. 2:00-4:00 pm on Sunday October 10th at Maylor's Point Trail in Oak Harbor.

FinFest -- An Orca/Salmon Homecoming Celebration.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Sponsored by Whidbey Watershed Stewards and Orca Network, the all-ages event will feature games and activities, hands-on art experiences, displays, films, a silent auction, storytelling and music. Noon to 9 pm on Saturday October 9th at Freeland Hall on Whidbey Island.

Chester Morse Lake Trail Improvement Project.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Volunteers will help gravel and grade this trail along the shores of Chester Morse Lake for improved barrier-free tour access. 9:00 am-2:00 pm on Saturday October 9th at the Cedar River Municipal Watershed.

Why do salmon counts vary from year to year?
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Issaquah Salmon Hatchery docents learned about salmon population trends during a training session September 11 in preparation for tours and Issaquah's biggest festival of the year, Salmon Days. Issaquah Press.

Jefferson Land Trust leader wins key environmental award.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
The director of the Jefferson Land Trust -- dedicated to preserving open space, working lands and habitat -- was recognized Thursday with an award named for a Port Townsend environmentalist. Peninsula Daily News.

Senate approves measures.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
The U.S. Senate has approved measures to strengthen efforts to prevent Salish Sea oil spills. KAPS.

Bats Eats Bugs!
Friday, October 01, 2010
Michelle Noe, President of Bats Northwest, will teach you batty facts about the bats of the world. 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 2, 2010, at Barn Beach Reserve, 347 Division Street in Leavenworth.

Wind offers reprieve to struggling, dying fish in Hood Canal dead zone.
Friday, October 01, 2010
Fish still clustered near the surface, straining to capitalize on a slight increase in oxygen brought about by a shift in the wind. Seattle Times.

Saturday is season's first Port Townsend Marine Science Center bird migration cruise.
Friday, October 01, 2010
The Port Townsend Marine Science Center invites the community to view the fall bird migration aboard Puget Sound Express' Glacier Spirit, an enclosed motor yacht, beginning on Saturday, Oct. 2. Port Townsernd Leader.

The Nisqually Refuge is for everyone -- including hunters.
Friday, October 01, 2010
Are bird-watching and waterfowl hunting mutually exclusive? The folks at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge are testing that theory as they set boundaries and open up a new portion of the property to duck and goose hunting. Olympia Olympian.

Variance from national levee management standard sought to help Puget Sound recovery.
Friday, October 01, 2010
The Puget Sound Partnership has asked the US Army Corps of Engineers for a regional variance on levee vegetation standards. Puget Sound Partnership.

Tranquil waters trip ends with spiritual moment.
Friday, October 01, 2010
Our quiet day on the Salish Sea (Strait of Georgia) came the day after the big storm of last week. Comox Valley Record.

September 2010

Peter Miller: Learning from Swarms.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The modern world may be obsessed with speed and productivity, but National Geographic senior editor Peter Miller says we 21st-century humans could learn a lot from the ancient instincts of ants, bees, and birds -- creatures who crowd. 7:30 pm on Thursday September 30th at Town Hall Seattle.

Forecasters expect a wet, cold winter for Southwest Washington.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which monitors ocean temperatures worldwide, issued a La Nina advisory Sept. 9. Longview Daily News.

Stormy weather for Clark County stormwater plan
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The Washington Department of Ecology approved the Clark County plan, and will explain its reasons at the hearing. Public News Service.

Lynnwood company fined for water pollution, hazardous waste violations
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
A Lynnwood mold-cleaning company faces $18,000 in Department of Ecology (Ecology) fines for washing anti-fungal spray equipment into a storm drain. Washington Department of Ecology.

Des Moines Creek trail to re-open Oct. 6th, thanks to $579,000 grant.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department will formally open the 2.5-mile stretch of trail that will connect three parks at 1:30pm that day: Waterland Blog.

Southern resident orcas and dolphins interact together in the wild: Is it play?
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Even from a distance the orcas' exuberance was unmistakable, the splashes created as they breached and cartwheeled out of the water were bright against the gray/blue backdrop of Haro Strait. Seattle PI Blog.

African crane draws stares on Whidbey Island.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Bird watchers and some North Whidbey residents have been a little dumbfounded by a recent visitor to Dugualla Bay Heights. Seattle PI.

Baker River sockeye return dwarfs historic average.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sockeye salmon returned to the Baker River this year in record numbers -- a mark that fisheries managers hope to see eclipsed again and again in coming years. Business Wire.

March Point shoreline restoration scheduled for October.
Monday, September 27, 2010
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in partnership with the Skagit River System Cooperative (SRSC), will begin restoration work at the Fidalgo Bay Aquatic Reserve October 4 through 7 to improve habitat for forage fish.

Gov. Gregoire announces $27.5 million in federal help to support salmon recovery efforts.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Gov. Chris Gregoire announced that Washington was awarded $27.5 million for salmon recovery efforts by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office from the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, an annual Congressional appropriation provided to the states.

Good news for those who dig razor clams: A strong season expected.
Monday, September 27, 2010
As we head toward the start of what should be another excellent fall and winter coastal razor clam season, diggers should take note of a couple topics. Seattle Times.

Trio of PNW universities to develop new tools for climate change planning.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
The nearly $3.6 million in Interior Department funding announced today, Sept. 22, will ramp up efforts already underway at three Pacific Northwest universities to help resource managers tailor the latest climate change findings to forests, waterways, parks and other lands where they work. University of Washington.

Reports from the field: MV Indigo & Indian Island.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Beach Watcher Nicole Frenzl reports on her experience during an Advanced Training on the MV Indigo. WSU Jefferson County Beach Watchers.

Nearshore restoration efforts begin on Bainbridge Island.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Work will begin in the next few weeks on shoreline habitat restoration at two island locations; Strawberry Plant Park and the east bluff of Pritchard Park. Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal.

Upcoming Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission hearings.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider updating its policy for managing Puget Sound crab fisheries at a meeting scheduled Oct. 1-2 in Olympia. World Fishing Network.

Beyond the Ducky.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Local Ducks Unlimited volunteers are hoping to start a conversation about efforts to preserve and restore wetland habitat, and to get others interested in helping out. Kitsap Sun.

Pharmacies and police stations accepting unwanted medicines for disposal.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Unwanted medicines can be collected at many pharmacies and police stations in Washington State on September 25, 2010. Find one near you.

Pharmacies and police stations accepting unwanted medicines for disposal.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Unwanted medicines can be collected at many pharmacies and police stations in Washington State on September 25, 2010. Find one near you.

National Public Lands Day, September 25, 2010.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
NPLD is the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy.

National Day of Caring projects in the Cedar River Watershed.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
This weekend, restoration and trail improvement projects will be part of the National Day of Caring.

Turning Seattle's food waste into fuel.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
In the year and a half since food recycling became mandatory for most Seattle households, we've gotten really good at composting. So good that the facility where all of this food waste goes has to get creative about what to do with it all. KUOW.

Greek shipper fined $4 million for dumping oil through 'magic hose.'
Thursday, September 23, 2010
A ship management corporation registered in Panama and doing business in Greece today was sentenced to pay a $4 million penalty for dumping oily waste and sludge at sea through a "magic" bypass hose and concealing the illegal discharges by keeping a fraudulent oil record log. Environment News Service.

Discovering the bounty.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Victoria-based naturalist Joe Percival leads an ethnobotanical tour Saturday, Sept. 25, of Webster's Woods to uncover some natural splendors on Beaver Hill, as this first Olympic foothill is known to locals. Percival will search out edible and medicinal plants that were important to the original inhabitants of this Salish Sea ecosystem and are interspersed among the surprises of Art Outside. Sequim Gazette.

Hundreds of dead fish found in Hood Canal.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Biologist Steve Quinnel named off a list of dead species he found on the beach, including English Sole, flounder, Rockfish, Ratfish and various small eel like species. King 5.

Salmon survey CSIers sought.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
"CSI: Highline" is a new effort to better understand the health of Miller and Walker Creeks, which drain Burien, Normandy Park and SeaTac. Highline Times.

What sort of access do you want to the Carbon River area of Mount Rainier National Park?
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
To help collect public comment, park officials have scheduled a trio of meetings -- on September 27, 29, and 30 -- to explain the EA and the options being considered for access to that part of the park. National Parks Traveler.

Point Wells: oil tanks to condo towers?
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The Israeli billionaire developer who owns Point Wells near Shoreline wants to transform the property, with its rusting smokestacks and polluted groundwater, into a waterfront development. Seattle Times.

NR board adds 10 acres for conservation area on Lummi Island.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The parcel is near the southern tip of the island and contains important habitat for fish and wildlife, according to a news release from DNR. Tacoma News Tribune.

Children and Nature Initiative from the National Environmental Education Foundation.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Through the Children and Nature Initiative, health care providers, parents, outdoor organizations, schools, federal, state and local agencies, community groups and other institutions can work together to encourage children to spend more time outdoors and teach them how to protect their health and the environment.

Global Sustainability: Central America to Maine
Sunday, September 19, 2010
This special multi-media event for environmental educators features exciting new sustainability-related projects across Central America and Maine. 6 - 9pm (films start at 7:15) on Thursday September 23, 2010, at Hale's Ales Brewery Palladium, 4301 Leary Way NW in Seattle.

Going paperless benefits land trust.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
TwinStar Credit Union donated $1,070 to the Nisqually Land Trust to support reforestation of Chinook salmon habitat along the Nisqually River. Nisqually Valley News.

Seattle clings to its struggling summer sockeye.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Sockeye returns were the lowest on record last year, and this year were too tiny to warrant a fishery. The last sockeye season was in 2006. When the next one might happen is anyone's guess. Seattle Times.

Ecology starts review of Tukwila shoreline update.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) seeks public comment on Tukwila's recently updated shoreline master program, a landmark effort that will significantly increase protection and restoration of Green and Duwamish River area shorelines and water quality. Tukwila Blog.

State OKs Cascade's water rights of Lake Tapps.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
The decision also guarantees summer recreation levels for one of Pierce County's most popular lakes and robust flows in the White River that support healthy habitat and salmon runs while improving the river's water quality. Seattle PI.

Job opening: Oxford, Maryland.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Through a partnership with the Chesapeake Research Consortium, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service seeks a postdoctoral researcher in resource economics, with a focus on Chesapeake Bay, U.S. east coast, Galveston Bay, Texas, and Puget Sound, Washington.

K-12 Advisory Committee Meeting, Walla Walla.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Among other items, we will be introducing you formally to the new Water and Environmental Center Education Coordinator, Melissa Holecek, and the K-12 Americorps Volunteer, Jacqueline Upshur, during that time. 3:30 p.m. September 22nd at the Water and Environmental Center.

Reinventing Your Lawn workshop.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Ready to revitalize your lawn? Preparing for a new lawn? Want to save money on your water bill, or simply curious about the best ways to care for your landscape? Then this free workshop is for you. Tuesday September 21, 2010 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at River's Edge Restaurant in Tumwater.

Ecology approves Cascade Water Alliance water rights.
Friday, September 17, 2010
With today's state approval of a water rights package, a long-term source of drinking water is now assured for communities in eastern King County. Auburn Reporter.

Oil spill money goes to work in Indianola estuary.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Time has helped heal the Indianola shoreline in the years since the spill, but for the first time this fall, spill reparation money is also being harnessed for restoration work. North Kitsap Herald.

Help plan Naches Trail Preserve future.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Pierce County Public Works and Utilities will host a community open house Sept. 23 to hear feedback from area residents about the future of the Naches Trail Preserve. Tacoma Daily Index.

BP's record shows Northwest waters need greater protection.
Friday, September 17, 2010
BP has much more of a record and presence in the Northwest than many realize. How and where could BP's troubled oil drilling practices affect Washington citizens, their environment, Puget Sound, and the Salish Sea? Crosscut.com.

Soundings from Island Press: Smart Power.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Peter Fox-Penner, author of Smart Power, explains the coming energy revolution, examining options for low-carbon emissions along with the real-world challenges the industry and its regulators face in retooling and financing new sources and systems. 7:30pm - 9:00pm at Town Hall in Seattle on Tuesday September 21, 2010.

Sturgeon Festival.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
This free family event celebrates the ecosystems of the Columbia River. 11:00 a.m. on Saturday September 18, 2010, at Columbia Way, Vancouver, Washington.

Community sail on Puget Sound with Salish Sea Expeditions.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Sails on September 19th are opportunities for our guests to see, first-hand, how our passionate and seasoned educators engage students in discovering science, sailing and their own capacity for teamwork and leadership -- both in the classroom and out on the Sound.

Drier climate? Poster 'educated guess' about Olympic National Park future.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
In a marriage of climate-science and art, a Vermont painter has created an ominous dual portrait of Olympic National Park's environmental future. Peninsula Daily News.

Open house scheduled on Woodard Bay changes.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The state Department of Natural Resources has scheduled an open house 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at the North Olympia Fire Station for the public and neighbors to learn and ask questions about changes in store for the 800-acre Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area at Henderson Inlet. Olympia Olympian.

The art of honoring the Earth.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The educational and inspirational event, including activities, environmental art, poetry and music, is set for noon to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Matzke Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture Park, 2345 Blanche Way, at the south end of Camano Island. Everett Herald.

Film showing: Deep Green.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Every time we burn carbon, we heat up the atmosphere. It's a dirty fact that global warming cannot be stopped as long as fossil fuels run our planet. Olympia Film Society will present this film at 7:30 pm on Sunday September 19th at the Capitol Theater,

Local waters will benefit from Seattle's program to install rain gardens.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Over the next 15 years, the city will spend $500 million to reduce storm- and wastewater pollution and clean local waterways. Seattle Times.

Lake Burien homeowners look for changes in shoreline regulations.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Homeowners around Lake Burien, who will also be affected by the updated SMP, have not been silent. And their concerns go beyond the controversial question of public access to the lake. B-Town Blog.

Would you kill eagles to save herons?
Monday, September 13, 2010
An argument can be made that it is simply a survival-of-the-fittest situation. But we have helped make a disproportionate target of great blue heron roosts because our homes have spread across the land, destroying habitat for countless roosts. Tacoma News Tribune.

Whatcom Water Week celebrates precious resource.
Monday, September 13, 2010
The first Whatcom Water Week starts Saturday, Sept. 18, featuring a collection of workshops, walks, tours and volunteer opportunities that revolve around the importance of water in our community.Bellingham Herald.

Clam season looking to be fairly decent.
Monday, September 13, 2010
For the first time in more than two decades, state Fish and Wildlife won't host public razor clam meetings due to budget constraints. "We've put together a presentation on our Web site," Ayres said. Seattle Times.

18th Annual Salmon Homecoming Celebration.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The Salmon Homecoming celebration takes place Friday and Saturday, September 17 - 18 at The Seattle Aquarium and Waterfront Park, Downtown Seattle Waterfront.

Trade in your old burn barrel for a new compost bin.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Help Prevent Wildfires in Island County! 4 - 6:30 pm on Monday September 13th at Bayview Recycle Park or 12 - 3 pm Saturday September 18th at Coupeville Solid Waste Complex.

State Natural Resources Board approves purchase of 1,300 acres for working forest in Skagit, Snohomish counties.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The Board of Natural Resources yesterday approved the purchase of 1,300 acres of forestland in south-central Skagit County and northern Snohomish County. DNR's purchase assures that the area will remain a working forest. Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

National Drug Take-Back Day, September 25th.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Don't flush drugs down any drain -- get rid of unwanted drugs with help from your local law enforcement. Events are planned in Oak Harbor and Freeland.

Tribe objects to proposed Port Gamble Bay dock.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe is fighting plans for a dock on Port Gamble Bay, concerned increased boat traffic would threaten its shellfish harvest and damage marine habitat. Everett Herald.

Job opening: Extension Coordinator, Beach Watchers Program.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
This full-time position in Island County is responsible for developing curriculum and conducting outreach on marine, intertidal, nearshore and terrestrial ecology and related issues.

Record low oxygen levels observed in southern Hood Canal.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Severe low-oxygen levels in southern Hood Canal have created conditions that could lead to a massive fish kill, experts say. Kitsap Sun.

Dashboard Indicators identified to measure the health of Puget Sound.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
The 20 dashboard indicators that have been chosen include 12 natural science measures, six social science indicators, and two program elements. Puget Sound Partnership.

How the Erie Canal and Hoover Dam hold lessons for today's hard times.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
In Washington State and across the nation, infrastructure may be the key to our future. Crosscut.

Coming soon? Seattle's first wildlife sanctuary.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
By the end of the year, Seattle may have its first and only official wildlife sanctuary in a park. Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Bird enthusiasts gathering in Edmonds this weekend, and you're invited.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Starting Friday night through Sunday, bird enthusiasts will be gathering in Edmonds for the sixth annual Puget Sound Birdfest. My Edmonds News.

Mystery salmon.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
The last month has represented a violent cognitive rupture as Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) had to repeatedly up its estimate of the number of sockeye running into the Fraser River to the now historic figure of 34 million. High Country News.

14th Annual Frog Frolic.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Frog Frolic is SHADOW's annual community open house to celebrate our community and natural environment with family activities, tours, potluck, music and art! Please invite family and friends to celebrate with Shadow Lake Bog. September 18th, about 1:00-6:00pm at Shadow Lake Bog, 21656 184th Avenue SE; Renton.

Salish Sea Expeditions' fall teacher trainings.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Salish Sea Expeditions will be hosting a training for both our marine science program and a training that orients teachers to an innovative stormwater research extension program we've designed to complement our popular boat program. Trainings will be held on September 18th and 25th.

Wild Within teen adventures.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Wild Within is a group of teens who adventure as a tribe one weekend a month to explore our connections to the wildness found in nature, community and self.

Fixing the group that's supposed to fix Puget Sound.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
The Puget Sound Partnership is broken, but the Sound really needs better eco-monitoring and new land-use patterns. And that will require the hardest change of all: cultural change. Crosscut.

Major milestones are beginning to add up.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
The end of summer is a good time to look back at what we've accomplished recently in restoring and protecting salmon and their habitat here in Western Washington. Everett Herald.

Victoria, B.C., needs to get real about sewage pollution.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
It never made sense to Washington taxpayers who were investing their hard-earned dollars to improve water quality while their neighbors to the north were polluting those same waters. Olympia Olympian.

Salmon in the Trees.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Discover a Place Where Trees Grow Salmon, and Salmon Grow Trees. In Alaska's Tongass rain forest, one of the rarest ecosystems on Earth, everything is interconnected. Thursday, September 16th, 7-8:30pm, at the NW Stream Center Auditorium, Snohomish County's McCollum Park, Everett. Advance registration and payment are required.

Like2Bike Whidbey.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
What can combat obesity, clear the air, minimize the cost of your commute, make our community quieter and reduce your carbon footprint? Try the two-wheeled wonder. Tuesday, September 14th 5:30-6:30pm at Oak Harbor City Hall.

Acquisition of Maury Island mine site critical to preservation of important habitat.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Our environment, health and economy are all threatened by the current trends in Puget Sound's decline and we must be relentless and purposeful in our work to protect this priceless natural resource. Seattle Times.

Ecology approves updated Anacortes shoreline development rules.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
The revised shoreline program combines local plans for future development and preservation with new development ordinances and related permitting requirements. Department of Ecology.

Squid jigging has started heating up.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
From late summer through winter, millions of squid return to spawn in Puget Sound, and before they do that they pack a hearty appetite gorging on small baitfish and crustaceans. Seattle Times.

Online environmental education courses.
Friday, September 03, 2010
Environmental Education & Training Partnership (EETAP) and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point offer four online courses for students and professionals in the field of environmental education.

Whidbey Island Farm Tour: September 11th and 12th.
Friday, September 03, 2010
A free self-guided tour of 19 working farms on Whidbey Island will feature locally grown food and products.

Cedar River Restoration Project: Maple Valley.
Friday, September 03, 2010
Join Friends of the Cedar River Watershed in restoring wildlife habitat along the Cedar River. Restoration projects require continual stewardship for successful recovery of native plants and wildlife. Bring your friends, pack a picnic, and spend the day along the Cedar River. Saturday, September 18th, about 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Port of Tacoma ordered to restore wetlands destroyed by unauthorized work in Commencement Bay.
Friday, September 03, 2010
An EPA investigation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers uncovered the destroyed wetlands on property the port planned to develop. US Environmental Protection Agency.

'Green skins' grow in the Emerald City.
Friday, September 03, 2010
Vegetated roofs, walls and land together make a "green skin," a system that integrates the built with the natural environment. Daily Journal of Commerce.

Native cultural center also in the mix for Seattle Center site.
Friday, September 03, 2010
The center would feature the art, history and culture of Coast Salish tribes, the native people of the Salish Sea, from South Puget Sound into British Columbia Seattle Times.

Harbor Days finds new home.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
The 37th annual festival is moving to a temporary home this year centered at Port Plaza because its usual location on the Percival Landing boardwalk is being torn out. Tacoma News-Tribune.

Watershed restoration film contest recognizes seven Northwest films.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
The Stories From Our Watersheds film contest has awarded $4,100 to seven independent Northwest short films (10 minutes or less) that highlight large-scale, high-priority, fish-and-community-friendly restoration projects in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Enhanced Online News.

Growth, problems need real review.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Before the city of Everett, Puget Sound Clean Air Authority, and the Washington departments of Health and Ecology consider any additional permits or expansion for Cedar Grove in Everett, these issues of odor, "fugitive dust" and water pollution must be completely and satisfactorily addressed. Everett Herald.

Council extends consideration of new shoreline plan to Sept. 20.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Adoption of Burien's revised Shoreline Master Program (SMP), which was tentatively scheduled for Sept. 13 after an earlier postponement, will be delayed at least one more week. B-Town Blog.
[See a related article: Marine homeowners provide needed baseline for shoreline plan review]

Guide to tell water health of Puget Sound.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
After two years of study, the state agency charged with cleaning up Puget Sound has come up with 20 "vital signs" it will use to measure the restoration. Tacoma News-Tribune.

Whidbey Island company signs deal to clean up China's polluted rivers, soil.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
A Whidbey Island entrepreneur has signed a multi-million-dollar deal to license his environmental technology to begin cleaning up China's heavily contaminated rivers and soil. Seattle Times.

August 2010

Cedar River Restoration Project, Saturday September 18th.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Join us in restoring wildlife habitat along the Cedar River! Restoration projects require continual stewardship for successful recovery of native plants and wildlife. Bring your friends, pack a picnic, and spend the day along the Cedar River.

First Thursday Lunch Series: Maritime history.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Storyteller Jill Johnson will bring maritime history to life. At noon on Thursday September 2nd at the Coupeville Library.

A new road to change.
Monday, August 30, 2010
The crown jewel of Art Castle's career at the HBA is undoubtedly the Low Impact Development (LID) program he authored, and has subsequently managed to have included in the County's as well as every local City's building code. Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal.

Issues ranging from science to property underscore city council agenda.
Monday, August 30, 2010
About 260 cities, counties and other local jurisdictions in Washington are under requirement by the state Department of Ecology to update their Shoreline Master Programs (SMPs) by 2014. B-Town Blog.

Career turned chemist into environmentalist.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Until his retirement less than a month ago, McCall, 70, a Lacey resident, had worked on water pollution problems for the state Department of Ecology since the agency's inception in 1970, something only three other current Ecology employees can claim. The Olympia Olympian.

Poachers paying the price.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Fish and game violations are being taken more seriously, with some poachers getting their due in court after making bad decisions. Seattle Times.

Bald eagle presentation with Jeff Guidrey.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Freedom, a magnificent bald eagle, and her keeper Jeff Guidrey will share their inspiring personal story and intriguing facts about eagles and their habitat requirements. 11:00 - noon on Saturday September 11th at Snohomish County's McCollum Park.

Stream & Wetland Ecology Basic Training.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Come to Adopt A Stream Foundation to understand the functions and values of wetlands, how they are defined by the agencies, and how to distinguish between different types of wetlands. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Thursday September 9th at Snohomish County's McCollum Park.

Duwamish River 101 - adult educational series.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
The 5-mile-long Duwamish Waterway provides commerce and jobs, as well as critical fish and wildlife habitat and public shoreline use areas. Board a floating classroom and see the heart of the Duwamish industrial area to learn about marine industrial commerce, the legacy of past industrial activities, fish and wildlife habitat restoration, and Superfund cleanup plans. September 29, 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Wilderness Awareness monthly courses.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Through creative play and exploration, Monthly Course participants ages 6-12 work together in small groups gaining nature awareness and knowledge of plants, mammals, tracking, birds, and survival.

Pulling together for wild salmon.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Mission's Elena Edwards is touring the province, organizing a public education campaign and demonstration about wild salmon this October. Mission Record.

Septic program seen as successful so far.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
"We're on an island and it all ends up somewhere. We don't want it to get into the shellfish or go into ditches or lawns where children play." Seattle Post Intelligencer.

Agency committed to Sound cleanup, earning public trust.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The dire state of the health of Puget Sound is why the Puget Sound Partnership was created in 2007. Tacoma News-Tribune.

Federal funding grows green, family-wage jobs and restores national forest lands in state.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Forestry work continues, but not like it has in the past. Workers are not building roads; they are restoring the forest. Department of Ecology.

Groups remove, repair Wash. forest roads.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
State officials say mud and runoff from those abandoned roads pose a problem for water quality, salmon and ailing Puget Sound. They say the roads can also block fish passage and wildlife migration. Associated Press.

Canadian govt. approves plan to treat sewage
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The British Columbia government has approved a plan to treat for the first time millions of gallons of raw sewage that pours into marine waters between Vancouver Island and Washington state. Associated Press.

Whidbey Island ferry terminal gets new name: Coupeville replaces Keystone.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The ferry sails from the middle western shore of Whidbey Island to Port Townsend, on the Olympic Peninsula. The Oregonian

The Whale Museum's lecture series.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The Whale Museum's 2010 Lecture Series presents Capt. Paul Watson on Aug. 27, 7 p.m., at the Grange Hall on First Street in Friday Harbor. San Juan Journal.

Dockwalkers training event.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Dockwalkers is a peer-to-peer outreach program designed to promote pumpout usage and other clean boating topics to protect the waters in Puget Sound. Noon on August 27th at the Oak Harbor Yacht Club.

Hikes, Camera, Action!: The Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The North Cascades Environmental Learning Center will be a host venue for this festival that celebrates the conservation community around us, addresses the challenges we face, explores the late-summer glory of the North Cascades and inspires us to work for change through two evenings of environmentally charged films. September 3 - 5, 2010, at Diablo Lake.

Restoration events in Olympia and Tacoma.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
People For Puget Sound will be leading volunteer activities several days from August 28th through September 25th at locations in Olympia and Tacoma. Volunteers will weed, survey water birds and enjoy good food.

Clearing Magazine call for articles.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Clearing Magazine is requesting original articles from environmental education practitioners (formal and non-formal) across the Pacific Northwest and throughout the west that provide insight into the experiences and perspectives of educators in the classroom and in the field. Submissions are due September 30th.

Skokomish watershed cleanup puts locals to work.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
This area in Olympic National Park is known for serious annual floods, and the restoration efforts should improve conditions, not only for endangered salmon, but for tribes and farmers downstream. Public News Service.

Low-impact development research tour.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
On August 26th, groups from Whidbey and Camano Islands will drive to Puyallup to tour a low-impact development research station.

Puget Sound Bird Fest slated.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
The 3-day event includes speakers, guided walks, land and water-based field trips, exhibits and educational activities for children and adults, and a tour of certified backyard wildlife habitats. September 10-12th in Edmonds.

Chemical to fight milfoil at Lake Tapps.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
A chemical [fluridone] will be used for the first time in Lake Tapps to battle the annoying and sometimes dangerous growth of Eurasian milfoil. Tacoma News-Tribune.

Considering the cost benefits of conserving.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Land owners have signed easements to guarantee their properties will continue to provide things like clean water to the Puget Sound or a safe haven to an endangered species. Business Examiner.

Elder aboard sailing trip to Salish Sea.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
A Victoria adventure cruise company is offering the first sailing cruise through the newly named Salish Sea with a Salish elder as onboard historian this fall. Victoria Times Colonist.

BP's record shows Northwest waters need greater protection.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
BP has much more of a record and presence in the Northwest than many realize. Crosscut.

NANOOS Visualization System - Version 2.0.
Friday, August 20, 2010
New features include a comparator that allows you to compare observation data against model forecasts, region buttons which allow you to zoom in on specific areas, forecast overlays that provide several days of forecasts, and keyword filtering.

Greener All Purpose Cleaner.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Washington Department of Ecology presents an infomercial spoof about a homemade cleaner that is economical and safe for the environment and your health.

MTS-IEEE Educators Workshop: Marine Technology in the Classroom.
Friday, August 20, 2010
This free, hand-on workshop will be held on Saturday September 18th. Applications are due September 3rd.

Kayak Point Park possibilities pondered.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Drafts for improving Kayak Point Park are a compromise of restoring natural features and leaving some areas as-is. Everett Herald.

San Juan County Fair: The Green Village activities and presentations schedule.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Join us for our daily ECOQuest -- pick up an ECOQuest quiz at the Green Village and find out how much you know about nature in the San Juans. San Juan Islander.

Thurston students help tell whale tale.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Filmmaker Suzanne Chisholm sees the value in having students from Thurston High travel all the way to the San Juan Islands in Northern Washington. HometownLife.com

Sunset Eco-Voyage August 25th.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Service, Education and Adventure, together with Whidbey Island Kayaking Company, is offering a sunset eco-voyage with opportunities to kayak and engage in on-board learning rotations to deepen environmental awareness and connection.

Crew's work protects new trees at Tarboo preserve.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The buzz of weed-whackers in the Tarboo Valley this summer was the sound of Northwest Watershed Institute's summer field crew at work. Peninsula Daily News.

Recovery Act benefits the Northwest and its forests.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
A $5.59 million project in the Puget Sound region leverages the interest of Forest Service partners and stakeholders and provides significant jobs for people in adjacent economically distressed communities. Oregon Live.

Report: Freeland has dirtiest beach water in Washington.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The National Research Defense Council issued its 20th annual report on public beaches in late July. "Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches" named Freeland Park as the dirtiest because fecal bacteria there exceeded state standards in 20 percent of the water samples taken in 2009. Whidbey Examiner.

Ecology approves Kirkland's updated shoreline development standards, improving protection of Lake Washington and Puget Sound.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Kirkland is the first of 11 local governments along Lake Washington to complete the update. About 230 towns, cities and counties around the state are in the process or soon will be updating their master programs during the next few years, under the state's voter-approved Shorelines Management Act. Department of Ecology.

Beneath the Salish Sea showing in Everett.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The film is an extraordinary view of local sea life, including showy nudibranchs, shy octopi, curious seals, ancient ratfish and many others. Tuesday August 24th at 7pm. at Everett Performing Arts Theatre. No charge.

An overhaul of Tacoma's middle schools.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Susie Richards, a former middle school teacher who now helps operate Service Education Adventure, which hosted the Tacoma students aboard the MV Indigo, said getting kids out of the classroom helps bring the world alive. Tacoma News-Tribune.

Grays Harbor College - Connections Workshop.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Through the Pacific Education Institute's Connections Workshop, community members, natural resource professionals and educators will experience first-hand PEI's Project-Based Learning Plan, which can be used to involve classrooms or senior project students in real-world environmental project opportunities. The free workshop is September 1, 2010, from 12 to 4 pm. in Aberdeen.

Cruise lines work on their footprint while states push for higher standards.
Monday, August 16, 2010
The very attractions that draw tourists to Alaska-bound ships, such as pristine sanctuary waters, marine wildlife and mountainous seascapes, can be harmed by pollution from cruise ships. Investigate West.

Rise of the ratfish in Puget Sound.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Pound-for-pound, the green-eyed bottom feeders dominate the Sound's ecosystem like Doug fir dominates the forests. Seattle Times.

Creating a walk at the delta.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Snaking its way across the recently reclaimed Nisqually River estuary, the mile-long boardwalk at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is nearly 50 percent complete. The Olympia Olympian.

SEA internships available.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Service, Education and Adventure is accepting applications for interns to serve as marine naturalist and educator or as marine science educator during spring and summer 2011.

Predator and Prey: Lynx and Snowshoe Hare.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Join University of Washington Professor of Wildlife Science Aaron Wirsing for a fun and lively presentation to learn about the lynx and showshoe hare's intricate relationship, their habitat requirements, behavioral traits and more. Thursday, August 26, 2010, 7:00-8:30pm at Snohomish County's McCollum Park.

Public input welcome--Washington State Parks Interpretive Policy Report.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is currently developing an Interpretive Policy to guide the development and delivery of interpretive services statewide.

Seismic devices added as 'silent' earthquake slides under Peninsula.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Earthquakes silent to the naked ear are revisiting the North Olympic Peninsula. Peninsula Daily News.

Environmental study of historical gas plant site begins with drilling, sampling in Boulevard Park.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
A truck hauling a drill rig will roll into Boulevard Park on Monday to begin collecting soil samples at the South State Street Manufactured Gas Plant cleanup site. Department of Ecology.

Public comment sought on draft plan for Protection Island and San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuges.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
The draft plan includes an analysis of three management alternatives for the refuges. San Juan Journal.

Join the call: 'Let Lolita Live.'
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Whether it's because of her heartbreaking story, her connection to Whidbey Island or the calls to her family that make her pain all too human, Lolita the orca whale has touched the lives of many. Whidbey News-Times.

Quake likely to rumble for weeks.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
A slow-moving earthquake has begun in the Olympia-Tacoma area and is expected to rumble north beneath the Olympic Peninsula for the next several weeks, according to University of Washington seismologists. Olympia Olympian.

State developing two pheasant sites in Skagit County.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Agency game managers are about to announce two land parcels in Skagit County are being developed as released-pheasant hunting sites, hopefully to open this fall. Everett Herald.

What's in the cards for stormwater.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
On Thursday, the state Department of Ecology will tip its hand on its plan for new stormwater regulations for Washington's cities and counties in a meeting at its headquarters. Sightline Daily.

County, cities establish hotline for reporting spills.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
A new Kitsap County pollution hot line allows local residents to report spills that could get into streams and storm drains, harming aquatic species. Kitsap Sun.

Paddle for Wild Salmon planned for October.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Advocates are planning an October "Paddle for Wild Salmon" down the Fraser River. TheTyee.ca.

Waters need protection and monitoring to protect all of us.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
To better protect our beaches, we also need to prevent, corral and treat stormwater runoff. Olympia Olympian.

Study's goal: Finding out how much Seattle's trees are worth.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
The study will ultimately estimate the trees' economic worth to the city: how much pollution they absorb, how much summer cooling they provide and how much storm water they absorb in winter, showing how much they might save in energy and drainage costs.

Seattle's NOAA operation testing safety of Gulf fish.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Jars of seafood samples line laboratory benches at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) facility, awaiting detailed chemical analysis for traces of oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill. Seattle Times.

Marketing the river: Tourism on the Fraser.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
There are more activities on the water than most people could fit into one season, or even a lifetime. But Chadwick says the real key is getting people to get down to the river, with their families, to spend a day in the outdoors. Black Press.

Hooked: An evening of play, plates and pours.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Enjoy an evening of live music and entertainment, local food and wine, and a full carnival of fun games all in the beautiful urban greenspace of Columbia Springs. Thursday, August 19, 2010, 5:00-8:00 p.m., Vancouver, Washington.

Updated: First Nations' protest closes Island geoduck fishery.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
For three decades, commercial fishermen have harvested in Kulleet Bay, which is entirely surrounded by reserve land, and the Stz'uminus people are tired of watching economic opportunities disappear, Elliott said. Victoria Times Colonist.

A Conversation about Sustainable Design.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Join Sustainable Path Foundation as Ash Awad, vice president of energy and facility services at McKinstry and Daniel Friedman, dean of the College of Built Environments at the University of Washington explore considerations of sustainable design and its impact on our future. September 14, 2010, at Town Hall Seattle.

Rediscovery: An Environmental Educators Institute.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
The Rediscovery Environmental Educators Institute with Thom Henley offers educators a rare opportunity to fully immerse themselves in experiential learning skills, to develop keener insights into cross-cultural understanding and to discover new ways to bring environmental concepts and lessons into the classroom. Tuesday and Wednesday, August 17-18, 2010, in Snohomish County's McCollum Park.

ATHENA: The Academy for Teaching about Health and Environment Associations.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
This FREE workshop at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle will immerse teachers in the fascinating and highly relevant field of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. The Introductory Workshop is August 16th through 18th, 2010, with a follow-up session scheduled for May.

FEMA drafts building rules that lessen harm to salmon.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
The federal government's flood-insurance program that had mostly been concerned with protecting homes and businesses must now protect salmon and killer whales. Associated Press.

Port Townsend Marine Science Center makes fun, educational day trip.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
If you make only one major excursion this summer, you must see the Marine Science Center in Port Townsend, a small but worthwhile pair of museums highlighting the marine animals, natural history and ecology of the Salish Sea. Bellingham Herald.

Volunteers needed for the Cedar River Salmon Journey.
Friday, August 06, 2010
Volunteer naturalists will receive training from watershed and fish experts before spending three weekend days making riverside presentations to the public about the Cedar River and its salmon run. Training is scheduled for three weekday evenings and two Saturdays in September and October.

Quillisascut School Garden Workshop.
Friday, August 06, 2010
This workshop is for school teachers, administrators, parents, or volunteers who are wanting to start a school garden or evolve their present garden. August 14-18, 2010, at Quillisascut Farm in Rice, Washington.

Dams to start coming down next year, Dicks is told.
Friday, August 06, 2010
The National Park Service hopes to start bringing down the Elwha River dams on Sept. 15, 2011, Brian Winter, Elwha River restoration manager, told U.S. Rep Norm Dicks on Wednesday. Peninsula Daily News.

Metro Vancouver aims to create park system along the Fraser River.
Friday, August 06, 2010
If the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley regional districts have their way, the river will become a tourist destination with a land- and water-based system of parks, trails, campsites and boat docks amid the historic canneries, forests, farmyards and communities strung along the southern arm of the river from Hope to the Salish Sea. Vancouver Sun.

Wanted: Captive moments captured.
Friday, August 06, 2010
Orca Network is seeking historic documentation of the orca captures that took place in the waters of the Salish Sea from 1966-1976, or any photos of orcas from this era or earlier, before the orca survey began. Mukilteo Beacon.

Remembering Lolita.
Friday, August 06, 2010
Forty years later, the plaintive cries of young orca whales reverberating across Penn Cove is still vivid for John Stone of Coupeville. Whidbey Examiner.

Scientific shellfish study will continue.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
The Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association and the state Department of Natural Resources recently announced that the University of Washington's Sea Grant geoduck research project will be the recipient of $244,000 from the department to continue its work.

$1 million federal grant to pay for update of Clallam County shoreline master plan.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
The three county commissioners on Tuesday approved a $999,915 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to integrate the concept of "no net loss of ecological functions" for the state-mandated update to the county's 18-year-old Shoreline Master Program. Peninsula Daily News.

Coming together in the name of air quality.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
The Tulalip Tribes of Washington now use an anaerobic digester to make energy from dairy waste. This diverts groundwater and salmon stream pollution from dairy operations, instead converting the manure into electricity. Indian Country Today.

Bonds to help fund sewage expansion at Chambers Creek.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
The huge expenditure will expand the plant to handle growth for at least two decades after work on the plant is completed in about five years, he added. At the same time, the county must meet more stringent environmental regulations and more rigorously treat the effluent that goes into Puget Sound, he said.

Deadline near in push to save Whidbey forest.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Water quality would suffer if the forest gives way to more roads and paved areas, he said. Increased runoff would contribute pollution to Puget Sound, and less water would seep into the ground and replenish aquifers. Seattle Times.

'Welcome Chetzemoka' banners are up.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
The city's new streetlamps are now supporting banners to promote the arrival of the new state ferry, the M/V Chetzemoka. Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader.

Professional development from The Port Townsend Marine Science Center.
Monday, August 02, 2010
In this 4-day training, teachers explore the nature of inquiry and its potential to boost students' understanding of science content and their self-motivation as learners. August 17th-21st.

Follow the Cedar River salmon migration!
Monday, August 02, 2010
Each summer and fall, you can join volunteer naturalists at the Ballard Locks and at five sites along the Cedar River to see spawning salmon.

Salmon derby set for Saturday.
Monday, August 02, 2010
The sixth annual Point Defiance Salmon Derby on Saturday will feature cash prizes of more than $3,000 plus all sorts of fishing- related prizes.

July 2010

Restoration event: East Bay Drive in Olympia.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
People For Puget Sound will be a leading volunteer weeding party from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the East Bay site in Olympia on Saturday, August 14th.

Bald eagle comeback pressures coastal seabirds.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
It's an environmental paradox. The recovery of our national symbol threatens another species. KUOW.

Ballard graduate, zoo help bring turtles back from the brink.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Ballard High School graduate and member of Woodland Park Zoo Corps Garrett Brenden got to experience the full cycle of a critical species recovery project as he helped Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the zoo release 19 western pond turtles back to the wild July 29 at a wildlife refuge site in Pierce County. Ballard News-Tribune.

Puget Sound Bird Fest slated.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
The 3-day event includes speakers, guided walks, land and water-based field trips, exhibits and educational activities for children and adults, and a tour of certified backyard wildlife habitats. September 10th - 12th in Edmonds. Edmonds Beacon.

Puget Sound Partnership: Ruckelshaus passes the torch.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
William Ruckelshaus is stepping down as chairman of the Puget Sound Partnership's leadership council, to be replaced by environmental activist and philanthropist Martha Kongsgaard. Seattle PI.

Snohomish County seeks marine resource volunteers.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
The MRC, which is part of the nationally recognized Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative, is seeking at least four motivated members to serve as citizen advisors on a committee that addresses local marine issues and recommends action to County Executive Aaron Reardon and the County Council. Edmonds Beacon.

Buoy 10 Columbia salmon season highlights a great month of fishing.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Summer salmon fishing is in full swing along the coast, where anglers are hooking some bright chinook and nice-size coho. KBKW.

Talk explores Birch Bay shorelines.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Those wanting to learn more about the connection between shorelines and the health of the local marine environment will want to attend a free presentation at Birch Bay State Park next week. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 4th.

Deadly fungus gains foothold in warmer Northwest.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
A new strain of a virulent, deadly fungus has spread through the Pacific Northwest as climatic changes have helped the organism thrive in temperate regions it wasn't comfortable in earlier. New York Times.

The real worth: Puget Sound.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The Sound and the land, rivers, and lakes surrounding it provide benefits worth $9.7 billion and $83 billion every year, according to a new study called "Valuing the Puget Sound Basin" from Earth Economics, a local nonprofit. Sightline Daily.

Developer has big plans for Smokey Point.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The front of the hotel, which would become the tallest building in north Snohomish County, will face south, offering views of Mount Rainier, the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges and Puget Sound. Jacobsen plans to dredge the Twin Lakes, improve the water quality for swimming and even add sparkling sand to the beaches. Snohomish County Business Journal.

Dept. Of Ecology starts review of SeaTac Shoreline program update.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) seeks public comment on the City of SeaTac's recently updated Shoreline Master Program, a landmark effort that will significantly increase protection and restoration of Angle Lake. SeaTac Blog.

SEA online forum.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The NOAA B-WET Watershed Education Project has a forum open to all project participants on the WA Sustainability Education website.

Adventure Salmon Camp -- overnight camp.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The Adventure Salmon Overnight Camp will portray the influence of salmon to the culture of the northwest as well as build a current appreciation for salmon by understanding its role in the ecosystem. For 6th thru 9th graders August 10-14th.

Project WET and Aquatic Wild: A workshop for educators.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
This Project WET (Water Education For Teachers) and Aquatic Wild workshop offers both hands-on interdisciplinary classroom activities and field experiences.k August 10-12, 2010, in Everett.

County Councilman Dave Somers is working to find harmony between farmers, environmentalists and tribes.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
A new initiative makes a fresh attempt to find some elusive balance between fish habitat and farmland for Snohomish County. Everett Herald.

Landing needs funding.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The new Percival Landing path will be built on land with wood and concrete, replacing the current wooden boardwalk over water. That will be easier to maintain. Tacoma News-Tribune.

Free teacher workshop on Puget Sound estuaries and marine life.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and local organizations are offering a free workshop for 4th, 5th and 6th grade teachers about the Puget Sound estuary. The teacher workshop will last three days, August 10-12th.

Summer camp at Nisqually Reach Nature Center (grades 5-8).
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Who, what, when, where, why??? Become a natural detective to find out more about South Sound issues and how science can be used as a tool to answer these questions and more. Camp runs August 9-11, 2010.

Conceptual framework for new science education standards.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The 190-page document lays the foundation for what core science ideas, cross-cutting concepts, and scientific practices all students need to succeed in science, and is the first major step in the development of the next generation of science standards. The deadline for feedback is August 2, 2010.

Use of native place names in B.C. reflects growing recognition for First Nations.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Haida Gwaii, the Salish Sea and a recent attempt to give Stanley Park a native name are all signs of a larger movement to help keep First Nations languages and culture alive, experts say. Postmedia News.

Oil shipping out of Vancouver on Salish Sea.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The three-month nightmare of the BP oil platform disaster has highlighted the ignorance and hypocrisy that accompanies debate about oil here in B.C. Chilliwack Progress.

2010 environmental education classes.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Adopt-A-Stream Foundation and Snohomish County Parks & Recreation present environmental education classes including Summer Salmon Institute-Grizzlies & Glaciers Study Adventure August 1-12th 2010.

NEA-Target Green Across America grant.
Friday, July 23, 2010
NEA's Green Across America grants of up to $1,000 are available to help K-12 educators implement an innovative education program, activity, lesson, or event to excite students about going green, caring for the earth, and creating a sustainable future.

WA county looks to build Earth-friendly washes.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Kitsap County has applied for a $120K grant to build three carwashes that would properly dispose of dirty water and not sent it into the Puget Sound, the Kitsap Sun reported. Kitsap Sun.

Snohomish County commits to enhancing farms and fish.
Friday, July 23, 2010
The Snohomish County Council today launched a new initiative to enhance agricultural land and restore habitat for threatened salmon. Lake Stevens Journal.

Ecology starts review of Des Moines shoreline program update.
Friday, July 23, 2010
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) seeks public comment on the City of Des Moines' recently updated Shoreline Master Program, a landmark effort that will increase the protection and restoration of Puget Sound shorelines.

Car wash kits are available.
Friday, July 23, 2010
In an effort to help improve stormwater quality and ensure clean waters, Skagit County has partnered with the Skagit Conservation District, Skagit Marine Resources Committee, Northwest Straits, and the Washington Department of Ecology to provide car wash kits that can be used at charity car wash events to catch polluted water and prevent it from entering our local waters. KAPS.

Work party to be held at Maury park on July 24.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Friends of Maury Island Marine Park and People For Puget Sound will hold a volunteer restoration work party at the Maury Island Marine Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 24. Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber.

San Juan County awarded $700,000 federal grant for habitat protection, pollution awareness.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Knackstedt said a significant portion of the grant, totaling $696,184 over three years, will be used to help raise awareness about habitat protection and ways to reduce pollution. San Juan Journal.

King County targets Snoqualmie River headwaters as part of effort to improve regional water quality.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The money was part of more than $3.6 million in grants the county received from the EPA to improve water quality in the region. The projects support Puget Sound Partnership's Action Agenda to restore the sound. SnoValley Star.

WSU Extension Beach Watchers earn nat'l honor.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Beach Watchers volunteers engage in a myriad of watershed activities in their communities surrounding the Puget Sound, ranging from supporting scientific research by counting spring juvenile salmon populations and monitoring the health of the intertidal zones of local beaches, to supporting environmental studies in local schools and educating the public about the fragility of local beaches and intertidal zones. WSU Today.

County could build carwash sites.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The grant application follows almost a year of special emphasis the county has taken to limit stormwater pollution from dirty water, especially that generated by fundraising carwashes. Kitsap Sun.

Salish Sea canoe.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The ancestral lands of the Songhees were a place of celebration July 15 when hundreds of people gathered to witness the presentation of a red cedar canoe to the Canadian Navy by B.C.'s Lieutenant-Governor, Steven Point. Lookout Newspaper, CFB Esquimalt.

Green chemistry workshop in Olympia, July 27-29.
Monday, July 19, 2010
This top-quality workshop will feature nationally renowned scientists coming to Washington to bring chemistry alive for student engagement and sustainability in our communities and state.

Puget Sound region's Cascade Agenda is a national model for managing growth.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Responding to the dangers, a "Cascade Agenda" was launched in 2005 -- a 100-year conservation and preservation plan for 1.3 million acres of the Puget Sound region's most prized waters, mountains and communities. Seattle Times.

Classroom Earth professional development grants.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Classroom Earth's 2010 Professional Development Grants enable applicants to take two online courses, creating a strong foundation in environmental education. Applications are due July 23, 2010.

Free climate change workshop at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Middle school and high school teachers are invited to join the Zoo's education staff and Facing the Future at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium on Wednesday July 21, 2010 for a free workshop.

Shellfish at risk: Puget Sound becoming acidified.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The waters in Puget Sound's main basin are acidifying as fast as those along the Washington Coast, where wild oysters have not reproduced since 2005. Seattle Times.

Zoo works with Oregon kids to help endangered turtles.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Now listed as an endangered species in Washington and a sensitive species in Oregon, the western pond turtle was once common from Baja California to the Puget Sound. KVAL.

Sto:lo will set nets despite DFO warning.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Tensions are rising among some local Sto:lo bands told to wait until July 26 to set nets for a dry-rack sockeye fishery while sports fishers are being given the green light. Chilliwack Times.

Waterways off B.C.'s coast and Puget Sound get new name: Salish Sea.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Salish Sea encompasses inland waterways, from the south end of Puget Sound in Washington state to Desolation Sound at the northern end of the Strait of Georgia, including the Juan de Fuca Strait. Vancouver Sun.

Coalition preserves Pierce County 'jewel.'
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Devil's Head, a 94-acre jewel in the South Sound, will be preserved for public use thanks to a coalition of conservation partners that acquired the stunning waterfront property. Tacoma Daily Index.

Welcome figure installed at Salmon Bay Natural Area.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The statue -- meant to celebrate Puget Sound salmon and local indigenous cultures as well as draw attention to the natural area located near the Ballard Locks at the street end of 34th Avenue Northwest -- was first announced June 2009. Ballard News-Tribune.

Baker River salmon receiving another lift from Puget Sound Energy.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Puget Sound Energy recently completed construction of a new fish hatchery and an advanced upstream trap-and-haul facility on the North Cascades' Baker River, projects expected to further increase the river's once struggling salmon populations. BusinessWire.

FEMA lawsuit settlement could make building in Oregon floodplains tougher.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Building near Oregon's rivers could get much tougher under a federal court settlement that forces the Federal Emergency Management Agency to consider the damage its flood insurance ends up doing to wild salmon and steelhead. The Oregonian.

Issaquah, Tibbetts creeks monitored for growth impacts.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The county intends to use the federal dollars to monitor up to 50 sections of streams in the Sammamish watershed, as well as 10 Environmental Protection Agency sites. Issaquah Press.

Salish Sea to be inaugurated in ceremony on Vancouver Island.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Provincial, state and federal authorities approved use of Salish Sea as an umbrella term to describe an area covering the Juan de Fuca Strait, Strait of Georgia, and Puget Sound. Straight Talk.

Adventure Salmon Day Camp.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Join us in this rare opportunity to explore and learn of the Hood Canal watershed first-hand. For 4-5th graders from July 20-22nd in Belfair.

Restaurants mobilize to save fisheries.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The world's rising appetite for seafood is on a collision course with its wild fisheries, leaving restaurant companies and other big buyers caught in the middle. Wall Street Journal.

Supremes will hear Goldmark-McKenna dispute.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Okanogan PUD wants to use eminent domain to put power lines across lands managed in trust by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Puget Sound estuaries turned into industrial feedlots. Why? To raise geoducks for Asia.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
"What we're finding is a massive amount of plastics going into our public waters and there's no law that protects them from using this toxic plastic." Green Acre Radio.

Federal grant helps Sammamish monitor water quality.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
A federal grant will fund King County's monitoring of several streams and creeks in the Sammamish area. Sammamish Review.

Hawk Weed removal project in the Cedar River municipal watershed.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
July 24th from about 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. We will begin the day by removing noxious hawkweed (Hieracium lachenalii) that is threatening sensitive ecosystems.

Restoration in mountain beaver habitat, Lake Forest Park.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Come remove invasive species that are threatening Grace Cole Park, habitat for many native birds and animals including the mountain beaver. July 19th at 10:00 a.m.

SolarFest 2010: Saturday July 17th.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
The fair is held in Shoreline, originally to celebrate the first solar installation on a public school in Shoreline in 2004, and to help people make informed decisions regarding their use of resources including energy, transportation, and food.

Summer teacher training: Learn about estuaries at Padilla Bay.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
This hands-on training will be geared to K-6th grade teachers using the standards developed by NOAA for excellent teacher education including Teachers on the Estuary, K-12 Estuary Education Program and Meaningful Watershed Education Experience. To be held on three Wednesdays: July 14th, 21st and 28th.

Wash. sees risk in sending oil spill ships to Gulf.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Two of the Pacific Northwest's largest oil-spill response vessels may be called to help clean up the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. KING 5 News.
[See related television coverage from KING5 News and KIRO TV.]

Biologist warns of danger from rising sea levels.
Friday, July 09, 2010
In his new book, Flooded Earth, Peter D. Ward argues that even if humans stopped all carbon dioxide emissions today, the oceans will still rise up to 3 feet by 2050, wreaking havoc on many coastal cities and their infrastructure. National Public Radio.

Technology could speed up oil spill response.
Friday, July 09, 2010
New technologies could speed up the response to oil spills. And some of them are being developed here in the Northwest. KPLU.

Sen. Cantwell pushes for more oil-spill preparedness.
Friday, July 09, 2010
The Washington Democrat said at a news conference in Seattle that she plans to introduce such a bill amid the ongoing BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Seattle Times.

Octopus home again after science center stint.
Friday, July 09, 2010
Floating in the middle of Liberty Bay, Patrick Mus kissed "Mr. Bob," the giant Pacific octopus, goodbye on Thursday. Kitsap Sun.

Ship Management Corp. to pay $4 million penalty for concealing deliberate pollution.
Friday, July 09, 2010
The proposed $4 million penalty includes a $3 million criminal fine and $1 million in organizational community service payments that will fund various marine environmental projects. PR Newswire.

A family that pulls together.
Friday, July 09, 2010
The Port Gamble S'Klallam Canoe Family has practiced pulling since February in preparation for the 2010 Tribal Journeys canoe trip, which begins next week. North Kitsap Herald.

$30 million for Puget Sound cleanup.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
The grant money, which comes from the EPA's national estuary program, will help pay for 36 Puget Sound restoration and protection projects, from Bellingham to Olympia. Tacoma News-Tribune.

Bremerton twice scores top in State.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Bremerton city officials will receive a symbolic check for earning top scores in two state competitions that resulted in grant awards from the state Recreation and Conservation Funding Board. Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal.

Lake Washington's sockeye run still down.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
State fisheries managers anticipate another low season with little chance of recreational anglers having their catch. Seattle Times.

Lt.-Gov. Steven Point to perform at ceremony to christen Salish Sea.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
The historic event July 15 will christen the Salish Sea, which encompasses the Strait of Georgia, Juan de Fuca Strait, Haro Strait and Puget Sound. Vancouver Sun.

Tradition to be revisited on Semiahmoo shores.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
A vision of the past will return to the shores of the Peninsula Thursday as a flotilla of 18 First Nations canoes makes its way from Crescent Beach to White Rock, and from there to Semiahmoo First Nation land. Peace Arch News.

2010 Classroom Earth Professional Development Grants.
Monday, July 05, 2010
Classroom Earth's 2010 Professional Development Grants enable applicants to take two online courses, creating a strong foundation in environmental education. Applications are due July 9, 2010.

To prepare for an oil spill on Columbia River: Drills, baby, drills.
Monday, July 05, 2010
The oil spill response practice drill was one of more than 100 conducted along the Columbia River, Puget Sound and other potential sites of major Northwest spills each year. Statesman Journal

Kiket has become an island of cooperation.
Monday, July 05, 2010
The Swinomish Tribe is sharing part of its traditional tribal lands with the public, thanks to an innovative partnership. Bellingham Herald.

Record Columbia River sockeye run is a bounty for Northwest fishermen.
Monday, July 05, 2010
At 3-5 pounds, sockeye are the smallest salmon, yet they rival spring chinook for taste. They are abundant in Alaska and Canada, and Puget Sound has several large runs. The Oregonian.

Realtors fight Tacoma sewer inspection plan.
Monday, July 05, 2010
Aging private sewer connections under many Tacoma homes are letting rainwater into the city's sewers, which sometimes forces raw or partially treated sewage into streets and Commencement Bay. Tacoma News Tribune.

Oxygen levels at record lows along Hood Canal.
Saturday, July 03, 2010
Scientist and locals admit there's not much they can do about the forces of nature, but man adds to the problems here and those problems could be addressed. KOMO News.

Appalling ponds.
Saturday, July 03, 2010
Litter is just one of the problems at the Buena Pond and a host of recreational areas along ponds and rivers across the Yakima Valley. Yakima Herald.

Samish, Swinomish obtain two islands within territories.
Saturday, July 03, 2010
Negotiations with state parks officials have resulted in agreements giving the Samish and Swinomish nations ownership and management of two islands within their historical and traditional territories. Indian Country Today.

EPA: $30M on the way for Puget Sound restoration.
Saturday, July 03, 2010
The money will be used to support local projects to protect and restore the sound's water quality and habitat. Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Plastics at SEA.
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Daily results from the North Atlantic Expedition 2010 are being posted. More than 42,000 pieces of plastic have been counted in the first 20 days at sea.

Sustainable design tour of the Cedar River Watershed Education Center.
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Join the facility coordinator on a 45-minute guided program that focuses on green design for a sustainable future and the facility's connection to the stories of the Cedar River Watershed. Four dates from July 21st to October 13th.

Oil spill clean up in Liberty Bay sparks state Ecology investigation;
Thursday, July 01, 2010
The Washington State Department of Ecology is investigating the clean-up practices of the Port of Poulsbo, following a small oil spill last week. North Kitsap Herald.

Senate moves forward to restore America's great waters.
Thursday, July 01, 2010
These bills will help all levels of government manage major threats to water quality, such as non-point source pollution and invasive species. Shoreline Plus.

Plan would save lake.
Thursday, July 01, 2010
A group formed to preserve Capitol Lake issued a report Tuesday calling for a public-private partnership to dredge the lake and tackle water-quality problems throughout the Deschutes River watershed. The Olympian.

Swimming for the Salish Sea.
Thursday, July 01, 2010
The swimmers are daring to cross this 35 km stretch of water, roughly the same distance as the English Channel crossing, in order to draw attention to increased pressure being put on the on the Strait of Georgia. Pacific Free Press.

June 2010

Summer camp: Whales of the Salish Sea.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
During July 11-17, 2010, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center offers youth ages 9-13 a week of discovery focused on whales of the Salish Sea.

Fundraiser for Grays Harbor Coastal Resources Learning Center.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
6:00-9:00 pm on Saturday, July 10th, 2010 at the HUB at Grays Harbor College. $15, or 2 for $25.

Oil spill activism: A hole in the bottom of the sea
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
For those of us who also live by water, we can get involved in protecting our own shores from increased offshore drilling and future oil spills.

NOAA, Washington Sea Grant offering two sessions of science camp.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Registration is now open for NOAA Science Camp in Seattle for seventh and eighth graders. Two camp sessions are available: July 12-16 and July 19-23.

Rediscovery: An Environmental Educators Institute.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The Rediscovery Environmental Educators Institute will be held in two sessions: Wednesday-Thursday, July 7-8, 2010, or Tuesday-Wednesday, August 17-18, 2010. Sponsored by the Adopt-A-Stream Foundation and Snohomish County Parks & Recreation Present.

Public listening session on the President's "America's Great Outdoors" initiative.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
To be held Thursday, July 1, 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Franklin High School (3013 South Mount Baker Blvd, Seattle, Washington). Register by June 28th if you plan to speak.

The best places on the west coast to catch dungeness crabs.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Over 1 million pounds of crabs are caught recreationally in Puget Sound each year. Helium.

Cherry Point plan important to ecosystem and industry.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The plan simply requires industry, agencies and environmental groups to work together to understand how current industrial activities impact the marine environment at Cherry Point before we consider increasing industrial activity and stormwater discharges. Bellingham Herald.

Ecological Teaching & Learning: Cohort at Olympic Park Institute.
Friday, June 25, 2010
The ETL program teaches students to integrate ecological principles into any curriculum, program, or teaching opportunity across all disciplines at any grade or age level.

Snohomish County educator workshops & opportunities.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Several upcoming workshops, lessons and funding opportunities are listed for educators.

Port of Tacoma: Hylebos restoration means more heavy trucks on Marine View Drive.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Excavating and hauling away about 160,000 tons of contaminated and unsuitable soil is the first step in enhancing and restoring what will become a premier habitat site. Tacoma Daily News.

Oyster restoration, supply, falls behind demand.
Friday, June 25, 2010
While the 2009 report says there has been a "profound loss" of oyster reefs around the world from everything from coastal development to destructive fishing practices, there is also evidence that restoration works. Food Safety News.

Toxins found in whales bode ill for humans, report says.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Sperm whales feeding even in the most remote reaches of Earth's oceans have built up stunningly high levels of toxic and heavy metals, according to American scientists who say the findings spell danger not only for marine life but for the millions of humans who depend on seafood. Associated Press.

Local expert gives presentation on orcas.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
South Whidbey State Park invites the community to "Orcas of the Pacific Northwest" at 7 p.m. Saturday June 26 in the park's amphitheater. South Whidbey Record.

State settles with shellfish growers over trespass.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The Washington Department of Natural Resources on Wednesday reached settlements with three shellfish companies for growing oysters, clams and geoducks on state-owned tidelands without permission. Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Removing a bulkhead at Piner Point may help fish.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The shoreline, largely undeveloped, provides needed habitat for Puget Sound's smallest fish -- sand lance, surf smelt and herring -- which in turn support the Sound's entire food chain. Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber.

New rules strengthen county's clean water regulations.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The new rules, adopted earlier this week by the Snohomish County Council, also increase protection to public and private property from potential erosion, flooding or pollution damage caused by runoff from development activities. Snohomish Times.

Green My Ballard: Sailing the seas for local food.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The new Salish Sea Trading Cooperative (SSTC) moves garden-fresh, farmer-grown, nonpetrol-powered food to Ballard's Shilshole Bay from the peninsula by way of sail transport. Ballard News-Tribune.

Discover the 'Jungles' along our coast.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
If you love a good story, join Rick James of Salish Sea Cultural and Historical Tours and biologist Daniel Williams of Morningstar Marine Tours onboard the MV Morningstar this Saturday and Sunday. Comox Valley Record. Courtenay, BC

Digging for Dinner: June 26th.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Eugene Thrasher is back and Digging for Dinner at 9:30 a.m. at Zylstra Road on Whidbey Island. A shellfish license and a parking permit are required.

Boeing agrees to restore Duwamish salmon habitat.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Boeing agreed to undertake two habitat restoration projects to benefit migrating juvenile salmon and other fish and birds. Everett Herald.

SR 520 Pontoon Construction Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Monday, June 21, 2010
The draft environmental impact statement comment period is from May 28 to July 12, 2010, and a public hearing and open house will be held at Aberdeen High School on June 24th.

Why Do We Explore? Online professional development.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Join us for the second in a series of educator professional development opportunities focused around NOAA's new ship, the Okeanos Explorer. June 21 - July 2, 2010.

Washington state Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark: Why forest conversion matters to all of us.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
One of the biggest challenges facing Puget Sound is what's happening on dry land around it, especially the conversion of working forests into housing developments, shopping centers and other non-habitat uses in the Sound's watershed. Whidbey News-Times.

Marine biologist says recent whale death not uncommon.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Among his findings was that the contents of the whale's stomach was "the largest amount of trash ever recorded in a stranded whale in the Puget Sound," though this did not cause the death of this whale. West Seattle Herald.

Lake Union restoration project to be unveiled.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources invites members of the media and public to Lake Union on Monday, June 21, 2010, at 12:30 p.m. for the official unveiling of the Waterway 18 restoration project.

Science takes center stage in Puget Sound planning.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Officials at Puget Sound Partnership are learning what it means to be guided by science, as required by state law. Kitsap Sun.

How clear are urban creeks? Health officials say not very.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
We found that while there is routine testing of bacteria levels at the region's beaches by the Seattle King County Health department and other agencies, almost no one is looking at the water quality in creeks. Northwest Cable News.

Large buffers likely not needed for developed Burien shorelines.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Burien residents on the Puget Sound waterfront -- concerned about impacts revised shoreline regulations, if adopted, would have on their property -- heard encouraging words at a June 14 forum on the science behind these proposals. B-Town Blog.

Friends, film, students, and sustainability.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
For the first time, students from high schools throughout the CedarRiver/Lake Washington watershed will share video segments of a project that has been nine months in the making -- the first annual Watershed Report. Tuesday June 29th, 6:00 p.m. at Seattle REI.

Hard economic times affect Friends of the Hylebos.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Restructuring will enable the Friends to continue as a force for clean water, clean air and conservation in Federal Way and the Hylebos Watershed. Federal Way News.

Sequim praised for bridge-building at Pitship Pocket Estuary.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
This city got a shower of praise this week for doing its part for small fish ­-- in an area slated for a major development. Peninsula Daily News.

Paddling with a purpose.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Volunteer kayakers survey Puget Sound and British Columbia for invasive grasses. Wavelength Magazine.

Beware of Waughop's blue-green, toxic algae.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Despite thousands of dollars spent on experimental treatments the last three years, toxic algae continue to be a problem at 33-acre Waughop Lake at Fort Steilacoom Park. Tacoma News Tribune.

Fish farms, low oxygen levels and wild salmon: A troubled coexistence.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
With fish resources depleted worldwide, open water and offshore fish farming or aquaculture is seen by some as a way to increase fish production. Seattle PostGlobe.

Complex water rights issues smooth out when cooperation is involved.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Every well that's drilled into the aquifer affects surrounding water supplies from lake levels to stream flows and the amount of water flushed into Puget Sound via the Nisqually and Deschutes rivers. The Olympian.

New rules strengthen county's clean water regulations.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon will sign recently passed ordinances that further protect water quality and drinking-water supplies. Lake Stevens Journal.

Public invited to learn about shorelines.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Bainbridge Island City's ongoing Shoreline Education Series is underway. Upcoming events in the series include Shoreline Ecology and Human Impacts, June 17th; Science and Policy, July 8th; and Science Forum and Discussion of Emerging Issues, on a date in August to be announced. Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal.

Visualizing the BP oil disaster.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
A Michigan software developer has created a map that plops the spill area on top of any location on the globe, and updates the area as it grows.

NOAA boosts UW funding for ocean-science research.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Researchers at a laboratory in the San Juan Islands will study how shifting ocean chemistry may alter the marine food web. Seattle Times.

Corps of Engineers wants trees removed near levees, clashing with salmon advocates.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
For decades, King County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have fought over the trees and thick brush that grow along the levees of area rivers. Seattle Times.

WA firm calculates nature's cost/benefit ratios.
Friday, June 11, 2010
The group's executive director, economist David Batker, says they evaluated water supply, food production, flood protection, recreational value and other characteristics of the environment as goods and services, and put price tags on them that governments and businesses could understand. Public News Service

Upcoming salmon, crab fisheries signal start of summer season.
Friday, June 11, 2010
With summer just around the corner, anglers can look forward to a new season of fishing opportunities. Weekender Report.

New K-pod orca calf identified.
Friday, June 11, 2010
A new orca calf has been born in K pod, one of the three groups of killer whales that frequent the Salish Sea and Puget Sound, experts say. Kitsap Sun.

BP, oil agenda have left state, U.S. unprepared.
Friday, June 11, 2010
The slow motion unfolding of disaster had a long buildup, as the influence of Big Oil shaped decisions that left everyone unprepared for a catastrophe. Crosscut.com.

SEA publishes spring newsletter.
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
The Spring 2010 issue of Hands Across the Water is now available on SEA's website.

Residents will help city restore Lewis Creek.
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
The city and landowners plan a joint effort to remove sediment and create salmon habitat in ecologically sensitive Lewis Creek near Lake Sammamish. Issaquah Press.

Pierce County offers free 'fish-friendly' car wash kits.
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
To keep car washes fish-friendly, Pierce County Public Works and Utilities lends out free car wash kits designed to keep soapy water out of storm drains and away from fish. Tacoma Daily Index.

Teachers learn aboard 65-foot research vessel.
Monday, June 07, 2010
A workshop aboard the M.V. Indigo and at Edmonds Community College allows teachers to take wildlife, coastal habitat and water quality lessons to their own classrooms. Everett Herald.

Fly Fishers weeding event.
Monday, June 07, 2010
We will spend the day removing invasive blackberries that have threatened the native ecosystem. Other workshops include fly fishing demonstrations, stream insect identification labs, and raffle prizes. Saturday, June 12th, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Knotweed removal workshop.
Monday, June 07, 2010
King County is offering free workshop -- in four communities on four days in June and July -- that will give you the knowledge and methods you need to control knotweed on your property.

Plan to protect aquatic lands in Whatcom Co.
Monday, June 07, 2010
A long-awaited draft plan for aquatic lands in Whatcom County provides more environmental protection but is raising industry concern. Seattle Times.

Regional workshop on the Critical Areas Ordinance June 18.
Saturday, June 05, 2010
The San Juan County Association of REALTORS will host a regional workshop on the Critical Areas Ordinance June 18, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Anacortes Library, 1220 10th St., Anacortes.

'It's beneficial to us to preserve the killer whale': Mayor declares June 'Orca Awareness Month.'
Saturday, June 05, 2010
The proclamation came as the Southern resident killer whales return to the area to hunt local salmon runs. San Juan Journal.

Night exploration of Hood Canal attracts sea creatures, kids.
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Pier Peer is part of the "Do Some Good for the Hood" series of events organized by the Puget Sound Partnership and People for Puget Sound. Kitsap Sun.

Celia Brauer: Backyard fish streams? Okay, but let's clean up natural waterways first.
Saturday, June 05, 2010
The sad reality is that we have continued to grossly pollute and ignore the needs of the vast honest-to-goodness wild fish-bearing waters that surround us on three sides. Straight.com.

Bristol Bay sockeye thrives on diversity, UW study says.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
In nature, as in stock investing, the key to success is a diversified portfolio, says a new study by University of Washington biologists. Seattle Times.

Challenges of environmental governance is topic of talk by Miles.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
A UW expert on climate change and planning for its consequences -- someone whose advice has been sought at every level from the local Puget Sound basin to the international Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- will ask the question Whither Ocean Governance? Is Effective Management the Holy Grail? in a special lecture Friday, June 4. University Week.

Photographer shows off his state in film.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Alfred Pease's photographs will be on display at the Mountlake Terrace Library this month. The Enterprise.

WA's Elwha River makes comeback from "endangered" status.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
The Elwha River on the Olympic Peninsula made it onto a national list of "America's Most Endangered Rivers" twice in the 1990s. A lot has happened since then -- and now, the same group that tallies the list is calling the Elwha a success story in this year's report, released today.

Big jump in oil tankers in Vancouver's port.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
The proposed Enbridge Gateway pipeline to Kitimat is stirring strong public opposition to the super tankers it would attract along British Columbia's northern coast. The Tyee.

May 2010

Gillnets in rivers could pose major damage to resources.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
The effort to remove derelict fishing gear in Puget Sound has improved with recent federal funding, but there is just as much concern about abandoned nets in river systems too.

2nd annual Green Resolution set.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
The second annual Green Resolution Night welcomes people from the region to enjoy the premiere of "Spirit on the Wind" by Alexander Stratford and guest presenter David Hancock. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 26 at the Gulf Road Community Center, Point Roberts.

World Ocean Day Festival, June 12th.
Friday, May 28, 2010
This festival will be action-packed with activities focused on showcasing environmental efforts, opportunities for public engagement and networking, live music, boat rides, picnic, tabling, actvities and crafts for kids, and possibly a beach walk.

Waterfest: Saturday, June 19th.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Join the Cedar River Watershed Education Center for a splashy family day filled with activities, games, stories and demonstrations. Free and open to all audiences.

UW, tribal partnership to develop Pacific Northwest bioenergy.
Friday, May 28, 2010
For the past two and a half years researchers at the UW have been working with local Native American tribes on a different approach. They are developing locally produced bioenergy that makes sense for the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Week.

Catch halibut, sturgeon, trout during Free Fishing Weekend.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Those interested in fishing but haven't actually given it a try will have a perfect chance to do so during Free Fishing Weekend, scheduled June 12-13. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Port awards $2 million contract to restore Hylebos.
Friday, May 28, 2010
The port bought the former Parsons property in 2005 for future habitat mitigation and restoration. Its tidally influenced location at the mouth of the salmon-bearing Hylebos Creek makes it especially valuable as restored habitat. Tacoma Weekly.

9th Ave. Park will participate in Sustainable Sites Initiative.
Friday, May 28, 2010
The Sustainable Sites Initiative selected the Ninth Avenue Park based on its extensive environmentally friendly elements, including preservation and restoration of soil conditions, management of storm water on site, use of native vegetation, creation of community food gardens and use of recycled content and regional materials. Ballard News-Tribune.

Gallery exhibit: By the Salish Sea -- A Celebration of First Nations Art.
Friday, May 28, 2010
This exhibit runs June 3rd to 26th at the Community Arts Council of White Rock & District gallery at Windsor Square, 90-1959 152nd Street, South Surrey, British Columbia.

Calling Oregon filmmakers: What does whole watershed restoration mean to you?
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Area filmmakers, both young and old, here's a contest for you: a short film of 10 minutes or less that focuses "on the human, ecological and economic benefits of whole watershed restoration in the Northwest" -- Oregon, Washington and Idaho. OregonLive.com.

Nature Conservancy to turn over projects.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The national conservation group with a strong state presence has announced plans to transfer its South Sound prairie conservation program to a new, yet-to-be-determined entity. The Olympian.

State Department of Agriculture begins spartina treatments for 2010 season.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Eradication and control efforts this year will take place on the saltwater tideflats of Grays Harbor, Hood Canal, Willapa Bay, Puget Sound, and the north and west sides of the Olympic Peninsula. Washington Department of Agriculture.

Burien's Seahurst Park wins best restored beach award.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
This work involved removing a 1,400-foot seawall, restoring the beach to its natural state and restoring the marine habitat for federally listed threatened species such as Puget Sound Chinook salmon. Highline Times.

Duwamish Valley trucking firm fined for violating stormwater permit.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The Washington Department of Ecology has fined a trucking firm $8,000 for violating industrial stormwater permit requirements at its fleet base south of Seattle. Washington Department of Ecology.

Capps, Farr, Inslee urge EPA to take more active role in addressing ocean acidification.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) was joined by her colleagues Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA), Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and 41 other Members of Congress in sending a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson expressing their concerns about the effects of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Representative Capps.

The Story of Bottled Water
Monday, May 24, 2010
Watch this short video on the impacts of bottled water on your wallet and the environment.

Fly fishers weeding event.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Join us, and members of the fly fishing community, for a day of workshops and restoring critical habitat along the Cedar River -- Saturday, June 12th, 9:00am-2:00pm. Friends of the Cedar River Watershed.

New hydroelectric dam to be first in county since '80s.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Its size and location upstream should limit its harm to salmon, the PUD says. Everett Herald.

Spill drills home a point about Big Oil.
Monday, May 24, 2010
The Deepwater Horizon disaster is a teaching moment. We, who the people at the end of the oil well-pipeline-tanker-gas station chain, need to be learners. The Standard Speaker, Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

Transient orcas are raising havoc on sea lions.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Researchers are finding some transient orcas in Puget Sound seem to be killing sea lions for no apparent reason.

Whale of a Weekend!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Friday, June 18 - Sunday, June 20, The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor is hosting a special immersion weekend especially for orca enthusiasts. San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau.

Oil Follies: Local fishermen worried about oil, climate; people must 'start raising hell.'
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Drilling opponents in Alaska would like to see a moratorium on drilling in their state, while fishermen in the Puget Sound say all fisheries are at risk if we don't get control of our carbon emissions. Seattle PostGlobe.

Nisqually: Wildlife manager honored for work.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Jean Takekawa, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service manager of the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, has received the 2010 Warren G. Magnuson Puget Sound Legacy Award from People for Puget Sound. Tacoma News Tribune.

A whale for the making.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
The grey whale that appeared at the mouth of the Squamish River on May 4th astounded locals. Canada.com

Duwamish Community Environmental Health Fair set for June 5.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
The Duwamish Community Environmental Health Fair will present information on the cleanup of the Duwamish River and Puget Sound on June 5 at Concord International Elementary School, 723 Concord St., South Seattle. The event is free, and will feature information booths, hands-on activities for all ages, small workshops, and food. It runs from 11 AM to 3 PM. West Seattle Herald.

Watch: Orcas swimming in Puget Sound.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
SkyKING shot this video of orcas swimming side-by-side near Edmonds, Wash. Thursday afternoon. KING5.com.

Northwest 'extinction epicenter' for ocean-going fish
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Scientist-author Dr. Carl Safina, swimming against a tide of upbeat news at a Seattle breakfast, on Tuesday characterized the Pacific Northwest as "the world's extinction epicenter for ocean-going fish." Seattle PI.

Cities asked to restrict shoreline development.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
The federal government has called for stricter environmental standards along Lake Sammamish, prompting protests from officials in Issaquah and other cities along the lake. Issaquah Press.

Salmon Bay Natural Area statue debuting June 12.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Groundswell NW will celebrate the unveiling of a 17-foot-tall statue that commemorates the transformative powers of the salmon life cycle from 10 a.m. to noon on June 12 at the Salmon Bay Natural Area. Ballard News-Tribune.

Northwest film contest now seeking submissions.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
A collaborative managed by Portland-based Ecotrust seeks submissions of short films that focus on the human, ecological and economic benefits of whole watershed restoration in the Northwest. The deadline for submissions is July 19. Enhanced Online News.

Nature Conservancy floods fields in an attempt to help wildlife and farmers.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
For the last three years, the third-generation farmer has taken part in an experiment that contradicts everything he's known about farming. For a fee, he agreed to flood about 20 acres to provide wetland habitat for migratory shorebirds, a move researchers hoped would also result in more productive farmland. Los Angeles Times.

Puget Sound's slow oil spill.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
The bad news is, even though its glistening waters look pristine, Puget Sound is in a crisis most of us don't see: a slow-moving spill of millions of gallons of petroleum and chemicals carried by stormwater. Seattle Times.

Boeing agrees to restore Duwamish River habitat.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The Boeing Co. has agreed to restore fish habitat in Seattle's Duwamish Waterway and pay $2 million to settle federal charges that it broke environmental laws by dumping oil and other toxic substances. Associated Press.

Highland grad names a new species.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
It just seemed natural that Clarkston would name the red seaweed, Euthora timburtonii, in a tribute to the director's fantastically twisted movies. Comox Valley Echo.

2nd Annual "Clean, Green Boating Festival" to be held at the Seaport.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
This free, open-to-the-public festival at the Foss Waterway in Tacoma is for boaters, outdoor enthusiasts and all others interested in a more sustainable future for Puget Sound. May 22, 2010, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Public invited to workshops about reclaimed water.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Reclaimed water recharges aquifers and increases flows in our rivers and streams. Use of reclaimed water may improve Puget Sound's water quality by reducing wastewater discharges.

Memorial Day signals great fishing, birds and a bevy of young animals.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
With Memorial Day weekend coming up at the end of May, tens of thousands of Washingtonians are making plans to spend some time in the great outdoors. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

New outdoor classroom at Fraser River Park; Open house at the SPCA; and info meeting on East Fraserlands park.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The project includes eight interpretive panels on topics including First Nations history, river transportation, Fraser River salmon and sturgeon, as well as how a great salmon river estuary works. The Vancouver Courier.

Codiga Park habitat restoration.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Join People For Puget Sound on this former dairy farm that is now a tidally influenced wetland providing shelter and food for wildlife like ospreys, great blue herons, bald eagles and juvenile fish. KING5.

State proposes list of clean water projects to receive $108 million in 2011.
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) invites public comments on the list of clean water projects to receive loans and grants worth a combined $108 million in 2011.

State halts most rockfish angling in area waters.
Friday, May 07, 2010
It's now illegal to fish for rock fish in most area waters. Effective this week, the state imposed new rules to protect the species of fish that lives in deep water. KONP Newsradio.

Mount Vernon real estate developer fined $134K.
Thursday, May 06, 2010
The Washington state Department of Ecology said it's fined a Mount Vernon real estate developer $134,000 for destruction of a steelhead and salmon stream. Puget Sound Business Journal.

Friday Harbor advocates join international protest calling for orca's release from Miami Seaquarium.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
A contingent of Friday Harbor orca advocates will participate in an international protest May 15 to call for a captive orca's return to her native Salish Sea. San Juan Journal.

Lessons from the Gulf oil spill.
Monday, May 03, 2010
Our country cannot sacrifice its economy, climate, fisheries, air and water quality at the altar of the carbon economy. Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Wild salmon need public's support.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
There is a long list of scientific studies from around the world that say open-containment is environmentally unsound. Victoria Times Colonist.