Hey Everyone,
This last week has been incredibly hectic. There have been so many events and important activities!
I’ll start off with last Friday, simply because I had a chance to be a part of a very interesting day with some unusual guests. On Friday July 8th, a class of UW Bothell students visited our office to learn more about us and about what we do, specifically in the outreach, education, and volunteering fields. The sheer variety of students really surprised me, as they were from diverse backgrounds. The class had many environmental science majors, but interestingly, almost half of the class was composed of people who were taking the class for fun or for interest and had majors completely unrelated to the class.
After sitting through two presentations, we went to Codiga Park, the same place we had done restoration the previous week. Needless to say, with a group of 20, our results, even in a short span of 45 minutes, were drastically different from my first time around. These guys leveled the same treacherous slope Claire and I weren’t able to make a dent in. In 45 minutes, they accomplished four times as much as we had in three hours the first time.
After such a tiring day, I still had to spend the rest of the afternoon preparing for Saturday’s Greenlife Festival in West Seattle. The highlight of last weekend and probably the upcoming weekend have been and will be the festivals Claire and I will be attending. Last Saturday I helped set up the People For Puget Sound Booth and on Sunday, I manned the booth for two entire shifts. Although we weren’t close to the true hustle and bustle of the West Seattle Summerfest, we still encountered a variety of different people. The strangeness of some of their questions really surprised me and the sheer diversity of people I talked to made it a memorable event. Next weekend, we will be at the Northwest Solarfest at Shoreline Community College for all of Saturday.
At these outreach events we’ve been focusing on SMPs, or Shoreline Management Programs, our chief issue and our current July campaign. Not only Seattle, but Bainbridge, Kitsap County, and other nearby areas are all working towards updating their programs, some of which are completely outdated. They are expected to last for the next few decades and it is imperative that we make sure the right policies get passed. Shorelines are incredibly important to a variety of different wildlife and people don’t really understand how important it is to help set safe development standards.
We’ll be continuing on our campaign to educate people about SMPs and other key issues affecting the Sound this weekend so please feel free to visit us on Saturday the 16th at the NW Solarfest at Shoreline Community College! We’ll be there almost the whole day and we’d be delighted to meet more Sound lovers!
]]>Hi there! Claire here, People For Puget Sound’s new intern and Seattle’s newest environmentalist. Coming from Miami, I didn’t know what to expect, but seattlin’ down in the Pacific Northwest has been nothing short of amazing.
The People For Puget Sound office is so warm, friendly, and inspiring. Being an Environmental Science major myself, it’s wonderful to see things I am studying being put into practical use. Plus, because people here are so passionate about what they do, it’s impossible not to get caught up in their motivation. Dawei (my fellow intern) and I have started to settle into our places here in the office, and are finding plenty to do!
One of the more amazing things we’ve been a part of has been a Pier Peer at Elliot Bay Marina last Wednesday. The naturalists there helped inform the public about the amazing critters we were looking at in the water, while I helped inform the public about how possible it is to fall in the water if you peer too far off the pier. These are certainly some of my favorite PPS events, come to the next one July 20th!
Dawei and I also attended a restoration event at Codiga Park (shout out to the awesome crew there!). That being the morning after my 21st birthday, I didn’t expect to enjoy anything, let alone manual labor. But it turns out People For Puget Sound is right once again; restoration events are incredibly fun. I waged war against bull thistle patches, befriended a clingy ladybug, snacked by the water, and learned that it is much easier to just put on gloves than to gingerly dodge plant thorns. Plus, someone trusted me with sharp tools, so I think that makes a great day. These events require no previous experience or knowledge, but you learn so much on-site. Literally, my first question of the day was, “So why exactly are we here?”, and by the end of the day I couldn’t wait to come back.
Right now Dawei and I are getting prepared for our first outreach festival: GreenLife Sustainability Expo. Clearly, we’ve progressed far from the first day of work stuffing flip-flops into plastic bags. There is so much to do everyday here, and yet still so much I want to accomplish! Remember that resolution I had to drink less coffee? Yeah, neither do I. We are keeping busy helping Franzi, Rein, and Heather with all their projects, and love our time here. I’ll be sure to keep you all up-to-date on the rest of our adventures at People For Puget Sound!
]]>First and foremost, as probably a truly unique event was the Retirement Dinner and Gala for outgoing founder and Executive Director Kathy Fletcher. I’ve only been able to exchange a few brief words with Kathy, but from what I’ve read and heard, I’ve realized how important and special she was to People For Puget Sound. As her brainchild and her dream, the organization grew out of her efforts. Held on then night June 22nd, only the second day of work for me, the event was awesome, and I’m sure everyone had a great time at the Seattle Aquarium. The highlight of the night was definitely the beautiful sunset and incredible atmosphere of the waterfront.
Claire and I have been exposed to a range of different activities. Some, like Salesforce (database entry) are relatively ordinary. We’ve sat in on a meeting with our peers, for example other interns organizing the rainwater tours, and learned about many of the different aspects of the organization.
However, my favorite part of my first week here has definitely been the wide variety of tasks given to us. Starting from our first day, we’ve been asked to do some strange and distinct activities. On the afternoon of our first day, we were asked to package and insert mini-Frisbees and carabiners to the flip flops we were going to give out for the Retirement Dinner. Claire and I have also been asked to create a presentation about the ways we could improve the current education section of website. With work ranging from the serious to the mundane our time in the office has definitely been well spent.
However, my favorite project has definitely been the one assigned to me by Heather Trim. My job is to assemble the super secret new game that will be making an appearance at our next summer outreach event. I can say that this project involves a lot of design and ingenuity as well as plexiglass and several types of surface material. It’s definitely not what I expected and it’s an experience completely new for me.
]]>How we are going to achieve this? I am glad you asked. By challenging, challenging, challenging them! Claire and Dawei will learn how to do world-class outreach, engage new members, and educate the public about pressing issues in the Puget Sound area.
Yeah right, you think, nice idea, but this is too much to accomplish in the short 2 months that they will have with us.
It’s not too much for them. They already convinced me in their first week that they have what it takes. So let’s begin this internship challenge and see what we can accomplish together!
The stakes are high, and I look forward to seeing what they have in store for us. Every Friday they will share their experiences and challenges in saving the Sound.
So stay tuned – more to come!
]]>We’ve traveled on our 20th anniversary Sound Voyage visits to Puget Sound communities and it’s been a learning experience for me.
On the voyage south from Seattle to Tacoma, we sailed past Seahurst Park in Burien a few weeks ago. Doug Myers, our Science Director, described how the seawall had been removed to restore the near shore habitat along half the park. While he was describing how important connecting the beach with the near shore waters were for creating habitat for small fish including young salmon, I saw more than 100 Western Grebes along the restored section of the beach. These birds are of conservation concern in Washington because of low population numbers. It shows that if you “restore it” they will come. Not only was this exciting to see but I learned that this restoration success has been shown to other jurisdictions to help move other restoration projects forward.
Absorbing the history of projects, issues, successes and failures is sometimes overwhelming—and certainly not boring. What stands out amid all the facts and places and faces so far is how so much of what has been accomplished has been done not solely by a few People For Puget Sound staff but by staff working with many partners and many volunteers.
I’m heartened to meet at the local receptions many of the community partners we’ve worked with and to hear the roll call recognizing our many local partners. I learned that we have almost 3,000 people who volunteer at least a day to helping save the Sound either through restoration, policy, education or simply helping with management.
There is so much more to learn and many more people to meet. Sometimes I feel a bit overwhelmed—but knowing all the good work we’ve accomplished and knowing that there are many partners and an army of volunteers joined in the challenge of bringing Puget Sound to health, I feel like I’m in good company.
Please feel free to share with me what might be on your mind. Tom.
]]>What do you call this water that runs off the land with pollutants when it rains? More to the point: Do people understand what I am talking about when I call it "storm water"?
That's what news reporters, government agencies, elected officials and environmentalists cal the water running off the land with petroleum and other toxic chemicals.
Survey research, however, points out that ordinary folks don't necessarily recognize what we want the term "storm water" to mean. Folks think about it more as a kind of 'act of God' event rather than anything having to do with anything humans bring about.
This kind of miscommunications reminds me of how someone once admitted to thinking that all the talk about "watersheds" was referring to a kind of building in Puget Sound.
Years back, we called that flow of pollutants borne on water running off the land from disparate sources "non-point pollution." That was to distinguish it from "point-source pollution," or pollution that flowed from a pipe. Saying "non-point pollution" over and over didn't make it a household phrase.
We'll try "polluted run off" in the place of "storm water." We have free public educational tours of neighborhoods to show areas of pollution problems and solutions like rain gardens and bioswales. Would you have come to a "Storm Water Tour?" "Polluted Run Off Tour" sound too depressing? Maybe a tour of what is an 'act of God' might prove more attractive to the folks we'd like to have walk with us?
In any case, we're doing "Rain Water Tours" beginning in June.
Whaddaya call that water?
]]>First, a few critter sightings. Last Friday, photoblogger "Sirfishalot" posted these awesome photos of a red tail hawk taking a bath. How cool is that? Plus the Seal Sitters spotted a beaver at Jack Block Park in West Seattle. Speaking of sighting, apparently the body of a sea urchin is one big eye! Not a sighting, but a sounding - we listened in on the orcas for a while with the Salish Sea hydrophone network. The Orca Network often posts on their facebook page when the orcas are around.
The US Geological Service released a brand new report on shoreline armoring in Puget Sound this week. If that's a little dense for you, here's a KUOW story on shoreline armoring from last spring. King County also has a FAQ on marine shoreline armoring and Puget Sound. Another study that came out this week investigates the factors contributing to the decline of Fraser River salmon. (At least we know more about salmon than we do about sand lance, though.) Not a study, but a new publication this week: Temperate and Boreal Rainforests of the World, by Dominick DellaSalla, who was on KUOW's Weekday program.
And if you're wondering what went down with the state government this week, we saw two things. First, Washington is now the first state ban toxic pavement sealants. Second, the derelict vessel removal program was also signed off on by Governor Gregoire. Hooray for both items!
Finally, this is the last blog post I'll be writing. I'm heading north to Alaska, to take up a six month long communications residency in the Tongass National Forest. It's been a lot of fun working with People For Puget Sound, and hopefully it has prepared me for my new project. Thanks for reading along!
]]>The problem is this: Sewage and other waste, often entirely untreated, is pouring into nearby bodies of water. In Seattle this happens via combined sewage outflows, which act as a storm/waste water release valve to prevent treatment system overflow. In parts of Canada, sewage having received primary treatment is let go into the surrounding waters as the official disposal plan. The story is the same for hundreds of metropolitan areas across the globe.
It is no accident that coastal regions are the most densely populated places on earth. Proximity to the ocean has provided economic and industrial opportunity that has created the greatest cities of the world. The ocean sustains civilization.
In a seemingly unrelated note- I had a number of gerbils as a kid, and I remember staring in at their cage, observing their oftentimes curious behavior. Not to take anything away from gerbils, but they are dealing with pretty limited intellectual capacities. Nonetheless, after a few days it became clear that they were deliberately excreting their waste in one particular corner of their cage- opposite their food. Further, all of the gerbils were in apparent agreement with the notion that waste should be as far away from food as possible. The gerbils knew this: things that are toxic and things that sustain life, should not be mixed.
Of course, our situation is far more complex than that of the gerbils. As much as I would love for someone to come along, “clean our cage” and rid us of our waste allowing us to start anew, that is simple not going to happen…. Admittedly, it is not a perfect analogy. However, amid all of the complexity and general turmoil of civilization, how did we lose sight of such a basic, almost instinctual understanding that we should not foul our nest? One could ask, “how is it that a relatively lowly rodent does a better job of not messing its immediate environment?” but I think the more important question is how can we learn (or re-learn) to do the same?
]]>For this week, I want to talk about the thing that has struck me most about People For Puget Sound: the importance of the volunteers. This organization would not be successful without the vitality of our volunteer program. Especially taking over Brendan Mackinson’s job as the interim volunteer coordinator, I have gained an appreciation for individuals who donate their time, effort, and passion to the People For Puget Sound mission.
Having been around for 5 weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the many different types of volunteers. First were the Rain Water Tour interns: these people plan and execute rain water tours all around Seattle. They put neighbors and homeowners in touch with the problems of polluted runoff and demonstrate what can be done about it.
Next we have our Sound Stewards: they monitor, maintain, and run restoration events on our sites. With the amount of work in the office, there is no way we could restore as much habitat as we do without the autonomy and passion of the Sound Stewards.
Just last night I again got to appreciate volunteer naturalists at our latest Pier Peer. This is a group of enthusiastic experts who help catch and identify the critters we find in the water.
And, finally, I’ve worked with the outreach volunteers who come to table and reach out to the public for People For Puget Sound. We would never be able to staff our events without them!
With all these volunteers in mind, I want to remind everyone to come to our volunteer appreciation party in Seattle next Tuesday, July 26, at Golden Gardens, 6pm - 9pm! We will also be saying goodbye to Brendan, who is sadly leaving next week. Look forward to seeing you there!
]]>"Thank you... People for Puget Sound for hosting the 20 year anniversary cruise around the Sound," Janice wrote. "I was lucky enough to nab a spot on the historic schooner Adventuress on the first leg of the journey from Seattle to Olympia. What an incredible opportunity to sail the Sound with the capable Adventuress crew along with Kathy Fletcher, research scientists and other distinguished members of your organization.
"I learned so much from the stories they told of the Puget Sound. Its history, its struggles, the victories in preservation all woven in with incredible scenery and the hospitality of Sound Experience. We saw Dalls porpoises that "escorted" the ship near Maury Island, shore birds, eagles, seals and sea lions.
"I can't capture it all in an email, other than to say it was a trip I'll never forget! Thanks again!"
So, here's the special offer we want to make so you can enjoy the Adventuress:
Reserve a day trip May 13, 14 or 15 with us on the Adventuress on our Sound Voyage 2011 from Seattle to Everett to Coupeville to Bellingham at the $100 day trip price and bring along a friend or family member for free. (Children must be older than 8 years of age.) This offer is good for a limited time so book online here. Now.
You and your guest are also invited to community celebrations in our Sound Voyage ports of call. AND WE WILL ARRANGE TRANSPORTATION BACK TO YOUR POINT OF DEPARTURE-- IF YOU NEED IT.
Friday, May 13: Seattle to Everett, Port of Everett community reception
Saturday, May 14: Everett to Coupeville, Water Festival, Ciao Italian Restaurant reception
Sunday, May 15: Coupeville to Belllingham, Squalicum Boathouse reception
*Two-day with overnight special rates available by calling (206) 229-2844*
"Special" is mentioned seven times in this blog. This must be "special." Sez The Church Lady.
]]>In a report to supporters this month, they wrote: "We have also been busy investigating current regulatory conditions, reviewing in-water construction permits from 2010 to see if the agencies have made any changes and are now applying the proper regulations etc. It was not a surprise to find they still fail to uphold the current environmental laws - but it seemed wise to have that actual information in hand."
Actually, like the weather, everyone talks about the lack of enforcement of environmental laws but it's hard to do anything about it.
When the Puget Sound Partnership conducted public meetings four years ago to hear what people considered the most important actions to bring the Sound back to health, they consistently heard: 'enforce the laws,' 'fully fund the effort,' and 'don't create more bureaucracy.'
So, the folks at Preserve Our Island might find some support for enforcing the law as a strategy to recover the health of the Sound. I'd stand with them. If enough of us did, we might even make some politicians and agencies brave enough to listen to the people.
Stand with us?
]]>The highlight of last week was definitely the Pier Peer. Although I have attended a Pier Peer as a participant, this was the first time I helped organize the event. This time it was also a much smaller affair than last time and I really felt like I got a chance to meet everyone there, especially the naturalists.
Fortunately, I got to see some amazing critters. Two animals really stood out. First, there was the huge sea star. It was literally the size of my face. I have never seen such a huge starfish and it was definitely larger than any of the animals you see in most tide pools or aquariums. We saw many urchins, nudibranches, and jellyfish. Unlike last time, even a large school of fish came. As we were leaving, we were able to spot an enormous jellyfish - two meters long! - going through the dark water. It was definitely the highlight of my night and I’m so glad I’ve had this opportunity to grow closer to the Sound.
I'd also like to invite you to join us on one of our upcoming rainwater walking tours! People For Puget Sound is organizing these fascinating tours where you can learn directly from the experts what you can do to help reducing polluted runoff. Visit beautiful raingardens, see how your local creek is affected by polluted runoff, and talk to experts how you can get started with ways to reduce runoff.
Next upcoming tour is this Saturday 7/30, 10 AM, at Seahurst Park in Burien. Here's a schedule of upcoming tours.
Finally I’d like to wish Brendan Mackinson the warmest of farewells. Brendan, our Volunteer Coordinator, has been a key member of the organization, helping the education team tremendously. Although I’ve only been with People For Puget Sound for a short while, I’ve seen how important Brendan is to us and how awesome of a person he is. After two years at People For Puget Sound he will be moving on and continuing his studies as a graduate student in Rhode Island. Thank you for all your help Brendan, we have all appreciated it. I’m sure you’ll be successful in all of your future endeavors.
As the new Executive Director of People For Puget Sound, I’m committed to keeping our partnerships strong and finding new, sometimes unexpected partners. I want to highlight a couple of our partners that you might find surprising.
Last winter, we partnered with the Northwest Marine Trade Association in our successful campaign to ban copper bottom paint on boats. This partnership highlights the shared values we have with the boating community (clean water) and provides the potential for further collaboration. This year, we are working with the new Clean Boating Foundation (launched last year by NMTA) and with the Puget Sound Pilots to develop boater education programs and continue our advocacy for cleaner boating practices.
People For Puget Sound is building partnerships with non-English speaking communities because a polluted Puget Sound affects everyone. In Port Gardner Bay in Everett, the Washington State Department of Health has issued fish consumption advisories http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/oehas/fish/ps8-2.htm warning about exposure to toxic substances. There is evidence that these advisories may not be reaching Hispanic and other ethnic communities.
In an effort to bridge this gap with the Hispanic community in Everett, we are reaching out to residents about toxics and safe fishing through a Spanish-speaking community educator. We’re also reaching other communities in Everett by distributing fact sheets in Arabic, Nepali, Russian, Vietnamese and Ukrainian.
It's been an exciting start and I'd like to hear from you.
-Tom Bancroft