The War on Trash - Lessons Learned from a Remote Beach Cleanup

Photo by Mike Wheeler

On November 17th 2011, the Surfrider Foundation's Olympic Peninsula Chapter partnered with the Makah Tribe, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary conducting a beach cleanup on a very remote northwest beach. The debris collected both previously and on the day of the cleanup operation totaled more than 1800 pounds . The debris was brought to Arnold and Debbie Schouten's residence in Port Angeles where it was examined by Dr. Curtis Ebbesmeyer, Jim Ingraham and student volunteers. Dr. Ebbesmeyer's team discovered a large black buoy which possibly represents the arrival of tsunami debris from the recent Japanese tsunami. An ongoing effort by the Japanese Consulate and others is currently underway to determine the specific origin of the black buoy and other debris.  The Chapter would like to thank all volunteers who helped make this day happen.

Read the full article here

Presentation by Charles Moore: "Saving our Oceans From Plastic"

Charles Moore to present at The Landing Mall on Thursday January 26th at 6:30pm

Like a synthetic siren, The Great Pacific Garbage Patch drew Charles Moore to science; now his research raises deep questions about plastic. Moore first encountered the 2-million-square-mile floating landfill by chance in 1997, as skipper of a catamaran. His discovery turned him into a scientist/activist, and prompted a global reassessment of plastic's invasiveness. Moore chronicles his investigations of our ocean's plastic load in his newly-published book, Plastic Ocean.

Moore will be speaking in Port. Angeles at The Landing Mall, Upstairs Conference Room, 115 E. Railroad Ave. Port Angeles, WA 9363

For details, please contact Anne Shaffer, anne.shaffer@coastalwatershedinstitute.org. A 5$ donation is requested.

Net Pens Information

At our November meeting Dave Parks shared information about a proposed commercial aquaculture, fish farming, project on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  In order to share information about the proposed project and net pens in general, we have created a Net Pens Information Page.  As we continue to find information and more becomes available, we will share via the page.  Currently, you can read through the project proposal, aquaculture standards and best practices and come up to speed on raising commercial seafood, specifically salmon, in net pens.

Thanks and stay tuned for more,
OPC

Puget Sound Shoreline Armoring Conference Proceedings

Below is a link to a recent conference (May 2009) on the effects of shoreline armoring in Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca.

http://wa.water.usgs.gov/SAW/abstracts.html

Check it out.

Dave Parks
Chair
Olympic Peninsula Chapter
The Surfrider Foundation

Thanks Volunteers! 2009 Coastal Cleanup

The Olympic Peninsula Chapter wants to thank all the hundreds of volunteers who spent time this weekend to contribute to a healthier Washington by removing trash from coastal beaches.

Our Chapter was located at Hobuck Beach at Neah Bay and provided lunch for the hardworking volunteers.

Special Thanks to Mike Wheeler and Darryl Wood for organizing the logistics and doing the cooking. Great Job guys!

Additional thanks to Chapter members Arnold and Debbie Schouten, Lindsay Wheeler, Eric and Sarah Waterkotte, Kendra Parks, Charlie Parks, Nick and Sally Parry, and Jody Kennedy and family, for participating in the cleanup.

Finally, thanks to the Makah Nation (especially Officer Butterworth) for sharing their resources and welcoming us to their wonderful home.

Great Job Everyone.

Westport Jetty Renewal Project

The Army Corps of Engineers has published a report on the basics of the Westport Jetty Project. Click here to see the Army Corps' presentation on the Westport Jetty Project.

Joint Ocean Commission Initiative report

The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative has published its report (1.15.2009). The report is titled One Coast, One Future: Securing the Health of west coast ecosystems and economies and is available for your reading pleasure. Please click here to download your own copy and happy reading!

Full URL to the report: http://www.jointoceancommission.org/resource-center/1-Reports/2009-01-15_One_Coast_One_Future.pdf

New Meeting Location

We will not be meeting at Gordy's for our October meeting and will instead be meeting at the Port Angeles Library in the Raymond Carver room. Click here for a map. The meeting will start at 6:30 and is open to the public.

Meeting Agenda:

1. Introductions
2. Meeting orientation - add agenda items
3. Treasurer’s Report
4. Secretary’s Report
5. Twins workgroup report
6. Washington Coordinator Events and Issues
7. Washington Policy Events and Issues
8. Port Angeles Swimming Pool Closure
   

See you there,
Olympic Peninsula Chapter

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary is updating their management plan!

Since its designation in 1994, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary has combined innovative ocean research, progressive management and policy, and inspiring education programs to protect one of America's most significant ocean treasures. This fall, the sanctuary is beginning a thorough re-examination of their management priorities. This is a pubic process and will be greatly enhanced by the input of people who use and care about Washington’s outer coast.

Please attend an upcoming public meeting:

• Port Angeles: 9/29/08, 6-9pm, Peninsula College Longhouse South Campus
• Neah Bay: 9/30/08, 6-9pm, Makah Marina Conference Center, Makah Reservation, Bayview Ave
• La Push: 10/1/08, 6-9pm, A-Ka-Lat Center, Quileute Reservation on La Push Road

For more information, visit: http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/protection/mpr/welcome.html

Puget Sound Partnership

The Puget Sound Partnership is developing an Action Agenda that will guide state, federal, and local efforts to save the Sound by 2020. Development of this Agenda presents an enormous opportunity to effect change on behalf of the water quality and the overall health of Puget Sound.

You can help ensure that the Chapter’s priorities, including PUBLIC ACCESS, are captured in the Partnership’s final Action Agenda by contacting the Partnership NOW. The Partnership is expected to release a draft Agenda this October.

Shoreline access
Public access to Puget Sound shorelines is limited. Let the Partnership know that you would like to see more money available for acquiring shoreline property and opening it up to the public. Enhancing recreational opportunities along the Sound will connect people to the very resource we need to protect. Public shoreline parks offer education and restoration opportunities that can help get people engaged and committed to doing what’s necessary to save Puget Sound.

Other priority actions to consider including in your comments:

• Restore to health 500 miles of shoreline by 2020.
• Create more shoreline public parks.
• Require and increase incentives for low-impact development to help control stormwater.
• Upgrade sewage treatment plants and infrastructure.
• Station a permanent year round rescue tug at Neah Bay to help prevent oil spills.
• Establish a regional water quality monitoring system that captures environmental impacts as well as program effectiveness.
• Help Elwha Dam Removal and restoration of the nearshore by confirming a realistic timeline for removal and implementing accountability measures that hold partners to this timeline.
  

TO SEND COMMENTS, you can...

Email to actionagenda@psp.wa.gov

Mail them to:
Puget Sound Partnership
P.O. Box 40900
Olympia, WA 98504-0900
800.54.SOUND or 360.725.5444

Or submit via this weblink: http://www.psp.wa.gov/aa_contact.php

To learn more about the Puget Sound Partnership, please visit:
http://www.psp.wa.gov

Surfing and Traditions is coming

Seems like the month of May just flew by. As June progresses we draw closer and closer to the big 4th of July Surfing and Traditions weekend event. Check out all of the latest details on the Surfing and Traditions website. As of our most recent chapter meeting in May there were still a few opportunities for volunteers.

Saturday, July 5th Surfrider Foundation Sponsored Beach Clean at 9:00 am. Location is in front on the camp ground, 1st beach La Push. Surf and Kayak camp for the local youth of La Push. Hosted by the Quileute Indain Tribe & Surfrider Foundation, this event will begin in the afternoon. The location is at the ball field, north end of La Push.

Sunday, July 6th Surfing competition at 8:00 am. The entry fee is $20.00 payable to Quileute Youth Program. With your entry into the contest you will be given a Surfing & Traditions t-shirt and an entry into a major raffle which includes prizes from great sport suppliers. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the competition.

Contact Leah Hornaday to confirm yourself as a volunteer leahhornaday@hotmail.com