Whatcom Marine Events Archive

Marine Events Archive

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2005
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2003 Archive

November

Annual Salmon Summit- Nooksack Recovery Team

September

Estuarine Research Federation Conference, Seattle, WA: September 14-18, 2003
Estuaries on the Edge: Convergence of Ocean, Land, and Culture
“The theme of the conference is the convergence or coming together of ocean forces, influences of the land, and the activities of humans. The attributes and influences on Pacific Rim estuaries, and the powerful influence of coastal and open ocean forces on North American west coast estuaries, will provide the unique flavor of the conference. We will continue the strong focus of international involvement in ERF conferences. Sub-themes and threads of the conference will include:

Challenges of estuarine restoration
Comparative estuarine science and management around the world
Estuarine response to global climate change and other large-scale variations
Evolution and structures of estuaries as features of the continental margin
Food web dynamics and biocomplexity
Geophysical processes and their interactions with living organisms
Impacts of watersheds and land use on estuaries
Merging of science and policy in managing estuaries
Relationship of estuaries and human culture
Role of estuaries in sustainable fisheries”

For more information about this upcoming conference visit the Estuarine Research Federation website at www.erf.org.

June

Marine Recreation “Best Practices” Workshop: June 26, 2003
Skagit PUD #1, Aqua Room, 1415 Freeway Drive, Mt Vernon, Skagit County, WA
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

How can boaters, kayakers, divers, fishers and hikers put the economic values of environmental stewardship into practice and inspire people to follow them? How can “best practice” guidelines bring folks together to benefit the recreation community and the health of Puget Sound? Learn the answers at this free workshop from commercial and recreational practitioners and join in the discussion. RSVP early, space is limited. Participants are welcome to bring their own lunch, or for $8, can pre-order lunch.

For more information, to register, or inquire about sponsorship/display opportunities, contact the North Sound Office of People For Puget Sound at (360) 336-1931 or northsound@pugetsound.org.

Volunteer Shoreline Steward Training Workshops: June 12, 14, 28, 29
RE Sources for Sustainable Communities is organizing a corps of volunteers to steward Whatcom County beaches and educate beach users about our precious marine shores. To participate in this exciting program, volunteers will attend a 4-part training focusing on three of our outstanding, local, public beaches. Volunteers will learn about the different organisms that call our beaches home, beach etiquette, shoreline dynamics, and the threats to the near shore. Experts in the fields of marine biology, intertidal ecology, and near-shore habitats will be on hand to educate volunteers and answer questions. After attending the trainings, volunteers will be asked to spend two or three afternoons in July and August acting as informal naturalists at Semiahmoo Spit, Larrabee State Park, and Birch Bay State Park.

Whatcom County Trainings are scheduled for:

Thursday, June 12, 6:00-9:00 PM, Fairhaven Park Pavilion. Program introduction.
Saturday, June 14, 10:00 AM-3:00 PM, Larrabee State Park. Learn about the organisms that live in Larrabee's tide pools during one of the lowest tides of the year.
Saturday, June 28, 10:00 AM-3:00 PM, Birch Bay State Park. Explore the cobble beach and sand flats while learning about the organisms that call this beach home. A representative from WDFW will also train volunteers about proper shellfish harvesting techniques, identification and regulations.
Sunday, June 29, 9:00 AM-2:00 PM, Semiahmoo Spit. Spend the day discovering this amazing beach treasure. You'll be astounded at what you learn!

To register, please contact Crina Hoyer at RE Sources, 360-733-8307, 800-760-8434 or crinah@re-sources.org .

Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve Open House: June 5, 2003
Squalicum Boathouse, 2600 Harbor Loop, Bellingham 6:30 to 8:30pm

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be holding an open house to discuss the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve. DNR staff will present an overview of the Aquatic Reserve Program and share the site-specific information collected to date. The public will have the opportunity to offer additional information to be included in the evaluation of the Cherry Point site by a designated technical advisory committee. The public also will have a chance to ask questions and discuss the Aquatic Reserve Program with DNR staff. Press Release

May

Forage Fish: Tiny Tales of Survival: May 31, 2003, 8:30am KVOS TV
Premier Showing---The City of Bellingham produced an educational video for the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee about forage fish in Whatcom County and the Puget Sound. This video introduces the link between salmon and forage fish, a habitat inventory that is being conducted to find forage fish, and efforts that protect these little fish that are such a critical link in the marine food web.

Aquatic Invasive Species in the Pacific Northwest (One-Day Symposium): May 30, 2003
The Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Preserve is hosting a one-day symposium on Aquatic Invasive Species in the Pacific Northwest. Non-native species introduced into aquatic ecosystems can have a huge impact on native species and habitats. This symposium will introduce participants to a few of the many invasive species that occur locally and the steps being taken to learn more about them and to control them. Pamela Meacham, Assistant Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator (WDFW), will give the opening presentation, followed by speakers from counties, state, and federal agencies, non-profits, and universities.

The symposium will be held Friday, May 30th from 8:30am to 4pm at Maple Hall, LaConner, WA. The event is free and the public is invited. The day is divided into two parts: freshwater and marine. Interested people may attend one or both session. To register email sriggs@padillabay.gov and indicated how many people will be attending. For more information contact: Sharon Riggs at (360) 428-1098.

Shorelines as Habitat and as Developed: Regulations and Protections: May 27, 2003
Learn about the framework to protect our shorelines, regulatory changes in the shoreline program and plan, and the relationship of regulations to waterfront development. Speakers include Steve Sundin (City of Bellingham, Project Lead: Shoreline Master Program Update) and Barry Wenger (Department of Ecology- Shoreland Specialist and Planner). This event is sponsored by RE Sources and the Waterfront Futures Group-Natural Systems and Environment Subcommittee.
Time and Location: May 27, 6:30-9pm at the Squalicum Boathouse, Bellingham.
Please contact Wendy Steffensen at 733-8307 for more information.

Public Meeting for Bellingham Bay Pilot Project- Weldcraft Steel & Marine Site: May 15, 2003
The Weldcraft Steel & Marine Site is located at Squalicum Way and Harbor Loop, near the Squalicum Yacht Club, and is one of 12 cleanup sites around Bellingham Bay identified through the Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot Project. A public meeting will be held on May 15 at the Port of Bellingham, 1801 Roeder Avenue, starting with an open house at 6:30 pm followed by a public meeting at 7:00. The public meeting will involve a brief presentation on the project followed by a question and answer period.

The proposed project includes, but is not limited to:

Cleanup of contaminated marine sediment and the removal of an inactive marine railway and creosote pilings.
Construction of a new habitat enhancement area on the outside face of the breakwater for Squalicum Harbor.
Site redevelopment activities including construction of a 150-ton travel lift pier to replace the marine railway, installation of a new bulkhead and repair/replacement of existing bulkheads and other structures.
An environmental study (called a remedial investigation/feasibility study) that will detail the nature and extent of the remaining contamination at the site.

To learn more, a project fact is available on the Department of Ecology website at:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/blhm_bay/sites/bel_bay_sites.html. Once on this page, click on "Weldcraft Steel and Marine".

Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot Work Group Meeting: May 8, 2003
The Bellingham Bay Pilot Work Group will be meeting at the Port of Bellingham Harbor Center Conference Room, 1801 Roeder Avenue, from 10am to 2pm on Thursday May 8, 2003. This is a working meeting and is open to the public.

The Work Group meeting agenda includes the following topics:

Status of the Whatcom Waterway cleanup action plan.
Update on the Baseline Juvenile Chinook Study and habitat restoration activities.
Weldcraft Steel and marine documents available for public review and comment.

For more information, please contact Jessica Paige of the Department of Ecology at (360) 738-6280 or Mike Stoner of the Port of Bellingham at (360) 676-2500.

Shuckin’ on the Spit 2003- Drayton Harbor Community Oyster Farm: May 3, 2003
The second annual “Shuckin’ on the Spit” shellfish extravaganza will be held on May 3, 2003 at Resort Semiahmoo. This festival is held to raise the community’s awareness of the rich marine resources that we are blessed with in this area and to enjoy a great seafood feed. It is a benefit for the Puget Sound Restoration Fund’s Community Oyster Farm project. . For more information about the event, visit www.shuckinonthespit.com.

April

Marine Protection and Ecological Economics Workshop: April 29, 2003
People For Puget Sound, the APEX Center for Applied Ecological Economics, the Mountaineers, and Citizens for a Healthy Bay are hosting a free, intensive workshop on how to better use economics to protect Puget Sound on April 29, 2003 at The Mountaineers in Seattle. This day-long workshop will equip participants with knowledge and tools drawn from traditional economics as well as the pioneering field of ecological economics. Ecological economics is an academic field that synthesizes ecological and economic knowledge, and offers numerous practical tools for tackling the multiple challenges facing marine ecosystems. The topics of ecosystem valuation, endangered species, and pollution will receive particular focus. Concepts are applicable to a wide range of environmental issues.

Date: Tuesday, April 29th, 2003
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: The Mountaineers, 300 Third Avenue West, Seattle
Space is limited; RSVP by Friday, April 18th to Elizabeth Barclay at 206-652-8413

Birch Bay Annual Spring Clean Up: April 26, 2003
The Friends of Birch Bay State Park will be sponsoring the annual beach and roadside clean-up. Volunteers will meet at the C-Shop at 9am for area assignments and trash bags. Please bring your own gloves. A free hot dog roast for volunteers will be held at the state park upper picnic area from 12:30 to 2pm.

Environmental Economics for Non-Economists: April 22-23, 2003
This workshop introduces fundamental economic concepts and the latest economic valuation methodologies applied to environmental and resource issues. Building on this, the workshop then reviews the various types of economic analyses used in environmental policy-making. Workshop material will be covered by lectures and case studies with active attendee participation, and assumes that attendees do not have an in-depth understanding of environmental economics.

The workshop is designed to impart a fundamental understanding and application of environmental economics, including the relevance of environmental valuation and economic analysis, as a tool in the decision-making process. This will enable attendees to better identify and discuss the relevant economic issues, and better understand the role the economist plays in producing a work product that more adequately addresses environmental issues for policy-makers.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? All staff, managers and policy-makers who deal with environmental and natural resource issues. The workshop is open to EPA, other federal, state and local agencies, Tribes, and environmental interest groups.

REGISTRATION: Registration is free, but required. To register, contact Diane Ruthruff at:
ruthruff.diane@epa.gov

QUESTIONS? For questions about the workshop contact Elliot Rosenberg at: rosenberg.elliot@epa.gov
or (206) 553 – 1546.

EPA Region 10
Plymouth Congregational Church
April 22-23, 2003

2003 Georgia Basin/Puget Sound Research Conference: March 31-April 3
“The 2003 Georgia Basin/Puget Sound Research Conference provides a forum for presenting and discussing the environmental and natural resource science information that will guide our region’s efforts to restore and protect the biological health and diversity of the Georgia Basin and Puget Sound.

Through this conference, the Puget Sound Action Team, the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative partners and the conference co-sponsors offer a unique opportunity to communicate research results related to the Georgia Basin/Puget Sound environment and managing transboundary resources.”

For more information: http://www.wa.gov/puget_sound/Publications/2003research/RC2003.htm

March

For more information: http://www.wa.gov/puget_sound/Publications/2003research/RC2003.htm

February

Bottomfish Community Workshops: February 18, 19, 27
Presented by the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee
What's Going On With Our Bottomfish? Come to any of three community workshops for fishermen, boaters, divers, and interested citizens to learn about the health of Whatcom County's bottomfish--and to discuss their protection and enhancement.

For more information: http://whatcom-mrc.wsu.edu/MRC/meetings.htm or
http://whatcom-mrc.wsu.edu/MRC/projects/bottomfish.htm

January

Whatcom County 2003 Marine Summit: January 17
There are a number of groups working within Whatcom County to protect and restore the marine environment. Each of these groups brings a different perspective of the issues confronting Whatcom County. Collaboration and coordination with other groups strengthens the community's efforts to protect our valuable marine resources. The Whatcom County Marine Summit, hosted by the Marine Resources Committee, provides a unique avenue for the coordination of groups in Whatcom County. Speakers included Bob Woolrich (Washington Dept. of Health), Ami Stillings (Whatcom County), Geoff Menzies (Drayton Harbor Shellfish Advisory Committee), Kurt Fresh (NMFS), and Clare Fogelsong (City of Bellingham).

For more information: http://whatcom-mrc.wsu.edu/MRC/projects/partnering.htm

Drayton Harbor Shellfish Protection District Open House: January 25
The annual Drayton Harbor Shellfish District Open House is always a big success. This is a great forum for getting information out to the community on the activities that are taking place to help improve water quality throughout the watershed. It provides a number of examples of the partnerships that are necessary in order to affect positive change in issues associated with the shellfish bed closures.

For more information: http://whatcomshellfish.wsu.edu/Drayton/education.htm