Surfrider Foundation Washington Pacific Coast Network

Public meeting on beach mining to be held at 6:30 pm, February 16 at Montesano City Hall

2012-01-29T15:52:00.000-08:00

A beach mining demonstration last fall. Photo Courtesy Chris Moran, WDFW.

Washington State Parks has announced that it will conduct a public informational meeting at 6:30 pm on Thursday, February 16 at Montesano City Hall, located at 112 N. Main St, Montesano, to review and discuss a rule change adopted last year that allows small-scale beach mining on the coast. Public comment will be accepted at the meeting.

Last August the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission approved a rule to allow small-scale mining, beach prospecting, and placer mining on ocean beaches managed by the State. Folks such as coastal Marine Resources Committees, the Washington State Ocean Caucus, Tribes, and groups such as Surfrider were not notified about the proposed rule and those who were, only learned of it two days before the actual ruling. Surfrider and others worked as quickly as possible to distribute information about the hearing to be held in Wenatchee to coastal communities, but most were unable to participate due to the short notice. With that a flood of emails and phone calls were received by State Parks from coastal residents interested in providing comment for the rule.

The new rule applies to our coastal beaches managed by the State, which are declared a Shoreline Conservation Area. It is understood that the actual recreational beach mining activities that have taken place on our coast to date have not significantly impacted the natural or recreational value of ocean beaches. The activity has been small scale, with minimal equipment and there has been little to no trace of activity left once it is completed. However, the way the rule is currently written, there is opportunity for more intensive activities to take place in sensitive habitat areas and high use areas that could possibly threaten sensitive marine species and other recreational uses. For example, forage fish, a primary food source for migrating salmon, spawn on coastal beaches. If mining activity were to occur in a spawning area while eggs were on the beach, it could be harmful for this species and for migrating salmon. This is where folks such as our coastal Marine Resources Committees and groups like Surfrider Foundation work to help inform communities about decisions that may affect area marine resources so in turn they may communicate their concerns to decision makers.

Also, the current rule requires a permit from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, but does not mention fees for permits or a required license. With budget constraints and cutbacks at our natural resource agencies, it is unclear to many how the state is going to manage and monitor this new activity.

There is opportunity for the rule to be improved in order to allow for recreational prospecting and mining without compromising the values of the Shoreline Conservation Area. With that State Park’s, Daniel Farber, Director Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs, communicated the following commitments to improve the rule:

State Parks staff will reach out to the Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources staff to request their participation in public outreach and review of the WAC rule on Beach Mining.

Notification of a public meeting will be dispersed to ensure broad participation.

State Parks will encourage WDFW and DNR staff to be present for the public meeting, and work with us before and afterward on this issue.

State Parks will, in addition to sending out advance notice of the meeting to all by email, put out a press release about the meeting.

The purpose of the public meeting, will be to:

lay out the history of the issue, including the substantive questions and analysis that went into the rule making, and discuss questions and suggested changes to the rule from any and all at the meeting;

describe next steps in the agencies deliberations and how we will get back to all participants. If people cannot make the meeting, they will still be able to get materials and dialog with staff about their questions and suggestions.

Also in communications with Surfrider Parks conveyed they are “absolutely open to hearing and discussing changes to the rule that was adopted.” They did note however that like any public process, they “cannot make any assurance of a [particular] outcome.”

Broad participation and a large turnout is expected for this public meeting. For more information please email Lisa Lantz, Environmental Planner, Washington State Parks Commission.

April 21 is Washington Coast Cleanup Day!

2012-01-26T09:49:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars and sign up for your favorite beach now. This is Washington's biggest cleanup of the year and a wonderful way to celebrate Earth Day. This cleanup and several others are sponsored each year by Washington CoastSavers. These folks are people actively engaged in saving Washington's Pacific Coast from the harm of marine debris. The CoastSavers program is organized by the Washington Clean Coast Alliance, which includes a broad spectrum of participating nonprofits, community groups, corporations, and public agencies including representatives from the Clallam Bay-Sekiu Lions Club, Discover Your Northwest, Grass Roots Garbage Gang, Surfrider Foundation, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Olympic National Park, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, and many more!

Bring the whole family! Saving the coast from the harmful effects of household plastics and other man-made debris makes for a powerful lesson in environmental stewardship, and it gives a sense of real accomplishment. It's a great feeling to walk away from a beautiful, clean beach knowing that your efforts have helped save our marine wildlife and made our coast a healthier place for everyone. Learn more about marine debris.

Learn what a clean up is like and spread the word! Volunteers are greatly needed, especially on the more remote beaches of our northern coast. Got questions? Email Washington CoastSavers for more details and information. Hope to see you there!

SW Washington's Grass Roots Garbage Gang Marks 10th Anniversary!

2012-01-12T11:55:00.000-08:00

Past cleanup along a beautiful stretch of the Peninsula. Photo Courtesy of Shelly Pollack

The Grass Roots Garbage Gang is an all-volunteer, Washington State not-for-profit group that cleans up the Peninsula beaches in SW Washington. Each January, April and July hundreds of volunteers clean the Peninsula's 25-mile beach. Support comes from incredible volunteers, local businesses, City of Long Beach, Marine Resource Committee, Washington State Parks and many others.

Over the past years, with the help of thousands of volunteers, well over 100 tons of debris has been removed. 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of Washington's Peninsula organized beach cleanups. The first one of the year, January 21st, marks the 30th. So, join in this community effort and TREASURE OUR BEACHES!

In the midst of all this beauty, does the litter on the beach ever bother you?

Ever wonder what you could do about it?

Your time, talent and energy would be appreciated, however big or small they might be. Help the effort to truly “treasure our beaches”!

January 21st Beach Cleanup Details:

Cleanup day: Come out to any beach approach at 9:30 AM on Saturday, January 21st, or join an adopt-a-beach group at their assigned section (we can help connect you) , and help us make a huge difference.

A potluck with a speaker will be Friday, January 20th at 5:00pm at the Peninsula Baptist Church. Clay Nichols, a semi-retired geologist and engineer, will talk about "Cascadia's Beaches: Coming and Going.” His topic will include some recent research results on probable global sea level changes and how they will affect our area. Cleanup materials will be distributed to Adopt-A-Beach groups at that time.

Areas that Need to be Adopted:

Help is still needed managing a few areas, including Westgate RV Park (208th) south to the Pedestrian sign at 199th; 177th to 170th (satellite tower); 120th south to 105th; 144th to Cranberry Approach; 30th Street slough down to Trails End/NACO RV Park and Beards Hollow slough down to Beards Hollow. PLUS, every January we have an additional 6 miles of beach to clean, Oysterville going north as far as can safely be driven. If you have a group - maybe your family, friends or co-workers - that would like to Adopt-A-Beach, please contact Shelly Pollack.

For as few as 2 or 3 hours every three months - to help collect garbage - you can make an amazing difference!

Have Questions about Tsunami Debris?

A couple of meetings for the public have been scheduled on the Peninsula by the Pacific County Emergency Management Agency. Experts and representatives from several agencies have been invited to give presentations on the marine debris generated by the March 2011 Japanese tsunami and its potential impact on our coastline. They will also take questions from the audience.

These meetings will be held:

6:00pm, Tuesday, January 17, at the Peninsula Church Center, Seaview, WA
10:00am, Wednesday, January 18, at the Ocean Park Fire Hall, Ocean Park, WA

For more information visit www.ourbeach.org or http://www.facebook.com/GrassRootsGarbageGang.

Department of Ecology News Release - 12/19/2011 - Ecology inviting public to take photos of upcoming king tides

2011-12-19T16:33:00.000-08:00

OLYMPIA – Washington’s higher-than-usual winter tides will begin Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, and the state Department of Ecology (Ecology) is inviting the public to share their photos of this naturally occurring event.

These higher-than-usual tides are sometimes called “king tides” and occur when the sun and moon’s gravitational pull reinforce one another. King tides offer a glimpse of how rising sea levels from global climate change could affect the state’s coastal areas.

A king tide in Westport Marina District in December 2009.

As global temperatures rise, the oceans warm slightly and expand, ice caps and glaciers melt, and more precipitation falls as rain instead of snow. This causes sea levels to rise and could affect Washington’s marine areas by:

•    Intensifying flooding, especially during high tides and major storms.
•    Shifting coastal beaches inland.
•    Increasing coastal bluff erosion.
•    Endangering houses and other structures such as roads, seawalls and utilities that are built near the shore.
•    Threatening coastal freshwater and connected underground water supplies.

In Washington’s coastal regions – Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca and the outer coast – this season’s king tides will happen from late December 2011 through late January 2012.
Dates vary slightly depending on location.

Along Washington’s outer coast, king tides will occur Dec. 21-26, 2011, and Jan. 19-24, 2012.

In the Strait of Juan de Fuca, they occur Dec. 21-25, 2011, and Jan. 18-22, 2012.

The Puget Sound dates for king tides are Dec. 27-29, 2011, and Jan. 13-17, 2012.
Follow these steps to participate:

•    Use Ecology’s king tide map and schedule to find when and where the highest tides will occur. (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/ipa_hightide_map.htm)
•    Locate a public beach by checking out Ecology’s Coastal Atlas. (https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/coastalatlas/)
•    Take photos during a king tide, preferably where the high water levels can be gauged against familiar landmarks such as sea walls, jetties, bridge supports or buildings.
•    Note the date, time and location of your photo – then upload your images on the Washington King Tide Photo Initiative Flickr Group. (http://www.flickr.com/groups/1611274@N22/)

During winter 2010-11, Ecology collected more than 250 king tide photos.

Media Contacts:

Curt Hart, 360-407-6990; cell, 360-480-7908

Linda Kent, 360-407-6239; cell, 360-791-9830

For more information:

•    King Tides in Washington (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/ipa_hightide.htm)
•    Ecology King Tide Map and Schedule (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechang/ipa_hightide_map.htm)
•    Washington King Tides Photo Initiative Flickr group (http://www.flickr.com/groups/1611274@N22/)
•    Ecology’s EcoConnect blog (http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/2011/12/capture-king-and-share-with-ecology.html)

Point, shoot and capture a King Tide!

2011-12-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

Did you know some of the year’s highest tides occur in the winter?

These tides — often called “King Tides” — occur naturally when the sun and the moon align, causing an increased gravitational pull on the Earth’s oceans.

This year Washington’s king tides will occur in December and January and the Department of Ecology is again inviting residents and visitors to grab their cameras and head to the beaches for our third Washington King Tide Photo Initiative.

Ecology collected over 400 King Tide photos in 2010 and 2011! You can see the photos at the Washington King Tides Photo Initiative’s Flickr Group.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1611274@N22/

To participate in this winter’s Washington King Tide Photo Initiative, follow these steps:

1. Use Ecology’s King Tide Map Schedule – Winter 2011-2012 to find the time and date of the highest tides in your area. Check out Ecology’s Coastal Atlas to locate a public beach.

2. Take photos during one of the identified high tides in your area. We recommend taking photos in areas where high water levels can be gauged against familiar landmarks like sea walls, jetties, bridge supports, or local buildings.

3. Upload your photos to the Washington King Tide Photo Initiative Flickr Group. Just follow the instructions on the page.

For more information about the King Tides Photo Initiative go to:

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/ipa_hightide.htm

130 Creosote pilings removed near Ocean Shores

2011-11-22T11:05:00.000-08:00

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources recently completed the removal of 130 creosote-treated pilings from Damon Point Peninsula.
Creosote is a sticky, tar-like substance that contains more than 300 chemicals, many of which are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The goal was to remove the pilings to reduce PAHs in nearby water and sediment, and improve habitat for fish.

The public beach is on a point outside of Ocean Shores. The treated pilings were offshore and on the tidelands. Funding for the removal came from a $25,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology Coastal Protection Fund, a $10,000 grant from The Nature Conservancy, and DNR's Restoration Program.

The Damon Point cleanup is part of a larger community-based effort to restore Grays Harbor. The Quinault Indian Nation was awarded a $100,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to fund removal of derelict fishing gear in the harbor, and a community-based monitoring and maintenance program.

Project partners matched the grant with an additional $100,000 of restoration work and surveying. The survey data will be used to produce a map of the harbor and prioritize piling removal.

Voluntary Stewardship Program Public Work Session in Grays Harbor November 30

2011-11-22T10:49:00.000-08:00

Grays Harbor County will hold a work session on exploring the possibility of opting into the Voluntary Stewardship Program. The informational session will begin at 6 PM, November 30, 2011, in the Commissioner’s Meeting Room at 100 West Broadway in Montesano.

The intent of the Voluntary Stewardship Program, known as the Ruckelshaus Process Bill, is to address the issue of balancing the need to protect critical areas while maintaining viable agriculture production. Counties must decide whether to opt-in to the program by January 22, 2010.

A copy of the legislation setting up the Voluntary Stewardship Program is available through http://www.scc.wa.gov/index.php/Download-document/1858-FINAL-Law-1886-S.html. Additional information about the program is available through the William D. Ruckelshaus Center at http://pcc.wsu.edu/projects/caop.html.

The format of the meeting will include a presentation about the program, a question and answer opportunity, and a facilitated session that allows participants to share their expectations of what they hope to see accomplished through the county’s opting into the program.

If you know of a property owner, and/or affected agricultural or environmental interest, please bring this message to their attention. If you have any questions or for more information please contact Lee Napier at 360.249.4222.