Earth Share of Washington

Earth Share of Washington Named One of 59 "Smartest Organizations Online"

What does Earth Share of Washington have in common with the following organizations?

• Doctors Without Borders
• The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• The Mayo Clinic
• The Nature Conservancy
• MoveoOn.org

They were among the "59 smartest organizations online in 2006" for setting new standards for savvy internet marketing. Earth Share of Washington's website is www.esw.org. Squidoo.com, NetSquared, and GetActive collaborated on the awards, which honored...

excellence in online storytelling and collaboration with their donors. We didn't play favorites to one cause over another, nor did we look at their fundraising goals or number of members. Instead, these organizations are winners because of their web 2.0 smarts and a willingness to engage their constituents far beyond asking them to dig into their pockets.

These are organizations that give their volunteers and members a voice and get out of the way. They're pros at mobilizing awareness online. They're experimenters. Innovators. On a mission. They're fearless.

Dave Manelski is Earth Share of Washington's (ESW's) Program Director and developed its website. "Our website is the public face of our organization. Beyond our workplace giving programs, most people first discover Earth Share through the web, linking concerned citizens to environmental news and upcoming volunteer opportunities & events throughout the region. The web is a powerful tool for connecting people to organizations in their communities. Earth Share relishes this role of connector and we are honored to be held in such prestigious company." The complete awards list can be found at http://www.59smartestorgs.com/.

Earth Share of Washington represents more than 60 non-profits whose work creates more livable communities and a healthy planet. ESW works with companies throughout Washington State, inspiring employees to support nonprofits through volunteering and donations. The organization's website, www.esw.org, contains more information.

On a Duwamish River Patrol with Puget Soundkeeper Alliance

- By R.S. Mancuso, Earth Share of Washington Guest Author

R.S. Mancuso is participating in Earth Share of Washington's Journalism Internship Program for Earth Share of Washington this winter. In addition to writing for Earth Share, she is a student at Prescott College in Arizona, working her way towards a degree in Marine Environmental Studies and Creative Writing.

As a scuba diver, I have spent more time under the ocean than on its surface. Today, I wasn't in a boat to see what lay beneath the surface; I was on the water to see what was affecting the marine world from above. I had been invited to join a pollution patrol with Paul Fredrickson, the Outreach Coordinator for the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance. We set out from Elliott Bay Marina to patrol the industrial mouth of the Duwamish River, where a large amount of stormwater runoff is introduced to Puget Sound.

Copious amounts of rain here in the Pacific Northwest contribute not only to the beautiful, verdant foliage, but also to the toxic soup that runs down gutters and storm drains into Puget Sound. If you can imagine all of the dirt, brake dust, and oil that accumulates on roadways, the fertilizers and pesticides used on lawns and gardens, construction sights, industrial work sites--all of this and more washes into Puget Sound each time it rains. This water flows into Puget Sound untreated. This soup contaminates the waterways, kills wildlife, and pollutes the fragile ecosystem. The Duwamish River, with its major industrial traffic, ten combined sewer overflows, three emergency overflows, and two hundred storm drains, plays a very major role concerning the health of Puget Sound.

We arrived at the marina around noon. The sky was mottled gray, interrupted with sun breaks. As I walked down the dock, I was taken by how tidy this marina was. I was aware that they participated in the Clean Marina program, a sponsored program of Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, but I was very impressed with the appearance of the water. Most marinas that I have visited, the water is covered with an oily rainbow sheen and accented by frothy brown water.

As the boat motored out of the marina a smile spread across my face from ear to ear. I pulled my scarf tight around my shoulders and stared out over the deep blue water. The air was brisk, chilling my nose. The wind picked up with the speed of the small boat. As we bumped across open water the Seattle skyline stretched out before me. The buildings interspersed with trees made me think of my conversation with Sue Joerger, the Soundkeeper and Executive Director of Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, that I had earlier in the week. We discussed water quality and her organization's role in improving the health of Puget Sound.

Puget Soundkeeper Alliance's primary objective is to enforce the Clean Water Act. They accomplish this mission in many ways but one of their most unique programs is active monitoring of the waterways of Puget Sound. In addition, they train individuals to identify and report pollution and people violating laws. They also participate in the Clean Marina program along with the EnviroStars program, a program that rates small businesses on how Eco friendly they are. Their small group of volunteers and staff members are on the water at least once a week, collecting water samples and helping to enforce standards in boatyards and marinas.

"We have people trained or equipped to find pollution, and the majority of the pollution is really from the stormwater," explained Soundkeeper Sue Joerger. "Most of the storm drains and pipelines are very deep underwater, therefore invisible to the average person. Stormwater pollution is out of sight and out of mind."

The other important thing she pointed out was the fact people should be aware what they throw down their drains "You should not assume anything that’s going down a storm drain, or going down a sink, is being treated." This means everything from household cleaners to prescription medication, is potentially escaping into our waterways.

As we approached the mouth of the Duwamish River I found myself looking upwards. Huge ships, massive cranes, and stacks of cargo containers dwarfed our small boat. These ocean-going vessels represented this city's interconnectedness to the rest of the world. Just the existence of these massive structures gives proof to the ingenuity of the human mind. That same ingenuity, if applied to the problems of the environment, will carry us far into the future.

Between these mammoth hunks of steel I could see the shoreline: pilings and concrete stacked with machinery, men in hard hats building and or cleaning ships, factories, processing plants... It was clear to me the river played a vital role in the economic health of Seattle. At the same time I could see the huge impact we have on this waterway that flows through our communities, where residents recreate, relax, and sometimes rely upon for subsistence.

Paul Fredrickson pointed out active Superfund clean up sites along the Duwamish. As we traveled upriver I learned from Paul which businesses were working closely with the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, and which businesses still refused to make the necessary effort. The clean up of this waterway is a joint effort between the communities, the government, and the businesses.

My father once told me "to change the world, you needed to start with your own backyard." As a scuba diver I feel the underwater world is my second home. The entire problem is too big for one person alone to turn the series of events.

When asked what individuals could do to make the most difference, Sue Jorger responded, "If people could be aware of the issues and understand them from their personal perspectives then call their legislators, and say 'We want to save Puget Sound.' Remember, government is not going to lead us, government is not going to save Puget Sound-- it's not until you and I stand up that the government and the governor are going to do something about it."

To get involved with Puget Soundkeeper Alliance or to participate in the active Citizen Soundkeeper Program, call them at (206) 297-7002 or visit their website – http://www.pugetsoundkeeper.org/

Priorities for a Healthy Washington’s annual Lobby Day takes place on February 14 where you can join hundreds of citizen lobbyists from around the state meeting face-to-face with legislators on important environmental issues. For more information or to signup, please visit http://www.environmentalpriorities.org/

The Biggest Fish (News) of 2006

- By Liz Banse of Earth Share organization Washington Foundation for the Environment

2006 has come to a close and the verdict is in. The most headline-grabbing international ocean news of last year was a provocative study published in the November 3 issue of Science magazine.

The study, "Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystem Services," by an international group of ecologists and economists, predicted the collapse (defined as 90% depletion) of all species of wild seafood that are currently fished by 2048, if current trends are not reversed. The tuna fish sandwich you want to buy from the deli at lunchtime today? Gone. The Chilean sea bass you were hoping to order at the restaurant tonight? Gone.

Who is to blame? There are a lot of factors at play in this doomsday scenario. Overfishing, including damaging bottom trawling, coastal pollution, poor ocean governance and more.

What is more important to focus on is that this study shows that it is not too late to reverse this downward trend. With better ocean policy – through an ecosystem based management approach – many species can rebound in a surprisingly short period of time – in less than ten years. The study authors point to integrated fisheries management, pollution control, and maintenance of essential habitats and creation of marine reserves as key ways to restore the health of our oceans.

"From the [Seafood Choices] Alliance's perspective, one of the more significant findings of this study is the inherent ability of the ocean to self-heal and regenerate, but only if given the opportunity," says Mike Boots, Seafood Choices Alliance director.

Seafood buyers and sellers can play a role in ensuring the health of our oceans. Consumers can look for an "eco-label" from a certification outfit like the Marine Stewardship Council. Retailers and restaurants are building environmental sustainability into their purchasing as well. These little steps, combined with large-scale ocean governance changes, will reverse the staggering biodiversity losses now happening in marine environments around the world.

As Jay Stachowicz, marine ecology professor at UC Davis stated in a Sacramento Bee article after the Science study came out, "Diversity is a good thing in our diet, it's a good thing in our stock portfolios, so why shouldn’t it be a good thing for our oceans?"

Earth Share's 20th Anniversary Showcase – Washington Native Plant Society

- By Peg Pearson, Washington Native Plant Society Steward

To celebrate Earth Share of Washington's 20th Anniversary (1987-2007), we plan to showcase the work of our organizations over the past two decades. Each month, we'll feature a different Earth Share organization, their contributions to making our communities more vibrant & livable, and their efforts to create a cleaner Washington and a healthy planet. In 1990, Washington Native Plant Society joined a growing coalition of environmental organizations, known at the time as the Environmental Fund of Washington and later to become Earth Share. With the addition of WNPS and one other organization that year, a young Earth Share of Washington grew to 14 organizations.

The Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS) became the fourteenth member admitted to Earth Share of Washington in 1990 – an exciting step during WNPS's 14th year of operations.

Now beginning its 31st year, WNPS continues to grow and collaborate to accomplish its mission to "promote the conservation of our native flora and their habitats through study, education, and advocacy." WNPS's successes such as the Appreciation Week and Stewardship programs discussed below are due in part to its seventeen-year partnership with Earth Share of Washington.

WNPS roots
With widely varied geographic and climatic conditions, Washington is home to over 3000 vascular native plant species, ranking 12th in diversity among states behind the leaders California and Texas. More than 360 state species are currently listed as endangered, threatened or sensitive due to the disappearance or degradation of their habitats and from pressures such as loss of pollinators and over harvesting. The world's only known population of the dainty, white showy stickseed, for example, clings to survival in the Wenatchee Mountains. Hundreds more are on watch and review lists.

Plant life is the basis of healthy ecosystems by producing oxygen, supporting and feeding all creatures (including humans), and purifying air and water through carbon sequestering, erosion control, and filtration. Diverse in their beauty and function, native plants inspire wonder and provide environs in which to recreate and reflect. Including thousands of species of lichen, mosses, macrofungi and marine algae, Washington landscapes are natural heritages of complex biodiversity to enjoy and conserve.

Since 1976, WNPS has been promoter, educator, researcher, protector and restorer on behalf of native plants and their habitats. Eleven chapters statewide offer local opportunities to learn more and volunteer. Guest speakers, field trips, events, workshops and publications cover a wide array of topics related to healthy environments. Some chapters maintain demonstration gardens. Others hold sales of native plants propagated or salvaged by members. While botany is the backbone, people enthusiastic about every aspect of the environment in addition to professionals from many disciplines help contribute to the variety of issues and projects addressed and managed by WNPS volunteers.

Appreciation
In 2004, over 40 governmental agencies and environmental organizations led by WNPS participated in the first statewide celebration of our native flora. Governor Gary Locke declared May 24-30th Native Plant Appreciation Week. Across the state, activities helped people explore backyards and urban forests, parks and preserves, beaches and salmon streams. They were introduced to the native plants in their communities and heard discussions about threats to large and niche ecosystems. Nearly 40 cities in addition to King, Pierce and Snohomish counties signed proclamations endorsing the events.

During the first week of May in 2005, Governor Gregoire invited citizens to join in the second Native Plant Appreciation Week. Nurseries throughout the state created native plant displays for customers to select from. Walks, talks, tours and restoration projects engaged the minds and muscles of participants. Oregon's Governor Kulongoski proclaimed the same week to honor that state's native plant heritage.

The cooperation of state and federal agencies, cities, counties, colleges, non-profit organizations, private foundations and many volunteers has continued. In 2005, the third Native Plant Appreciation Week was held with increased outreach and attendance. A WNPS members' photo contest each year has produced stunning posters of a delicate white anemone, a Calypso bulbosa orchid, and the bitterroot, Lewisia redivida. What beauty will announce this year's fourth celebration occurring April 29th through May 5th?

Education
While Appreciation Week activities might give a person a brief, first introduction to native plants, the acclaimed Washington Native Plant Stewardship Program has trained 335 stewards to be specialists in research, education, conservation and restoration. Modeled after the Master Gardener training, the steward program began in 1996 in response to growing demand for speakers, instructors, and leaders. Ten spring classes in King County, five fall classes in Snohomish, and a 2006 first class in Pierce County have each provided 100 hours of instruction that has resulted in over 57,000 hours of volunteer work on many types of projects... and thousands of other hours not reported by stewards and the folks they have inspired and subsequently trained.

Through a collaboration of WNPS and the Society for Ecological Restoration, two abbreviated programs have been offered to government and private sector professionals. Design and management plans for green spaces have improved among agencies, businesses and volunteers because of the shared knowledge base acquired during these Design to Dirt sessions.

This May, the WNPS steward training will be adapted to prepare new forest stewards for Seattle's parks. The Green Seattle Partnership (a public-private venture of the City of Seattle, the Cascade Land Conservancy and other non-profits committed to restoring 2500 forested acres over the next 20 years) will team with WNPS and King Conservation District to train 25-30 stewards. Small teams of stewards will then devote 100 volunteer hours each to remove invasive species and replant a minimum of 200 native trees and shrubs within one acre in their assigned park. Seattle's forested parks are presently besieged by invasive English ivy, clematis and other weeds, which damage trees and prevent native seedlings from sprouting. It is estimated that 1,750 acres (70%) will cease to be forests within 20 years without removal and restoration efforts. The stewards will also coordinate large public work parties. Hopefully, individuals and communities will step up and learn how to protect their parks alongside the stewards and park crews.

WNPS salutes Earth Share of Washington's 20 years of success and looks forward to continued participation in this state's respected workplace giving federation for the environment. To learn more about WNPS and the programs mentioned above, please see our website at www.wnps.org or call 206-527-3210. Volunteers are always appreciated.

Environmental Education Grants Available for High School Students

The Washington Foundation for the Environment (WFFE) offers grants ($200 - $2000) to support environmental education and innovative projects focused on environmental awareness. With the help of WFFE funds:

• Quillisascut Farm in Rice developed a "sustainable kitchen" handbook;
• Sound Experience in Port Townsend provided environmental courses for at-risk and low-income youth on the schooner Adventuress;
• And, Seattle Urban Nature Project created of an atlas on the plant life of Deadhorse Canyon to serve as the basis for monitoring and restoration of park assets by community volunteers.

Are you a high school student with a great environmental stewardship idea for your senior project? Interested in watershed restoration and need funds to purchase tree seedlings? WFFE awards up to four $500 grants annually to support student initiated or supported environmental projects meeting local community needs. Here are few more examples from past awards.

• Five Woodward Middle School students bought construction supplies for their construction of a platform used to protect Murden Creek.
• An Enumclaw High School student used the grant to create a native plant nursery that supports salmon habitat restoration.
• Two University Prep high school students applied their grant and elbow grease to the Green Lake habitat fence project.

To apply please visit the Washington Foundation for the Environment website at http://www.wffe.org/.