Earth Share of Washington

Victory for Cyclists in Washington State Legislature

- Submitted by Bobby Mullins of Earth Share organization Bicycle Alliance of Washington

Great news for anyone who rides a bicycle in Washington: thanks to the tireless efforts of advocates all across Washington three bills passed the 2005 legislature that will help make bicycling safer for all users. The bills include:

• HB 1108 which prohibits passing when bicyclists, pedestrians, law enforcement or farm equipment is in view and approaching from the opposite direction.
• HB 1254 creates a Share the Road license plate available for purchase in late ‘05 or early ‘06 with the funds to be used for bicycle and pedestrian education and safety programs; and
• SB 5186 calls for comprehensive plans to include an inventory of bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

HB 1108 is particularly meaningful, as it stems from a tragic Mother’s Day crash that happened near Walla Walla during 2004. Eight highly experienced bicyclists were traveling single file on the shoulder of Highway 124 when a car passing a cattle truck and another vehicle struck and killed Ann Weatherill, a 50-year-old teacher and mother.

In June of 2004, Bicycle Alliance of Washington board member Cynthia Putnam and Executive Director Barbara Culp traveled to Walla Walla at the invitation of cyclists upset and grieving over Ann’s death. “You might think that bike riders and pedestrians are safe and legally protected when they are on the road’s shoulder, but prior to this law change, the shoulder was a legal No Man’s Land,” ,” said Barbara. “If you killed someone when they were on the shoulder of the road, you would not necessarily be charged with any crime.”

The Bicycle Alliance contacted the 16th District Representative Bill Grant and asked him to sponsor legislation in Ann’s memory. The law states that it is illegal to use the left-hand side of the road to pass when a bicyclist or pedestrian is within view and approaching from the opposite direction. The law also requires that motorists pass at a safe distance to the left of bicyclists and pedestrians who are traveling on the right-hand side of the roadway, or an adjacent shoulder or bicycle lane.

Posted in the December 2005 Earth Page

Citizens Speak Out at Hanford Meeting

- By Hyun Lee from Earth Share organization Heart of America Northwest Research Center

On Wednesday, November 2nd, the public engaged in a direct dialogue with the Hanford Clean-Up decision-makers at the Hanford ‘State of the Site’ public hearing in Seattle’s University District. 150 concerned citizens attended this 4 hour meeting, meeting with heads of US Department of Energy, WA Department of Ecology, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Turnout was largely due to the organizing efforts of Heart of America Northwest Research Center (HOANW), the leading Hanford Clean-up Watchdog group. Hanford is considered the most polluted site in the Western Hemisphere due to the million gallons of radioactive waste leaked out into the soil from High-Level Radioactive Waste Tanks.

The timely State of the Site hearing fell on the one year anniversary of the passing of Initiative 297, which prohibits sites to import new mixed radioactive waste until that site has been cleaned up to meet state and federal requirements. Citizens voiced their support for the implementation of the principles of I-297, which passed with over 70% of the votes last year. Jay Manning, director of WA Department of Ecology (Ecology), asserted that the state must use its authority to make Hanford Cleanup a priority, an encouraging show of support in the battle to stop Hanford from becoming a National Radioactive Waste Dump.

For more information about Hanford Clean-Up or Heart of America Northwest Research Center go to www.hoanw.org or call (206) 382-1014. Learn how you can help protect the Columbia River for future generations by becoming a citizen advocate.

Posted in the December 2005 Earth Page

New Report on Hanford Reach finds Increased Contamination

- By Amalia Anderson of Earth Share organization Government Accountability Project

This summer, a report on the toxicity of the Hanford Reach was published by Marco Kaltofen of Boston Chemical Data Corp. in collaboration with the Government Accountability Project. The Hanford Reach National Monument is the only free-flowing, non-tidal part of the Columbia River left. It also serves as an important spawning ground for salmon and runs downstream through the Tri-Cities and to Portland. Yet, this rare ecological area and important lifeline for many people is threatened by its implicit designer and neighbor, The Hanford Nuclear Site, America�s largest nuclear waste site.

Kaltofen�s report examined the Hanford Reach at the perimeter of Hanford on the Columbia River for radioactive and chemical contamination. In this study some plants and animals were found to have much higher levels of radionuclides than previously reported. Of great concern in the study is the apparent biological concentration in plants and animals of Strontium-90, a radioactive isotope. Strontium-90 can be very dangerous in organisms because it acts like calcium, and the body treats it as such, putting it into permanent locations like bone. Additionally, Kaltofen reported finding plutonium in 17 out of 18 fish samples. Since plutonium was Hanford�s primary product, and the government does not test for plutonium in fish, the findings raise serious concerns about the extent and scope of Hanford�s pollution and its effect on the local ecosystems. Increased levels of mercury, beryllium, uranium, and cesium were also detected in aquatic creatures and the short and long term affects of these exposures remain largely unknown.

The research suggests an increased risk to the environment and surrounding communities as it implies that there are more radionuclides being transported through the groundwater than have been previously reported. Kaltofen�s report strongly indicates that more investigations into the state of the river should be done in order to more fully understand the extent of the river�s contamination. The Government Accountability Project is responding by calling for widespread testing independent of the Department of Energy, which controls The Hanford Nuclear Site.

The report can be read at www.whistleblower.org.

Posted in the November 2005 Earth Page

Big Wins for a Healthy Washington - A legislative wrap up

- By Tom Geiger from Earth Share organization Washington Environmental Council

For the third year in a row, leading conservation groups working at the state level have successfully advocated for new and improved laws to better protect people, land, air and water in Washington.

A new law to promote green building, as well as a law to clean our air by limiting auto emissions, will help people and nature breathe a little easier. Progress was also made on helping promote the health of Hood Canal and Puget Sound, and eliminate some very toxic chemicals from our household products.

The conservation community’s development of four common-sense Priorities for a Healthy Washington for the 2005 session was crucial to this success. (To learn more, go to www.environmentalpriorities.org) Instead of going to the Capitol with a laundry list, the short list made a splash from the get-go. The Seattle P-I’s editorial on December 27th called our proposals “a smart approach that should help lawmakers of both parties focus on a few areas where action can make a difference.”

Now we are celebrating some great success. After lots of hard work by the conservation community, all our partners and key legislative supporters, the Seattle Times opined: “Give the environmental community credit as well. For the third session, asking for less has meant more success.”

We are making progress and are being successful in getting real improvements to the laws that will help millions of people live healthier lives.

Here is a summary of what happened to each of the four 2005 Priorities for a Healthy Washington.

High Performance Green Buildings

On April 8th, Governor Gregoire signed this bill into law. The new law requires state buildings, schools, and universities to be built and certified as high performance, green buildings. This will result in buildings that save energy and water, are cheaper to operate, and improve student learning and employee performance.

Cleaner Air - Cleaner Cars

The Governor signed Cleaner Air - Cleaner Cars into law on May 6th. We’ll all breathe easier with cleaner cars - that’s a win worth smiling about! Cleaner Air - Cleaner Cars will reduce cancer-causing emissions and global warming pollution from new cars, increase consumer choice, and save consumers a bundle at the gas pump.

Sound Solutions - Saving Hood Canal and Puget Sound

While major bills did not pass, the conservation community secured over $6 million dollars for local clean water projects, including funds to clean up Hood Canal, and a grant and loan program to help homeowners fix failing septic systems. A bill to prioritize tax incentives for habitat buffers did pass. And a key bill that would reduce water pollution from septic systems passed the House but came two votes shy of going to the full Senate for a vote.

Phasing out Toxics

The Priority to phase out a particularly toxic set of flame-retarding chemicals failed to pass the legislature. However, the legislature did provide funding to the Department of Ecology to develop a plan for banning the most widely used form of toxic these chemicals. The department will report back to the legislature with recommendations in December.

Other Good News

Some other good bills that passed include: Oil Spill Prevention; improvements to the state�s approach to transportation funding; a new program for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program; and programs to increase solar power, renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Priorities for a Healthy Washington is a combined effort of Earth Share organizations American Rivers, Audubon Washington, Center for Environmental Law and Policy, Climate Solutions, Futurewise, NW Energy Coalition, People for Puget Sound, Sierra Club, Transportation Choices Coalition, Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation, Washington Environmental Council, and Washington Toxics Coalition and includes other non-Earth Share members League of Women Voters of Washington, Northwest Ecosystem Alliance, Washington Conservation Voters, and WashPIRG.

Posted in the June 2005 Earth Page

State of the State Parks

- by Liz Banse from ESW organization Washington Foundation for the Environment

What state agency is one of the most well-known, used and loved, but receives less than a quarter of a penny on the dollar of state spending?

The answer is the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the agency which manages our 120 state parks.

The state park system is a total of 260,000 acres. This covers everything from ocean beaches, to historic sites and buildings to forest and lake recreation sites, camping sites and boat launches.

State parks are heavily used. They receive approximately 40 million visits per year. About half of Washington state residents have visited a state park in the previous two years.

While parks are heavily used, with Washington�s state parks ranking fourth in the nation for day attendance and tenth for overnight visits, the state ranks 47th in the nation for state spending per visitor.

The state park system is moving toward a more revenue-supported system; in other words, fee-based, to support its lean and mean operating budget, as mandated by the Legislature in 1995. State parks now generate 36 percent of their own revenue through fees.

While the public has protested parking and other fees, many have welcomed other aspects of revenue generation, such as the rental cabins and yurts. After a successful venture with yurts at Cape Disappointment, the park system now has platform tents at Dosewallips, cabins at Battle Ground Lake and a village of yurts at Grayland Beach.

It should be a top priority to ensure that parks get the level of funding they need for a statewide system that citizens can take pride in as we near the centennial celebration in 2013.

It is an investment that will pay off. Trips to state parks generate approximately $34 million a year in state tax receipts. They are important contributors to our state�s economy, particularly in the hard-hit rural areas.

Washington state is one of the most gorgeous and naturally diverse places in the country. Our parks should reflect that. They make our treasures accessible to the public and help preserve the variety of natural, cultural and historical places for future generations.

Posted in the March 2005 Earth Page

My Journey to the State Capitol

Antonia Jindrich from Earth Share organization Washington Environmental Council shares her experiences attending her very first Citizens� Lobby Day that took place in Olympia recently.

I recently attended the Citizens� Lobby Day on February 17th, an annual event hosted by a range of environmental and conservation organizations, intended for people just like me to get personally involved in the legislative process. I feel too strongly about preserving our quality of life to have never met my legislators. After all, these 147 people under the Capitol Dome create the laws of our state and approve the money needed to make those laws work.

This trip was only my second to the Capitol during a legislative session and I admit, I was a bit nervous. I had no idea how to lobby. And yet that was what I was here to do.

But as I sat to review my registration material, I calmed down. There was a sheet labeled �How to Lobby� and others with the bill numbers and proposal descriptions. Meetings were already scheduled for me to get together with my legislators. This isn�t looking all that hard, I thought.

Soon Senate Majority leader Lisa Brown addressed the swelling crowd. �Political parties are not the leaders,� she said. �It�s the people working collaboratively at the grassroots level that keeps things coming together.� Looking around I realized that I was part of something bigger than myself. Today I was directly part of that grassroots level � making something happen.

Then Governor Gregoire took the stage. �(Washington State) is a treasure, and you can lose that treasure� by not staying involved and active in working to protect it for future generations. She said we can prove what we all know is true, that �good, sound environmental practices are good for economics� as businesses want to locate in Washington because of our high quality of life.

After the pep talk, I was ready to work. I met with other people in my district � the 43rd � and we headed to our meeting with Representative Ed Murray. Twenty-eight of us packed a briefing room, and after a little ad-hoc organizing among us, we had decided who would speak on which issue and ask questions.

Representative Murray is the Chair of the House Transportation Committee, and the lead sponsor of the Clean Cars legislation, so we were all most interested in asking questions about the bill, and where he thought it was headed.

After a couple more meetings, it was off to the Clean Cars hearing, which was packed with so many people it overflowed to another room to be viewed on a closed-circut T.V. The chair of the committee had panels of supporters and detractors testify on the bill.

Chris Marr, the vice-president of a large automobile dealership in Spokane, made a particularly eloquent case for the new Clean Car standards. He said he felt it would do little to deter people from buying cars, and would actually allow people to have options of cars available in California that he can�t get here.

He said it would help the revitalization of Spokane, as they could work on the development of their urban core in the future without having to fear being out of attainment of air quality standards.

I was exhausted at the end of the day. Over beverages and snacks, fellow lobby day attendees chatted over the day�s events. Seeing the legislative system first hand made me appreciate the role of grassroots organizations to help people get involved in creating a sustainable future � and how important a single voice, like mine, really is.

Posted in the March 2005 Earth Page

Priorities for a Healthy Washington

- submitted by Tom Geiger from ESW organization Washington Environmental Council

My son Isaiah was born about the same time as the Legislative Partnership between Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters was established - the Fall of 2002. This partnership, working with the broader conservation and public interest groups, has worked to develop a list of winning priorities for the 2005 Legislative Session beginning January 10th.

Isaiah's future, and the legacy for all kids in the next generation will be improved because we are pushing priorities that will change people's lives for the better. At the same time, we all recognize that this work goes hand-in-hand with the creation of good jobs and a strong economy.

Recent legislative sessions have produced positive gains for old-growth forests, restoring streams and shorelines, attacking pollution, and reducing greenhouse gases. These ongoing achievements reflect the conservation ethic embraced by a majority of Washington voters. And they suggest our state's elected officials are paying more attention to their constituents.

Action on this year's Priorities for a Healthy Washington (listed below) will enhance our health and help preserve the treasures of the wonderful state we all call home.

Clean Air Through Clean Cars
Smart new technology allows cars to pollute less and save fuel. Eight states have Clean Car standards that provide a wider choice of cleaner cars, trucks, and SUVs than we have. Why shouldn't Washingtonians have those same choices? Clean Car legislation will ensure that new cars sold in Washington after 2008 use proven technology that reduces cancer-causing air toxics and global warming pollution.

Better Building for Sustainability and Efficiency
Facilities constructed with state money should be safe, healthy, and support our environment. That means using non-toxic and sustainable materials and design concepts. These buildings will save taxpayer money because the buildings are cheaper to operate; help conserve water and keep our air clean; and provide healthy environments that help students learn better and government workers be more efficient.

Sound Solutions: Saving Hood Canal and Puget Sound
Puget Sound is in trouble; much of it fails to meet basic clean water standards. The "dead zone" in Hood Canal represents a much larger problem. Unchecked development is polluting our marine waters and forcing many shellfish beds to close. Restoring and protecting our vital marine waters and ecosystems will provide safe recreational opportunities, promote clean water-dependent business in such areas as shellfish, fishing, and tourism, and enhance our quality of life.

Banning Toxic Flame Retardants
Scientists are finding chemical cousins of PCBs, the toxic flame retardants PBDEs, everywhere they look. PBDEs are in orca whales, ospreys, and even the breast milk of Puget Sound moms. Developing babies are most at risk, being exposed to PBDEs when they leach out of products and contaminate our home, food chain, and bodies. The legislature can protect our children's health and prevent the next PCB tragedy by banning all forms of PBDEs by 2006.

Washington State's environmental community is building bipartisan support for these essential priorities. The public overwhelmingly supports a new generation of protections for our health and this place we call home, and our elected leaders are starting to respond. Working together, we can create a model for the nation and true legacy for generations to come.

To learn more about how to become more involved supporting the 2005 legislative priorities, please see the upcoming events section below, which includes the 2005 Legislative Workshop on January 8 and Citizen's Lobby Day on February 17.

Posted in the January 2005 Earth Page

1.5 million Americans Send Mandate to Forest Service to Protect Roadless Areas

- submitted by Tom Uniack from Earth Share of Washington organization Washington Wilderness Coalition

Diverse Local Coalition Energizes Washington Citizens during public comment period

Four months after the U.S. Forest Service proposed a controversial plan to effectively repeal protections for nearly 60 million acres of roadless federal forests, the comment period closed with a bang.

Nationwide, more than 1.5 million Americans weighed in to oppose the plan, supporting the existing protections for roadless forests that were put into place in 2001. In Washington State, alone, more than 60,000 citizens wrote, faxed or e-mailed their comments into the Forest Service. Washington's total is expected to be as high as the third largest of any state.

The Forest Service's proposal fails to guarantee existing protections for two million acres of wild and roadless national forest land located in Washington State. If finalized, the proposal would require governors to petition the U.S. Forest Service to "re-protect" national forest roadless areas located in their state.

The original Roadless Rule was finalized in January 2001 after years of scientific study, 600 local public meetings. The balanced policy protects 58.5 million acres of national forests across the country, while allowing temporary road construction in order to fight wildfires, ensure public safety, and protect forest health. Roadless areas provide habitat for more than 1,600 threatened and endangered species and safe and clean drinking water for 60 million Americans.

In Washington a local coalition of sportsmen, religious leaders, businesses, recreational users and conservationists capped off an impressive visibility and grassroots campaign with three-quarter-page ads in the Seattle Post Intelligencer and Seattle P-I.

Washington Wilderness Coalition led the diverse coalition which included Cascade Chapter of Sierra Club, Washington Trails Association, The Mountaineers, Trout Unlimited, Washington Wildlife, Republicans for Environmental Protection the Outdoor Industry Association and the Washington Association of Churches.

To learn more about the Roadless Forest issue visit Washington Wilderness Coalition's web site at http://www.wawild.org/.

Posted in the December 2004 Earth Page

In Brief: Safe and Active Routes to School, ShoreWatch Program at Raab's Lagoon

Safe and Active Routes to School - Volunteers Needed
One priority of the Bicycle Alliance, a statewide advocacy organization, is to get more children in Washington State biking and walking to school. Fewer automobiles heading towards and queuing up in school drop off zones would significantly improve the air quality in any neighborhood with a school. Additionally, the more active the mode of transportation taken (think biking and walking), the more health benefits accorded to the children. That said, the Bicycle Alliance has been able to partner with a few state agencies on a project to assist schools in their efforts to encourage parents and others to stop driving children to school.

With support from the Department of Health and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, the Bicycle Alliance has begun a Safe and Active Routes to School program at schools around the state. The project will mean more children will be able to choose the healthier - for themselves and the environment - habit of actively getting to and from school.

The Bicycle Alliance is fortunate to have "safe routes" financial partners but it will also need help from people with the time and energy to make this happen. Volunteers are needed! Would you like to help a school near you develop a Safe & Active Routes to School program? Available to interested schools is technical assistance as well as mini-grants. For more information and to sign up to help, contact Dave Janis at davej@bicyclealliance.org or 206.784.7176.

ShoreWatch Program comes to Raab's Lagoon
Maury Island residents gathered in a neighbors living room on a late summer morning, for a passionate conversation about living on Raab's Lagoon. Earth Share of Washington organization People For Puget Sound gathered the neighborhood together to discuss preserving the natural shoreline of Raab's Lagoon, and protecting the wildlife that call it home.

When asked "What is your favorite wildlife sighting on Raab's Lagoon?" residents shared stories demonstrating their love for their home on the water. The conversations included a desire to care for the lagoon's health, including questions about best approaches for saving the lagoon and preventing tidal erosion of the dam at the lagoon's outlet to Quartermaster Harbor.

The neighborhood gathering was held as part of People For Puget Sound's ShoreWatch Program. Based on the successful "Block Watch" program, ShoreWatch involves neighbors working, learning (and playing!) together to address shoreline protection and restoration. If you live on or near shorelines and would like to host stewardship events in your neighborhood please contact Mary Beth Dols or Daoud Miller at 206-382-7007, visit www.pugetsound.org/shorewatch, or email shorewatch@pugetsound.org.

Posted in the December 2004 Earth Page

Organic gardening for low-income communities

- submitted by Holly Unger from Earth Share of Washington organization Community Coalition for Environmental Justice

Last year, a University of Washington study found that children who eat organic fruits and vegetables have pesticide levels six times lower than those who ate conventional produce. For many Seattleites, statistics like this are yet another reason to frequent the local organic cooperative. But for low-income parents, the high cost of organic foods can prevent them from buying safe fruits and vegetables for their families.

To address this environmental and economic injustice issue, Earth Share of Washington organization Community Coalition for Environmental Justice (CCEJ), in partnership with Cultivating Communities, has initiated the Garden Connection project. The goal of the Garden Connection is to increase low-income community access to organic food through community gardening and to promote intergenerational (youth and seniors) partnerships by bringing these groups together.

Cultivating Communities is a partnership between the Friends of P-Patch, Seattle Housing Authority, Department of Neighborhoods, and other non-profit organizations. Mostly recent immigrants maintain their nineteen community gardens, located in low-income housing areas. The gardens provide food and a sense of community for these residents.

For the Garden Connection project, CCEJ and Cultivating Communities will make the gardens even more community-based by involving youth and seniors, who will collaborate in the planting and maintenance of the gardens. Education outreach is in full swing; the Garden Connection members are busy making contacts with local youth and senior citizens. Students from Garfield and Franklin High Schools are expected to be involved. The Garden Connection Steering Committee has been established and is continuing to develop a strong base of community organizations and individuals to support the gardens.

For the Garden Connection, three sites have been designated thus far -the future P-Patch at MLK Boulevard and Jefferson Street, the garden site next to NOVA high school, and the Judkins P-Patch. The fresh produce that will be grown will help reconnect these communities to the roots of the land and teach them about the benefits of gardening. Little by little, we can help make sure that organic fruits and vegetables are not a privilege for those who can afford them, but a human right for all people.

Posted in the November 2004 Earth Page

2004 Environmental Legislative Priorities - Forests, Streams, Energy and Toxins

Groups stress need to protect current safeguards

OLYMPIA, Wash. - At the start of the 2004 Washington legislature, 14 conservation organizations representing tens of thousands of residents joined together to encourage elected representatives to pass important new measures and to continue safeguards of our health and the environment.

The groups have given highest priority to four issues involving forests, streams, power and toxic pollution, and made "No rollbacks" a special priority for this legislative session.

The four main priorities are:

• Certified stewardship for state-owned forests, including the preservation our remaining old growth.
• Safeguarding water levels in Washington streams for vital fish habitat, water quality, irrigation, power and recreation.
• Fostering more reliable and sustainable energy by encouraging electric utilities to include energy-efficiency savings and reasonable amounts of renewables such as wind, biomass and solar in their mix of power sources.
• Funding to eliminate and clean-up persistent toxic chemicals such as mercury, dioxin and PCBs.

In addition, the state's environmental community will encourage legislators to keep Washington "a national leader on environmental health and stewardship," said Bruce Gryniewski, executive director of Washington Conservation Voters.

Groups backing the priorities are Earth Share of Washington members 1000 Friends of Washington, American Rivers, Audubon WA, Center for Environmental Law and Policy, NW Energy Coalition, People for Puget Sound, Sierra Club, Transportation Choices Coalition, Washington Environmental Council, Washington Toxics Coalition and other Washington environmental groups -- NW Ecosystem Alliance, League of Women Voters, Washington Conservation Voters, and WashPIRG.

Posted in the February 2004 Earth Page

Warning: Dangerous Art Ahead

Local photographer, activist wins National Sierra Club Award

Bellevue resident and former Boeing engineer, Subhankar (pronounced "shoe-BANK-ar") Banerjee, recently received the National Sierra Club's Special Achievement Award, which recognizes a single act of particular importance dedicated to conservation. He left his job and overcame immense obstacles, in order to spend 14 months taking photos in one of the most remote and beautiful areas of Alaska. The result was Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Seasons of Life and Land. The book was the product of his field research documenting life in this harsh but fragile arctic ecosystem and contains stunning images of wildlife and daunting landscapes. Along with the photos are essays by people like President Jimmy Carter, Peter Matthiesen, and David Sibley, which further illuminate us as to the hidden values and timeless qualities of this "sacred place where life begins" according to the Gwich'in people who live there.

Banerjee was catapulted into the national prominence this spring when an exhibition of his Arctic Refuge photos at the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History was mysteriously moved from a prominent place in the rotunda to the basement. That happened right after Senator Barbara Boxer held up an advance copy of the book during a debate on opening the Refuge to oil drilling. She urged her peers to read the book before making any decision on the drilling. There was speculation that political pressure caused the Smithsonian to move the exhibit. A flurry of articles in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, and on National Public Radio told the tale to the nation and kept the Refuge and its threatened status in the public eye.

In addition to writing the book, Subhankar tirelessly tours the country to educate people about the beauty, vitality and hidden life dramas that abound in this wilderness. It has to be part of the reason the public continues to tell Congress that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should remain undrilled, unspoiled, and magnificent.

For information on protecting the Refuge, contact Kathleen Casey at Kathleen.casey@sierraclub.org. The book was published in both hard and soft-cover editions by Mountaineers Books. To purchase a copy go to www.mountaineersbooks.org.

Posted in the December 2003 Earth Page

Big Boats Turn Out for Ship Canal Clean Up

- submitted by Chris Wilke from ESW member Puget Soundkeeper Alliance

Fortunately the predicted high winds did not materialize on October 18, when 116 volunteers and 24 vessels gathered at Fisherman's Terminal for the annual Seattle Marine Business Coalition Ship Canal Cleanup. The event was co-sponsored by Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, a member of Earth Share of Washington, along with Seattle Public Utilities and the Army Corps of Engineers. Unlike other cleanups which utilize volunteers on-shore or on the water in small boats, this event mobilized the big rigs. Several large tugboats traveled with dumpsters on the stern and offloaded trash from kayaks and small power boats including the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance patrol boat. Kayaks and small skiffs proved to be particularly effective in getting close to shore where the trash often accumulates, although some of the tugboat pilots skillfully maneuvered their craft close to shore to snare trash directly.

All in all, eleven dumpsters worth of trash was removed from the area of the Lake Washington Ship Canal that lies between the Ballard Locks and the Fremont Bridge. Among the more interesting items removed from the waterway were a shopping cart, a relatively new street sign, and a pair of goggles with tennis balls stuck in the eye sockets. The Golden Styrofoam award (for the largest amount of trash) was given to the crew of the Crystal Charters boat and the coveted MFO award (Miscellaneous Floating Object) went to the volunteer who recovered the shopping cart from the bottom of the canal. (Okay, so it wasn't floating, but it was an admirable effort nonetheless!)

The Puget Soundkeeper Alliance office is located just 2 blocks north of the canal on Leary Way, and the Alliance likes to take care of their "home waters". Through this event, the June 28 Lake Union Sweep, and bi-weekly kayak patrols, the Alliance directed cleanup efforts over a continuous waterway that stretches all the way from the locks to Lake Washington. The waterway is also an important migration route for Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye salmon as well as Steelhead and Cutthroat trout. If you are interested in participating in on-water cleanup events or patrols, contact Chris Wilke at the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance office at 206-297-7002.

Posted in the December 2003 Earth Page

Neighborhood Stormwater Stewards - Protecting Puget Sound One Block at a Time

- submitted by Jim Dawson from ESW member People For Puget Sound

Have you ever wondered how you can help protect Puget Sound on your own property? It just so happens that the largest new source of pollution into Puget Sound is from stormwater, which is rainwater that runs off of rooftops, landscaped areas, and pavement. This runoff picks up all kinds of pollutants left on the ground, such as dog poop, pesticides, and oil, and is then piped (often completely untreated) either directly into Puget Sound or into a water body that drains into Puget Sound. So even if you live 50 miles from the Sound, fertilizers applied on your lawn could end up in Puget Sound.

Which is why People for Puget Sound has developed a new program, with the City of Olympia, to educate citizens about simple steps they can take to reduce their stormwater pollution. The program, Neighborhood Stormwater Stewards, includes workshops on topics such as least toxic gardening methods, landscaping with native vegetation, and building your own rain barrels. Not only are these approaches good for Puget Sound they can also save you time and money, reducing the amount of water used on your landscape and the need to purchase expensive chemicals.

During the first year of the program we will be focusing most of our efforts in Olympia. We are able to make presentations throughout the region. If you would like to learn more about the program or about setting up a presentation in your neighborhood contact Jim Dawson in the South Sound Office of People for Puget Sound at 360-754-9177 or jdawson@pugetsound.org.

Posted in the November 2003 Earth Page

Citizens Rally to Remove Spartina from North Sound Bays

- By Jacques White, Habitat Director, People For Puget Sound, jwhite@pugetsound.org

Earth Share of Washington (ESW) member People For Puget Sound has initiated a long-term, community driven approach to Spartina anglica eradication in north Puget Sound. This project involves People For Puget Sound working closely with citizens, state and local weed control agencies and other partners. "The ultimate desired future condition is a Spartina-free, naturally functioning nearshore environment" says Roger Fuller, marine ecologist with The Nature Conservancy, another ESW member.

Spartina is a perennial grass that thrives in tidal flats and salt marches. This native east coast grass wreaks havoc on the nearshore habitat of the west coast. It drastically changes tidal flow, sediment buildup, and chokes the fragile nesting waters of numerous Puget Sound species. In 1995, the Washington Legislature declared Spartina an "environmental emergency" and since that time government and private agencies like People for Puget Sound have been working to eradicate the invasive weed from our waters.

According to Tom Dean, People For Puget Sound's restoration project manager, "The specific objectives for Phase I of the project are to reduce or eliminate the remnant Spartina patches in the north Puget Sound where agencies have concentrated their efforts in recent years. We will identify and help control outliers at the southern and northern ends of known infestations, and involve volunteers in identifying and marking remote infestations and clipping seed heads to reduce the spread of Spartina."

Several volunteer work parties will be organized in Skagit, Snohomish and Island Counties over the summer to dig out plants and clip seed heads in small and widely scattered infestations of Spartina. Check the Earth Share of Washington volunteer pages for updates: http://www.esw.org/help/

To learn more or get involved in Spartina cleanup, call Lisa Markovchick-Nicholls at People For Puget Sound 206-382-7007.

Posted in the September 2003 Earth Page

Washington Legislature Supports Stronger Shoreline Protections

- submitted by Jerry Gorsline from ESW member Washington Environmental Council

After eight years of legislative struggle, and at a time when the state's poor economy has increased pressure to roll back environmental protections, the 2003 Legislature issued a strong endorsement for moving shoreline protection forward: It passed a bill (SSB 6012) that establishes a schedule for cities and counties to revise local shoreline plans and also provided $2 million over the next two years to help the first round of local governments update their local shoreline master programs (SMP).

Passage of the shoreline bill is a major accomplishment. Earth Share of Washington member Washington Environmental Council (WEC) led this successful effort in partnership with the Washington Conservation Voters, and with considerable volunteer contributions and media outreach. WEC represented 20 different environmental groups in a year-long negotiation with the state, some local governments, and business interests to develop updates to the state's Shoreline Master Program Guidelines.

What exactly are the Shoreline Master Program Guidelines? The Shoreline Management Act (SMA) establishes a balance of authority between local and state government. Cities and counties are the primary regulators, while Washington State's Department of Ecology provides technical assistance and oversight, reviewing local programs and permit decisions. The updated shoreline master program guidelines will provide needed direction to local governments and the state to implement the SMA.

The guidelines have not been comprehensively updated since original adoption thirty years ago. The proposed rules reflect advancements in science relating to how shorelines should be managed, changes in case law, the character of shoreline development, and new innovations in shoreline management practice.

If you would like more information on WEC's work, please go to www.wecprotects.org.

Posted in the August 2003 Earth Page

Not in My Backyard - Cleaning Up Hanford

- submitted by Beth Sanders from Earth Share of Washington member Government Accountability Project

If the Hanford Nuclear Site conjures up bleak images of nuclear reactors and dangerous plutonimum production, then the folks at the Government Accountability Project (GAP) invite you on a boat tour of the Hanford Reach, a stunningly beautiful stretch of the Columbia River that flanks the Hanford Nuclear Site. Discover the river's beauty and find out about a state initiative to protect the mighty Columbia River from ecological disaster.

Hanford is now the most contaminated place in the Western Hemisphere. With massive amounts of toxins having leaked into nearby groundwater, Hanford is described by Governor Locke as "an underground Chernobyl waiting to happen." To reach the goal of safe, timely, and effective clean-up of Hanford, GAP is focusing on the state initiative to foster a coalition committed to cleaning up Hanford. Fish lovers, Native American nations, farmers in Eastern Washington, and the environmental community are all affected by the continued water contamination from the Hanford site.

In recent months, the federal government has imported more radioactive wastes to Hanford and thereby has violated legally binding policy. GAP, along with several other environmental groups, is organizing a legislative initiative to stop more shipments. The boat tour is a great way to experience the beauty of what is slated to be the nation�s nuclear waste dump and learn how you can help protect the Columbia River. If you would like to join a boat tour, email Beth Sanders at beths@whistleblower.org or call (206) 292-2850.

Posted in the May 2003 Earth Page

Devil's Lake Gets Protection

- Submitted by Amy Zarrett, from ESW member group Washington Environmental Council - http://www.wecprotects.org/

In a state with spectacular wildlife areas and magical wild places, chalk up one more of them that your grandchildren will have the chance to experience. Earlier this year, Washington Environmental Council (WEC) succeeded in its long-term effort to get permanent protected status for the wonderful Devil's Lake wetland system.

Located on the northeast corner of the Olympic Peninsula, on the east side of Mt. Walker, Devil's Lake is a pristine wetland system containing superb examples of forest, bog, shrub and marsh wetland types and approximately 12 acres of open water. At the south end of the lake is a five-acre forest stand with 300-year-old trees and old growth characteristics. Also well established as a fishing and day use recreational spot, Devil's Lake contains exceptional habitat and botanical values. The state land is contiguous with National Forest land to the west, and together, the two ownerships encompass the entire Devils Lake basin.

WEC's Policy Associate, Jerry Gorsline, was instrumental in the success of the transfer. He originally proposed the transfer to deflect a state timber sale proposed in 1992, and then tracked and advocated the transfer process of Devil's Lake from that time to its enrollment as a Natural Resources Conservation Area under the Trust Land Transfer Program in May 2002.

About The Trust Land Transfer Program:
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages nearly 3 million acres of state-owned trust land to provide revenue for specific trust beneficiaries and benefits for the public. However, not all of the trust lands are best suited for income production. Some have high ecological and/or recreation values of statewide significance that render them inappropriate for harvesting timber. Such is the case with the Devil's Lake property, with its pristine and highly sensitive wetland system. The Trust Land Transfer Program provides an innovative way to put money into trust beneficiary accounts while protecting properties with significant natural, park or recreation attributes and better manage trust assets for income production. Contact WEC's Jerry Gorsline for more details at jerry@wecprotects.org

Posted in the November 2002 Earth Page

People For Puget Sound's New Stewardship Program for Shoreline Homeowners and Neighbors

Shorelines are dynamic ribbons of life -- a place where land and water meet to create valuable habitat for all life in Puget Sound. People For Puget Sound is helping shoreline homeowners and neighbors spread the word about protecting shorelines through the ShoreWatch program.

The ShoreWatch program is based on the successful "Block Watch" program and involves neighbors -- working, learning, and playing together under the leadership of a "Pod Leader." Pod Leaders are champions for shoreline health who are willing to invite their friends and neighbors to share their beach and learn more about their unique backyard resource. "The environmental health of our shorelines depends on broad public knowledge and concern. In the role of Pod Leader, I expect to help expand and strengthen that awareness," said Sidney Brinckerhoff, one of the first members to join this program.

People For Puget Sound helps Pod Leaders craft entertaining and educational events at their home or beach. The first event is a colorful thirty-minute "Meet the Beach" slide show to introduce shoreline residents to natural beach processes and the creatures that live within this critical habitat. Afterwards, a People For Puget Sound beach naturalist leads a low tide beach walk for the group that may culminate in a potluck or cookout. Educational Beach Field Guides are provided for guests to help them identify what they see on the beach.

People For Puget Sound is planning Pod Leader events now! To find out more about this new and exciting program go to http://www.pugetsound.org/. If you are interested in learning more about being a Pod Leader, please call Anne Dalrymple at (206) 382-7007 or email adalrymple@pugetsound.org.

Posted in the October 2002 Earth Page