Announcing the 2011 Environmental Priorities

The Environmental Priorities Coalition believes that we can have a strong economy that provides everyone with the opportunity to prosper and a clean, healthy, and safe environment for ourselves and our children. This year, the Environmental Priorities Coalition has chosen four priority proposals to support during Washington State's legislative session that achieve these goals.

The 2011 Priorities are:

Budget Solutions for Our Environment
Coal Free Future for Washington
Reducing Phosphorous Pollution
Working for Clean Water

The 2011 Priorities will help ensure clean water, create new jobs, reduce threats to our families’ health from the poisons emitted by our state’s single largest polluter, and strike a balance that even in hard times will protect our public health, economic future, and quality of life in Washington.

For more information about the 2011 Priorities, please visit the Priorities Coalition website.

VOTE! Yes on R-52, No on I-1053 and I-1107

Our ocean and coasts need you to VOTE! So get that ballot in the mail by Tues.

And please, vote YES on Referendum 52 and NO on Initiatives 1053 and 1107.

A YES on R-52 is a win-win for our kids, our environment, and economy! R-52 will repair our aging schools, help save energy and reduce global warming pollution, and put people to work.

A NO on I-1053 allows the legislature to use a majority vote for tax increases and new taxes to raise funds to clean up runoff pollution.

A NO on I-1107 keeps in place a temporary sales tax on soda, bottled water and candy, some of which funds support environmental programs.

Get Out The Vote. If you live in Seattle or vicinity join a phone bank this week: Wednesday, and Thursday and next Monday (11/1) from 5:30-8:30 pm at WEC/WCV offices, 1402 Third Ave Suite 1400. Pizza, snacks and beverages served for the volunteers!

Westport's eyesore

The Links golf course at Half Moon Bay is up for public auction. The property provides critical coastal habitat and lies adjacent to one of our most popular recreation beaches on the coast. Watching this property be cleared for the golf course upset many ocean users who love these beaches. What will become of the Links course now?

The property will be auctioned off to the highest bidder at 9:30 AM, November 12th, on the front steps of the main entrance of the Grays Harbor County Courthouse, 102 West Broadway, in the City of Montesano, Washington.

cool picture from the International Conference

Surfrider Foundation CEO, Jim Moriarty, posted this picture on his blog from Surfrider's international conference in Kamogawa, Japan. South Sound Chapter's Jared Gerritzen had scribbled it on the back of a napkin. And, as Jim says in his blog, "it captures the essence of who we are, what we do and how we optimize our impact when we work together."

If you haven't checked out Jim's blog, it's oceanswavesbeaches.surfrider.org.

Videos of stressed fish in Hood Canal

http://nwgeogirl.smugmug.com/The-Beautiful-Briny-Sea/lowo220100927/13955430_ECSLC#1025350039_GjzTp

This sad video footage shows fish sluggish from low-oxygen levels in Hood Canal. In case you have missed the news, oxygen levels in Hood Canal have been lethally low, killing hundreds of fish and thousands of spot prawns.

Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/oct/02/researchers-pondering-possible-solutions-to-hood/#ixzz11hPjKY5t

Marine Spatial Planning Comment Sessions

You have an opportunity to provide comments on Washington’s framework for marine spatial planning.

A draft report and recommendations for how to better manage uses of our ocean have been developed by the State Ocean Caucus, an interagency team chaired by the Governor’s office.

Attend an open public session. State agency representatives will be on hand to explain the draft report and listen to your opinions. The public comment period is open until October 5th.

This is a great opportunity to speak out on behalf of non consumptive recreational uses.

Session Dates & Venues:
Monday, September 20, 3:00 – 5:00pm
Washington State Conference & Trade Center 1400 6th Avenue, Seattle Room 210

Friday, September 24, 3:00 – 4:30pm
Following the Northwest Straits Commission meeting San Juan Island Grange Hall 152 First Street North, Friday Harbor

Monday, September 27, 2:00 – 4:00pm
Breazeale Interpretive Center Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve 10441 Bayview-Edison Road, Mt. Vernon

Wednesday, September 29, 2:00 – 4:00pm
Center for Urban Waters 326 East D Street, Tacoma Large Conference Room

Thursday, September 30, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Westport Maritime Museum, McCausland Hall 2201 Westhaven Drive, Westport

Take a minute to inform Marine Spatial Planning in Washington

Washington State is seeking public comments on marine spatial planning through an online survey. Make sure recreational users voices are represented and take a minute for this survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9W2ZXQY

The results of this survey will assist state agencies in developing a process for engaging in marine spatial planning (MSP) in Washington. MSP is a public process to better understand how our oceans are being used and to identify areas where certain uses may or may not make sense when considering ecological, economic and social objectives. In short, MSP will help keep non-compatible uses, such as wave energy production and surfing, separate.

Surveys will be accepted until June 22, 2010.

The state agencies involved summarized draft goals and objectives for MSP. You are also invited to review these and provide your comments and any additional recommendations to jennifer.hennessey@ecy.wa.gov by June 22, 2010.

For more information on marine spatial planning, check out Surfrider's website: http://surfrider.org/a-z/MarineSpatialPlanning.php

And to learn more about the state’s efforts, go to: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/msp/index.html.