Is your swimming beach safe?

Ever wonder what the water quality is at your favorite Washington beach? 

The beach at the Fauntleroy-Southworth ferry terminal in Seattle was closed to swimming earlier this month after a sewage overflow. It reopened on June 7th. Visit the BEACH website to find the latest information on beach closures.

The WA Department of Ecology just released the list of beaches they will test this summer. Here is the list. If your beach is missing, contact Julie Lowe, BEACH Program Manager, julie.lowe@ecy.wa.gov, Desk: (360) 407-6543

2012 Beach List
Click here for more info and direct links.

Clallam County

• Cline Spit County Park
• Hollywood Beach
• Salt Creek Recreation Area County Park

Grays Harbor County

• Westhaven State Park, Half Moon Bay
• Westhaven State Park, South Jetty
• Westport - The Groynes

Island County

• Windjammer Lagoon
• Windjammer Park

Jefferson County

• Camp Parsons
• Fort Worden State Park
• Herb Beck Marina

King County

• Alki Beach Park
• Carkeek Park
• Golden Gardens Park
• Lincoln Park
• Redondo County Park
• Saltwater State Park
• Seahurst County Park

Kitsap County

• Arness County Park
• Eagle Harbor Waterfront Park
• Fay Bainbridge State Park
• Illahee State Park
• Indianola Dock
• Lions Field
• Manchester State Park
• Point No Point Lighthouse Park
• Pomeroy Park - Manchester Beach
• Scenic Beach State Park
• Seabeck Conference Center Saltwater Lagoon
• Seabeck Conference Center Beach
• Silverdale Waterfront Park

Makah Nation

• Dakwas Park Beach
• Front Street Beach,East
• Hobuck Beach
• Sooes Beach
• Third Beach, Neah Bay
• Warmhouse Beach

Mason County

• Allyn Waterfront Park
• Potlatch State Park
• Twanoh State Park 

Pierce County

• Browns Point Lighthouse Park
• Dash Point County Park
• Fox Island Park
• Owens Beach/Point Defiance Park
• Penrose Point State Park
• Purdy Spit County Park
• Sunnyside Beach Park
• Titlow Park
• Waterfront Dock / Ruston Way

Skagit County

• Bayview Boat Launch
• Bayview State Park

Snohomish County

• Edmonds Marina Beach Park
• Edmonds Underwater Park
• Howarth Park
• Jetty Island
• Kayak Point County Park
• Mukilteo Lighthouse Park
• Picnic Point County Park

Thurston County

• Burfoot County Park

Whatcom County

• Birch Bay County Park
• Larrabee State Park
• Little Squalicum
• Marine Park, Bellingham

Japan Tsunami Debris

Announcing the North Olympic Tsunami Debris Symposium supported by the Clallam County MRC and the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. Renowned oceanographer Curt Ebbesmeyer will be leading presentations, Tsunami debris identification workshops and a planning session. Website: tsunamidebrissymposium.wordpress.com

What to do if you see debris that could be Japan Tsunami debris? Here are NOAA's guidelines:

- GENERAL GUIDANCE -
Be safe: If you don’t know what it is, don’t touch it. Collect as much information from a safe distance as you can – including photos -- and report the debris to DisasterDebris@noaa.gov. If the item appears unusual or hazardous, contact your local authorities for specific guidance and instructions (see below).

- GUIDELINES BY DEBRIS TYPE -
Litter and other typical marine debris items
Common marine debris types will vary by location. If an object can be linked to the tsunami, please report it to DisasterDebris@noaa.gov. Please provide as much information as possible. Where it’s safe and practical to do so, people should remove the debris and recycle any plastics or metals.
Hazardous materials
Examples: Drums, fuel tanks and containers, gas cans, gas cylinders, chemical storage totes Do not touch or attempt to move the item. Give authorities a detailed report about what you’ve observed. Call the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 AND 1-800-OILS-911 (1-800-645-7911).
Aluminum Canisters
10-inch aluminum insecticide canisters often are found in high tide zones. Do not open the cap since these fumi- gant canisters may contain small amounts of toxic phosphine gas. Call the National Response Center at 1-800-424 -8802 AND 1-800-OILS-911 (1-800-645-7911).
Derelict boat or other large debris item
Do not attempt to move or remove the boat. Report it to the U.S. Coast Guard 24-Hour Command Center, 206-217- 6001.
Personal effects or possessions from Japan tsunami
Items that appear to be personal belongings should be treated with respect. They should be reported with as much relevant detail as possible. Generally, these objects should be left in place for later retrieval. However, if the object appears likely to be moved by tide or wave action and it is safe to do so, consider moving the object above the high- tide line. Report these to DisasterDebris@noaa.gov.
Human remains
It is extremely unlikely any human remains from the tsunami will reach the United States. However, if you encoun- ter any remains, immediately call 9-1-1 and give local authorities a detailed report about what you observed. Do not touch or attempt to move.
Unknown Item
Don’t touch or attempt to move the item. Give local authorities a detailed report about what you observed. Call 9-1-1
For more information on Japan tsunami debris, please visit www.marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/japanfaqs.html To request a shoreline monitoring guide, email MDmonitoring@noaa.gov

Local Surfrider chapter supports international effort to collect Tsunami debris

The Olympic Peninsula Chapter (OPC) received great coverage in the Peninsula Daily News for their help in cleaning up coastal beaches and discovering debris from the Japanese Tsunami. Tsunami debris has just begun to land on U.S. and Canadian beaches. This November, the OPC found an unusual and large marine float believed to be Tsunami debris while cleaning up a remote beach on the outer coast. The Chapter partnered with the Coast Guard, who helped remove 1,800 lbs of debris by helicopter. Cleaning up Tsunami debris and recovering it when possible so it may be returned to Japan requires a collective effort. Read the full story. Connect with the Olympic Peninsula Chapter to get involved.

SSA Marine Challenged for Violoting Clean Water Act

Today, RE Sources announced that they filed suit against SSA Marine for Clean Water Act violations at Cherry Point.

“SSA Marine knowingly flaunted an array of county, state, and federal regulations when they built roads damaging forests and wetlands last summer,” said Bob Ferris, executive director of RE Sources. “And now they want immediate forgiveness for creating impacts that could take decades to recover. That is simply unacceptable.”

SSA cleared nine acres of forest and wetlands at Cherry Point without permits. This work was exploration for their proposed mega coal export terminal just north of Bellingham. Protests against the terminal from local communities and leaders are gaining momentum across the state as the evidence increases demonstrating the harm the project will have on our health and the environment.

photo: sierraactivist.org

Seattle Introduces Bag Ban!

On Monday, November 21, Seattle City Council introduced legislation to ban single use plastic bags -- very exciting news for oceans and coasts!

Plastic bags make up over 10 percent of the debris littering the U.S. coastline. Like all plastic, these bags never go away.

The Seattle Times endorsed the bag ban. Read full story.

Council Bill 117345 will help clean up Puget Sound and our oceans by removing 292 million plastic bags from the waste stream every year. Modeled on the Bellingham ordinance, which passed this July, the measure would ban single use plastic bags and place a 5 cent fee on paper bags.

Show your support for the bag ban at an upcoming public hearing:

Seattle City Council Public Hearing on Plastic Bags Legislation
Monday, December 5
5:30pm
Council Chambers, City Hall, 2nd Floor
600 Fourth Ave

Push for Seattle Plastic Bag Ban

The Seattle Times reported today on a push for Seattle City Council to ban single use plastics bags. Full story.

Yesterday, Julie Masura, a faculty member at the University of Washington Tacoma's Center for Urban Waters, spoke at a press conference overlooking Puget Sound. She has been doing research on plastics in the Sound. Her work discovered small pieces of plastic in every water sample taken in Puget Sound.

Environment Washington featured her research in a new report, Keeping Plastic Out of Puget Sound: Why Washington should Join the Global Movement to Reduce Plastic Bag Pollution.

In Seattle, consumers use 292 million plastic bags every year. It's time for Seattle to join Portland, Bellingham, China and numerous other cities, counties and countries who have banned the bag.

Contact Seattle City Council and ask them to BAN THE BAG.

Chance to help Puget Sound

Right now is a unique opportunity to help clean up the waters of Puget Sound! With your help, we can strengthen water quality testing programs and make plastic pollution in our ocean and on our beaches a priority for the clean up of Puget Sound.

WHAT: Comment on the 2011 update to the Puget Sound Action Agenda – the plan to recover Puget Sound by 2020. The actions in this plan set the course for collective recovery efforts including the work of government agencies, non-profit organizations and businesses.

HOW: Attend a public open house.
Public open houses are a great opportunity to learn about the clean up Puget Sound and give input on how to support clean water for recreational users. Here are some key points that Surfrider Foundation is making:

Support Clean Water for recreation!

• Expand water quality testing programs to include winter months. Yes, we paddle and swim in the winter, the most likely time for storm induced run-off events that pollute our waters.
• Clean up polluted sites threatening water quality in Puget Sound, including the Port Angeles Landfill and the Warmhouse Beach Dump.
• Make plastic pollution a priority. Plastics are not only strangling marine wildlife, but are being ingested by mammals, birds, and the fish that we eat.

WHEN/ WHERE:

Mill Creek: Monday, October 3, from 4:30 – 7:00PM Department of Fish and Wildlife, Mill Creek Regional Office, 16018 Mill Creek Boulevard
Poulsbo: Tuesday, October 4, from 4:30 – 7:00PM Poulsbo City Council Chamber in City Hall, 200 Northeast Moe St
Mount Vernon: Monday October 10, from 4:30 – 7:00PM Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 10441 Bayview-Edison Road
Olympia: Tuesday, October 11 from 4:30 – 7:00PM LOTT Clean Water Alliance, 500 Adams Street NE
San Juans: Wednesday, October 19 aboard the interisland ferry. Depart Anacortes at 9:30AM. Depart Friday Harbor 11:35AM. Arrive Friday Harbor 5:10PM. Arrive Anacortes 7:50PM

For details on the Action Agenda: http://www.psp.wa.gov/

photo: Fred Felleman