Projects
Blue Water Task Force
Native Garden Project
Snowrider Project
Storm Drain Marking
Blue Water Task Force
The Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) was established by the Surfrider Foundation in 1991 with goals and hopes to gather enough data to raise public awareness, increase public participation, and influence national legislation.
In the summer of 2005, Bri Silbaugh initiated the Blue Water Task Force within the Northwest Straits Chapter. When BWTF began here, testing for Enterococcus occurred twice a week for the duration of the summer. The program died down and then started back up again in May of 2006, when Katie Booth and Linda McGuiness revamped the BWTF to where it is today. Sampling now occurs once a month, testing for E. coli and fecal coliforms at four different sites in Bellingham. Katie did a great job for the past two years of developing the test designs, finding laboratories for analyzing the samples, and promoting water quality awareness to the public. We are saddened to see her depart from the BWTF but wish her well in her travels.
Eleanor Hines and Kim Salerno were both recruited by Katie Booth to take over her position. Both are currently studying Environmental Toxicology at Huxley College at Western Washington University. For the past four months they have gone out and taken samples with the supervision and guidance of Katie Booth at various locations in the Bellingham Bay area.
Fecal coliforms are bacteria that are commonly found in animal and human feces (EPA.gov). Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a wide group of bacteria species that is under the fecal coliforms group. Some strains can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness, pneumonia and other illnesses, where other strains are used as a marker for water contamination (Center for Disease Control). Kim and Eleanor test for the presence of fecal coliforms within the samples and conduct further screening specifically for E. coli.
Currently BWTF and the Northwest Straits Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation would like to thank Post Point for donating space within their laboratory for us to work. However, because we are independently taking and analyzing samples, we are not certified to hold credence in the legitimacy of the sample results. In other words, BWTF cannot legally present our data to carry weight in legislation. Eleanor and Kim’s future goals for the program includes raising enough funds to conduct certified testing for the presence of E. coli and fecal coliforms as well as to increase public awareness and participation.
For more information:
- Click here to see our water quality data.
- http://www.epa.gov/volunteer/stream/vms511.html
- http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/stec_gi.html#2
Native Garden Project
Ground breaking began in March for the native plant garden located at historic Woodstock Farm on Chuckanut Drive, with volunteers from the NWS Chapter and the City of Bellingham coming together to lay mulch in preparation for planting.
The farmstead was acquired by the City with a vision of creating a public heritage site, including structural and landscape features. In addition, the acquisition of the farm secured critical habitat and connected existing greenways. The native garden project is a key step in fulfilling the city’s vision and enhancing habitat.
The objectives of the native garden include supporting the existing ecosystem, improving water quality, reducing the occurrence of invasive, non-native plant species, and providing a scenic landscape. Visitors to the garden will gain an understanding of how to garden in an ecologically sensitive manner.
The NWS Chapter is responsible for designing, planting, and maintaining the garden. Fall planting happened November 3; spring planting to be announced in 2008. For more information contact bay@plantasnativas.com
Earth Day is April 19. Join us for a work party at Woodstock Farm. Click here for more information.
Snowrider Project
The Snowrider Project seeks to fulfill Surfrider’s mission of protecting ocean water quality by keeping it clean upstream, in the mountains where snow enthusiasts recreate.
The NWS chapter’s Snowrider Project, based out of Glacier, embarked on a “Green Ride 542″ program to decrease the enormous number of cars traveling to Mt. Baker Ski Area, thereby protecting the North Fork of the Nooksack River watershed. To accomplish this goal, Snowrider Project has teamed up with Mt. Baker Ski Area to connect AlterNetRides.com to the ski area’s website to help coordinate carpooling. This service is fast, easy, and free. In addition, Snowrider hooked AlterNetRides to the Ski to Sea website.
Other projects:
Snowrider adopted the loop section of the Mt. Baker Highway at Heather Meadows and plans to have a spring clean up. In addition, Snowrider was on hand for Ski to Sea to coordinate garbage and recycling for the race segments held on the mountain. Stay tuned for future clean up opportunities.
Snowrider also held a summer film series in Glacier on the lawn behind Graham’s store. Stay tuned for next year’s program.
Join us:
Snowrider meetings are held once a month at Graham’s restaurant in Glacier the third Thursday of every month, 7 PM, before Bent Grass plays. For more info, contact Anne Baker at nws@surfrider.org.
Storm Drain Marking
[Bellingham, Wash.] This month the Northwest Straits Chapter of Surfriders received 1,000 “Drains to Bay” storm drain markers from DAS Manufacturing. With help and guidance from the City of Bellingham’s Public Works Department, chapter members can begin marking a majority of the 1,800 storm drain inlets that drain to Bellingham Bay. The goal is to bring awareness about water quality in Bellingham Bay and foster a continued dedication to pollution prevention.
Chapter member Brian Smart emphasized that working with local government officials doesn’t have to be an upstream battle. “At first the Public Works Department was leery of our proposal for custom logos. The initial fear was having a government agency ’supporting’ an individual group. After discussions with city officials we found a way to benefit both groups and achieve the same goal; water quality protection for Bellingham Bay.”
“The Surfriders are a capable group of dedicated individuals who care about the water quality in Bellingham Bay. Members came to us with a proposal and we agreed to sponsor the custom storm drain markers that include a phone number people can use if they observe someone pouring something down a storm drain. This is the kind of commitment and leadership we need in our community if we are going to preserve the quality of life we all enjoy.” said Joy Monjure, Public Works Education and Communications Coordinator.
Storm drain marking will begin in September and will help residents walking around Bellingham make the connection between surface water quality and the health of a marine ecosystem.
