Beach Watchers journal
By Dennis Linden, WSU Beach Watch SJC
Special to the Sounder
Washington State University Beach Watchers are citizen volunteers who contribute to the stewardship, science assistance, and education about the marine environment and the watersheds of San Juan County.
The volunteers receive 100 hours of training in marine and watershed stewardship and then perform an equal number of volunteer hours. Since its inception in 2006, the program has grown to include 40 Beach Watchers on San Juan, Orcas, Lopez and Waldron Islands and a new class of 21 islanders will graduate on May 21.
Beach Watchers have been involved in various studies. They joined beach seiners from Lopez and Waldron Islands in receiving an award for 1400 hours of activities in the Salmon Recovery Program.
On Waldron Island, they have been conducting a long-term study of the local zooplankton. Twice a month, volunteers tow plankton net at 5 different beaches, then profile the catch in weekly two-hour long community counting sessions. The study grew out of community interest and is a great example of grass roots citizen science.
On Orcas Island a summer research project that will involve community volunteers, including 6th-12th grade student, monitoring, assessing and reducing storm water and pollution impacts on the marine ecosystem in the Eastsound waterfront and Indian Island.
Beach Watchers are responsible for helping to maintain marine shellfish advisories. On San Juan Island, they collect and record samples of mussels twice a month at low tide from April through October. The samples are sent to the state’s Health Department Labs for testing.
In 2008, Beach Watchers spent more than 40 hours in spartina (an invasive sea grass) eradication; 600 hours in visitor outreach and education through the Whale Museum and Lime Kiln State Park and more than 70 hours in outreach about escape (rot) cord for crabbers.
They visited Friday Harbor and Deer Harbor Docks during Clean Marina Day to distribute “green boating” kits, assisted with necropsies for the Marine Mammal Stranding Network and spent more than 500 hours in beach clean up and stewardship projects on San Juan and Orcas Islands.
The volunteers of the WSU Beach Watchers are contributing everyday to environmental solutions for the San Juan Islands.
