ECO Net News

Welcome to the ECO Net News Bulletin!
ECO Net NEWS is an e-newsletter that updates ECO Net members with announcements on current events. If you have events that you would like to see here in the future, please e-mail me a descriptive, one-sentence blurb (with headline, date, time, location and a link to more information).

News for April 2009

New E-mail Subscription for ECO Net Blog
Keep up to date with posts from me, Kristen Cooley, Education and Outreach Manager for the Puget Sound Partnership. Now you can subscribe to receive e-mail updates when new information is posted! Visit http://pspeconet.blogspot.com/

Marine Protected Areas and the Marine Life Protection Act Online Series
March 14-April 3: online series
Keynote speakers: Dr. Steven Murray of California State University, Fullerton, on “Science, Policy and Protecting Our Coastal Oceans”; Dr. Satie Airame of the University of California, Santa Barbara, on “Marine Protected Areas”; and Dr. Christopher Lowe of California State University, Long Beach, on “The MLPA is Coming to Southern California!”
To learn more go to http://www.coexploration.org/cosee_west/mar09/index.html

Construction Stormwater Management Practices Seminar
March 27: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Burlington Library, 820 E. Washington Ave., Burlington
This training is oriented toward construction contractors, but is open to all. Participants will learn: requirements for keeping a construction site in compliance; reporting and sampling requirements; effective erosion control techniques; how to implement work zone phasing to keep sediment from reaching nearby waters; and how to apply for a stormwater permit. Admission is free, but pre-registration is requested. Includes lunch and afternoon field trip.
To learn more contact Peter Haase, 360.419.3161 or PeteH@skagitwater.org, or Lee First, 360.733.8307 or leef@re-sources.org

Our Underwater Neighborhood: A Video Tour
March 31: 7 to 9 p.m., Norm Dicks Government Center, 345 Sixth St., Bremerton
April 2: 7 to 9 p.m., REI, 222 Yale Ave. N., Seattle
Join filmmaker John F. Williams for a tour of the local underwater wilderness through the magic of moving pictures on the big screen. He will be showing excerpts from “SEA-Inside: Pacific Northwest,” a TV series about what’s beneath the surface of Northwest waters.
Admission prices vary ($5 to $8)
 
Sound Conversations at the Seattle Aquarium with Jeff Renner
April 2, May 7, June 4: 7 p.m., Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way
Local experts will converse with KING 5 TV’s Jeff Renner on three separate evenings about the challenges marine life face and research to help conserve Puget Sound and the ocean.
Tickets: $10 (each event)
To learn more and purchase tickets go to https://www.seattleaquarium.org/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=420

Septic Sense Workshop
April 2, Union: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Union Marina, 5101 E. State Route 106
April 9, Hoodsport: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Timberland Library, 40 N. Schoolhouse Hill Road
Learn how to extend the life of a septic system, improve treatment capabilities and keep maintenance records. Class is free, but pre-registration is required.
To learn more contact Teri King or Janis McNeal, Washington Sea Grant: 360.432.3054 or wsgcanal@u.washington.edu

Volunteers Needed to Monitor Invasive Species Throughout the Sound
April 4: Tacoma; contact Marie League at 253.779.8890
April 7: Friday Harbor; contact Shann Weston at 360.370.7666
April 10, Padilla Bay; contact Chrys Bertolotto at 425.357.6020
April 15, Port Angeles; contact David Freed at 360.565.2619
The Puget Sound Marine Invasive Species Volunteer Monitoring Program (MISM) is a new citizen-science shoreline monitoring effort targeting 32 non-native marine and estuarine organisms. Volunteers are trained and responsible for monitoring one or more shoreline sites three to six times a year.
 
Public Forum on Northwest Training Range Complex EIS
April 9: 7 to 10 p.m., Port Townsend Senior Community Center, 620 Tyler St.
Attend a discussion on the Northwest Training Range Complex concerning the Navy’s proposed expansion of testing and training in Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho. Numerous environmental organizations have expressed concerns about the effect of the expansion on Puget Sound.
 
Landscaping Class Offered Through Clallam Conservation District, Peninsula College
April 13, 20, 27 (6 to 8 p.m.) and April 18, 25 (1 to 3 p.m.); locations to be announced
Clallam Conservation District is partnering with Peninsula College to teach basic landscape design concepts (with an emphasis on native plants), environmental considerations and low impact development principles of landscaping.
Registration fee: $36.50 (includes materials)
To learn more and to register go to http://www.pc.ctc.edu/conedsched/schedules/SPRING/Garden___Home.asp

Frontline: Poisoned Waters Documentary Showing
April 14: 7pm (doors open at 6pm), Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave. (at Seneca), Seattle
The Puget Sound Partnership and KCTS 9 are pleased to present an evening with Emmy Award-winning producer Hedrick Smith next month as he shares highlights from his new documentary. The event is free, but will-call tickets are required. They can be obtained by calling 800.838.3006 or through Brown Paper Tickets.
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/59019

2009 Salmon Habitat Conference
April 15-16: Little Creek Conference Center, Shelton
This conference offers an opportunity for those involved in salmon recovery to reflect upon the past 10 years of recovery work, consider what has worked, what is not working, and how to improve the project quality. Participants will share their experiences and learn from their peers about how to build better projects.
Cost: $80; meals included
To learn more got to http://www.rco.wa.gov/srfb/conference.htm <http://www.rco.wa.gov/registration.htm>
 
Duwamish Alive! Earth Day 2009 Volunteer Opportunity
April 18: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., multiple sites in the Duwamish watershed
Celebrate the restoration of the Duwamish River by volunteering your time at one of many sites along the river. Plant native plants, pick up trash, remove invasive weeds and enjoy the eco-industrial environment.
To learn more visit http://duwamishalive.org, call 206.382.7007 or e-mail da@pugetsound.org

Clean and Simple: Healthy Alternative to Household Cleaning Workshop
April 20: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Port of Allyn Meeting Room, 18560 E. State Route 3, Allyn
Explore the realm of household cleaners and their impact on the environment and your personal health. Participants will “make and take” a five-piece cleaning kit using ingredients found in the kitchen pantry. Workshop is free, but pre-registration is required.
To learn more contact Teri King or Janis McNeal, Washington Sea Grant, 360.432.3054 or wsgcanal@u.washington.edu

Black Gold: A Composting Workshop
April 21: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., North Mason Timberland Library, 23801 N.E. State Route 3, Belfair
This free workshop will show participants how to turn leaves, lawn clippings, faded blossoms and dead plants into black gold – soil-enriching compost and mulch. Class is free, but pre-registration is required.
To learn more contact Teri King or Janis McNeal, Washington Sea Grant, 360.432.3054 or wsgcanal@u.washington.edu

EPA Launches Water Quality Video Contest
Due April 22
The U.S. EPA Office of Wetlands, Ocean and Watersheds has launched a video contest to engage the public on water quality issues and to inspire stewardship for the nation’s waters. EPA is soliciting short videos that help educate the public about water pollution and simple steps individuals and communities can take to improve and protect water quality.
To learn more about contest rules and guidelines visit www.epa.gov/owow/videocontest.html <http://www.epa.gov/owow/videocontest.html> or call Rebecca Neary at 202.566.1162
 
Comment Sought on K-12 Environmental, Sustainability Standards
Due April 23
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is seeking input on draft Environmental and Sustainability Education (ESE) standards, which describe what all students are expected to know and be able to do in the area of ESE.
To learn more about the draft standards and provide input online go to http://www.k12.wa.us/curriculumInstruct/EnvironmentSustainability/default.aspx

Clean, Green Boating Fair
May 2: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Foss Waterway, downtown Tacoma
On Opening Day of Boating Season, the Tacoma Liveaboards and Citizens for a Healthy Bay will host free activities and fun, educational events for all ages at Delin Docks Marina on the east side of the Thea Foss Waterway. Includes free boat tours of the restored Foss, free Duffy electric boat rides, presentations on marine solar, wind and biodiesel options, free Coast Guard boat inspections; new Tacoma mobile pump out options for recreational boaters, fire extinguisher re-certifications, and more.
To learn more visit http://www.cleangreenboating.blogspot.com

Water and Land Use in the Pacific Northwest: Integrating Communities and Watersheds Conference
Deadline for abstracts: May 6
Conference: Nov. 4-6, Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, WA
This regional conference merges the best available water science and land-use knowledge to promote collaboration between scientists, planners and decision-makers on sustainable land-use methodologies. Abstracts should address one or more of the conference themes and are limited to 500 words.
To learn more visit www.swwrc.wsu.edu <http://www.swwrc.wsu.edu>  or call 509.335.5531.
 
11th Annual Maritime Career Day
May 7: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Maritime Event Center, 2505 Alaskan Way, Pier 66, Seattle
Introduce local secondary students and adults to job and volunteer opportunities in the maritime community. You and your organization can participate in this career day by: setting up a booth; providing a vessel or vessel tours; speaking in the speakers series; providing a demonstration; serving as a docent; or just spreading the word.
To learn more contact Cassandra Sandkam at 206.269.4108 or csandkam@martimeeventcenter.com

Fruiting Native Plants for Beginners Class
June 3: 6 to 8 p.m., Lacey City Hall, 420 College St. S.E., Lacey
June 6: 10 a.m. to noon, Lacey City Hall, 420 E. College St. S.E., Lacey
Learn how: fruiting native and non-native plants can provide important habitat; to identify common berries in the area; and to help create a berry-healthy watershed. Registration is required to receive free plants.
To learn more call 360.754.3588 x 136 or e-mail kbauman@thurstoncd.com