Although our plantings were weed eaten 3 times since we installed them in 2009, there is still life along the ferry landing rocked bluff.
July Update
Category Archives: Lummi Island Water Study
Don’t miss this Program on June 9th “What’s in our Waters?”
Find out current Whatcom County Water Quality an shellfish survey data. Including Lummi Island’s data!
For Current Lummi Island Water Quality
Data Go to : LI_04_11_WQsummary
Forest Practices Board takes important steps to protect clean water and public safety
FOREST PRACTICES BOARD TAKES IMPORTANT STEPS TO PROTECT CLEAN WATER AND PUBLIC SAFETY Board Also Gets Dnr Update On Timber Harvest Compliance Action Plan OLYMPIA – The state’s Forest Practices Board approved a rule today aimed at improving protections for water quality and public safety in several watersheds where timber harvesting and other forest practices occur. “Today the board took positive steps as a result of the lessons learned from the extraordinary rain event in the Chehalis River basin in 2007,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. “This gives more substance to DNR’s monitoring and enforcement of watershed protections and its recommendations for additional steps to protect public safety, property and clean water.”
RED MORE: Forest Practices Board takes important steps to protect clean water and public safety.
Learn more http://1.usa.gov/l25HDD Watch video http://bit.ly/k2YLeT
Laird Hamilton Speaks Out for Ocean Preservation – Environment – GOOD
Laird Hamilton who works with the Surfrider Foundation in an article from AMARA HOLSTEIN on Good News says:
“A true understanding and compassion for the fragility of ocean life is the issue I feel is most crucial to any conversation about the ocean. On a micro level, individuals should feel a sense of both responsibility and empowerment to doing all the little things that matter to the coastline—pick up trash, stop littering, recycle—scores of small contributions can quickly lead to large scale change. On a macro level, it is important that we hold corporations and politicians accountable to understanding the needs of our ecosystem—they represent us, and we are all dependent on that ecosystem—we posses the power and capability to prevent its destruction”
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For more visit: Laird Hamilton Speaks Out for Ocean Preservation – Environment – GOOD.
Evidence Of Water Cleansing Benefits from Biodiversity
This is an interesting article about a study on how bio-diversity helps remove toxins in water. Cardinale’s study, which appears in the April 7 issue of Nature, was funded by the National Science Foundation.
The cleansing power of biodiversity
Scientists have long known that ecosystems that have more plant species tend to have a greater capacity to remove pollutants from soil and water than do ecosystems that have fewer species. But, until now, no one knew how or why this is so.
Cardinale’s study helps solve this mystery by explaining how biodiversity promotes the self-cleaning power of streams. According to the study, as algae grow in streams and produce more biomass, they incorporate into their bodies some common forms of pollution and thereby remove it from the water. Each species of pollution-removing algae has evolved and adapted to a different set of conditions, and so occupies a unique mini habitat, or niche, within a water body. Therefore, as the number of species of pollution-removing algae increases in a stream, so too does the number of unique niches that are occupied, filtered and cleansed by them. Hence: the more algae species a stream has, the more total pollutants these organisms may remove from the water.
Read More: Precedent-Setting Evidence Of The Benefits Of Biodiversity.
View video: http://www.wateronline.com/article.mvc/How-Biodiversity-Promotes-Water-Quality-0001
The United Nations International World Water Day is on March 22nd
Change Begins with a Drop.
Water Technologies
Since 1993, International World Water Day has been
held annually on March 22nd by the United Nations
as a means of focusing attention on the importance
of fresh water and advocating for the sustainable
management of fresh water resources.
Of course, personally, we can all adopt small
changes in behavior, to help make a big difference
this World Water Day (and everyday). Siemens is
also committed to creating the technologies to
help communities and industries make big changes
in how they consume, manage and recycle fresh
water, to make a real and lasting impact on water
conservation and accessibility across the globe.
Water Facts
Things you should know about the world’s fresh
water supply – our most precious natural resource:
n Up to three quarters of the Earth’s surface
is covered with water but less than 0.03% is
drinkable.
n Producing 35 cubic feet (1 cubic meter) of
drinkable water through desalination reverse
osmosis (the process of forcing salty water
through a membrane to remove the salt) requires
about 2 kWh of electricity. Although that’s down
from 5 to 10 kWh 20 years ago, it is still energy
intensive.
n Urbanization and demographic changes pose
serious challenges to secure water supplies for
future generations, as humans use more and
more water each year.
n Today, 1.2 billion people are without clean
drinking water and 2.4 billion people are not
connected to wastewater systems.
n The United Nations estimates more than 3 billion
people may suffer from water shortages by the
year 2025.
n As population grows, the demand on our
water resources is challenged to keep up.
n More than a billion people in water poor
regions around the globe survive on
the same amount used to flush a toilet
or take a 5-minute shower, just over 1
gallon (5 liters) of water each day.
n Each day almost 10,000 children under
the age of 5 in Third World countries die
as a result of illnesses contracted by use
of impure water.
n Even though each person only requires
about 13 gallons (48 liters) of water on
a daily basis, individuals in the United
States use an average of 132 gallons (500
liters), those in Canada an average of 79
gallons (300 liters) and those in England
an average of 52 gallons (200 liters).
n To manufacture new cars 39,000 gallons
(148,000 liters) of water are used per car.
n A 60-Watt incandescent bulb can
consume up to 6,000 gallons (22,710
liters) of water a year.
n Water and energy are critical, mutually
dependent resources – the production
of energy requires large volumes of
water and water treatment requires large
amounts of energy.
© 2011 Siemens Water Technologies Corp
CO-WWD-FCTSHT-0111
March 22nd 2011 is World Water Day
Take some time to celebrate water!
Lummi Island Community Land Trust Biological Conditions Assessment of the beach north of the Lummi Island Ferry Landing
Lummi Island Community Land Trust Biological Conditions Assessment
of the beach north of the Lummi Island Ferry Landing
Prepared by: Chris Fairbanks Fairbanks Environmental Services
517 Briar Road Bellingham, WA 98225 July 16, 2008
To download (large doc file) full report: Assessment Report – Fairbanks
July 16, 2008 Fairbanks Environmental Services
Executive Summary
Lummi Island Community Land Trust contracted Fairbanks Environmental Services, Inc and Coastal Geologic Services, Inc to complete and assessment of biological conditions and coastal processes along a beach to the north of the Lummi Island Ferry landing. Biological conditions of the marine riparian, upper beach, and intertidal zone are good and natural processes are functioning well to maintain a moderately healthy ecosystem. The assessment of coastal processes was conducted by Coastal Geologic Services, Inc and a summary report was completed as a separate memorandum.
Threats to the environmental health of the study area is primarily from stormwater from the ferry landing loading area that transports contaminants from the road surface and pet wastes directly into the study area. Collection and treatment of this stormwater should be given a high priority. The study area is located near the Strait of Georgia and the Cherry Point reach where ship traffic and transfer of petroleum products have the potential for discharge of cargo and fuel into the marine waters. Lummi Island Community Land Trust should include emergency oil spill response action planning into their public education program. Additional actions to enhance existing habitat in the marine riparian zone that would also provide benefits to intertidal habitat include:
1. Remove creosote treated timbers from the beach.
2. Plant additional native species of trees and shrubs in the riparian zone.
3. Establish a riparian community along the ferry landing shoreline where riprap has been placed; this may be done if an access trail is constructed.
4. Place additional large wood features at the toe of the bluff.
5. Retain large wood such as the Douglas fir trees when they fall onto the beach; do not allow trees to be cut and removed from the beach.
6. Protect water quality in the small stream that drains through the culvert in the study area.
For more: Download (large doc file) full report: Assessment Report – Fairbanks
Runoff turns Elliott Bay into murky stew
Runoff turns Elliott Bay into murky stew
I heard a clay particle in water can float around in the sea for up to 50 years before it settles. These clay particles are perfect little hosts for toxins to cling to.
October 2010 WEC UPDATE
WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE (WEC) UPDATE – – Wanda Cucinotta, Chair
Many thanks to Lummi Island Civic Club for their donation to purchase a Mitt Mutt Station (doggy do bag dispenser). It has been installed near the propane tank south of The Islander Store. We hope this and our other work will improve the quality of storm water runoff from the area entering our clam beds. Water Sampling Continues: We are still collecting water samples every month at 4 locations on Lummi Island through a grant from the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee (MRC). We will be posting the results in the coming months. Additional Water Sample Volunteers Are Still Needed. The MRC/ Shellfish Subcommittee and WEC’s Little Neck Clam enhancement pilot project here on Lummi Island showed little results in producing more little neck clams (For more info: go to our blog). The Lummi Island Heritage Trust (a 501c3 nonprofit) is now sponsoring our Ferry Landing Enhancement Project. We are currently seeking donations and applying for grant funds for additional restoration work around the Lummi Island Ferry Landing as well as monitoring and maintenance of our 2009 work. We have permits in hand and hope to start again this winter/spring. For information or to volunteer contact: Wanda @ 360-220 -3077, email: forestflor@aol.com, or check updates on our Blog: https://liwec.wordpress.com or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lummi-Island-Watershed-Enhancement-Committee-LIHT/111343635550960 . Also check out our Mission Page: https://liwec.wordpress.com/about/mission/ 
Lummi Island Watershed Enhancement Committee 