MRC Annual Holiday Party
: TBD
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Snohomish MRC Seeks New Members!

The Snohomish Marine Resources Committee (MRC) is looking to fill up to three committee member positions. The MRC would like to recruit a variety of candidates.

The MRC is a service provided by Snohomish County Surface Water Management (SWM) and is focused on protecting, and restoring the marine and estuarine environment of the county. Committee members help recommend actions to the Snohomish County Executive and the County Council, as well as get hands-on experience planning and implementing marine conservation projects, such as the Snohomish Estuary Creosote Piling Prioritization Plan and the Port Susan Conservation Action Plan. MRC members have the opportunity to participate in monitoring marine species like forage fish and kelp, and the committee has several educational project including recreational crabber education to reduce the loss of crab pots and regular beach cleanups with outreach on marine debris.

The MRC is looking for individuals who want to:

  • Learn about marine conservation
  • Participate in science-based research
  • Contribute to policy recommendations
  • Have diverse backgrounds in areas such as:
    • Commercial fishing, marinas, or boating
    • Housing or shoreline development
    • Recreational and environmental interests

Members are appointed for a three-year term (2022 through 2024) with the possibility of two additional terms. The commitment includes:

  • Attending a currently virtual monthly meeting on the third Wednesday of every month from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
  • Volunteering for a minimum of 10 hours a month including attending virtual meetings, developing and reviewing documents, and optional in-person field-work.

To apply, submit an online application form here. Select “Marine Resources Advisory Committee” from the drop-down menu of the online application form. Please also send a cover letter explaining your interest in volunteering along with your resume to Elisa Dawson at Elisa.Dawson@snoco.org. The deadline for applications is December 6, 2021 or until filled.

 

Volunteers scan the beach for pollution big and small

Snohomish MRC Celebrates International Coastal Cleanup Day

The MRC hosted a beach cleanup event on September 18, 2021 from 9AM-12PM at Kayak Point County Park for International Coastal Cleanup Day. This event was put on collaboratively by the Snohomish MRC with WSU Beach Watchers, WSU Waste Warriors, and Zero Waste Washington, and utilized the Escaped Trash Assessment Protocol developed by the EPA for cleaning up and assessing the impact of trash on the beach. Snohomish County Council Member Nate Nehring and Snohomish County Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Director Tom Teigen attended the event.

In total, nearly 40 volunteer citizen scientists carefully scanned 68,000 square feet at Kayak Point Beach for marine debris and primarily found and picked up small plastic fragments, cigarette butts, bottles and containers, charcoal from firepits, and fishing gear. In total 1,338 marine debris objects were collected, totaling over 56 pounds of trash. Using the protocol, the site was given a “C” and determined to be littered, meaning that trash was evenly distributed throughout the site and small accumulations of trash were visible. The citizen science data collected will be used for a region-wide effort to better understand trash loading and how trash is impacting the Puget Sound.

Senator Maria Cantwell visits Meadowdale Beach

After a decade of planning, construction has begun on renovations at the waterfront park to create a 1.3-acre pocket estuary that will bring back Chinook, chum, and coho salmon, as well as cutthroat trout.

On July 9 local politicians and advocates assembled for a tour of the site. Among the speakers were U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, state Sen. Marko Liias, Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson, and county Councilmember Megan Dunn.

“This is just an unbelievable investment that kind of, I think, is going to be symbolic for what we need to do,” Cantwell said. “… We’re learning if we want a shot at saving salmon, then we need to stop and think about how to pull out these blockages.”

Construction and limited park access for the Meadowdale Beach Park and Estuary Restoration Project began on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, and will continue through the fall. The project is estimated to be fully completed in the spring of 2022. 

Read the Everett Herald Article

MRC Kelp Monitoring Video From The Northwest Straits Commission

Of the 23 species of large brown algae (known as kelp) that are native to Puget Sound, the beautiful Nereocystis luetkeana, or bull kelp, is the largest. Reaching a canopy height of 60’ or more, this is likely the one you’ve tangled in a propeller, marked as a prized fishing spot or dive site, or perhaps eaten – pickled, as a tasty appetizer. In response to concerns about declining bull kelp populations in some parts of the Sound, and mounting interest in kelp restoration, the Northwest Straits Commission is gathering information for use in local and regional planning and research.

Watch the video!