FOSB tranparent web

  • Trail Tales
    Trail Tales leads you on a journey of discovery Read More
  • Learn & Teach
    Promoting stewardship through education and outreach. Read More
  • Be A Citizen Scientist
    Satisfy your innate curiosity through citizen science. Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

9T4o5A87c.jpg

 

Stormwater Monitoring Season is Here! 

 

Autumn 2022 starts our second two-year stormwater sampling campaign. This time with a twist: new citizen scientists in three more cities will be monitoring city stormwater outfalls in addition to continuing our work in Anacortes. Oak Harbor, Mukilteo, and Edmonds are now part of the expanded monitoring work that Friends of Skagit Beaches is leading in the North Sound. 

20221008 104425 1000226 1K smThis work is funded by a grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundations’ Southern Resident Killer Whale Conservation Program for the purpose of improving habitat, food sources, and conducting research to support recovery of the Southern Resident Orca population within our region. The grant covers the costs for volunteer coordination, recruiting, training, equipping, and managing the data captured by our volunteers.

During the summer of 2022 Friends established a partnership with the Snohomish County Beach Watcher program and the Sound Waters Stewards on Whidbey Island to connect to eager citizen science volunteers in their programs.  We recruited, trained, and equipped volunteers in Oak Harbor, Mukilteo, and Edmonds, as well as new volunteers for Anacortes. All three groups of eager volunteers are ready to get down to the beach and sometimes even in the water (photo left) to sample and take monitoring measurements. 20211115 102742 1022691 1Kpix

This volunteer effort addresses a shortcoming in our federal Clean Water Act: no required periodic monitoring of stormwater outfall pipes. Local towns would have difficulty in financially supporting the manpower and equipment costs for this activity. That’s where Friends of Skagit Beaches and our citizen science volunteers come to the rescue . . .

[Click Here to Read More]

Purple Varnish Clam

Purple Varnish Clam

The Purple Varnish Clam is a Northwest newcomer. It's not clear yet how this fast-spreading bivalve may affect other marine creatures.

Biologists first noticed the Purple Varnish Clam near Vancouver Island in the late 1980's. It's native to Japan and Korea and probably came to North America in ballast water. Large ships use tanks of seawater to give them stability and then pump it out when taking on cargo. Small clams and other creatures can be taken in with the sea water and end up being released into the environment at the other end of the voyage.

Since its arrival in North America, the Purple Varnish Clam has spread south to Puget Sound and along the Pacific Coast. Its flattish brown shell grows to 2 1/4 inches across with a varnished shine outside and a purple interior. It lives in shallow water, especially near freshwaters seeps, and can quickly dig itself 8 inches deep into sand or gravel. At night the clam extends two long tubes to just above the sea floor; one takes in water from which the clam filters food and the other sends out waste. Unlike many other clams, this one can also feed as it moves along. A single, muscular foot propels it, and as bits of food stick to the foot, the clam transfers them to its mouth.

With a shellfish license you can harvest Purple Varnish Clams, but it's important to check first that they're safe to collect where you plan to go. These clams concentrate toxins at higher levels than other types and hold onto the toxins longer. Call the Shellfish Safety Hotline: 1-800-562-5632.

In Friends Notes

Autumn 2022 starts our second two-year stormwater sampling campaign. This t...
UPDATE: Grant for Fidalgo Bay and City of Anacortes stormwater monitoring. ...
Compiled by Chris Wood with contributions from Ellen Anderson, Betty Carter...

FOSB tranparent web

Support Us

Donate & Join

Friends of Skagit Beaches

Help while you shop, too!

When you shop at smile.amazon.com Amazon donates

Go to smile.amazon.com

 fred meyer logo 300

Our Mission: Protecting Skagit shorelines and marine waters through education, citizen science, and stewardship. Learn More...

Our 2020 Annual Report

Our 2016 Brochure

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Trail Tales Brochure | Map

visit facebook

Upcoming Events