Answers about the proposed coal terminal at Cherry Point

7 - 9 p.m., August 16
Birch Bay Bible Community Church
7039 Jackson Road, Birch Bay

There are a lot of questions about the controversial proposal to build North America's largest coal terminal next to the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve. Come to the Coal Hard Truth forum to get answers about the project proposal, its potential impacts on hum and ecological health, and how coal consumption impacts us all.

Learn more about: The terminal proposal itself -- Coal dust from the terminal -- Health impacts from 18 more trains a day -- Where we are in the regulatory process -- Regional and international perspectives -- What you can do

Sponsors: Sierra Club, RE Sources, and Climate Solutions

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Good news on the Terrell Lake Dam

From Elie Friedlob -

I just learned from Rachel Vasak at NSEA [Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association] that they have received a grant that will fund the redesign/reconfiguration of the Terrell Lake dam.

As many of you know, we have been trying to figure out a way to get more water into the creek around spawning time to help the chum make it up stream. They are big fish that like to have their bodies immersed fully in water to feel comfortable (unlike the coho which don't seem to mind as much).

The reconfiguration and design of the dam is a very important step that was started two or so years ago when Ryan Vasak, Rachel's husband, developed an initial plan/design for his master's thesis at Western. With NSEA's help, the next step was to obtain the grant. That was awarded and another big success is that BP [refinery] is going to provide matching funding to undertake this big re-design - a significant amount of financial support.

Lets celebrate this wonderful news! Many thanks to NSEA and Ryan and BP as well as all of YOU who have helped to make this whole Terrell Creek restoration a long term and successful effort.

More to come.....

Thanks so much for your continued contribution to this effort!

Elie

A LOT OF TREES GIVE AWAY

Seven hundred trees need a home (Sitka Spruce and Western Red Cedar)

APRIL 30, 2011, 9 a.m. to noon - or while supply lasts.

7568 Birch Bay Drive, Birch Bay, Washington

Requirements:

• Be a property owner in the Terrell Creek watershed
• Come and adopt your trees
• Plant near creeks, rivers or lakes if possible
• Tend and nurture you adoptees for the year

Brought to you by the Chums of Terrell Creek -

assisted by Dorie Belisle, the original Farmers Growing Trees for Salmon Coordinator;

the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association; and Whatcom Farm Friends.

Volunteer to help, bring a shovel and a willing spirit. Call 360-371-5312 for more information.

Next Up

Terrell Creek Work Party, April 2 - 9 to noon: park at the church on Jackson Road and check-in at the NSEA tent. Anyone who can handle a shovel is encouraged to attend and tend the creek.

Tree Give-away, date to be announced - free to residents along Terrell Creek and in the Terrell Creek watershed. Watch this spot for the specific date.


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Jerry Larson - Addendum

A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, February 4th at 4:00 PM at the Sons of Norway Hall in Bellingham, 1419 N Forest St.  Arrangements by Moles-Greenacres Funeral Home & Memorial Park.

Jerry Larson - Rest in Peace

Birch Bay, Whatcom County and Puget Sound are going to miss Jerry Larson, who died on Thursday, January 27, 2011.

He was a tireless activist on behalf of fin and shellfish, particularly in his beloved Birch Bay, but extending to the surrounding area.

We first met Jerry shortly after coming to Birch Bay a little over seven years ago. He was poking around in a bowl of water containing nematodes and other critters, participating in a Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association workshop on water quality in Terrell Creek.

He was a constant presence at Birch Bay Steering Committee meetings, always ensuring that the decisions being made would enhance the watershed and protect the bay as habitat for his cherished shell- and fin fish.

Within hours of his son Keith's e-mail notification of his death, friends and colleagues were reacting to the news:

“It's a sad day in Birch Bay,” said Kathy Berg, chair, Birch Bay Steering Committee. 

“Jerry will always be smiling as we work to restore the chum run in Terrell Creek... or spreading oyster seed in Birch Bay,” said Steve Seymour, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

“I owe so much to Jerry and he asked for so little. Truly a precious soul to watch over all of us from the smallest seed clam to the water itself,” said Martha Simonsen, health educator, bariatric clinician.

“My thoughts go out to everyone in the Larson family and all of the people in our community that knew and appreciated Jerry. We are going to miss his presence tremendously,” said Rachel Vasak, executive director, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association.

The Lummi Island Watershed Enhancement Committee published their own tribute to Jerry at

http://liwec.wordpress.com/2011/01/28/gerold-larson-jerry/.

We sent our thoughts to Keith: “Our deepest condolences to you and your family. We know Jerry from his work with the Chums of Terrell Creek, seeking to restore salmon to the creek. We were concerned about him because our e-mail to him last week bounced back. Please do keep us informed of any services or memorials. If there is anything we can do to help in this difficult time, please just ask,” Ruth Higgins and Al Krause. 

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Please feel free to post your comments. We will publish them here. R&A 

Optimism for Terrell Creek and the Bay

Over the weekend Elie Friedlob, the founder and leader of The Chums of Terrell Creek, reported that numerous large salmon were spotted near the creek's prime spawning grounds. This is good news for those who have been working for eight years to bring fish back to the stream.

Coincidentally, Friday morning Ingrid Enschede, the outreach manager for BBWARM – Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management – convened a meeting of people involved in improving the quality of water in the creek's watershed and the bay. Twenty-one people, many from the Whatcom County Planning and Public Works Departments, attended the gathering at the S­emiahmoo fire station to report on their activities. In total, their reports are impressive.

Rachel Vasak, executive director of NSEA – the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association – the parent organization of the Chums, explained how her group will continue to plant trees with volunteer work parties, and pursue other endeavors to improve stream habitat. She mentioned an agreement to increase the flow from Lake Terrell into the creek during dry months.

Steve Seymour, of the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Department, said that the allocation of chum eggs for the remote site incubator, operated with NSEA, will be increased to 100,000 this year, up from 30,000 in the last batch. He also reported a channel will be dug around the dam that separates the creek from the lake so that fish can swim to a freshwater stream that flows into the lake.

George Boggs, executive director of the Whatcom Conservation District, spoke about implementation of a $730,000 grant from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency for a four-year program to reduce nutrient and pathogen contamination. He is about to hire the key person who will go door-to-door to ask landowners to voluntarily limit pollution. Those who agree will receive the help of experts in Mr. Boggs' organization.

The County Council has been ridiculed for making homeowner reporting of septic tank inspections voluntary. However, Ms. Enschede reported that of the 690 who were asked to make inspections last February, 468 responded, with almost 200 stating the need for maintenance. One participant suggested that you could bet that those who didn't respond have faulty tanks, then added that a low-interest, long-term loan program makes repairs affordable.

The importance of improving and maintaining water quality was underscored by Ted Morris, Birch Bay State Park manager, who reported that 700,000 visitors and 50,000 campers came to the park last year and that Birch Bay is ranked as the No. 1 shellfish beach in the state.