Coast Salish mural at Orcas Landing. Photo: Tom DiChiara
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Grand opening at Orcas Landing

San Juan County recently hosted a long-awaited celebration and grand opening of the Orcas Landing Marine Interpretive Outlook, including the unveiling of a mural created by a team of young Coast Salish artists from the Samish, Port Gamble, and Cowlitz tribes.

The area also includes interpretive signage developed by the MRC: one panel takes viewers under the bay to learn about the local ecosystem and species, and the other shares traditional Coast Salish fishing methods and how important the culture and actions of fishing are to local residents of the San Juan islands today.

San Juan MRC would like to acknowledge MRC tribal representative Patti Gobin for her continued guidance, teachings, and patience in helping both the MRC and the County to tell the right stories of the first peoples of the islands.

The Northwest Straits Commission is a regional coordinating body comprised of people who care about the marine areas where they live, and who work together to protect and restore marine resources.

The Northwest Straits Commission carries out regional conservation projects and supports the work of seven Marine Resources Committees through funding, technical support, training and regional coordination.

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July 2021 Commission Meeting

July 30

Zoom

  • Member Spotlight: Barbara Bennett

  • Spring gardening to help the bay

    Jefferson MRC

    There have been lots of busy bees in Jefferson this spring, as new plants arrived at several of the MRC's local rain garden sites, and MRC members and community volunteers weeded, planted and mulched the rain gardens that filter stormwater runoff before it drains to Port Townsend Bay.

    If you're in the area, check out the new native plants taking root at Chetzemoka Park and the Northwest Maritime Center. Learn more about Jefferson MRC’s rain gardens here.

  • Congrats, grads!

    Skagit MRC

    Congratulations to the 2021 Salish Sea Stewards graduates, who completed their last class June 1! This group of 39 graduates are the largest cohort to complete Skagit MRC’s annual training program for volunteers interested in the marine environment. Learn more about Salish Sea Stewards.

  • Eelgrass in Island County

    Island MRC

    Island County Marine Resources Committee is pleased to announce publication of a new Story Map all about eelgrass! This story is more than ten years in the making.

    The Story Map covers what eelgrass is and its role in our ecosystem, the research that this community science team conducted, Island County MRC, and ways that you can help protect this critical habitat. Check it out here: Eelgrass Story Map

Member Spotlight: Barbara Bennett

Island MRC

Barbara Bennett has loved the ocean for years. As a recreational scuba diver since the 1970’s and ocean kayaker since the 1980’s, she’s had the opportunity to observe marine life and habitat in many prime locations around the world. Through her explorations she became aware of the pressures on marine ecosystems and decided she was not content to stand by as marine resources declined. In 2008, she took an early retirement to enter the UW School of Marine Affairs and after completing her MMA, became Program Coordinator for WSU Island County Beach Watchers where she served for 5 years. She observed the work of the Northwest Straits Commission and the Island County Marine Resources Committee for 5 years and in 2016, was appointed to the Island MRC where she represents the MRC on the Island County Local Integrating Organization and works with other members on educational outreach and kelp research. I her words, “The tangible results of this work to date are impressive and I look forward to participating in the Commission's next generation of pro-active, solution-focused initiatives to conserve and restore the remarkable marine resources of Puget Sound and the greater Salish Sea.”

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Upcoming Events

  • Jul

    30

    July 2021 Commission Meeting

    Friday
    July 30
    10:00 am-12:00 pm

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    Meeting ID: 876 1258 0777
    Passcode: 128024
    Dial in: 253-215-8782

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  • Aug

    27

    August 2021 Commission Meeting

    Friday
    August 27
    10:00 am-12:00 pm

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    Meeting ID: 836 7222 4871
    Passcode: 246901
    Dial in: 253-215-8782

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  • Sep

    24

    September 2021 Commission Meeting

    Friday
    September 24
    10:00 am-12:00 pm