DNR weekend reading: The sand dune filtration system for polluted runoff water

The Fuzzy Top Trail takes hikers into the finest stand of old-growth trees in Capitol State Forest near Olympia, WA . Photo: Jessica Payne/DNR.

Here are links to articles about natural resources, climate, energy and other topics  published recently by universities, scientific journals, organizations, and other sources:

North Carolina State University: Researchers Devise Hidden Dune Filters To Treat Coastal Stormwater Runoff

When it rains, untreated stormwater can sweep pollutants into coastal waters, potentially endangering public health. Now researchers from North Carolina State University have developed low-cost filtration systems that are concealed beneath sand dunes and filter out most of the bacteria that can lead to beach closures.

Scripps Institution of Oceanography: Scripps Scientists Discover ‘Lubricant’ for Earth’s Tectonic Plates

Scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego have found a layer of liquefied molten rock in Earth’s mantle that may be acting as a lubricant for the sliding motions of the planet’s massive tectonic plates. The discovery may carry far-reaching implications, from solving basic geological functions of the planet to a better understanding of volcanism and earthquakes.

Daily Bulldog: UMF’s biggest geothermal project set to begin May 19
Some 80 geothermal wells will be dug in the heart of the University of Maine at Farmington campus starting this May. The $1.55 million project, which is expected to save upwards of 30,000 gallons of fuel oil each year, is part of the university’s goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2035.

Science Daily: Suggestions for a Middle Ground Between Unlogged Forest and Intensively Managed Lands

In the world’s forested regions, two management systems — retention forestry and agroforestry — are being used to alleviate conflicts between preserving biodiversity and addressing human needs in production landscapes. A new article draws a parallel between the ecological effects of the two systems.

Scientific American: Noisy Ships Creep Out Crabs (Podcast)

The cacophony of ships at sea is stressing shore crabs and could be bothering other marine life.

DNR weekend reading: We’re bothering the birds and the crabs, apparently

A seal swims past some of the toxic creosote-treated pilings that a DNR-managed project will soon remove from Budd Bay at Olympia.

Here are links to reading selections about climate, the environment and other science topics  published recently by science journals, universities, websites, and other sources:

Newswise: Exurban Residences Impact Bird Communities Up to 200 M Away

A study by the Wildlife Conservation Society indicates that impacts to bird communities from a single rural, “exurban” residence can extend up to 200 meters into the surrounding forest. The findings suggest that even isolated rural residences can have a negative affect on sensitive bird species, such as the hermit thrush and scarlet tanager, that prefer unbroken forests, while others, like the blue jay and black-capped chickadee, often thrive with human neighbors.  Read more…

University of Bristol: Ship noise makes crabs get crabby

A study published  in Biology Letters found that ship noise affects crab metabolism, with largest crabs faring worst, and found little evidence that crabs acclimate to noise over time. The team from the Universities of Bristol and Exeter found that crabs exposed to recordings of ship noise showed an increase in metabolic rate, indicating elevated stress, which could have implications for growth. Read more…

University of Oslo: Windmills at sea can break like matchsticks

Medium-sized waves can break wind turbines at sea like matches, asserts Professor John Grue at the University of Oslo, who is one of the world’s foremost experts on wave research. Grue says an inexplicable wave phenomenon called ringing, which is a special type of vibration that occurs when choppy waves hit marine installations, arises at the rear of the turbine. Grue is now looking for a general mathematical formula that can explain the special phenomenon.  Read more…

University of Colorado: Volcanic aerosols, not pollutants, tamped down recent Earth warming, says CU study

A team led by the University of Colorado-Boulder looking for clues about why Earth did not warm as much as scientists expected between 2000 and 2010 now thinks the culprits are hiding in plain sight — dozens of volcanoes spewing sulfur dioxide. The study results essentially exonerate Asia, including India and China, two countries that have increased their industrial sulfur dioxide emissions by about 60 percent from 2000 to 2010 through coal burning.  Read more…

Science Daily: Loss of Wild Insects Hurts Crops Around the World

Researchers studying data from 600 fields in 20 countries have found that managed honey bees are not as successful at pollinating crops as wild insects, primarily wild bees, suggesting the continuing loss of wild insects in many agricultural landscapes has negative consequences for crop harvests.  Read more…

Follow DNR on:

DNR weekend reading: Warmer waters, less snow may challenge Northwest shellfish and energy industries

A unnamed tributary to Deer Creek in the Upper Washougal Northern Spotted Owl Management Area managed by DNR in Skamania County. Photo: Florian Deisenhofer/DNR

Today’s DNR Weekend Reading post begins with three developments that could have a direct impact on the Pacific Northwest: reduced snowmelt for water and power supplies, how warming waters affect shellfish, and another approach to using pine resin to make ‘greener’ plastics.

Princeton Journal Watch: Forecast Is for More Snow in Polar Regions, Less for the Rest of Us
A new cli­mate model pre­dicts an increase in snow­fall for the Earth’s polar regions and its high­est alti­tudes, but an over­all drop in snow­fall for the globe, as car­bon diox­ide lev­els rise over the next century. The decline in snow­fall could spell trou­ble for regions such as the west­ern United States that rely on snowmelt as a source of fresh water.

Scientific American: Warmer Waters Make Weaker Mussels  (PODCAST)
The work of University of Washington research scientist Emily Carrington is discussed. Her findings indicate that mussels’ attachment fibers weaken in warm water. As climate change raises ocean temperatures, these shellfish may be forced to cooler waters.

University of South Carolina: Turning Pine Sap Into “Ever-Green” Plastics
Scientists the University of South Carolina are developing new plastics that are “green” from the cradle to the grave because they are derived from the natural resins found in trees, especially evergreens. The rosin and turpentine derived from conifer wood are rich in hydrocarbons and similar, but not identical, to some components of petroleum.

Stanford University: Going negative: Stanford scientists explore new ways to remove atmospheric CO2
Because reducing CO2 emissions may not be enough to curb the current global warming trend, Stanford scientists suggest developing carbon-negative technologies that remove large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. One approach they favor is converting plant wastes (that release CO2 into the air) into biochar – a charcoal-like substance that can be used as fertilizer to permanently lock the carbon underground.

Science Daily: Coldness Triggers Northward Flight in Monarch Butterflies: Migration Cycle May Be Vulnerable to Global Climate Change  A new study by scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School published in Current Biology, suggests that it is exposure to coldness in the microenvironment of the monarch butterfly’s  overwintering site that triggers its return north every spring. If a warming  climate reduces this cold exposure, the monarch butterfly might just continue flying south instead of returning to upper latitudes each spring.

Follow DNR on:

Puget SoundCorps-WCC, shellfish grower combine efforts to clean up Dabob Bay Natural Area

Puget SoundCorps/WCC crews worked with Rock Point Oyster Co. staff to clean up the DNR Natural Area at Dabob Bay recently. Photo: Deborah Nemens/DNR.

A one-day beach clean-up at Dabob Bay Natural Area Preserve in early February brought in a bounty (if that’s what you want to call it) of assorted trash. The effort was organized by a DNR Natural Areas Ecologist and carried out by a Puget SoundCorps/Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crew, whose labors were paid by the State Jobs Bill, which was passed last year.

The crew picked up about 30 bags of trash, as well as many larger items including big chunks of Styrofoam and tires. About one-third of the items were aquaculture debris, mostly mussel disks and oyster harvest bags. Notable items included a Spiderman action figure, lots of shoes, and some gross things best left unmentioned. 

Assisting the Puget SoundCorp/WCC crew were staff volunteers from Rock Point Oyster Co., which leases state aquatic lands near the preserve. The company also hauled the collected trash away to an approved landfill.

The Dabob Bay Natural Area, located on the northwest shore of Hood Canal, includes 1,193 acres of shoreline, marsh and forestland. It protects rare examples of intact salt marsh and sand spit plant communities. The area is considered one of Washington’s best-functioning coastal spit and tidal wetland systems. About a half-dozen commercial shellfish operations operate nearby producing world-renowned oysters. And now it is a lot cleaner thanks to the Puget SoundCorp/WCC, state jobs bill funds, and the help of Rock Point Oyster Co.

Follow DNR on:

Goldmark on challenges of climate change to state’s natural resources: ‘Our work is cut out for us’

The forest health crisis affecting tree stands in several Eastern Washington counties, and the negative impact of climate change on Washington State aquatic resources, including Puget Sound and other waterways, were among the points raised by Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark in his second inaugural remarks last week.

Ocean acidification and Puget Sound: “The marine waters of Puget Sound are becoming more acidic, as are all marine waters around the globe. This acidification is threatening the state’s shellfish industry because more acidic water interferes with normal shellfish growth, particularly at early developmental stages… The effect of acidification on the wild geoduck fishery that we manage is unknown. Many state and tribal and programs depend on the revenue derived from this fishery, so not unlike our forests, careful scientific analysis followed by appropriate management actions must be taken.”

Forest health: “ A changing climate together with insect infestations and overstocked stands have created a forest health crisis that requires swift action…  Forests that have been treated and restored by thinning are more resilient to drought and disease while also being less susceptible to catastrophic fire damage. There is an urgent need to continue this work in the years ahead.”

View video of Commissioner Goldmark’s address to DNR staff on January 16.

Read the full text of Commissioner Goldmark’s address.

Follow DNR on:

City of Spokane and its neighbors take action to protect from future wildfire

Thinning trees and removing brush to reduce wildfire danger to nearby homes and parkland on High Drive Bluff in Spokane. Photo: DNR.

For the High Drive Bluff community, it’s not about if a wildfire will come through…it’s about when a wildfire will come through. As a result, the residents in this neighborhood near Spokane are taking wildfire prevention matters into their own hands.

Funded with a $50,000 grant from the USDA Forest Service and administered through DNR, neighbors are volunteering their time to clear undergrowth, dead debris, and trash along the bluff to help reduce the risk of wildfire. This prevention project will help to calm fire danger when it hits this community.

Proper planning is important for building wildfire-proof communities. See how the prevention project will affect this bluff in the years to come.

Follow DNR on:

Stay shellfish safe this summer: Know before you dig

If your summer recreation plans involve digging for some tasty clams, mussels, oysters, or geoducks, be sure the beach is safe for harvest before you head out. The Washington State Department of Health has been reporting dangerous levels of  Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) and other biotoxins in several counties this summer.

Before harvesting shellfish anywhere in Washington, check for updated closure information on Health’s Shellfish Safety Website or call the Biotoxin Hotline at 1-800-562-5632. You can also get the latest shellfish info on Facebook and Twitter.

Want to know when and where you can dig? How many you’re allowed to harvest in one day? Where you can get a license? Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has all the information you need on their fishing and shellfishing web page.

And if you’ll be digging on lands managed by Washington State Parks, DNR, or WDFW, don’t forget your Discover Pass.

Follow DNR on:

DNR keeps eye on Japanese tsunami debris; Department manages 2.6 million acres of state-owned aquatic lands

Washington coast. Photo: Jane Chavey

Washington agencies, including DNR, are preparing for the prospect of debris from the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami washing ashore here. Yesterday (Wednesday, April 25), representatives of local and tribal governments, state and federal agencies, and community organizations gathered in Ocean Shores to coordinate their strategies to respond to tsunami debris. Some debris could enter the Strait of Juan de Fuca and possibly reach the opening to Puget Sound.

Most, but not all, of the materials washed into the ocean following the tsunami have sunk, degraded or become widely dispersed. But as the manager and steward of some 2.6 million acres of state-owned aquatic lands, DNR is concerned about the potential environmental impacts of any debris that arrives here. Experts expect that the debris — now widely dispersed – will arive in small amounts over the next  two years.

More about the debris from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Guidance from NOAA: What to do if you see debris

Here’s what the media said about the April 25 meeting in Ocean Shores.

• MSNBC: Tsunami debris concerns Washington State
• CNN: Preparing for tsunami debris, wherever it may make landfall 
• KOMO News: Wave of Japanese tsunami debris heading for the west coast 
• KIRO News: Agencies plan for tsunami debris heading our way
• KING 5: State experts form strategies for tsunami debris arrival 
• NW Public Radio: Cost Recovery Part Of West Coast Tsunami Debris Cleanup Discussion

Follow DNR on:

Ocean acidity rise may threaten state’s shellfish industry; Commissioner Goldmark on panel seeking solutions

Oysters at hatcheries in Oregon are showing the effects of ocean acidification. Photo: Oregon State University.

As steward of 2.6 million acres of state-owned aquatic lands, DNR is paying close attention to ocean acidification. Recent research, funded by the National Science Foundation, only fuels our concerns that rising acidity of the Pacific Ocean has a direct effect on the larval growth of shellfish.

The research was conducted in a commercial oyster hatchery in Oregon, which suffered a collapse in oyster seed production. However, scientific studies reveal that waters in our state are also becoming more acidic, making it all the more urgent that we take steps to mitigate ecologic and economic harm.

On March 30, the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification convened for the first time. The panel is part of the Washington Shellfish Initiative and comprises a diverse group of state agencies, representatives of the aquaculture community, environmental organizations, tribes and other local leaders.

Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark was appointed to the panel, which has its second meeting today, April 25.

“As a scientist, I am keenly interested in using sound science to better understand the interrelation of human actions and the environment,” Commissioner Goldmark says. “Sound science is telling us more about the connection between climate change and ocean acidification.”  

The Blue Ribbon Panel will identify ways to advance our scientific understanding of the problem and reduce the harmful effects of acidification on Washington’s shellfish and other marine resources.  In October 2012, the panel will release recommendations to the Governor.

Learn more about the Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification and its focus for this important issue.

Follow DNR on:

Geoducks draw attention from financial press

“They look like cow tongues.”

“Geoduck is not strange thing. It is very delicious indeed. Very healthy food!”

“Good luck for these fishermen.”

A sampling of the reader comments posted to the Wall Street Journal’s article last week “For New Year, Chinese Shell Out Big for Tribes’ Supersized Clams.

Here’s a link to a short video about geoduck harvesting that Journal posted.

We’ll forgive the Journal for neglecting to mention that since 1969, DNR has jointly managed the state’s geoduck fishery with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Puget Sound Treaty Indian Tribes. This is the ‘wildstock fishery’ where wild geoduck grow on submerged aquatic lands. DNR manages millions of acres of these submerged aquatic lands in Washington State and holds public auctions where private businesses bid for rights to harvest specific quantities from specific areas.

The next geoduck auction is February 23, 2011,  in Room 172 of the Natural Resources Building in Olympia

There are about 200 acres of private tidelands used for geoduck aquaculture in the state. DNR does not currently lease any lands for geoduck ‘aquaculture‘ (where the large clams are grown on tidelands).

Follow DNR on: