Resources and Links

1. Use Water Wisely

General info on water conservation:

WSU Extension
http://ext.wsu.edu/ (type "water conservation" in the Search WSU window)

Home water consumption calculator
http://environment.about.com/library/weekly/blwatercalculator.htm

Map of Island County showing areas with elevated levels of chloride in well water
http://www.islandcounty.net/health/Envh/Hydrogeology/CircleMap.htm

Water Resources Advisory Committee
http://www.islandcounty.net/health/Envh/WRAC/WRAC Main.htm

2. Maintain Your Septic System

Septic failure:

Clallam County Extension
clallam.wsu.edu/waterquality/septfailure.html

Landscaping over a septic system:

Clallam County Extension
clallam.wsu.edu/waterquality/drainfield.html

Washington Sea Grant Program (PDF)
http://www.wsg.washington.edu/outreach/mas/
water_quality/septicsense/landscapeseptic.pdf

3. Limit Use of Pesticides & Fertilizers

Pest control/Integrated Pest Management (IPM):

Whatcom County Extension
http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/IPM/

Lawn fertilizers (and effects on water quality):

Washington State University Clean Water for Washington (publication)
http://cru84.cahe.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/pubs/EB1744.html

Alternatives to chemicals:

The Washington Toxics Coalition
(206) 632-1545
http://www.watoxics.org

Seattle Public Utilities
Ecologically Sound Lawn Care for the Pacific Northwest (publication)
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/util/lawncare/LawnReport.htm

4. Manage Upland Water Runoff

Island County Planning Department

http://www.islandcounty.net/planning/

Department of Ecology

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/shorelan.html (click on “Publications”)

You may request the following Department of Ecology publications online:

• Surface Water and Groundwater on Coastal Bluffs: a Guide for Puget Sound Property Owners, #95-107
• Slope Stabilization and Erosion Control Using Vegetation: A Manual of Practice for Coastal Property Owners, #93-30

For more information on low impact development:
Puget Sound Action Team
http://www.psat.wa.gov/Programs/LID.htm

5. Encourage Native Plants & Trees

Gardening with native plants:

Island County/WSU Master Gardeners
http://www.island.wsu.edu/mastergardener/mginfo.htm

Native plant sales:

Washington Native Plant Society
http://www.wnps.org (Salal Chapter in Mt. Vernon has two sales per year in April and September)

Snohomish Conservation District
http://www.snohomishcd.org (annual plant sale held in March)

Skagit Conservation District
http://www.skagitcd.org

Pacific Northwest Trail Association
http://www.pnt.org

6. Know the Permit Procedures for Shoreline Development

Island County Planning Department

http://www.islandcounty.net/planning/
(Good info on current shoreline regulations on setbacks, bulkheads, buffers and beach access.)

Department of Ecology

They maintain oversight of the Island County Shoreline Master Program and the shoreline permit process. They also maintain a large and informative website:

Puget Sound: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/pugetsound/
Shoreline aerial photos: http://apps.ecy.wa.gov/shorephotos/
Landslides: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/landslides/
Publications: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/shorelan.html

You may request the following Department of Ecology publications online:

• Washington State Permit Assistance Center, #00-06-041
• Introduction to Ecology’s New Shoreline Master Program Guidelines, #01-06-04
• Working in the Water, #99-06

7. Develop on Bluffs with Care

Island County Planning Department

http://www.islandcounty.net/planning/ (They can supply contact information for qualified geologists and geological engineers.)

US Geological Survey

USGS Landslide Hazards
http://geohazards.cr.usgs.gov/

Department of Ecology

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/shorelan.html (click on "Publications")

You may request the following Department of Ecology publications online:

• Slope Stabilization and Erosion Control Using Vegetation: A Manual of Practice for Coastal Property Owners, #93-30
• Vegetation Management: A Guide for Puget Sound Bluff Property Owners, #93-31
• Surface Water and Groundwater on Coastal Bluffs: A Guide for Puget Sound Property Owners, #95-107
• Bluff Erosion Monitoring on Puget Sound: A Guide for Volunteers, #00-06-022

8. Minimize Bulkheads

Island County Planning Department

http://www.islandcounty.net/planning/
(They can advise on geologists with soft-shore protection expertise.)

Department of Ecology

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/shorelan.html (click on "Publications")

You may request the following Department of Ecology publications online:

• Alternative Bank Protection Methods for Puget Sound Shorelines, #00-06-012

9. Respect Intertidal Life

WSU Beach Watchers
http://beachwatchers.wsu.edu

EZ-ID guide to common nearshore creatures of Island County
http://beachwatchers.wsu.edu/ezidweb/ezidindx.htm

Washington State pumpout locations:

State Parks Commission
http://www.parks.wa.gov

10. Preserve Eelgrass Beds and Forage Fish Spawning Habitats

Map of eelgrass locations in Island County
http://www.islandcountymrc.org/projects/eelgrass/eelgrass.htm

WSU Beach Watchers
http://beachwatchers.wsu.edu

Other Useful Links

Telephone Hotlines

Tide Predictions

www.tidesonline.com/
www.olypen.com/tidetables/
www.saltwatertides.com/

Public Sponsored Websites

Adopt-A-Stream Foundation
Chums of Maxwelton Salmon Adventure
Department of Ecology Shoreline Aerial Photos
Hood Canal Shore Stewards
Island County Marine Resources Committee
Nature Mapping Program in Washington
Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative
Orca Network
Port Townsend Marine Science Center
Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team
Seabeck Alki Salmon Team
Washington State Department of Ecology
Waste Wise Volunteers
The Whale Museum (Friday Harbor)

Publications of Interest

Water Resources on Whidbey Island (PDF Format, 584K)

Commercial Sites

Greenbelt Consulting
Coastal Geological Services