June 2022 Newsletter

June 12, 2022

June 2022 Newsletter   Climate Change and Western Forests Meet Chad Hanson Thursday, June 16, 7PM via Zoom   RSVP Required   Chad Hanson is a research ecologist and the director of the John Muir Project of Earth Island Institute. His research has focused on fire ecology in conifer forest ecosystems and he is the author of the 2021 book, Smokescreen: Debunking Wildfire Myths to Save Our Forests and Our Climate.  He became involved in forest conservation work after hiking the entire length of the Pacific Crest Trail with his older brother and seeing firsthand the devastation to forests caused by the commercial logging program on federal public lands in the U.S.   RSVP HERE Way to Go Students! On June 6 the Port Townsend City Council unanimously approved an ordinance banning vehicle idling for more than three minutes.   As reported in the Port Townsend Leader:  "A single hour of car idling wastes a half gallon of fuel, releases 20 pounds of CO2, and contributes to ground level ozone."  Hats off to Port Townsend High Students for Sustainability who advocated for the ban.   Tell Port Angeles to Remove Toxic Sewage Waste from Fertilizer and Compost For a decade, Sierra Club has warned of the dangers of the city selling sewage solids for fertilizer and "Garden Glory" compost. These can include 90,000 plus contaminants:  pharmaceuticals, plastics, radiation, PAHs, pesticides, COVID, antibiotic resistant genes, the forever PFAS chemicals, etc. Many bio-accumulate in consumers, animals, soils and groundwater.   When spread on land, the contaminants and pathogens can be absorbed into edible crops and by animals on grazing lands, then moved up the food chain to unsuspecting consumers. There is no label and signage warning consumers that the city's fertilizer and compost contains sewage waste. The City eariler agreed to seek technologies to minimize the waste and contaminants but has taken no steps to fund or implement their decision. In the meantime, the city continues to sell this toxic compost to the public without informing the consumers what they are actually purchasing. The City of Port Angeles will hold a public hearing on June 21, 2022 for the purpose of deciding which capital projects to fund in its Capital Facilities Plan (CFP).  This is an excellent opportunity to ask the city to fund  technology that will minimize the toxicity and tonnage of this waste. Written comments can be sent to the City Council's clerk before the June 21 meeting at the button below.  Check the city's website for meeting times and agendas to attend in person.   Remove Toxics from City Compost Save Paradise on the Peninsula! Miller Peninsula State Park is a paradise of quiet.  It is an intact, nearly 3000-acre forest reclaiming its days of old growth and bustling with wildlife. With climate change accelerating, it is an important carbon sink. It is grand enough that any hiker, biker or equestrian can feel the spaciousness, quietness and peace in this day-use setting.  It is an ecosystem to preserve. So why would Washington State Parks and Recreation want to change this?  Parks’ staff are trained to develop parks, pretty much in cookie-cutter style with lots of campgrounds, boating and other amenities.  However, they also have options for natural preserves and heritage parks that provide passive, day-use enjoyment. Parks’ staff is considering carving up Miller Peninsula State Park for hundreds of campsites, a lodge, overnight cabins, zip lines, rock climbing, and more despite the fact that existing state parks are underfunded and in need of repair. The day-use Miller Peninsula State Park must be protected in its natural state. Please use the button to write our state elected representatives and senator telling them to protect Miller Peninsula State Park in its natural state and not fund Parks' plans to develop it.   Save Miller Peninsula Our Disappearing Olympic Glaciers Wednesday June 15, 6:30 PM via Zoom Glaciers are icons of our region and the Olympic Mountains once had over 250 of these spectacular rivers of ice. In a new paper in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface published in April 2022, Dr. Andrew Fountain and his co-authors published findings from monitoring and modeling glaciers in the Olympic Mountains. Using climate projections their models tell us that the hundreds of glaciers that once brightened the Olympics will have largely disappeared by 2070.  RSVP here: RSVP Jefferson County Forests: Balancing Interests and Climate in Managing Our Public Natural Resources     Jefferson County Board of Commissioners is taking  steps to tackle the challenge of managing our forests for their ecological value, funding for essential services, and climate. Jefferson County Democrats will present a panel discussion of the challenges facing our county and the innovative work of local elected officials and conservation leaders.  Panelists include: Heidi Eisenhour, Commissioner District 2, Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners; Peter Goldman, Washington Forest Law Center; Stephen Kropp, Center for Responsible Forestry; and Peter Bahls, Northwest Watershed Institute.  Check this website for details closer to the meeting date:   Event Details   Let us know how you liked our newsletter and any suggestions you may have. Also, let us know if you want to volunteer--we've got plenty to keep you busy!   Comments   The North Olympic Group's website contains a blog that's updated to reflect current environmental issues and events.  Members are encouraged to periodically check it out.   North Olympic Group Website