Interesting article from http://food.theatlantic.com/sustainability/good-food-who-can-afford-it.php about sustainable eating adventures.


"But does everyone see it this way? Can everyone see it this way? As these refreshingly candid blog entries strongly suggest, a sustainable diet will never go mainstream if costs do not compete with cheap cafeteria crap."

I have found that eating locally is expensive and I can only afford it if I eat less overall. Eating local/organic/sustainable is almost impossible (especially in the winter) but I have made great progress through canning. L's soy sauce came out wonderfully and that is almost all locally produced ingredients (everything but the salt). I think if you can make soy sauce you can make anything. Growing food is hard but worth the effort. If only our local grocer would bring in more food from the W. valley and less from Argentina.

Outdoor classrooms Waldorf school

Check out this article from the NYTimes, it is interesting.

"The children’s “classroom” is 325 acres of state parkland known as the Hemlock Trail, and a long-empty farmhouse, which the state has licensed Waldorf to use for the year. The school also has regular indoor classes at its main building."

Sea Turtle Populations Decline

Check out this article from the NY Times

Sea turtles are sensitive to numerous effects of warming. They feed on reefs, which are dying in hotter, more acidic seas. They lay eggs on beaches that are being inundated by rising seas and more violent storm surges.

More uniquely, their gender is determined not by genes but by the egg’s temperature during development. Small rises in beach temperatures can result in all-female populations, obviously problematic for survival.

Help Big Cats

About the Big Cats Initiative

From lions in Kenya to snow leopards in the Himalaya, the big cats of the world need help. Lions, cheetahs, leopards, jaguars, and other top felines are quickly disappearing, all victims of habitat loss and degradation as well as conflicts with humans.

To address this critical situation, the National Geographic Society has launched the Big Cats Initiative, a comprehensive program that supports on-the-ground conservation projects, education, and economic incentive efforts and a global public-awareness campaign. “We no longer have the luxury of time when it comes to big cats,” says National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dereck Joubert. “They are in such a downward spiral that if we hesitate now, we will be responsible for extinctions across the globe. If there was ever a time to take action, it is now.” You can help us make a difference. Your donation can help save a big cat and ensure the Earth is not without these majestic creatures. Please donate today! You also can help by signing up for Big Cats Initiative updates with the Geo-Link Newsletter.

Apply for a Grant

The first goal of the Big Cats Initiative is to the halt the decline of lions. Therefore, National Geographic will be collecting all available data on lion populations, demographics, and habitat and will then fund a variety of conservation projects across the lions’ range. You can be part of this important work by donating to the Big Cats Initiative or by applying for a grant to help big cats.

Proposals Encouraged:

• Innovative projects with quick results for saving lions
• Anti-poaching programs
• Projects that test new technology
• Educational projects focused on community
• Projects that establish economic incentives for local people to ensure long-term survival of lions

Please email us at bigcatsgrants@ngs.org with project ideas or questions about the Big Cats Initiative.

Brown pelican removed from endangered species list

A century-long effort to protect the bird is no longer necessary, federal officials say. The population, once imperiled by hunters and DDT, has reached more than 650,000 in North and Central America.

Volunteer at the Beach!

Volunteer with CoosWA this Winter!

In 2009, the Coos Watershed Association sprayed knotweed patches for almost 30 individual landowners and 8 businesses along the Millicoma and Coos Rivers and in the towns adjacent to the Coos Bay. Additionally, due to press coverage of the knotweed program this year, we were able to help 7 other people and learn about other knotweed patches in the area. Visit our knotweed resource webpage to learn more about why knotweed is so invasive: http://www.cooswatershed.org/knotweed.

CoosWA has received a grant from the Oregon Department of Agriculture to replant these areas with beneficial native plants. We are looking for volunteers to help us plant these trees in December and January. This is a great way to get involved in restoring your local watershed. Tree planting will take place in December 2009 and January 2010, mostly on the South Coos River. No experience is necessary.

What can you do?

Volunteer to help plant native trees along local rivers to replace invasive knotweed that degrades stream bank ecosystems.

When?

Any day of the week in December 2009 and January 2010, excluding holidays.

What to bring?

Be prepared for cold, wet conditions with rain gear and boots. Please also bring a sack lunch. CoosWA will provide coffee, snacks, and gloves.

Who to contact?

Contact Tyler Pedersen at 541-888-5922 or tpedersen@cooswatershed.org. When contacting Tyler, please specify what days of the week and times you are available, and whether you have tree-planting experience.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Tyler Pedersen

Lowlands Restoration Projects Manager

Coos Watershed Association

Changing Habitats Leads to Moving Species...By Hand

From the NY Times

“In 50 to 100 years, because habitats or climates are so altered, we might end up trying to move species in a restoration context, in assemblages of species,” said Pati Vitt, a conservation scientist
and curator of the Dixon National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank at the botanic garden.

Wow.

Enough said.

kitty has gone missing from SE 35th & SE Morrison

beautiful kitty has gone missing from SE 35th & SE Morrison
Keep an eye out for our dear kitty! Her name is Bramble Rose & she is a torti with long hair and a white face/chest & paws... pink nose.. She is extremely cute & affectionate- please call 503-913-1937

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I would always be happy to post 'missing/lost' ads.

PNAMP Calendar

Greetings PNAMP Participant,

PNAMP is hosting the following meetings during the months of November and December 2009:
o December 1-2 - BPA/NOAA/PNAMP Environmental Conservation and Restoration Project Implementation Tracking Workshop, Portland (Registration is now open (link). For more information, please visit http://pnamp.cbr.washington.edu/imp_wksp)
o December TBD - PNAMP Steering Committee Meeting

Please check the PNAMP calendar for recently added meetings as well as meeting updates, agendas, directions, and contact information.

Other meetings of interest for November and December 2009:
o November 1 - 5 - CERF 20^th Biennial Conference: Estuaries and Coasts in a Changing World, Portland (see below for more information)
o November 2 - 5 - 2009 National Forum on Contaminants in Fish, Portland (see below for more information)
o November 4 - 6 - NW Biological Assessment Workgroup Meeting, McCall, ID (see below for more information)
o November 4 - 6 - Salmon Data Access Working Group Informatics Session (at CERF conference), Portland (see below for more information)
o November 4 - 6 - Water and Land Use in the PNW: Integrating Communities and Watersheds, Stevenson, WA (see below for more information)
o November 4 - WA State GIS Strategic Planning Session, Spokane, WA
o November 5 - WA State GIS Strategic Planning Session, Tri-Cities, WA
o November 9 - Pacific Northwest Hydrography Framework Steering Committee meeting, Portland
o November 9 - 12 - 45^th AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference, Seattle (See below for more information)
o November 10 - Puget Sound Stormwater Monitoring Workshop: Designing a Monitoring Program for the Future, Federal Way, WA (see below for more information)
o November 12 - 13 - Northwest Power and Conservation Council Meeting, teleconference
o November 17 - LCREP Science Work Group Meeting, Portland
o December 1 - 4 - Anadromous Fish Evaluation Program, Walla Walla, WA
o December 2 - Washington Biodiversity Council Meeting, Olympia
o December 2 - Washington Forum on Monitoring, Olympia
o December 3 - Washington Invasive Species Council
o December 8 - 10 - Northwest Power and Conservation Council Meeting, Portland
o December 10 - 11 - Salmon Recovery Funding Board Meeting, Olympia
o December 10 - 11 - StreamNet Steering Committee Meeting, Portland
o December 15 - LCREP Science Work Group Meeting, Portland


If you would like your meetings posted on the PNAMP calendar or if you would like to be removed from this email list, please reply to jschei@usgs.gov.

Additional information. See below for the following conference information:
· CERF 20^th Biennial Conference (November 1 - 5)
· National Forum on Contaminants in Fish (November 2 - 5)
· Northwest Biological Assessment Workgroup (November 4 - 6)
· Salmon Data Access Working Group Informatics Session (November 4 - 6)
· Water and Land Use in the PNW (November 4 - 6)
· 45^th AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference (November 9 - 12)
· Puget Sound Stormwater Monitoring Workshop (November 10)


November 1 - 5 - Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) 20^th Biennial Conference: Estuaries and Coasts in a Changing World (Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR)
https://www.sgmeet.com/cerf2009/

Join coastal scientists and managers for an outstanding science program and excellent student events. Advance your work by hearing the latest findings, by meeting and exchanging information with the world’s best-known scientists and managers of coasts and estuaries.

Coasts and Estuaries in a Changing World is a very appropriate theme for a conference in the Pacific Northwest where oceanographic conditions and climate changes strongly affect entire watersheds. But, happily we think this theme is appropriate everywhere as many of us are researching and observing change in a variety of coastal and estuarine habitats. This theme captures the important relationships between coastal regions and estuaries over time and spatial scales, and implies on-going change. Plus we think it is plain-spoken and self-explanatory for our non-scientist partners as well.
The Federation advances understanding and wise stewardship of estuarine
and coastal ecosystems worldwide. Its mission is to:

* Promote research in estuarine and coastal ecosystems
* Support education of scientists, decision-makers and the public
* Facilitate communication among these groups

Membership in the Federation is open to all who support these goals. The
Federation currently has approximately 1,650 members, and approximately
1,000 more who are members of the Affiliate Societies.


November 2 - 5 - 2009 National Forum on Contaminants in Fish (The Governor Hotel, Portland, OR)
http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/forum/2009/

This event brings together public health and environmental professionals from governmental agencies, industry, environmental and health advocacy groups and other interested parties to discuss the many issues related to the risks and benefits of fish consumption. Health and environmental officials from state, tribal, and federal agencies and others interested in discussing issues related to assessing, managing and communicating health risks and benefits associated with fish consumption should attend this forum.

General topics for the 2009 Forum will include:
· Sampling and Analysis / Emergent Contaminants
· Risk Assessment / Toxicology / Biomonitoring

· Risk Management

· Risk Communication

· Weighing Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption

In addition, the Forum will provide an evening Poster Session and Regional Breakout Sessions. Posters Requested: EPA welcomes poster presentations on the topics mentioned above. A brief description of your poster is due by September 15, 2009. If you are interested in presenting a poster, contact Susan Wolf (snw@rti.org), RTI International, 919.541.6799.

November 4 - 6 - Northwest Biological Assessment Workgroup (The Shore Lodge, McCall, ID)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/OEA.NSF/webpage/NW+Biological+Assessment+Workgroup

The purpose of the Northwest Biological Assessment Workgroup (NBAW) is to promote better understanding of the biotic communities in freshwater aquatic ecosystems of the northwest. The NBAW was founded in 1990. The NBAW encourages and facilitates the use of benthic macroinvertebrates and fish assemblages and other biota in the assessment of the condition of freshwater aquatic resources and other environmental and natural resource management decision-making. Membership is open to anyone who is interested in freshwater biotic communities and their role in aquatic ecosystems in the Northwest (generally, but not limited to: Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Northern California).

The agenda is under development and will be posted on the website during October. If you are interested in attending or making a presentation, please contact Gretchen Hayslip (hayslip.gretchen@epa.gov).


November 4 - 6 - Salmon Data Access Working Group (SalDAWG) Informatics Session (Session at the CERF Conference, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR)
http://www.stateofthesalmon.org/agencypartnerships/portland.html
Register with the CERF Conference

The next SalDAWG meeting will be part of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation's 20th Biennial Conference in Portland, Oregon this coming November. We're partnering with the conference conveners and the hosts of an Informatics session in order to broaden and deepen our investigations into shared issues.

We've got a great line up of presentations and discussions to wow us for a day and half, including speakers from Science Commons, HUBzero, the Open Source Lab, FishTrax, NCEAS, Periscopic, among others. And, drum roll please, the first product issuing from the SoS-Agency Partnerships Initiative will be unveiled: Jeff Rodgers of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will demo the beta Coastal Coho Conservation web site.
We'll convene for a closed working meeting on Thursday afternoon, the 5th, to explore the potential of developing a salmon population data ontology. On Friday, November 6th, we'll go looking for some Coho at the coast, maybe check out a monitoring site, and try not to get too wet.

SalDAWG is comprised of scientists, managers, web programmers, database developers, and others working at the intersection of primary research and natural resources management, and its resulting data and data systems. Members hail from the U.S. and Canada, from Alaska to California. The group was formed to guide the development of three projects working to deepen fisheries agency capacity for data management and in so doing, enhance collaboration among practitioners across North America and provide a foundation for increased data interoperability across borders.


November 4 - 6 - Water and Land Use in the PNW: Integrating Communities and Watersheds (Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, WA)
http://capps.wsu.edu/waterland/index.asp

This regional conference merges the best available water science and land-use knowledge to promote collaboration between scientists, planners, and decision-makers on sustainable land-use methodologies. The agenda was developed in response to comments from previous water quality-based conference participants who stressed the need to plan future development in ways that would protect and improve water resources. The conference will include presentations, featured speakers, panel discussions, and a poster session.

Themes:
· Carrying Capacity: The Science of Planning
· Co-management: Surface/Groundwater, Science and Policy

· Intersection of Economics, Land Use, and Water Resources

· Planning for Climate Change: Adaptation and/or Mitigation

· Assessing Effectiveness of Stormwater Mitigation

· Assessing Effectiveness of TMDL Implementation

· Enabling Local Leadership and Action: Optimizing Extension and University Resources

· Transboundaries: Watersheds and Jurisdictions

· Integrating the Built Environment and Watersheds

· Outreach and Education Strategies

· Using Modeling as a Predictor for Future Needs

November 9 - 12 - 45^th AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference (Red Lion Hotel, Seattle, WA)
http://www.awra.org/meetings/Seattle2009/

The annual conference of the American Water Resources Association provides a unique opportunity for water resources professionals from all disciplines to meet, exchange information, and find inspiration and friends. This event, which you do not need to be an AWRA member to attend, will bring the latest information on international, national and regional water resource issues to our doorstep!

The AWRA conference will feature over 400 presentations on water resource challenges from around the United States and other countries. Hear how other regions are tackling our shared water resources problems, such as:
· Middle East North Africa Water Governance Benchmarks
· Impressions of the Fifth World Water Forum from Istanbul
· Trans-boundary Integrated Water Resources Management
· Collaboration between Nations
· Developing Nutrient Cap Load Allocations for Chesapeake Bay
· Climate Change impacts on Water Resources in Ontario
· Managing the Lower Colorado River Basin
· Impact of Land Use Changes on Water Quality in Georgia
· Water Quality Monitoring in Northwest Arkansas

Interested more in Northwest water issues? Presentations and posters will highlights scores of projects in Washington and Oregon:
· Development programs to reduce toxics in Oregon
· Restoration of Puget Sound, the role of freshwater science
· Columbia River Treaty: From here to where?
· Evolving Guidelines for more habitat friendly floodplains in Puget Sound
· The Tualitan Basin Water Supply Project, Oregon
· Integrated approach to Resolving Water Use Conflicts in Yakima Basin
· Evaluating Green Infrastructure Options for Seattle CSO Control
· Assessment of Effects of Endocrine Disruptors in Puget Sound

This will be a great opportunity to hear, discuss, and explore new knowledge and issues that directly affect our professional and personal lives. There is no better way to refresh your work and connect with other professionals locally and nationally. There are also field trips, workshops and evening social events that will provide ample opportunity for you to network with your peers.

November 10 - Puget Sound Stormwater Monitoring Workshop: Designing a Monitoring Program for the Future (Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center Banquet Hall, Federal Way, WA)
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: Sign up now at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/437897764

As we all know, stormwater is an important contributor to the decline in habitat and water quality in the Puget Sound basin and among the biggest threats to the health and recovery of the Puget Sound ecosystem. We need a better system to monitor stormwater across the region and share results in a way that helps us make better management decisions. The Stormwater Work Group’s job is to create that system. We have been meeting since October 2008 to prioritize objectives for monitoring stormwater and to develop a regional stormwater monitoring strategy that provides needed information about stormwater impacts to beneficial uses and effectiveness of management actions in Puget Sound.

Many of you attended our workshop in May and provided early input for our efforts to develop the strategy. We have accomplished a lot since then and plan to release a draft strategy document for public review on November 4th. Your input at our last workshop endorsed the assessment questions and helped us to set priorities and develop hypotheses to test. Of primary importance on November 10th is getting your input on the draft strategy document and identifying opportunities to make the best use of the existing capacity for monitoring throughout the region to implement the strategy.

Please plan to come give us your feedback and hear about:
· How the Partnership and Ecology plan to use the strategy.
· The proposed scientific framework and experimental design for:
o Regional status and trends monitoring,
o Stormwater management effectiveness studies, and
o Pollutant source identification and characterization.
· How we’re all going to work together to implement the strategy.
· And more.

The intended audience for the workshop is: stormwater managers; engineers and scientists; planners; natural resource managers; industry professionals; non-profit environmental advocates; decision makers; and technical folks engaged in ecosystem and environmental monitoring.

Event Details:
DATE: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
TIME: 8:15 (registration opens), 9:00 presentations start, Close at 3:00 pm
LOCATION: Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center Banquet Hall, 650 SW Campus Drive, Federal Way 98023
COST: Free, lunch provided

PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE to others you think might be interested in Stormwater Monitoring for the Puget Sound region.

Note: We are aware that the Washington State Department of Ecology recently issued the Industrial Stormwater NPDES permit and want readers to know that this workshop does not directly address that permit or the monitoring requirements therein.

Information about the Stormwater Work Group is available on our webpage at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/psmonitoring/swworkgroup.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jacque Schei
5501A Cook-Underwood Road
Cook, WA 98605
office: 509.538.2299 x282
cell: 503.201.0880
jschei@usgs.gov
www.pnamp.org

Can you help the Johnson Creek Watershed Council?

Greetings Friends of Johnson Creek Watershed Council,

Do you have 3 to 4 hours next Tuesday, Nov. 3rd to help JCWC with an informational/educational one-time project? We're looking for an assistant from 11:00 AM to 3:00 or 4:00 PM.

Marty Urman, our Outreach Associate is going to be driving out to put some informational decals on the Johnson Creek street signs. She could use some detail-oriented help to go with her - the volunteer will be using a ladder (we need an 8 foot ladder if you have one we can borrow).

Can you help? Just shoot me an email or give us a call.

Hope to hear from you!

Amy

Amy Lodholz
Volunteer Coordinator
Johnson Creek Watershed Council
1900 SE Milport Rd. Ste. B
Milwaukie, OR 97222
O: 503-652-7477
C: 541-968-3530
www.jcwc.org

Check out the Birds

Survival takes flight (video, slideshow)

HTTP://www.dailyastorian.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&subsectionID=398&articleID=65185&Q=64640.6

FREE permitting workshop

You are cordially invited to a FREE permitting workshop to better understand the permitting process for work you would like to do on ditches, streams, wetlands, or forests. Agency representatives from the US Army Corps of Engineers, Oregon Department of State Lands, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Forestry, and NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service will represented at this workshop.

Chris Claire, a habitat protection biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), feels “a workshop on these issues should have great value for both aquatic resources and landowners.” Participants will be able to hear about the permitting processes of all participating agencies, and then have the option to talk in more detail with agency representatives for permitting processes they are most interested in.

Want to go?
When: Tuesday November 3, 7-9 pm
Where: Large Conference Room in Coos Bay Public Library, 525 Anderson Ave.
Why: Learn about important permitting processes, meet agency representatives, and enjoy free refreshments.

Want to volunteer?
We are looking for a few volunteers to help set-up, prepare refreshments, handout brochures, and clean up. These activities would take place before or after the workshop or during the refreshments break, so your volunteer participation would still allow you to participate in the workshop. Contact Marley at mbice@cooswatershed.org or 541-888-5922 if you would like to volunteer.

Questions?
Contact the Coos Watershed Association at cooswa@cooswatershed.org or 541-888-5922

Please forward this email about a free educational event for the community to your friends, family, and co-workers

Polar Bear Habitat Designated as Critical

From the NY Times "The Interior Department on Thursday proposed designating more than 200,000 square miles of land, sea and ice along the northern coast of Alaska as critical habitat for the shrinking polar bear population."

The real question is how are they going to enforce it? It makes sense that the habitat is important but if we are to believe a good chunk of the science out there then there is not one thing causing the sea ice to melt but many. It isn't one power plant, one car, etc. etc. etc. but the combination of many things some of which can't be regulated. What happens if these things are regulated but the sea ice moves locations? This will be an interesting story to track.

Pacific Coast Algal Bloom Killing Birds - Volunteer to Help!

You can call the center at 503-338-0331 (Astoria)

Since Tuesday, October 20, the Wildlife Center of the North Coast in Astoria has been inundated with hundreds of seabirds who have been sickened from foam produced by a foreign species of algae not previously seen in our area before. As the algae die and decay, they produce a slimy foam that strips the natural waterproofing from the birds’ feathers.

Live birds are being found on the beaches in the Long Beach area starving, dehydrated and hypothermic, having lost the insulation normally provided by their waterproof plumage. Residual waves from as Alaskan storm have contributed to the problem. The churning wave action breaks up the cells of the dying algae resulting in thick foam that comes ashore. The birds affected include the Common Murres, Loons, and Surf Scoters.

It is unknown at this time, how long this situation will last, how many birds have died, or if the foam created by the algae will continue to spread down the coast.

The Wildlife Center in Astoria is the only rehabilitation center in the Washington and Oregon area that has the expertise to care for these injured seabirds. They have taken in at least nearly 300 hundred birds in the last 2 days with more sick birds continuing to be brought in. They are in dire need of cash donations to cover the huge costs to feed and care for the birds as they are a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that relies totally on public donations (they do not receive any government funding). Other items needed include good used towels, large dog kennels, and bleach. In addition, experienced volunteers are also needed to assist with the care of the injured birds.

If you have rescued distressed seabirds, please place the bird in a box and keep it in a warm and dry area. Do not give it food or water and do not attempt to wash the bird. Please call the Wildlife Center of the North Coast at 503-338-0331 for further assistance.

Cash donations may be made by online through the Wildlife Center’s website: www.coastwildlife.org.

Checks may be sent to Wildlife Center of the North Coast, P.O. Box 1232, Astoria, OR 97103.

In the Vancouver/Portland area, donations of towels, kennels, or bleach may be left at Salmon Creek Plastic Surgery, 14411 NE 20^th Ave, Suite 103, Vancouver, WA 98686.

--------------------------- First Hand Accounts of Maimed Birds ---------------------------------

Thanks to your support and the dedicated volunteers of the Wildlife Center of the North many of these birds will be saved.

***** We had some sort of toxic algae bloom??? come ashore all up and down the Long Beach coast yesterday, October 20th. It was estimated there were over 200 birds on shore suffering from from hypothermia and starvation due to loss of their water-proofing. This is my limited info on the subject. Sharnelle spent ALL day yesterday picking up birds there along with Herb, and Kurt. I made two trips there to pick up birds at the Washington Humane Society in Long Beach to the center and back to Long Beach again. I hauled 30-40 murres and loons on my first trip and 25-30 on the 2nd trip. Kurt had driven about 30 birds to the Center too. Sharnelle had to put birds loose in the back of her covered truck so who knows how many she brought back.

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The important message here is that you send out a call to volunteers to come help at the Center. We are really short of any type of large kennel type crates. We need some good towels and we always need bleach.

We have an in-take system going at the center now. It is slow and methodical but a good system for processing that many birds. I left mid afternoon and Barb, Jack, and Josh were coming this afternoon. We still have people bringing birds!!!

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Curt Clumpner, from the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC), an organization that provides assistance at major oil spills, came and took over setting up just the small cage room for all the loons. He is such a knowledgeable bird fella and was tremendous help today taking over the set-up for just the loons. That left all the other birds for us to take on, but sorting out the loons was major help.

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First, I don't think this disaster is still unfolding as there were birds being brought in last night as late as 9:30. The account the last person gave was that there were still birds on the beach, most of them loons. While at the center there were multiple calls I over heard that involved Sharnelle giving rescue advice to folks who were trying to help birds in distress.

The center is overflowing with birds with every conceivable space holding murres and loons. I could only hazard a guess, but there must be around 300.

I arrived to a well organized "processing and swimming" segment. The first step in the rehabilitation process involving hydrating, deworming, and a vitamin pill followed by a period of time in water to bath the birds. During the swim session, areas, many of them makeshift, were prepared to house the birds with clean bedding. This was followed by feeding each group.

The murres were very skinny but feisty and fighting for survival. I can only imagine their determination to live as I was poking that big syringe filled with ringers down their throats. What must be a rather terrifying experience for them? Many showed their displeasure by giving me a well aimed peck.

Around nine P.M., Sharnelle and I were winding things down when the lights went out. We spent a while with lanterns then with the help of a volunteer who brought birds we got the generator going and finished up feeding and bedding birds before calling it a night as someone had crashed into a power line up the road and the estimated fix was 2 A.M.

Sorry to run but just got a Murre off Oceanside beach and need to pick up a falcon in Pacific City.

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Volunteer to clean or donate

Radioactive Rabbit Dung

"A government contractor at Hanford, in south-central Washington State, just spent a week mapping radioactive rabbit feces with detectors mounted on a helicopter flying 50 feet over the desert scrub."

Although the ramifications are dire, this is the funniest sentence I have ever read. Read the rest of the article at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/science/earth/15rabbit.html?ref=science

I wonder how far the radioactivity travels, and if it can enter the systems of people living near the area...

Network of Oregon Watershed Councils-Fall 2009 Update

Network of Oregon Watershed Councils-Fall 2009 Update

In this issue:

· Gathering Registration Closes on October 21^st- Sign up now!

· New Executive Director at the Gathering

· Update on Capacity Building

o OWEB Grant Application Assistance

o The New Coordinator Handbook, 2^nd Printing

o Councils Receive Scholarships to Fundraising Training

· Upcoming Workshops for Councils

· New Network Addresses

o Mailing: P.O. Box 10027, Eugene, OR 97440

o Office: 99 E. Broadway, Suite 400, Eugene, OR 97401

· Donate to Support the Network of Oregon Watershed Councils

2009 Gathering: Registration Closes on October 21^st (this Wednesday)

Don’t forget to register for the 2009 Watershed Council Gathering in Klamath Falls. We have a terrific lineup of workshops, speakers, field trips, and networking opportunities on tap from October 27-30. Registration closes on Wednesday, October 21^st, so don’t miss this opportunity to join councils and our partners for a valuable week of learning and connecting. Many thanks to our principal conference sponsors: the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Clean Water Services, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Lottery, U.S. Forest Service, ICF/Jones & Stokes, Watershed Professionals Network, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, The Nature Conservancy, FCA, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Oregon Department of State Lands.

And now for some 2009 Gathering “good news/bad news”: First, the bad news—unfortunately, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior Will Shafroth had to cancel his appearance as our keynote speaker on Wednesday evening, October 28th. The pull of Washington, DC, responsibilities made a late schedule change unavoidable. We will miss having Mr. Shafroth with us in Klamath Falls. Now the good news: We will be joined for our keynote by Todd Graham, President of Aeroscene Land Logic and former chair of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition based in Bozeman, Montana. Todd has built his career working with ranchers and farmers in the Northern Rockies developing land management practices that provide economic, ecological, and social benefits. Todd has graciously offered to share some of his experience and is a perfect voice for our conference theme of Sustaining Oregon’s Ecosystems and Local Communities. We hope you’ll join us for Todd’s remarks and all of the 2009 Gathering activities.

New Executive Director Hired at the Network

The Network of Oregon Watershed Councils is thrilled to announce that Tom O’Brien will join our team as the new Executive Director on November 1, 2009. Tom will actually arrive in time to participate in the Watershed Council Gathering in Klamath Falls, October 27-30. With the culmination of a transition process that began last April, we are happy to welcome Tom to the Network from his previous position as the Executive Director of the Watershed Agricultural Council of the New York City Watersheds, Inc. With a career built to date in Massachusetts and New York State, Tom comes to Oregon with a tremendous background in watershed restoration, facilitation of natural resource issues, and nonprofit management. Join us in welcoming Tom to the Network during the reception prior to the 2009 Gathering Banquet, October 28^th, at 6:00 pm.

Update on Capacity Building

· OWEB Grant Application Assistance

In September, the Network of Oregon Watershed Councils facilitated a series of conference calls to provide assistance to coordinators working on Restoration and Technical Assistance grant applications for Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) funding. The first call was staffed by OWEB personnel with the purpose of reviewing changes to the applications and procedures that have occurred since the last grant application cycle. That call was recorded, and is available for download at http://www.oregonwatersheds.org/resourcesforcouncils/grantassistancerecording. The second call featured experienced and successful past council applicants offering advice and answering questions regarding the Technical Assistance grant application. Similarly, the final call followed the format of the second, with the focus this time on the OWEB Restoration grant application. Q & A documents from the second and third calls are available via our website at: http://www.oregonwatersheds.org/resourcesforcouncils/owebgrants.

· The New Coordinator Handbook: A reference for Oregon’s watershed council coordinators; 2^nd Printing!

Building on an idea first proposed by several coordinators, and bolstered by the lessons learned at this year’s and previous years’ New Coordinator Workshops, the Network partnered with OSU Sea Grant Extension to develop a reference book for new watershed council coordinators. The New Coordinator Handbook was printed in July and distributed to councils across the state in August. Following a round of edits, the Handbook is in for a second printing and will be available again at the 2009 Watershed Council Gathering in Klamath Falls or by contacting Alethea Gallman, Education and Training Coordinator at the Network.

· Reliable Fundraising in Unreliable Times: Network provides scholarships for councils to attend TACS training

In October, the Network of Oregon Watershed councils provided scholarships, including full registration costs and a travel stipend, for watershed council coordinators and board members to attend a TACS training presented by internationally acclaimed fundraising trainer and consultant Kim Klein. Eleven councils took advantage of the opportunity to attend the Portland workshop. Focusing on the ins and outs of how to develop and implement fundraising programs in the face of economic downturn and instability, Ms. Klein discussed “what needs to be in place to weather almost all circumstances; how to set up and maintain a disciplined and systematic fundraising program that is predictable and manageable; how to ask for money in person; and how to find new donors without spending a fortune.” The Network would like to thank TACS for their generosity in working with the Network to make this opportunity available to watershed councils across Oregon, as well as the Meyer Memorial Trust for their financial support.

Upcoming Workshops, Fall 2009 and Winter 2010

The Network will be taking advantage of the relatively slow winter work season for to offer workshops and seminars designed specifically for watershed council members, staff, and volunteers. If you have questions or would like to volunteer to help with any of these events, please contact Network Education and Training Coordinator Alethea Gallman, or call (541) 682-8481.

· Outreach for Councils and Partners- December 2009: Built around the upcoming re-examination of Oregon’s Measure 66 initiative, this workshop will walk councils through the process of developing and implementing a plan to conduct public outreach, taking into account the unique situations of councils as volunteer-led stakeholder organizations operating in a variety of physical and social environments.

· Leadership Development events- February 2010: Aimed at council leaders and staff, these events integrate time for participants to network and share successes with a facilitated conversation about effective council leadership.

· Mapping for Councils workshops- March 2010: Workshops developed to help council staff and members develop proficiency in the use of no-cost web-based mapping utilities to create purpose-driven maps for such activities as applying for grant funds, examining basic watershed geographies, and writing grant reports.

· New Coordinator Workshop- April 2010

· (2) QuickBooks for Councils- May 2010: These workshops will also offer opportunities for one-on-one expert follow up.

1. Setting up and maintaining QuickBooks so it works for you (or your accountant)

2. Exploring advanced QuickBooks skills and system customizations

New Network Addresses

The Network has a new office address and a new mailing address in Eugene:

Office:

99 East Broadway, Suite 400

Eugene, OR 97401

Mailing:

P.O. Box 10027

Eugene, OR 97440

Our phone numbers and email addresses have not changed.

Support the Network Online

Now, it’s as easy as a click of the mouse to donate to the Network of Oregon Watershed Councils! Please visit our website to learn more about watershed councils and consider making a secure, tax deductible contribution to help us support their efforts. We envision strong, resilient watershed councils throughout Oregon sustaining healthy land, water, and economies. Oregon watershed councils are the pride of our local communities and a model for our country and the world. Oregon is unique in its commitment to community-based restoration of our natural systems and local economies. Join our effort to maintain and expand this extraordinary model. Thank you.

May you enjoy the bounty of the harvest!

John Moriarty

Executive Director

Network of Oregon Watershed Councils

PO Box 10027

Eugene, OR 97440

V: (541) 682-8323

F: (541) 682-6410

Registration is open!

2009 Watershed Council Gathering

Water in a Changing World: Sustaining Oregon's Ecosystems & Local Communities

October 27-30, Klamath Falls, Oregon

Clean Air at the Expense of Clean Water

This is a very sad story from the NY Times. Check out the original story at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/us/13water.html?_r=1&hp

"Cleaner air has come at a cost. Each day since the equipment was switched on in June, the company has dumped tens of thousands of gallons of wastewater containing chemicals from the scrubbing process into the Monongahela River, which provides drinking water to 350,000 people and flows into Pittsburgh, 40 miles to the north."

Fun in Seaside

Hi,

Join the North Coast Land Conservancy for a local celebration of National Estuaries Day on Sept. 26 starting at 10:00 am at Neawanna Point in Seaside. Established in 1988 as part of Coast Weeks, National Estuaries Day is an occasion to raise awareness from coast-to-coast about the importance of our nation's estuaries, and the need to protect these amazing places.

What's so special about estuaries? They're the places where rivers and streams meet the ocean- places of great diversity, complexity and beauty. Here, freshwater mingles with saltwater, and change is the only constant. Tides fill and flush the estuary. Fish and other organisms rest and reproduce here. Innumerable plants and animals, including us, depend upon the health of estuaries for their very survival.

This year's programs include presentations by the City of Seaside's Neal Wallace and Author Bonnie Henderson, and field programs on Beavers, Natural History, Geology, Restoration, and critters for the Kids. We'll wrap it up with a barbecue in the park. For details and directions, visit the event web page.

This program is part of the North Coast Land Conservancy's summer program series. For details, see our web site.

Squirrel Lost Its Tail :(

Well I have bad news and good news. The good news first, the gray squirrel living in our dishwasher has finally been vacated. The bad news is that this squirrel is now sans tail!!! I hesitated to share this information as I felt awful but felt like it was my scientific duty to share this valuable info. After scouring the internet for anything I found only scanty data about this phenomena. Squirrelys can indeed detach their tails when threatened which is how this one must have felt after I grabbed it by its tail and carried it outside. Squirrely is a good word for these guys, it swirled around clearly unhappy I uprooted it from my house (we checked for nesting and it had not yet started one; there aren't any motherless babies to worry about). If it had been calm it would have been freed with its tail intact but alas no, it swirled so much so that the last segment of its tail detached! Amazingly enough, there was no spine in the tail, which, after reading more information, makes sense. It sacraficed its tail (although completely unecessarily given my love for anything small and cute) to 'save its life'.

The tail which was left behind had no ligiments, no blood, no goo, really just an empty shell. I have observed this same phenomena with lizards and their tails have much more meat, blood, cartilidge, etc. Although the squirrel is certainly going to be less attractive and much more embarrassed than it would have had it kept its tail, metabolically it appears to be less detrimental to the health of a squirrel than to the health of a lizard.

I hope that anyone experiencing this event in the future finds this information helpful. Although I still feel bad, I am pretty sure the squirrel is going to be fine. No broken bones and it won't bleed to death. Maybe its balance will be worse for wear, but it now has a great story to tell to its children and grandchildren, hopefully. Or I will incur the wrath of the squirrel kingdom and wake up to find a horde over me...

At least it is no longer pooping in my dishes.

Events, Events, and More Events!

Dear Friends,

We have several events sponsored by the Friends of the Coos Watershed at the end of this month. These events are focused on water quality both nationally and locally, are free, and are co-sponsored with the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Join us at the South Slough NERR Interpretive Center Auditorium in Charleston on National Estuaries Day, Saturday September 26. There will be two free screenings of the PBS Frontline documentary Poisoned Waters from 10 am – 12 noon or from 1 to 3 pm.

The join South Slough and CoosWA for a discussion of water quality in the Coos watershed. Discussion leaders will focus on drinking water and land use issues, and lessons from “smart growth.” This free public discussion will be held as part of Java Jones Coffee House’s Green Night program Wednesday September 30 from 7 to 9 pm.

Please contact us with any questions at 541-888-5922 or cooswa@cooswatershed.org

Sincerely,

CoosWA

Join Us at the Water Research Center Conference

Registration is now open for the regional conference “Water and Land Use in the Pacific Northwest: Integrating Communities and Watersheds.”

Visit the website at http://capps.wsu.edu/waterland for updates about the conference.

Under Program Information you will find details about the conference schedule, including pre-conference activities and an agenda that links to the abstracts for each session. The early registration fee of only $200 will be honored until 10/16/2009. Students may register for $100.

The Skamania Lodge is offering per diem rates of $120, and this rate will be honored until October 9. To make reservations, please call 800-221-7117, press 2 twice for group reservations, and ask for the Water/Land Conference rate.

Space is still available for poster presentations, and new posters will be accepted until September 30. Visit the Poster Session section on the website for information about submitting poster abstracts.

Don’t wait—start making your plans to attend today!

Diane Weber, Administrative Assistant

State of Washington Water Research Center

Washington State University

PO Box 643002

Pullman Washington 99164-3002

509-335-5532

weberd@wsu.edu

Grant Opportunity

Title: 2010 Academic Year EPA Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowships for
Undergraduate Environmental Study

URL: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2010/2010_gro_undergrad.html

Open Date: 09/15/2009  -  Close Date: 12/10/2009

Summary: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Center for
Environmental Research (NCER), invites applications for the Greater Research
Opportunities (GRO) Fellowships for undergraduate environmentally related
study for bachelor’s level students. The deadline for receipt of applications
is December 10, 2009. Subject to availability of funding, the Agency plans to
award approximately 30 new fellowships by July 30, 2010. The fellowship
provides up to $19,250 per year of academic support and $8,000 for internship
support for a combined total of up to $46,500 over the life of the fellowship.
The GRO program enhances and supports quality environmental education for
undergraduates, and thereby encourages them to continue their education beyond
the baccalaureate level, and pursue careers in environmentally related fields.
The actual amount awarded per year will vary depending on the amount of
tuition and fees and the number of months the stipend is required. This
fellowship is intended to help defray costs associated with environmentally
oriented study leading to a bachelor’s degree.

Applicable Category(s): Grant/Fellowship Announcements
       
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Business Expo

Minority Enterprise Development Week Celebration

September 30

Oregon Convention Center

Cost: $85

For more information and registration:

Www.bdiweb.org

Columbia-Pacific Energy Expo 2009

“Energy… It’s Everyone’s Business”

Don’t be left behind in the new energy economy

Save the date NOW!

September 30, October 1-2, 2009

Seaside, Oregon

www.nwenergyexpo.com

Governor’s Marketplace Conference

October 8, 2009

All day event - No Charge

MUST pre-register to attend

For information and registration:

http://www.oregon.gov/Gov/MWESB/events.shtml

Linda K. Jones

Clearinghouse Program Coordinator

Governor's Advocate's Office

Minority, Women and Emerging Small Business

Phone: 503.378.3583

Fax: 503.378.3139

Governor's Marketplace Conference 2009

October 8

For more information ask Linda Jones or:

http://www.oregon.gov/Gov/MWESB/events.shtml