Test Results

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that our latest result for E. Coli levels around Bellingham are in. All the bacteria levels are pretty low, but there is still bacteria in the water so it's important to wash your hands and rinse off really well after being in the water (if anyone is crazy enough to get in it with this weather!) The season for high bacteria, summer, is almost (hopefully) here so it's super important to keep up good management practices, like picking up after your pets! Stay tuned for next month's results and alerts for dangerous levels. See full results here: http://www.surfrider.org/blue-water-task-force/chapter/5

Kellie

P.S. There will be an informational session about the Gateway Pacific Coal Terminal tomorrow night at the The Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Avenue 7-9pm. Come learn about the proposed project and how it will affect the environment and out health in Whatcom County.

Thanks to everyone who made it out for Friday's movie premier of Bag it! Great movie with a lot of interesting, and a little bit scary, information on plastics in the environment and in your body! The month of April has been proclaimed Single-Use Plastics Reduction month in the city of Bellingham!! So try really hard to remember your reusable bags, cups and water bottles. The fight to ban plastic bags in Bellingham is not over yet and we really need your help. Write to the members of Bellingham's City Counsel to let them know you support the measure to ban the bags. Thanks for the support you have already given us.

Good Work!

1) Go to this website to sign the Petition against the Cherry Point Terminal. The terminal will be shipping tons of coal to China with disastrous effects on the environment. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/protectcherrypoint/

2) Check out this article in the Western Front about Surfrider's efforts to ban the bag in Bellingham: http://westernfrontonline.net/top-stories/13206-bellingham-aims-to-ban-the-bag 

Also, just a reminder tomorrow night is Snowrider's Let it Snow Party at Boundary Bay at 10 pm. Come out and here the Barefoot Brothers play and support a great cause. No cover!!

February Results

Hi Everyone,

Results are in and everything is looking pretty good! Except for the Coliform levels at the Nooksack River Delta everything was low. High Coliform results don't necessarily indicate a problem because Coliform is used as in indicator bacteria. Indicator bacteria are certain species of bacteria that are used to detect contaminated water. Their presence usually indicates the presence of other bacteria; indicator bacteria are not themselves dangerous to the health but are used to indicate the presence of more harmful bacteria.  See full results here: http://surfrider.org/whatwedo3c.asp and select Northwest Straits Chapter.

Also, be sure to check out the Let it Snow Party on March 10th at Boundary Bay Brewery at 10 PM. One of Bellingham's awesome local bands, Barefoot Brothers, will be playing! No cover at the door with a lot of great items being raffled off. I hope to see everyone there to support the Snowrider Project of the Surfrider Foundation.

February Testing

Hi guys,

Went water testing this morning! A huge thanks to Tony Gibson who went out ridiculously early with me and froze his hands sampling in the icy water (seriously, there were big chunks of snow and ice floating in the water!!!) Stay tuned- results will be in tomorrow morning at 5:00 AM.

Also, Surfrider NWS will be having its monthly meeting tonight at Woods Coffee at Boulevard, 7:00 PM. We'll be discussing our current and future campaigns and events. Everyone is welcome and we can always use more volunteers. Hope to see everyone tonight!

Spanish Garbage Hotel

Check out this great MSN video: Spanish Garbage Hotel

We definitely need a change if there is enough garbage on our beaches to build an entire hotel! Remember to follow the Pick Up 3 rule: every time you go to the beach pick up all of your trash plus three more pieces. http://www.pickup3.org/

Come Help Out!

Here's a great way for everyone to help out a critical ecosystem in Bellingham: on Saturday February 12th, at 1:30 pm we will be removing invasive species at the Padden Creek Lagoon. Restoring this habitat protects native flora and fauna from invasive species that can be detrimental to the health of a natural ecosystem. It's an easy way to help the earth, feel good about yourself and your city, and get outdoors! For more information check out the following link:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=122687161134729

Hope to see you all there!