WSU Beach Watchers
Making a difference everyday in the watersheds of Jefferson County

Beach Watchers come from all walks of life and bring a rich cross-section of backgrounds, experience, service and talents.  They receive intensive science-based training and become citizen scientists, stewards and educators in the local community sharing their knowledge with others.

Beach Watchers share a common interest in water, and want to learn more about our regions natural resources.  To provide them with the background research and technology they need to preserve and protect their watersheds, WSU Jefferson County Extension provides a yearly training in March.  Following the training, new Beach Watchers volunteer as stewards, educators and researchers in their watersheds. Click here to learn more about the training or on the links below to explore our projects.  Call Darcy at 379-5610 x230 if you are interested in learning more about our program.

The WSU Beach Watcher program is established in seven counties in Washington and combines the best available science with local experts, field experiences and research.  The goal is to provide a foundational education on water and water quality issues, and to provide the resources trained volunteers can access to continue water education, research and stewards.

The annual training has concluded for 2009.  It include a trip aboard the Adventuress, a tour of a shellfish farm, beach seining, how septic systems are built, presentations on costal geology, native plants, shellfish and salmon ecology, drinking water and water quality, green gardening and oodles of other field trips.  For more information or to get on the list for the next training in 2010 please call 379-5610 x230.

      
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Beach Watchers Coordinator Finds a Nurdle!

Darcy McNamara is the WSU Jefferson County Beach Watcher Coordinator.  She is pictured here at Fort Worden holding a nurdle.  Nurdles, or "pre-production plastic pellets" are small bits of plastic pollution that are sometimes found on the beach.  The Beach Watchers are helping the Port Townsend Marine Science Center with data collection on nurdles and other microplastics at Fort Flagler State Park. To learn more click here.