Fourth of July Week: Big Low Tides and Indian Island Field Research Days

By Marcia Spees

Indian Island is the small island you see in the bay when going through Eastsound. It is accessible via a tombolo (revealed pathway at low tide) in daylight only a handful of days a year.

Here on Orcas a cadre of local people are dedicated to documenting and monitoring the populations of marine life which inhabit the incredibly rich environs of Indian Island: this is the Indian Island Marine Health Observatory.

In addition to documentation, IIMHO stewards enthusiastically share all sorts of information about Indian Island to the 8,000 – 10,000 visitors who yearly walk out to this Bureau of Land Management property.You are most welcome to come on down to this wondrous treasure in our midst.

Coming up for the July 4th week:.
Low tide days are June 30; then July 1 – 6 with start times as follows:

• Saturday, June 30  – Meet Indian Island Stewards at the Farmer’s Market  for displays and discussion about marine micro-plastics, etc..  Low tide (-1.5) is at 8:30 a.m. Stewards will also be at Indian Island.
• Sunday,  July 1 – 8:30 a.m. (-2.3) – Invertebrate Surveys
• Monday, July 2 – 9:00 a.m. (-2.8) – Invertebrate Surveys
• Tuesday,   July 3 – 9:30 a.m.  (-2.9)– Eelgrass Density Survey
• Wednesday, July 4 – 10:30 a.m. (-2.8) – Eelgrass Density Survey
• Thursday, July 5 – 11:00 a.m. (-2.2) – Fish Seining
• Friday, July 6 – Noon (-1.5) – No protocols, but Stewards on the beach

The low tide window allowing access to the island lasts about two hours.  Meet at the tide pools around Indian Island.  Wear appropriate footwear (wet sand, gravel, shallow water), and come on down to the beach!

You are invited to expand your wonder of the natural world and join us any time. The IIMHO team is always looking for new volunteers if you would like to help.  The season extends to all low tides through August 2.  No experience necessary, just a love of the marine environment and desire.  For more information about volunteer opportunities, call Marcia Spees 376-4084.

To learn more about the Indian Island Marine Health Observatory, go to www.Indianisland.info.