Report on East Sound’s Marine Health this Friday

Friday, Nov. 18 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Orcas Center

Members of Kwiáht and BeachWatchers set a seine net in the waters of East Sound. Photo courtesy of Margot Shaw.

By Marcia Spees

The results are in from research conducted this summer at Indian Island!

The Indian Island Marine Health Observatory team, under the guidance of  the marine science labs at Kwiáht, the Center for the Historical Ecology of the Salish Sea, spent the spring and summer low tides conducting marine invertebrate, fish, bird and eelgrass inventories, along with other research protocols.  The citizen volunteers also acted as guides – from stewardship to botany, marine biology to history – for the thousands of visitors who trekked out along the tombolo at Eastsound this year.

The public is invited to the 2^nd Annual “Report to the Community” to learn about what’s new and what’s trending at Eastsound’s unique waterfront habitat.  This free event includes music, interactive displays, a marine slide show and data presented by Kwiáht director, Russel Barsh, plus a scrumptious meal served up by the Orcas Village Store.

There will be an opportunity to have your questions answered and you will come away with a deep appreciation of our local marine wonderland.

Displays include a phytoplankton presentation with inter-active microscopes and an examination of the current bioremediation project underway in Eastsound’s wetlands.  There will be an art project table for the children.

The program begins at 5:50 and lasts for about an hour; followed by a light supper.

Please join the Indian Island Team this Friday, November 18 from 5:30-7:30 at the Madrona Room of Orcas Center for an entertaining and informative snapshot of the health of our Eastsound waterfront.

The event is free, however, tax-deductible donations to further the continuation and expansion of this long-term project are most welcome.  Check it out on the web: www.indianisland.info.