Your trusty blogger did not come from California, but from Michigan, the Grand Traverse Region that is around the “little finger” of the “mitten.” I visited there recently for some family events.
That place is much like here. It is the Cherry Capital of the World but is now losing working orchards to development and wine grapes. Washington State often has to send cherries back there for the National Cherry Festival due to small crops. There are no significant industries and the region is hurt hard by the failing auto companies and drying-up parts suppliers, many of whom had small factories in the area. And it is beautiful – blessed with many forests, open spaces, rivers, lakes (including the Great Lakes,) and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. There is endless pressure to develop the best spots and treat the natural resources carelessly.
But too, there are many organizations, groups, and individuals at work to be sure the natural beauty and vigor is maintained. I saw a sign, for example, for “The Friends of the Jordan River Watershed” and numerous large parcels preserved by the local Land Trusts and Conservancy. There are Baywatchers in every town; organized and funded to push back against pollution attempts and reckless land abuse. Every lake has a grassroots organization devoted to maintaining the quality of the water through education, good landscape and septic system practices, and regulation.
So no, we are not alone here in this beautiful place. The struggle to keep it nice for our future generations goes on elsewhere too, of course. Good to know!
In a stroke of extreme irony, the King and Coho fishing in Lake Michigan is fabulous! Three rods per person! The Michigan Dep’t Of Conservation introduced salmon there in about 1966 and it has been gangbusters ever since! The eggs came from Oregon! Cherries – Salmon – Go Figure!
Say! Skagit County needs new people on the Planning Commission. Now THERE is a way to DIG IN and be heard. Go for it! http://www.skagitcounty.net
The Local-Organization-You-Might-Want-To-Be-Involved-With this week is both the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve http://www.padillabay.gov and The North Cascades Institute http://www.ncascades.org These two organizations have many wintertime events – some inside and some outside. By hitting their websites you can plan ahead for January and February and get into some real great Natural Skagit activities/programs! And, if you still have a little extra jingle in your pockets, they can always use a donation/membership and it will be put to uses that surely help in keeping this place nice.
Here are some near-term activities to consider:
Fri./Sat./Sun. Dec. 12/13/14 “Natural Skagit” book sale 11:00am – 7:00pm Cascade Mall near Men’s/Home Macy store. http://www.skagitlandtrust.org for more info.
Sat. Dec. 13 Fauna of the Future 1:00pm – 2:30pm Talk and discussion at Padilla Bay Facility on Bayview-Edison Rd. Call 428-1558 or http://www.padillabay.gov/programregistration.asp to register.
Sat./Sun. Dec.13/14 and 27/28 Guided Bald Eagle Watching 10:00am – 4:00pm Howard Miller Steelhead Park at Rockport and Milepost 100 on HiWay 20. http://www.ncascades.org for more info.
Sun. Dec. 14 Birding by Ear in Winter 8:30 am – 12:30pm Meet at Padilla Bay Facility on Bayview-Edison Rd. Call 428-1558 or http://www.padillabay.gov/programregistration.asp to register.
Many similar events and activities and opportunities are posted on the GoSkagit Event Calendar. Check it often!
(This blog is a service of the Skagit Conservation Education Alliance (SCEA) http://www.skagitwater.org Your comments will be helpful. New ideas to consider, and changes we should make are especially welcome. Corrections and further enlightenment will help as well. You can email to . Thank you.)
