Original Post Date: 5-28-2008
Of course – but! Included with the joys and pleasures of owning waterfront property comes some serious responsibility. The health of our streams, rivers, lakes, and salt-water bays and estuaries depends greatly on the actions of shore-side residents.
More and more, waterfront owners are accepting a stewardship role, learning good practices, and practicing what they learn. While we still too often see difficulties – the recent fecal coliform flushes and the detention pond failure are recent examples – it is good to see more awareness and caring as well; whole communities coming together to repair and maintain their shore-side septic systems, and neighbors forming stream-watch groups, for examples.
You can learn a lot about these responsibilities, and the regulations that affect waterfront property ownership, at the “Streamside Living: Tools for Realtors” class on Thursday June 5. (The particulars and sign-up details are below in the calendar.) You don’t need to be a realtor to attend, and you will hear from some of our top experts in the various aspects of waterfront stewardship – a great opportunity.
Plus, there is a lunch to DIG IN to while you learn!
The Local-Organization-You-Might-Want-To-Be-Involved-With this week is The Skagit Alpine Club http://www.skagitalpineclub.com
“We are a group of outdoor enthusiasts who live in the vicinity of the North Cascade Mountains. Some may call us nuts or crazy, but the great Pacific Northwest is one of the greatest places to live. From high volcanic mountains to oceans - we have it all.
While we talk a lot about the mountains, there are so many other outdoors activities that our members are involved in.
Our mission is: To promote the use, and prevent the abuse, of all outdoor recreational areas, particularly the North Cascade area and Olympic Mountains, the San Juan Islands, and the Pacific Beaches; to provide companionship and fellowship between outdoorsmen; to disseminate information regarding the safe and pleasant usage of the outdoors; to function as a group dedicated to the preservation of reasonable recreational and wilderness areas on the county, state, and national level.”
The club meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00. You had best get on the web site and confirm the current meeting, including time and location! If you are an outdoor type and somewhat new to the area, this would be a great group to contact and get to a meeting and some outings. Meet some interesting people and see some wonderful places.
There are trail work parties on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month. Meet at the Cook Rd./I-5 Park and Ride at 8:15am. Call 360-424-0407 for details of the upcoming work plan, and/or get back on the website and click the Volunteer link.
Even if you are just an “arm-chair” outdoors type, read some of the trip reports on the website. There are some real dandies, and most make you want to pack up, set out, and DIG IN!
Here are some near-term activities to consider:
Wed./Thur. May 28/29 In-stream Monitoring Workshop 6:00pm – 8:00pm Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group to register/for details
Sat. May 31 Birding at Cumberland Creek 7:30am – 1:00pm Skagit Audubon Society http://www.fidalgo.net/~audubon/ Meet at S-W Food Pavilion Dress for walking through brush, bring binoculars and a lunch.
Sat. May 31 North Cascades Institute Annual Free Picnic 11:00am – 4:00pm Environmental Learning Center at Diablo Lake, 1 ½ hrs up Highway 20. http://www.ncascades.org/picnic for info. and RSVP. Try to car pool.
Thur. June 5 Streamside Living: Tools for Realtors 8:00am – Noon Skagit Station, Mt. Vernon $20, lunch included! 360 336-0172 or by June 2 for reservation.
Thur. June 5 Healthy Farms, Healthy Puget Sound speaker series 7:00pm – 8:30pm Carol Havens from Slow Food Convivium and discussion group Food Co-op, Mt. Vernon. Free, soup included! Please RSVP 360 336-1936 or
Sat. June 7 10th annual Spartina Dig Day 10:00am – 2:00pm Swadabs Park, Swinomish Tribal Community 360 336-1931 or for details and to sign up.
Sat. June 7 National Trails Day Trail work party 8:15 am. Call 360-424-0407 for details. Meets at Cook Rd/I-5 Park and Ride.
Tue. June 10 Skagit County Planning Commission Public Hearing Hamilton Urban Growth Area plans 6:00pm 1800 Continental Place, Mt. Vernon
Many similar events and activities and opportunities are posted on the GoSkagit Event Calendar. Check it often!
(Your comments about this blog 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.)
