Conservation Corner

As Conservation Chair, as well as Editor of the Kingfisher, I get to
represent Kitsap Audubon on the West Sound Conservation Council and the Washington State Audubon Conservation Council. I’m also involved in Kitsap Conservation Voters and the Hood Canal Sierra Club
group. It’s exciting to have a ringside seat when our state and county lawmakers address environmental issues and priorities. It’s a special privilege to connect with environmental champions like Senator Phil Rockefeller, who has had a leading role in advancing our environmental agenda. Because of leaders like him, the environmental community has batted pretty close to 1,000 in each of the last two state legislative sessions. The article on page 4 provides an overview and scorecard on how we fared with this year’s “Priorities for a Healthy Washington.”

The 2009 priorities include: • Cap & Invest to reduce global warming emissions • Efficiency First to promote energy efficiency and conservation • Transit-oriented Communities for better transportation choices • Invest in Clean Water to restore Puget Sound and other water bodies The 2009 Environmental Priorities are focused on promoting a vibrant and growing green economy. Now is the time to create new jobs, build new infrastructure, and promote new economic stimulus in a way that will drive us towards healthier, more efficient, and more livable communities. To this end, three of our Priorities propose critical next steps for state-level action to meet our climate change goals. The other Priority would help raise new revenue for clean water and pollution prevention. Cap and Invest By implementing real limits on global warming pollution, we can create new jobs and stimulate the growth of a clean energy economy here in Washington State. This effort implements the cap on climate pollution the Legislature adopted last year. Emitters would pay for pollution permits, and the new revenue would be invested to reduce fossil fuel dependence, create green jobs and spur new clean-tech innovation, while providing assistance to moderateand low-income households struggling with high energy costs. Through state action, we can reduce global warming pollution in a manner that benefits Washington’s economy, protects Washington’s interests in the national climate policy debate and positions us for success in the new clean energy economy. Efficiency First Promoting energy efficient homes, businesses and public institutions will save money, enhance energy security, and significantly reduce global-warming pollution. Energy efficiency is the cheapest and most immediate way to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and will create thousands of good, familywage jobs in Washington. This bill will put “efficiency first” by promoting super-efficient, lowenergy- use buildings, providing incentives to maximize energy efficiency, requiring energy use information on buildings offered for sale or lease; and making our public buildings models of energy efficiency. This policy will also help to ensure that low-income consumers can cope with rising energy costs. Transit-Oriented Communities Washingtonians want to live in affordable, walkable and transitoriented communities. With population growth, we are facing increased traffic congestion, diminished quality of life, and ever-increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Transit-Oriented Communities would revise the state’s transportation and land-use planning framework to assist local jurisdictions to plan for growth in a sustainable and climatefriendly way. The bill will provide incentives for cities and developers to create affordable, livable, transit-oriented development, increasing transportation choices. Invest in Clean Water From Puget Sound to the Spokane River, clean water is Washington’s lifeblood and our communities can’t thrive without it. This package of targeted polluter-pays fees will protect the taxpaying public and ensure that polluters take responsibility for the impacts of their actions. The effort will raise new revenue to fund critical projects to save Puget Sound and restore Washington’s rivers and lakes. By investing in stormwater infrastructure, toxics prevention and other programs, we create new jobs, relieve financial pressure on local government, and promote new economic stimulus.

Who killed the Electric Car was an eye-opening documentary about how our government and industry pushed aside the electric vehicle program in California for the promise of hydrogen fuel
cell cars. But after more than 20 years of development, fuel cell vehicles are still years from
production due to cost, availability of fueling stations and the storage of the hydrogen fuel with safety
and storage capacity concerns. Although the big auto companies are not coming back with an all-electric car anytime soon, a plug-in hybrid car will be coming out next year. This is probably because of the success of today’s hybrid cars, most noteworthy the Toyota Prius, and consumer pressure to take the
hybrid car a step further and offer a plug-in hybrid. A plug-in hybrid has increased battery capacity
and the ability to be recharged by simply plugging into an electrical outlet, even at home. However, it seems that the auto companies are still holding back on the American driver. There have been many hybrid cars converted into plug-in hybrids at garages and small shops around the country. Reports from the owners of these conversions claim they can drive up to 40 miles without using any gasoline at
all, just the electric motor. But Toyota’s plug-in model, which comes out in the fall of 2009, will only be able to travel 10 miles before the gasoline engine engages. This decreased performance probably has
something to do with the company’s policy to not provide all available technology to American consumers. Presently, while Prius cars in other countries contain a device that allows it to run only on the electric motor at slower speeds, this device is not included in the cars delivered in the U.S. The bottom line is that plug-in hybrids will be one of the most efficient vehicles available. If in the market for one, however, a
person may want to wait before purchasing. Washington State passed a sales tax exemption for
hybrid vehicles that get at least 40 miles per gallon on the highway. This goes into effect January
1, 2009 to December 31, 2010. Two existing hybrid vehicles, the Prius and the Honda Civic, would
qualify, as well as the forthcoming Prius plug-in hybrid and the Chevrolet Volt, due out in 2010.

Re-Leaf For Stormwater Management
There’s an old saying: “If you’re digging yourself into a hole, the first step is to stop digging.” The Evergreen Cities Bill introduced in this session of the State legislature is aimed at reversing the loss of our urban forests.

The Evergreen State is losing trees at an alarming rate. Aerial photos of Silverdale show the area has lost 50% of its trees in the last 30 years. Yet, the lessons of the recent fl ash floods seem clear. A combination of clear-cutting and replacing trees with impervious surfaces—roofs and pavement--has magnified the severity of fl ash flooding and increased the stormwater runoff that has been identified as the number one source of pollution in Puget Sound. Satellite images of Puget Sound, spanning a 24-year period, show a dramatic decline in tree cover and its replacement with impervious surfaces. Based on this study, the loss of trees increased stormwater runoff by 35%. Replacing this lost stormwater retention capacity with reservoirs and other engineering systems along the eastern edge of Puget Sound would cost $2.4 billion. The lost tree canopy would have removed 35 million pounds of pollutants from the atmosphere annually, at a value of $95 million.

The Evergreen Cities Bill will provide funding and encourage partnerships to help local governments update tree ordinances and management plans to grow healthy trees and urban forests. The bill will
establish statewide performance standards for the retention of our urban canopy, guaranteeing the esthetic and economic benefits of healthy trees in our communities Washington is expected to add another 2.3 million people by 2030. We need to take steps now to ensure that the Evergreen State continues to have Evergreen Cities. --Gene Bullock

Redefining the "Good Life"  (download a copy here)

Redefining the “Good Life”

With so many grim predictions about global warming, dwindling oil and environmental calamity, it’s easy to feel hopeless. But a growing number of families are choosing action over denial and despair. Instead of accepting the gloomy predictions, they’re taking stock of their daily choices and finding inventive ways to minimize waste.

Some changes are easy, such as switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs and bringing durable shopping bags from home. Some take a little more effort, such as turning down the thermostat and wearing a sweater instead of keeping all rooms a cozy 70-plus degrees. But there is no shortage of resourcefulness among those who are serious about reducing their impact on the environment.

The boldest are downsizing to smaller, more energy efficient homes. Many are installing solar panels and buying hybrid cars. Not everyone is able to go to these lengths; but there is a growing desire to move beyond the culture of consumption and waste.

Ray and Charlotte Garrido have converted their VW beetle to run on 99% biodiesel. They feed their table scraps to the chickens, which supply them with eggs and fertilizer for the garden. They use a battery powered lawn mower--and sheep-- to keep grass cropped short. And they telecommute at least one day a week.

Lillian Crawford says she nags her husband when he leaves lights on and has switched to a kitty litter that doesn’t require strip mining and can be used as mulch. She also reuses the blank sides of copier paper for scratch notes and routine copying.

Chris Christensen goes to the “Catalog Choice” website www.catalogchoice.org to tell mailers to stop sending her catalogues. She says it gave her a sense of triumphal accomplishment to list 27 catalogues she does not want in her mailbox.

It is easy being “green” if you put your mind to it, says Mary Hrudkaj. “Once it becomes a part of your life you don't have to think about it. You just do it.” An avid birdwatcher, Mary now limits most of her birding to local areas. Her parents lived through the Great Depression and World War II, so she grew up with reminders not to waste. The depression-era adage was, “use it up, wear it out or do without.” In a pre-disposable era families handed clothing down to younger siblings, cousins and friends and people saved jars to store odds and ends.

Karen Salsbury says she hasn’t bought incandescents in years…except for Christmas lights, a big oops! She has stopped getting a newspaper and shares one at work. She pays bills on line to save paper. She has trained her children to recharge batteries and washes clothes and dishes during off-peak hours. She uses a clothesline when weather permits. She shuns Styrofoam and disposables and takes her own mug when she buys a cup of coffee. She keeps car tire pressures up to help fuel mileage. She also captures the cold water while waiting for hot and uses it for drinking, dogs and plants. She charges her kids ten cents if they leave a light on (“not consistent about it, but it’s always met with grins”). She tries to buy used instead of new. And she reuses lunch bags, zip-locks and yogurt containers for lunches and leftovers.

Sara and Byron Kane try to buy for the long haul and keep appliances and other major purchases as long as possible. “We try to recycle everything we possibly can and keep potentially toxic things out of the
garbage. Batteries, oil and antifreeze all go to the recycle center. We don't use fertilizers on the lawn - it grows fast enough without it. We don't use poisons in the gardens and I clean house with the mildest of products.”

Linda Gabriel keeps her thermostat programmed for 67 degrees when she is home and awake, and 57 degrees when she is away or sleeping. She drives a Prius, but says her next car will be all electric if they are available and affordable. Linda buys clothing and household items at thrift shops whenever she can. “I raised my daughters to shop thrift shops and consignment shops. One just bought me an outfit at a consignment store in Florida. I'll bring it home when I visit them next, rather than having her package and mail it to me.”

Sharon Peterson washes plastic zip-lock bags and water bottles and reuses them. She also does home canning and reuses the jars year after year.

Claudia Kilburn just had vinyl windows installed in their 29-year-old home. “I try to purchase locally grown food and other products. I also try to purchase from locally owned businesses. Sometimes it is not possible, but I do my best (in other words, I have never set foot in the Wal-Mart at Olhava!) I know I could do better, but I am on the right path. If we do all the right things and global warming isn't caused by man then what have we lost?”

With a new baby, Carol Ann Davidson buys used strollers and hand-me-down clothes, and uses mostly compostable diapers. She also uses biodegradable (made from corn starch) trash and doggie waste bags. Other measures include buying organic food from a local farm share and using cloth napkins and rags instead of paper. They grow some of their own food and use soaker hoses and drought tolerant plants.

Jan Meredith has a worm bin. “The worms eat all my vegetable/fruit waste, so I get to harvest a bit of great soil twice yearly.”

Lee Robinson says her biggest energy saver is to ride her bike to work. “It's great exercise, and I don't melt when it rains! My husband has ridden his bike to work in Seattle for all 19 of the years we have lived here.”

Bernie Henzi says they recycle everything they can and that usually means two trips to the transfer station with recyclables versus one trip with garbage (“still too much for me”). They also bought a used Prius, grow vegetables organically, compost and recycle horse manure from five horses.

Beth Wilson says her family has adopted most of the usual energy saving strategies, but she hasn’t found a good alternative to going to work in Tacoma alone in her hybrid car. She limits Christmas gifts to one per person or gifts of donations to social justice agencies and buys all the organic food she can afford. She reuses the blank sides of printer paper and irons gift wrapping paper, as well as recycling ribbons. She uses recycled paper towels and toilet paper.
Lou Richard says he and Sally have lots still to do, but they’re on the way. In addition to buying a hybrid car and recycling, they plan to install solar panels on their roof. They have purchased a second home for their older years, which is currently rented. The new home is half the size and within walking distance of shopping and the ferry.
Chris Christensen says she now washes clothes in cold water and hangs them up to air dry 30% of the time. “We try to not drive our car two days/week. We also find that keeping tire pressure at recommended levels increases mileage by 2-4 miles per gallon. This seems just a little silly, but I have used lots of paper tissues to blot my nose and it finally occurred to me to raid my husband's cloth handkerchief drawer. I now carry a cotton handkerchief with me and have drastically reduced the use of paper tissues in our household. These are all easy things to do, and not in any way a sacrifice.”

Sandy Bullock quips that they have two recycled dogs, one a rescued stray from Mexico and the other from a rescue shelter in Yakima. They now walk their dogs in the neighborhood, rather than driving to a park. Husband Gene buys clothes at the thrift shop. He mows his grass less often, which Sandy says is certainly less “exhausting.” The mower and many items of furniture are from yard sales. The Bullocks have planted nine trees in their yard, including two apple trees, and raise their own vegetables. The Bullocks downsized to a much smaller house and yard when they retired and carpool whenever possible to meetings and Audubon field trips.

Most people want to preserve the environment and natural resources that make Kitsap such a special place to live. But they don’t want to give up anything. It’s easier to make excuses and duck the tough choices.

Fortunately, more families are rethinking their lifestyles. Instead of defining the “good life” in terms of owning more “stuff,” they’re taking serious steps toward a more sustainable future.

LARGE TREE FOUND NEAR SUQUAMISH A huge Western Red Cedar tree has been discovered in the Cowling Creek watershed by members of the “Friends of Miller Bay”. The tree measures 18 feet around at its base, is estimated to be over 100 feet tall, and is between 300 and 400 years old. For more information, visit their website at: www.friendsofmillerbay.org. Or contact Niki Quester at 360-297-7449 or nquester@earthlink.net

DID YOU KNOW? It is estimated that one acre of trees can absorb four tons of carbon annually. That's the amount of carbon released by burning 1,000 gallons of gasoline. Of the billion pounds of pesticides used each year in the U.S., less than 1% reaches a pest. Every day the earth receives enough solar energy to heat every home in the world for one year. It takes 20 trees to keep one baby in disposable diapers for two years. You use anywhere from 15-25 gallons of water for a bath, but less than 10 gallons during a 5 minute shower (even less by taking a “sea” shower, using a low-flow showerhead!) The average American throws away (landfill!) his/her own weight in packaging every month. (here's one area where it's good to be sub-average!) source for these “Did you Knows?” is Save Our Planet by Diane MacEachern.

The Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife operates several miniature cameras studying the behavior of Bald Eagles and other Washington wildlife species. The most popular of these WildWatch cameras is the EagleCam that allows internet surfers to watch almost-live pictures of a nesting Bald Eagle family. Visit WildWatch to see the EagleCam and other WDFW cameras.

Along the lines of "practicing what we preach", here are nine easy ways to help conserve our natural resources: 

1:  Skip a trip Eliminating one 20 mile trip in a vehicle per week will prevent 1000 tons of pollution from entering the atmosphere and will save gasoline. 

2: Eat less beef If you can avoid only one beef dish per week, it will conserve 40,000 gallons of water & 70 lbs of topsoil. 

3:  Hold the shrimp By passing on the shrimp, you'll help reduce the incidental "by-catch" of sea life by up to 12 lbs that commercial fishing vessels take from our oceans. 

4:  Cut Back on the Junk Mail If 1000 people reduce the junk mail they receive by one half, 170 trees will not have to be cut down. This also will contribute to scaling back on fossil fuel combustion and use of chemicals. 

5: Use compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs Fluorescent bulbs use far less energy to produce the same amount of light as standard incandescent bulbs. Replace four incandescents with fluorescents and watch your energy bill decrease!

6:  Adjust your Thermostat Put on a sweatshirt and turn down that thermostat by 3 degrees in winter. Thousands of cubic feet of natural gas conserved will be the result. 

7: Keep Poisons out of your lawn & garden Diazinon (there's that word again!!) and Atrazine are toxic chemicals that are common ingredients in just about every Weed & Feed product on the market. They kill a lot more than dandelions!! Avoid using products with these ingredients. 

8: Water Conservation Installing faucet aerators and efficient, low-flow showerheads can save 8000 gallons of water annually. 

9:  Convince 2 friends to join you Visit www.newdream.org/turnthetide for ideas and tips on conservation. TURN THE TIDE !! By each doing a little now, in the end we all accomplish a lot.

KAS Supports the Clean Water for Salmon Campaign by Bruce Gundersen 

Numerous studies have confirmed that various pesticides adversely affect the endocrine or hormone systems of salmon. The development, behavior, swimming ability, defensive responses, and reproduction of salmon are harmed, and in some cases large fish kills have occurred. The U.S. Geological Survey has found 15 different pesticides in N.W. rivers and streams to be at hazardous levels. KAS has joined with other groups in supporting the Clean Water for Salmon Campaign. The goal is to restrict the use of harmful pesticides and to increase the use of alternative practices so salmon are afforded a safe water source to remain a viable part of our heritage. For further information, visit: www.pesticide.org

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

America’s last great pristine wilderness area is right now faced with having it’s fate decided by the U.S. Senate. The House of Representatives voted in August to allow drilling for oil and gas in ANWR. The vote of the Senate is now the key. Please urge our Senators to protect ANWR. Contact Sen. Patty Murray (Seattle 206-553-5545 or Wash. DC 202-224-2621) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (Seattle 206-220-6400 or Wash. DC 202-224-3441) and ask that they vote against drilling in this wilderness. Both Senators have their Seattle offices at 915 Second Ave., Seattle, WA 98174 and their Washington DC offices in the Russell Senate Bldg., Washington DC 20510.

Let’s all heed the call of our KAS President and become effective advocates for ANWR by joining the Audubon Action Alert at 1-800-659-2622 or email at audubonaction@audubon.org

To Find and Reach Your Legislator Click Here

Kitsap Audubon Society PO Box 961 Poulsbo, Washington 98370