The Spartina Eradication Project
The Noxious Weed Board has set a meeting in Kelso Wa. on July 18 to make Spartina an A weed in Pacific County. That means that eradication which for all practical purposes has been made mandatory without following the legal procedures, will become official. Spartina is a C-4 plant, sequesters more CO2 than other kinds of vegetation, stabilizes the shoreline and keeps the bay water clean and free of algae bloom. How irresponsible can you get? Please pass this on to anyone who you think would be interested and might email the senators, congressional offices and state legislators.
MOBY DICK HOTEL AND OYSTERFARM
PO BOX 82
NAHCOTTA, WASHINGTON 98637
June, 25, 2007
To Jaime Shimek, asst. to Senator Patty Murray
From Fritzi Cohen
My schedule makes it impossible for me to reschedule a meeting. However I will try to convey my thoughts in this email.
#1 IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR SENATOR MURRAY TO REVISIT THE SPARTINA ERADICATION PROJECT ON WILLAPA BAY
#2 A MORATORIUM FOR THIS YEARS SPRAYING SHOULD BE INSTITUTED WHILE A CLEARER PICTURE OF THE DANGERS OF THE HERBICIDES AND THE BENEFITS OF THE GRASS ITSELF ARE EXPLORED.
#3 THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SENATOR MURRAY SHOULD TALK WITH TO BALANCE THE INFORMATION THAT SHE HAS BEEN RELYING ON. I WOULD SUGGEST SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS:
BOYCE THORN-MILLER has a working familiarity with this project since she cfitiqued the original EIS on what to do about spartina in 1992 or 3. She is now working on developing a balanced approach to scientifically dealing with what are considered non-native species. Boyce is a graduate of the University of Washington and her mother lives in Seattle. Boyce also has several colleagues who she could engage in a discussion with Senator Murray.
STEVE HERMAN, professor emeritus at Evergreen in Olympia. Steve is the bird expert. His student Jared Parks concluded in his thesis that shorebirds use areas colonized by the grass in Willapa Bay, contrary to claims by eradication supporters that they do not. STEVE who was never a fan of spartina grass now belives the grass has played a beneficial role in the bay.
-2-
DOROTHY LEONARD was the first executive director of the Willapa Allilance on an assignment from NOAA. The Board of Directors of the Alliance was divided on the issue of using pesticides(carbaryl) to kill ghost shrimp that destabilize the substrate. Carbaryl also kills juvenile salmon, Dungeness crabs and oysters. However, led by TNC and the large oyster companies, the Board supported the use of both pesticides and herbicides (Monsanto’s Rodeo to get rid of Spartina.) In response, Dot left the Alliance for a position as Director of Fisheries for Maryland. Dot is an international expert on oyster restoration.
JENNIFER DOLD, a partner in Bricklin, Newman and Dold who can talk about the settlement that was made in 1994 or 5 to keep the spartina project in a research mode .A settlement that was immediately eroded by the State Legislature at the behest of the Nature Conservancy who had tried unsuccessfully to have the action brought by Friends of the Earth, the Shoalwater Nation ad the Ad Hoc Coalition summarily dismissed.
DR WARREN PORTER is a professor at the University of Wisconsin Department of Zoology. He is the author of the critique of the risk assessment for imazypyr which I left for you on Friday. He has never visited the Bay to the best of my knowledge. His critique is based purely on science and his own vast experience in looking at chemicals and the results of their use.
LEFKOS CHRISTODOULIDES who lives in Seattle, has been to the Moby Dick Hotel and Oysterfarm, is an admirer of our oysters, and is firmly against the use of chemicals in the bay.
My business on Willapa Bay is under seige. Protecting my oysterbeds is uppermost in my plans. Secondarily I am intent on exposing the gross mistatements of facts on which this insidious eradication project is based. Finally, although The Nature Conservancy has been quoted that they would like their 600 acre Ellsworth slough to be the guinea pig for this eradication project, they have no right to make the entire bay, and the rest of this ecosystem a guinea pig for their experiment.
I have been oystering on the Willapa bay for some time and it is located in the poorest county in the state.With all that spraying they do I have seen the Mexican workers become very ill working in an area long after it had been sprayed. They get large boils on there eyes cramps and such. Some even fall over when the hydrogen sulphide from the rotting root
is all there is to breath.After seeing this I asked myself to look deeper into what they were spraying and found that the herbicide they use has found its way to fresh water at all times and never should be used near any water because it is toxic to birds fish crab.Also there were no toxidity levels established for humans or oysters and when they spray for ghost shrimp they use helecopters from Oregon so they can not be sued in washinton.One more point of interest.As an oyster farmer and tax payer in the poorest county I wonder why the rich oyster men do not pay any taxes on ther oyster beds.One would think if they did our county could finish there schools instead of running out of money
After researching the what they are spraying in the bay.I have decided not to use anymore Willapa bay oysters in my restaurant.I understand that Willapa bay is under a lower temp. control because of vibro.What I do not understand is how Jolly Rogers Oysters can come from the bay, Be put uncooked in a jar,And sold to the public without telling the public that they spray chemicals all over the bay and its in the oyster.It is criminal to do that in 48 other states.Senaters Murrey and Cantwell are not protecting the people of there state. Time to vote them out.Or do like me and call there office.
Why is what they are using on the Spartina banned
in Alaska?Can someone answer that for me?
The Nahcotta growing area in Willapa bay has now been closed due to a Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) monitoring result of 9.3 tdh with a confirmed replicate result.A vouletary recall is in affect for any oysters harvested from July 11th 2007 through July 13th 2007.This was predicted when they started poisoning the bay to not control as they said but to eradicate Spartina.The chemicals that they use to spray and kill the grass is toxic to mud shrimp which are needed to keep the bay clean This is proven in studies. Also the Spartina was a natural purifier of the water and we have had tremendous results growing oysters in the grass.When will the local people take interest in restoring the bay to what they grew up with.You know, When you could go fishing or crabbing in the bay and actually catch something. It is time the people decide what to do in the bay.Not the elected todies on the commission.
For some reason we are not able to get comments.
If you have one e-mail it to
mobydickhotel@willapabay.org
We will post it from there.
Thank you very much
get rid of the poison let nature handle it- evolution style
Rachel’s Friends, your local branch, might be a source to lobby about this. They have paid for research showing the connection of pesticides to cancer and birth defects. Utne Reader has done a story on the connection of Monsanto to the Gates Foundation and might be interested in a story of Monsanto and The Nature Conservancy. Mycelium Running is a book by Paul Stamets. I believe he is from Washington, and he has done some successful experiments with bioremediation of toxics with fungi. I hope this information helps you. I am so sorry to hear about The Nature Conservancy’s part in this, and I am amazed that Washington legislators would let this happen.
Mary Saunders
I am truly shocked that commissioner Kaino compared Spartina grass to a cancer and did not need a second opinion from real scientists that have had there work peer reviewed,And published.How many women are walking around disfigured because they did not get a second opinion on there cancer.Who voted this clown in?Maybe its time to make your vote count and get rid of him.I wonder what he will say when the bay goes beyond recovery. Where are all the fish and crab that us locals used to feed our families with.
Dose Kaino support the rich oyster companies or the people that live in this county?It must be the oyster companies because they pay no taxes.Does not sound like he supports tourists fishing in the bay even after putting in a new boat landing.
Hi this is from Fritzi, very involved in fighting for sanity on Willapa Bay. For some reason I was unable using aol and google to write a comment on the blog. But Safari is making it happen.
The helicopters were out today to do their thing. I’m assuming they are spraying spartina, but they could be spraying carbaryl to kill the native ghost shrimp. I was astonished to find out that WSDA, project director for the spraying, is unable to get us info about the spraying that is done on our side of the bay until February 1 when all the reports come in. We have asked that by the day after the actual spraying they tell us where and what. You’d think in this day of instant communication, WSDA would be more proactive in keeping track of the time date and location and amount of the biocides(identified with surfactant)
that are being sprayed into the bay. I’m sure it could be done by cell phone from the applicators all of whom have to be permitted and licensed. Oh well I guess its too much to expect from the people who have already spent 25 million in trying to eradicate spartina grass.
<p>I think that all evil will rule the world and that anyone against spraying poison in Willapa Bay is against my rule on earth.You need poisons in your diet so you can all morph into another sort of creature that will not protect your young.Water is the gift of life and I vote to remove that gift from you so that you may join me at my ever lasting desire for your company in my inferno.Thank you Patty Murray for your help and soul.I think I will E-mail the senator c/o <jaime_shimek@murray.senate.gov>
Maybe all responders that like poison should do the same</p>
I have sent this series of blog comments to the EPA HQ’s Pesticide Programs division and to Safelawns for comment. Although I am in the Washington DC area we may get some answers that I will send back to you as I receive them.
I believe ive found a way to remove this from the bay without poisons and at the same time profit from the biomass it would yeald. Anyone who could help me to develop this please contact me at 541-270-5802
I was so frustrated beacuse I couldn`t resolve this issue. Then I found your site in google and problem is solved. Thanks!
Hello, I think this is the coollest wordpress powered blog I`ve seen. I really like your theme
To President Obama; Please read then research the use of chemicals by
certain oyster growers and Goverment agencies harming our estuaries and
air quality. We believe that special interests greed and power has
literally taken over common sense. Please issue an emergency moratorium on
chemical use/abuse that harms our air quality and estuaries. Please do this
for our future generations!
After reading Marilynn Smith’s editorial (chinookobserver.com on
Sept. 23rd) concerning spartina, We would like to add our two cents
concerning her statement ” If God wanted it in our bay he would of put it
there” .
We wonder if Ms Smith is that naive to believe that God didn’t bring
spartina to the west coast.
Just to name a few, GOD, thru man, brought apples, cherries,
blackberries , Pacific oysters and spartina to Washington State. In fact,
one species of spartina is NATURALLY migrating north from the South
American Coast on GOD’S ocean currents planting seeds in GOD’S estuaries!
We are also curious about Marilynn Smith’s views on GOD’S
native ghost shrimp, crab and salmon and the unintelligent use of carbaryl
to kill them. Perhaps she can write a rebuttal and defend the use of that
chemical also.
As for farming, why is public tax revenue being used to
subsidize wealthy oyster-growers anyway? Are tax dollars also being used
to pay for the weeding of corporate vegetable farms? We hope not but
wouldn’t doubt it!
We are sorry that you might lose your view to a much needed oxygen
producing plant but try to be less selfish and think of future
generations. We urge the goverment to stop playing GOD with chemicals
bought with public tax monies!
If they must use State and Federal tax dollars instead of corporate
profits why not subsidize the hiring of farm workers to pull the weeds
only where oysters are farmed thus helping the economy and the health of
GOD’S estuaries and atmosphere.
In closing We passionatly urge our elected officials to leave our God
out of it and rethink their position concerning the elimination of oxygen
producing spartina.. Please do it for “God’s” children and our Grandchild.
Steve and Cynthia Bova 229 Toleak st SE Ocean Shores, WA 98569
360-580-5534
hello fritzi it all seems to be going somewhere
ever so slowly yet by what I am understanding you
you are being recognized and listened to finally’
Am in calif 503 440=0968 much love always Julianne
I think the spartina is almost gone. That about sums up the process.
Hi Fritzi
I have followed the spatarina fight for a while now, and was saddened to see the news story about the possible sale of The Moby Dick.