Welcome to Skagit County

July 7th, 2004

CREOSOTE INVENTORY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Skagit County Marine Resources Committee has a project to inventory creosote logs and treated timbers laying on beaches and standing pilings along much of the County’s shorelines this summer. Volunteers are needed to assist with inventory efforts by locating treated wood on county beaches. Creosote, a wood preservative, is a toxic and carcinogenic compound that continually leaches pollutants into Puget Sound waters and food chains.

Creosote compounds can be passed up the food chain where they can become concentrated in tissues of larger marine animals, birds and humans who eat marine fish and shellfish. Inventory efforts will be followed by removal of beached logs and timbers in the fall, 2004 and spring 2005.

Some volunteers may also assist with the recovery efforts. Partners on this project are the Northwest Straits Commission, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Port of Anacortes, Padilla Bay Research Reserve, Skagit County and the Shannon Point Marine Center. Community volunteer meetings will be held at the:
· Sea Farers Park in Anacortes on Thursday, July 22nd at 7:00 PM,
· Guemes Island Community Center on Saturday, July 24th at 1:00 PM, and
· Samish Island Community Center on Wednesday, July 28th at 7:00 PM.

To find out more information or to volunteer for this project, call Paul Dinnel at 360-293-2188 or contact him by e-mail at padinnel@aol.com.