SOUND STEWARDS DERT's Newsletter - November 2021 Go with the flow - Free the Deschutes!

DERT's Inaugural Sound Stewards Cleanup By Matthew Karas, Program Coordinator In October, DERT conducted our first Sound Stewards cleanup event along the shoreline of East Bay in downtown Olympia. A group of seven Stewards collected enough litter to fill four 5-Gallon buckets. While there were some large items that could not fit within the buckets, most of what we collected consisted of small debris. The most common items were cigarette butts and single-use food wrappers.  We have been scouting our watershed in search of locations to conduct future cleanup events and have been pleasantly surprised, as most of the near shore areas visited are relatively free of large plastic debris. However, though large debris may not be abundant, plastic pollution in the form of micro and nano particles is pervasive. Microplastics, plastic particles smaller than 5mm, are often not visible to the naked eye, yet they have been discovered in the furthest reaches of the planet, from the deepest ocean trenches to the highest mountain peaks. Plastic particles are abundant in the water we drink, the food we eat, even in the air we breathe.  There are tens of thousands of polymers used in plastic production, and plastics contain many additional chemicals in the form of fillers, stabilizers, pigments, flame retardants, lubricants, and plasticizers. Plastics leach these chemicals into the environment and living tissues of organisms1. In addition to acting as vectors that transport the chemical additives from production, plastics also absorb chemicals and pathogens as they travel through the environment. We now know that plastics do not simply pass through living organisms, but rather enter and remain within cells and tissues, causing inflammation and disease. Small plastic particles can pass through the gut lining or enter our respiratory system and wreak havoc. Campanale et al. review a number of studies investigating the various pathways that nano- and microplastics enter human bodies and the potential impacts on our health1. The full biological impact of micro and nanoplastics is unknown, and more research is needed, yet it is certain that they cause some measure of harm. Other studies investigate the impact of microplastics on zooplankton2. Botterell et. al review numerous studies that reveal a significant impact on feeding behavior, reproduction, growth, development, and lifespan. While it feels great to organize a group of volunteers to remove litter before it enters our waterway, it is a minuscule impact when considering the torrent of plastic entering our environment on a daily basis. The amount of plastics produced increases each year, with nearly 400 million metric tons currently being produced annually, much of which is single-use. It is estimated that 4.8 to 12.7 million tons of this plastic enters the marine environment2. As consumers, our ability to mitigate the harm of plastic pollution is rather limited. Many of us feel trapped within an unjust system that incentivizes companies to profit from plastic production without paying a penny for the pollution created. Real change demands that producers are held accountable for plastic pollution. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a form of product stewardship that requires producers to reduce the negative impacts of their products on the economy, environment, and public health. Two feature of EPR are "(1) shifting financial and management responsibility, with government oversight, upstream to the producer and away from the public sector; and (2) providing incentives to producers to incorporate environmental considerations into the design of their products and packaging"3.  DERT is working on plastic pollution in a several ways:  cleanup events that remove plastic debris from nearshore environments before they enter local water bodies,  organizing students at Saint Martin’s University and SPSCC who are conducting microplastic research, educating community members on the prevalence and impact of plastic pollution,   organizing letter writing campaigns advocating for legislative action on plastic pollution. Sources Campanale, C., Massarelli, C., Savino, I., Locaputo, V., & Uricchio, V.F. (2020). A Detailed Review Study on Potential Effects of Microplastics and Additives of Concern on Human Health. Environmental Research and Public Health Botterell, Z., Beaumont, N., Dorrington, T., Steinke, M., Thompson, R., & Lindeque, P. (2018). Bioavailability and effects of microplastics on marine zooplankton: A Review. Environmental Pollution. Product Policy Institute - Product Stewardship and Extended Producer Responsibility Thompson, A. (2018). Earth Has a Hidden Plastic Problem - Scientists are Hunting it Down. Scientific American.

WA Plastic Policy

There was progress last year with a number of zero waste bills, most notably SB5022, which is outlined below. However, not all the bills were passed, such as HB1118. This year, waste advocates are pushing for Extended Producer Responsibility to hold plastic producers responsible for cleaning up their mess. Explore the resources below to learn more.

SB5022 establishes: 1) Minimum recycled content for plastic beverage containers, household cleaning and personal care products, and trash bags. 2) Expanded ban on polystyrene (styrofoam) products 3) Plastic serviceware from restaurants and food service businesses requires customer affirmation SB5022 Fact Sheet

RESOURCES SB 5022/HB 1118 Bill Summary Principles of EPR Plastic Soup Foundation Plastic Free Washington Northwest Product Stewardship Council Zero Waste Washington 

November Volunteer Opportunities

Shoreline Armoring Kayak Patrol with guest Wendy Gerstel Sadly, our previous kayak patrol scheduled for Saturday November 6th had to be cancelled due to high winds. The good news is that we have rescheduled the event for Saturday, November 20th, giving you time to sign up! Join our guest field guide Wendy Gerstel, who will teach us about bulkheads, shoreline armoring, and geological processes. The event is from 1:00 to 4:00 PM on Saturday, November 20th. We will launch from Boston Harbor Marina at 1:30 PM. Wendy will discuss the following:  What exactly is a bulkhead? What is the difference between a bulkhead and a retaining wall? Why are so many miles of Puget Sound shoreline armored? Erosion and landsliding – geologic and hydrologic controls, triggers, perceptions vs. observations. Effects of bulkheads on beaches, beach and slope processes, and nearshore habitat. Balancing habitat restoration and conservation with human health and safety concerns, and beach access and view expectations.  Removing/discouraging armoring through upland and shoreline management techniques that accommodate natural slope/bluff/beach processes Adapting to and accommodating sea level rise, storm surges, natural bluff retreat. On-going Shore Friendly Program goals and efforts to date.   Wendy Gerstel is a licensed Engineering Geologist and Hydrogeologist, and is the proprietor and principal of Qwg Applied Geology, a small woman-owned business that specializes in geologic mapping, analysis and proactive mitigation of landslide hazards, coastal geomorphology, and applied geologic and hydrogeologic investigations. Wendy has over 30 years of experience working with Federal, State, and local jurisdictions, Tribes, non-profit groups, and private landowners. Since 1992, Wendy has provided coastal geologic, geomorphic, and hydrogeologic input to a range of research, mapping, mitigation, and restoration projects around Puget Sound. She has extensive experience mapping Puget Sound glacial deposits and unstable slopes, and providing professional input to land-use planning decisions and restoration projects. Visit our Volunteer Center page to register.

We are excited to welcome a new member to DERT's Board of Directors!

BOB JENSEN Bob served as Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Ecology from 1971 to 1981. During his career, Bob devoted his service to promoting and defending the Shoreline Management Act of 1971. From 1992-2004, he served as a member of the Shorelines and Pollution Control Hearings Board of the State. In addition, Bob devoted considerable effort over his career working to return the Nisqually Delta to its natural condition.

We are sad to say goodbye to our Board Secretary, Ali Johnson. Thank you for all of your hard work over the years. We wish you well in your future endeavors!! Thank you to everyone who participated in DERT's Auction! We raised over $7,000 that will help build our staffing capacity and acquire supplies and materials for the South Sound Healthy Watershed Program. If you didn't have an opportunity to participate in the auction, do not worry. DERT is participating in Give Local for the first time this year. Make a donation to support our work restoring the Deschutes River estuary and watershed. While you are there, you can donate to a multitude of other nonprofits who are doing great work in our community. DERT's Give Local Page

Thank you to our supporters