The Journal of the San Juan Islands | SanJuanJournal.com
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Wednesday, December 25, 2013 — 3
Trio teams up to remove creosote pilings from Barlow Bay Friends of the San Juans partnered with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Tulalip Tribes to remove creosote pilings and a pier in Barlow Bay off of Lopez Island. The project is intended to improve water quality, eelgrass growing conditions, and upper beach habitat at a documented Pacific sand lance spawning site. Creosote-treated wood was commonly used in marine structures throughout the Salish Sea for more than a century during a period of rapid development and industrial expansion. Like other chemical compounds that were innovations in their time, creosote was broadly used without knowledge of its long-term consequences. It contains more than 50 carcinogens and is toxic to fish and other wildlife. “Research has shown that herring eggs exposed to creosote have a high mortality rate,” said Tina Whitman, Friends’ science director. “Chemicals found in creosote also affect juvenile salmon that migrate through contaminated estuaries by reducing their growth and altering immune function.” Twenty-six in-water creosote pilings and approximately 1,200 square feet of pier decking were removed from Barlow Bay. In addition, 200 square feet of upper beach habitat will be unburied by removing rock and fill, as well other debris including concrete, creosote and tires. DNR’s Creosote Removal Program is leading the effort to remove treated wood from public and private property throughout the Salish Sea. Since 2004, DNR and partners have removed more than 14,000 tons of derelict pilings;
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Continued from page 1 mize adverse impact to surrounding land and water uses; and “[c]onducting land-disturbing activity greater than one acre without benefit of an NPDES permit” issued by the state Department of Ecology. Local arborist Casey Baisch told the Journal that the Honeywells consulted him this fall and that he agreed to “limb and trim some fir trees” and clean up bushes and other scrub growth - “nothing that would require a permit.” Baisch said he was shocked to return to the property after a few weeks to
find that “more than a few” willows, alders and other trees” had been removed. Stephanie Buffum, executive director of Friends of the San Juans, was irate when she saw photographs of the area. She believed the photographs showed dozens of trees, native flowers and other vegetation have been removed. “This will take decade to repair,” Buffum said. “It’s a great example of property owner irresponsibility.” Baisch said he had been interviewed by code enforcement and told them that the few fir trees he trimmed were still standing and believed that areas with Golden Indian Paintbrush, which are dormant this
that the Tulalip Tribe would prove good neighbors and that Friends was working to protect the environment we cherished,” said Hank Landau, a neighbor of the property on Barlow Point. “We are pleased to see that the work of both organizations on behalf of natural resources and future generations continues.”
Find the mortgage that fits your needs Contributed photo / Friends
A barge and crane help in the removal of creosote pilings and a pier from Lopez Island’s Barlow Bay.
250,000 square feet of treated overwater structures, such as docks and piers, and 2,700 tons of treated beach debris. “We’re having great success removing these toxic materials from Washington’s marine waters,” said Monica Shoemaker, manager of DNR’s Creosote Removal Program. “We’re well on the way to achieving cleanup goals laid out in the Puget Sound Action Agenda, thanks to great partners such as the Friends and the Tulalip Tribes.” Funding for the creosote-removal projects comes from the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board and the state’s Jobs Now Act. “Prior to purchasing our property in 1986 we were told time of year, had not been disturbed and that the Honeywells were intent on “disturbing native vegetation” as little as possible. Code Enforcement Officer Chris Laws and CDPD Acting Director Sam Gibboney declined to discuss events at Mar Vista,
citing that it’s an “ongoing investigation.” Telephone messages left at the Honeywell’s local phone were not immediately returned. Honeywell Mimi Wagner and their real estate agent, Bob Elford, also declined to comment.
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