One-day university focuses on Salish Sea

The tragic loss of two southern resident orca calves in the span of a few months, on top of a myriad of concerns pertaining to the future of vital species and ecosystems in the Salish Sea, may discourage people from trying to make positive change in their everyday lives.

The upcoming Sound Waters University event, however, might reignite hope for a better tomorrow.

Tabitha Jacobs-Mangiafico, the Whidbey coordinator for Sound Water Stewards, has seen some signs of improvements in the health of the Salish Sea, including an increase of sunflower sea stars and a pinto abalone — two endangered species — in Whidbey’s waters.

Going in the right direction requires a collective effort. Luckily, being good environmental stewards isn’t rocket science.

“Every single person who’s part of this community can make a difference,” Jacobs-Mangiafico said.

For the 31st year, Sound Waters University is gathering environmental experts who will discuss issues and challenges faced by the Salish Sea and those who strive to protect it, inspiring community members of all backgrounds to take action, whether it be by volunteering, donating to a nonprofit or simply using less plastic.

On Saturday, Feb. 1, up to 350 people will return to the classroom at Coupeville High School for “a one-day university for all,” as the nonprofit describes it in a nutshell.

The conference offers students three courses and an elective. Students also can choose to join one of five field trip options the following day, getting a chance to see what they learned in the classroom in the real world.

This year’s theme is “The Power of Place—Voices for the Salish Sea.”

The first class, “Voices for Our Place in the Salish Sea: Stream-to-Sea Connection, Environmental Challenges, and Domains for Solutions,” will discuss the cultural, ecological and geographical characters of the Salish Sea region and the challenges that come with sharing this area with a multitude of jurisdictions, including Washington, British Columbia and 80 indigenous governments. The class will also go over the impacts of urbanization and climate change on the ecosystem, and what can be done to mitigate these impacts.

Students have two opportunities to take “Voice for Indigenous Knowledge: Braiding Indigenous Knowledge and Mainstream Science” at 10:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m., depending on what elective they choose.

In this course, Marco Hatch, a Samish Indian Nation member and environmental science professor at Western Washington University, will use braiding as a metaphor to explain how Indigenous knowledge and mainstream science can coexist and lead to stronger results.

The third course, “Voice for Inspiration and Action: Taking Passion to Action for the Salish Sea,” will inspire students to fall in love and protect the sea with Annie Crowley’s underwater photography. This is the final course in this year’s schedule, and will run from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. before a discussion on opportunities for action and closing comments.

The university offers eight different electives.

“On a Wing and a Prayer – Salish Seabird Migration” seems to be the most popular, Jacobs-Mangiafico said, noting that one of the two sessions offered is almost sold out as of Jan. 2.

This class, taught by Peter Hodum, will provide insight into the Pacific Flyway, a path connecting Alaska to Patagonia that is followed by migratory birds. Hodum, who teaches biology and serves as the chair of the Environmental Studies and Sciences department at the University of Puget Sound, will cover seabirds and island ecosystems.

In “The Food Web Nursery – Protecting Estuaries,” estuarine and aquatic ecologist Emily Howe will discuss how the Snohomish, Skagit and Stillaguamish estuaries are being protected, what challenges they face and what can be done to preserve these ecosystems amid a changing climate.

Jacobs-Mangiafico said this class can be particularly informative as she finds that many locals are unaware of the crucial role estuaries play in supporting the region’s interconnected habitats and creatures.

In “Saving Salmon from Stream to Sea,” Todd Zackey and Kurt Schlimme will go over what has been done in two decades of efforts to protect and restore salmon habitat in Island County and what areas need to be prioritized in future efforts. Zackey is the Field Studies Program Manager for the Tulalip Tribes Natural Resources Department and Schlimme is the conservation director for the Whidbey Camano Land Trust.

Protecting salmon can even just look like being a responsible car and home owner. For example, Jacobs-Mangiafico said, maintaining a car’s tires and brakes can help reduce the release of toxic particles that are flushed by rainwater and end up in the streams and the sea. Opting for environmentally-friendly household cleaners can also keep chemicals from reaching the sea as wastewater treatment plants cannot completely extract them, she said.

Eric Grossman, a coastal and marine geologist and geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey, will present “The Future of Our Shoreline – Storm Surge and Sea Level Rise,” where he will discuss the impacts of floods, sea level rise and storm surges on the region’s coastlines and bluffs and the future of these habitats.

“GIS Story Mapping for Non-Profits” is a workshop where students learn how to create a website story map, which integrates maps, legends, text, photos and video to share information with the public.

In “A Stewardship Guide to a Flourishing Salish Sea,” students will learn how to enjoy the outdoors while being good stewards. Regenerative tourism, which is the practice of impacting a destination positively, is a way people can help protect the environment, Jacobs-Mangiafico said.

“How Community Science Makes a Difference” will illustrate how volunteers help scientists by monitoring juvenile salmon migration, forage fish spawning, bull kelp health, and mussel deployment to assess water quality. Scientists may not have the time or resources to collect the data they need to observe changes over time, so community scientists have been very helpful with efforts such as intertidal monitoring, which Jacobs-Mangiafico said has been going on for over 27 years.

The cost for three classes and an elective is $70, while the optional field trip ticket is $30. Ticket sales end on Jan. 22.

To reserve a spot, visit soundwaterstewards.org/education-center/sound-waters-university. People with financial barriers may apply for a full or partial scholarship, while students, teachers, military members, veterans and AmeriCorps get a 50% discount.