TROUBLESOME TIDAL TRASH
Our beaches and yard waste
Photo by Joan Gerteis 2006
'Tis sad indeed to be walking one of our fine beaches and come upon a pile of discarded yard waste. Whether on a low-bank beach or high, public or private, it's a most discouraging sight.
Probably the most disheartening I've encountered was at a public beach -- a park beach -- flanked by
a relatively high bluff. Noting a large heap of mostly organic debris, I visually followed the huge discarded
material trail upward. In it were pulled weeds, grass clippings, pruned branches from shrubs and trees,
sticks and what-have-you-all dumped over the edge -- obviously hauled to the spot by the truckload.
Another time at yet another public park -- this one lower-bank -- I watched in near disbelief as the grounds-worker mowed the grass and then proceeded to dump the clippings onto the beach -- an area that at high-tide would be bathed in water, washing the material into the Sound.
Yes, these incidents resulted in "out of sight-out of mind" to the dumpees. They were no doubt done without realization of the possible consequences -- not as acts of purposeful environmental degradation. But what unfortunate deeds to do to the bluff and beach areas.
Providing both offending parties with a leaflet from Island County Washington State University's Cooperative Extension on the harmful effects of dumping yard waste onto our bluffs and beaches was definately in order.
Why? As the leaflet points out, yard waste can kill underlying, perhaps already scanty, bluff vegetation, and adds dead weight to the slope. The discarded material and the slope itself can then slide, possibly precipitating a larger slide, and do downslope damage. Then there's also the unsightly heap of debris on the beach for visitors to encounter and clamber over.
In these scenarios, some of all of the debris may then enter the water -- if not immediately, then at high tide.
So here's this organic yard waste, which requires oxygen to decompose, in the waters. The limited oxygen dissolved in same, of course, can be depleted by the decomposition process, leaving fish and other marine populations without. Definitely not in the sea life's best interest.
And the organic matter may also enhance the production of bacteria and other microorganisms.
The problems escalate. Algae blooms may be resultant due to increased nitrates. Light penetration into the water may diminish. Less light, less photo synthesis, and marine critters in the area experience a loss of vision and therefore mobility.
But wait. The sad scenario may be increasingly problematical should the grass and park waste have been treated with toxic lawn and garden chemical products.
There is good news here however. The problems can be minimized and avoided and a costly violation of $125 per day as well. Composting of the organic waste is one way to go-leaving grass clippings on the lawn another-both providing free fertilization. And large limbs can be taken to a nearby Transfer Station.
For information about composting, call Island County/WSU Waste Wise Program or Island County Solid Waste. For copies of the aforementioned informative leaflet, contact WSU Waste Warriors, Beach Watchers, or the County Extension Office.
Should one try informing the offenders of troublesome issues involved in an attempt to correct dumping problems in a neighborly manner but be unsuccessful, one may then report illegal dumping to the Island County Health Department or Sheriff's office. And Island County/WSU Beach Watchers can provide additional information about protecting Puget Sound waters.
It indeed goes without saying: our efforts to promote the health of our bluffs, beaches, waters, and ecosystem are most worthy endeavors.
Pat Nash
Beach Watcher
Class of '94