Beach Naturalists on duty for lowest-tide weekend of the summer

Sunday afternoon Seattle area beach tides will be the lowest of the year revealing a fascinating world of underwater life that is normally protected by the surf. As families and friends take to the beach to beat the heat and begin their Independence Day celebration, they'll see their local Beach Naturalist showing beach-goers seastars, eelgrass and anemones and how to protect them.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Ocean Service, tidal predictions for this weekend show Sunday's as the lowest tide of the year in Seattle with Saturday a close second.

"This extremely low tide gives people a fascinating look at underwater marine life," says Polly Freeman, Beach Naturalist Coordinator for King County. "There's no better time to teach people that these beautiful creatures are living and need protection while at their most vulnerable," she explains.

Beach Naturalists will be on duty Saturday, July 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday, July 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following beaches: Richmond Beach, Constellation Park (Alki Point) Carkeek Park, Golden Gardens, Seahurst Park in Burien, Des Moines Beach Park and on Vashon Island (next to the ferry terminal).

Follow these tips for proper beach etiquette:

1. Walk carefully. Look where you are stepping and avoid eelgrass beds, which are nearshorenurseries for many animals.
2. Leave dogs home. Dogs are not allowed on Seattle beaches. So instead, take them to parks with designated "off-leash" areas.
3. Leave it at the beach. Don't take away rocks, shells, seaweed, logs and other beach items, which are food and shelter for critters galore. The beach is the best place for them.
4. Let it be. Don't pull on animals like anemones and barnacles that are tightly attached to rocks or pilings. If you move rocks to look underneath, gently put them back the way they were. Rocks protect critters -- many too small to see -- that live under and on top of them. Fill in dug up holes to protect the critters that live buried in the damp sand and need cover.
5. Remove trash. What you bring and what you find, especially fishing line and plastic six-pack holders.

The Beach Naturalist Program, comprised of over 100 volunteers, is co-sponsored by the Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Department of Parks & Recreation, King County Department of Natural Resources, Central Puget Sound Watershed Forum, Washington Sea Grant, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team, Alki Community Council, Adopt-a-Beach, People for Puget Sound, Seattle/King County Department of Public Health.

For additional schedule information or low-tide beach activity call Polly Freeman, King County Department of Natural Resources at (206) 296-8359 or Kathy Sider, The Seattle Aquarium, at (206) 386-4343. Information can also be found on the Web at http://dnr.metrokc.gov/.

 

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