SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1996-8705

By Senators Haugen and Spanel

     WHEREAS, The state of Washington values the beauty and preservation of Puget Sound and applauds the efforts and enthusiasm of those groups who volunteer to protect this jewel of our state; and

     WHEREAS, Members of the Island County Beach Watchers recently received recognition from the Washington State University Beach Watchers program for their efforts to protect and preserve the fragile environment of Island County and Puget Sound waters through education and public awareness; and

     WHEREAS, Susan King of Greenbank received the "Top Gunnel" Beach Watcher of the Year award for volunteering 680 hours during 1995; and

     WHEREAS, Seventy-two Island County WSU Beach Watchers have contributed more than eight thousand volunteer hours in 1995, which is equivalent to four full-time employees; and

     WHEREAS, Projects within Island County have included beach monitoring and clean-ups, spartina and shellfish surveys, naturalist talks in state parks and on Washington State ferries, field trips with schools, Admiralty Head Lighthouse Interpretive Center Operations, Cama Beach and state park projects, Penn Cover Water Festival; and

     WHEREAS, The Island County WSU Beach Watchers program was originally established with a grant from the Centennial Clean Water Fund, but now operates on funding from hotel/motel tax receipts, a stormwater education contract with the town of Coupeville and a grant from the state Department of Ecology Shorelands Program, corporate support from Texaco Foundations, Nalleys Fine Foods Corporation and many other private donors; and

     WHEREAS, The members of Island County WSU Beach Watchers promote a stewardship ethic among the people of Island County and the Northern Puget Sound region through education; and

     WHEREAS, The Island County WSU Beach Watchers success story has depended heavily on the dedicated leadership and continued guidance of WSU cooperative extension agent Don Meehan;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Washington recognize the diligent efforts of the Island County WSU Beach Watchers for their continued efforts, which has greatly enhanced the quality of our beaches and the understanding of the public in their community; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Island County WSU Beach Watchers.

I, Marty Brown, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1996-8705,

adopted by the Senate March 5, 1996.

MARTY BROWN

Secretary of the Senate