On 21 April, 2026, PHI is hosting Aidan Cox, Marine Ecologist for Washington State Department of Natural resources at 6pm, Room 100 at the Olympia Community Center for a presentation:
BULL KELP: Its Resilience and Decline in the Southern Salish Sea
This event will be co-hosted by the South Sound Chapter of the Sierra Club and is open to the general public, no rsvp required. Please join us as we learn about ongoing efforts to better understand our region’s important bull kelp underwater forests.
We conducted an educational event on October 29th, 2024 at the beautiful Olympia Harbor House. Dr. Julietta Martinelli of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife spoke about her specialty, restoration of the Olympia oyster in Washington. Details are here: Restoring Our Native Oyster
Read about our previous educational activity, training through Harbor Wild Watch to identify the invasive European Green Crab under NEWS. Citizen Scientists: learning to spot the invasive European Green Crab
See NEWS for a report about our educational summer beach walks. Beach Walks 2024 Also, take a look at our new section under GALLERY of What Lives IN and ON the Beach. This is just a sampling with many more photos to come of all the fascinating living things we find during our sessions.
Members of the Board of Protect Henderson Inlet visited the Squaxin Island Museum Library and Research Center on August 23rd. Look for a NEWS report about our field trip to learn more about the history of tribes in Henderson Inlet and nearby lands.
PHI coordinated with University of Washington snail and Green crab expert, Dr. Emily Grason about survey of Henderson Inlet for the invasive Japanese oyster drill, which is a scourge of the native Olympia oyster. We hope that opportunities will be available to members of the public to aid in this research, whichmay eventually lead to more effective Olympia oyster restoration. Watch this site for further reporting and educational resources. Contact Ron through the website if you are interested.
PHI previouasly hosted Dr. Hilary Hayford of the Puget Sound Restoration Fund to speak about her organization’s efforts to restore the Olympia oyster. If you missed it, you can read about it here under RESTORATION. https://protecthendersoninlet.org/public-meeting-1-16-24-restoring-the-olympia-oyster-dr-hilary-hayford-puget-sound-restoration-fund/
The public hearing for the Taylor Mazanti geoduck aquaculture project (#2022103702) near Johnson Point Loop was held on January 9th, 2024. PHI and numerous other citizens voiced strong opposition to this permit. Sharon Rice, hearing examiner for Thurston County, found in favor of Taylor Shellfish and approved the permit. Taylor Shellfish has since then extensively planted this pristine site. PHI opposes geoduck aquaculture based on review of available science. See other discussions under THREATS and SCIENCE.
Our organization is a 501c3 non-profit, thanks to the hard work of George Johnston, PHI Treasurer. Thanks, George. Donations are now tax deductible. Please see details below. You may be visiting because you received a postcard in the mail. Welcome! Please consider supporting our all-volunteer organization.
News – Eelgrass was planted on Otis Beach in 2024, but was not successful in that irt did not survive. We hope to try again. See this previous update by Tonni Johnston. https://protecthendersoninlet.org/spring-2023-eelgrass-planting-otis-beach/
See the new item LIBRARY in our top menu. Tonni has put together a great reading list. Check it out!
About us:
Protect Henderson Inlet is a non-profit group made up of citizens interested in understanding and safeguarding the health of Henderson Inlet including its water, birds, fish, mammals and people. We are dedicated to defending this environment as a part of the greater Puget Sound. Board meetings are open to the public – contact us if you are interested in attending.
Mission:
Protect Henderson Inlet (PHI) exists to educate residents and the general public about the natural beauty, diversity, and fragility of the Inlet, and to encourage ecologically sound practices based on good science. PHI will oppose forces that could potentially harm the ecosystem, create aesthetic harm, limit appropriate recreation, or negatively affect property values.
Board and Officers
President Ron Smith
Vice President Tonni Johnston
Treasurer George Johnston
Secretary Deb Hall
Members at large: Cynthia Sheller, David Hall, Bill Reus, Patrick Townsend, Kathyrn Townsend
Contact:
Contribute:
PHI is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Washington, now with 501c3 status. Our charitable tax ID number is 92-2863494. Please write your check for a tax deductible donation to “Protect Henderson Inlet” and mail to:
George Johnston, Treasurer
9105 Otis Beach St NE
Olympia, WA 98516