Education and South Sound Green
You might not realize it is happening even if you live nearby, but a school bus parked on Johnson Point Loop would be a hint that something was going on, as it turns out, something pretty darn good.
For nearly 20 years, David Hall has been quietly fostering marine education on his saltwater beach on Henderson Inlet in rural Thurston County. During that time he has been visited by thousands of students, accompanied by teachers and family up to 80 a day for the purpose of studying beach ecology and about the importance of water quality.
[a photo of David Hall is coming]
The 77 year old Hall has been a resident of the area since 1987. While serving on the board of the Thurston Conservation District, he became acquainted with South Sound Green, which shares space with the TCD. South Sound GREEN (Global Rivers Environmental Education Network) is a watershed education program in Thurston County that educates, empowers and connects over 60 classrooms and thousands of students in watershed studies annually.
Back then, the organization was doing field trips to Zittels Marina, but wanted a chance for the students to actually experience the beach, and the friendship with Hall offered that additional opportunity. From about 2002 until the pandemic stopped visitation in 2020, there were approximately 6 visits per year from Washington schools as far away as Onalaska. The students walk down to the beach, accompanied by teachers and naturalist volunteers, their visit timed to low tide. The educators teach the kids in small groups, rotating between “classes” until they have participated in all the areas of study. Subjects include how to grow oysters, how to sample and test for water quality, and examination of the myriad of small creatures that inhabit the beach.
[photos of students on the beach coming]
Since the pandemic is fading for most, there is now the chance to refresh the educational agenda. However, a new problem exists; Taylor Shellfish, who has previously supported this program by donating oyster seed, has announced plans to develop this stretch of beach for commercial aquaculture and has applied for a permit through the Thurston County Development Office. If granted, 8.8 acres of beach would be developed for oysters, Manila clams and geoduck, which will make the beach impassable and unusable for education.
How is it that the beach is not owned by the residents? The parcel is an area originally designated as “Oysterlands” and sold by the State under the Bush and Callow Acts. Many of these properties have been incorporated into upland parcels as is the situation at neighboring Otis Beach. Some parcels such as the one off Johnson Point Loop remain in non-resident private hands, and residents often do not know that they don’t actually own or control the beach.
What will become of this resource? If the development proceeds, South Sound Green will have to find a new site for these hands-on science field trips.