Lacey, Saint Martin’s team to treat water

LACEY — Woodland Creek water quality and the salmon that spawn there should benefit from a just-completed stormwater-treatment system installed on the Saint Martin’s University campus.

Organics collection will cut waste flow

The city of Olympia Waste ReSources will launch its new curbside organics collection program July 7. It is one of the major waste- reduction and recycling strategies outlined in the Toward Zero Waste Plan adopted by the City Council in 2007. The program will enhance the existing yard-waste collection to include all food waste — meat, bones, dairy products, prepared foods, fruits and vegetables — as well as food-soiled paper, including paper plates, napkins, pizza boxes and ice-cream containers.

South Sound Marine Life -- June 30

This summer, take your children or grandchildren (or your parents or grandparents) to a local beach for some quality family time of intertidal exploration. When you do, be sure to not only look for animals on the surface, such as barnacles, sand dollars and mussels, but dig a few holes and see what kind of worms you can find. Be sure to fill in all your holes.

Environment briefs -- June 30

Get money for work on wetlands

Federal aid sought for Sound

Legislation to boost federal efforts focused on Puget Sound cleanup and recovery was unveiled Thursday in the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment.

Group urges energy conservation

Energy experts convened in Portland last week to start work on a renewed effort to achieve energy conservation in homes, offices and industries of the Northwest.

Environment briefs -- June 23

Take guided raft tour of the Nisqually

Hypomesus pretiosus (South Sound Marine Life)

The surf smelt is a member of a group of fish commonly called bait fish because it is used to catch larger predatory fish, such as salmon. Bait fish occur in large numbers in schools and are fed upon by a variety of other major predators, such as sea birds, harbor seals and humans.

Retention ponds sift pollutants

You probably have noticed it before. While walking in your neighborhood, that shallow, cattail-lined pond or that grass-lined depression in an open area that you notice is filled with water only after heavy rain. This is your neighborhood’s stormwater pond.

Black River is an overlooked treasure

BLACK RIVER — If you’re looking for whitewater rapids and the danger of submerged boulders and logs, the Black River is not the place for you.