Rank: New Member
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Joined: 1/9/2008
Posts: 50
Location: Bellingham
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This email was sent to the President of the Silver Beach Neighborhood Association inviting input from the residents of Silver Beach.
Per our conversation, I would like to ask interested members of the Silver Beach Neighborhood Assn. to respond to a fast-track opportunity to remove some of the urban geese that live year-round on Lake Whatcom.
Some history: At one of last Spring's meetings about the Silver Beach Plan, I introduced the idea of geese removal in some of the coves in the Silver Beach area. There were nods of agreement and no dissent but it was not a formal proposal. I stated at that time that the cost for U.S. Fish and Wildlife to do the round-up would be between $1,200 and $1,600. They bring in staff and equipment from around the state to do the work.
I met with Bill Reilly, Public Works, City of B'ham, in February to discuss the possibility of the City participating in the project by paying for the round-up. His interest was piqued, but I then left for an extended Winter vacation. Not having received a response from Bill, I more or less gave up on the plan as I didn't want to pay for all of it myself.
Two days ago, I received a call from Fish & Wildlife saying that they could fit us into this years schedule if we still wanted the service. The "schedule" is a brief one -- two weeks a year in late June, the period in which the geese are molting and are unable to fly. The date they proposed is Friday, June 20th -- the last day of this year's season and a little more than a week from now.
I called Bill Reilly and he checked with the Director of Publilc Works and the Parks Department regarding their interest in having the round-up done at Bloedel as well. He indicated that the City was interested and would be willing to pay for the service.
The round-up consists of Fish & Wildlife staff approaching the shore in boats and luring the geese into the water. The geese are herded into cages, put in the boats, and then taken to a specified site to be humanely euthanized. In the past several years, Fish & Wildlife have been inundated with dealing with these "urban" geese who don't migrate and spend the spring and summer fouling the waters. In our personal situation, we often come home to 50 to 70 geese on our lawn and on the shore depositing fecal matter. Many residents from Silver Shores have spoken of their dismay with the mess the geese leave at their community beach.
I regret that this request is hurried, but until I received the call this week, I hadn't known that we could fit into the schedule, nor that the City would bear the cost of the clean-up. Given these time constraints, I ask that this e-mail be forwarded to association members as soon as possible for their consideration.
Next are two responses by citizens.
I am writing to voice my very strong objection to “euthanizing” the geese in Silver Beach. I was not aware of this issue being raised at a Silver Beach Neighborhood Association Meeting and I am appalled that the people who are the source of the problem are the very ones requesting that the geese be killed.
The geese have become a problem because the homeowners in Silver Beach who live on Lake Whatcom maintain lawns. Lawns attract geese and are also a primary source of phosphorus loading. The appropriate solution is for these homeowners to replace their lawns with landscaping that discourages geese and reduces stormwater run-off.
You were kind enough to provide me with a copy of the City’s Evaluation of Stormwater Phosphorus Management and Recommended Management Options. I have read and reread this informative and well-written report. The report identifies lawns as the single highest source of phosphorus loading in Lake Whatcom. Pet waste was listed as a medium level source of phosphorus loading. The report recommends controlling waterfowl by allowing a border of vegetation along the lakefront to remain un-mowed and using dogs to chase away the geese.
The report notes that, “maintaining a band of un-mowed vegetation around a lake is one of the most effective (and least expensive) methods of discouraging geese and other waterfowl from residing in a particular area as geese and other waterfowl prefer not to walk through tall grasses or sedges…Un-mowed, vegetated buffers have the additional benefit of filtering runoff prior to entering the water and do not require fertilizer for maintenance.” The report states that “some dogs can be very effective at chasing waterfowl away, and if done routinely, waterfowl often will relocate.” The report further notes that, “many of these control activities could be implemented by lakefront residents.”
I also object to the City paying for a program that is not the most effective means of restoring water quality. Given the severity of the water quality, and the stringent requirements set out in the TMDL, it is crucial that the City use its funds wisely, and in a manner that most benefits the 80,000 people who rely on Lake Whatcom as a water source. Restricting lawns on lakefront property is a much more effective and permanent solution than killing geese, which will not prevent new geese from establishing residency.
This is almost assured of being an issue that will get negative press coverage. Some members of the public perceive Silver Beach residents as the primary source of water quality problems. By funding this program, the City may increase resentment towards the “elite” who reside on the Lake, creating divisiveness at a time when our community must pull together. Additionally, this could make it more difficult for the City to obtain community support in enacting the regulations and obtaining the funding necessary to restore the Lake.
Finally, I am opposed to killing animals, particularly where they may be subject to an inhumane death. Perhaps you are aware of other recent efforts by the WDFW to trap and remove animals. Six sea lions recently died a cruel and painful death as a result of WDFW’s poorly managed trapping program at the Bonneville Dam. This resulted in a lawsuit by the Humane Society and a temporary halt to the State’s authority to trap and remove the sea lions.
Those of us who live in the watershed bear a special responsibility towards the rest of the community, and must incur additional burdens. Requesting that geese be killed so that we can enjoy our manicured lawns is irresponsible and ineffective. I urge the City to reconsider its decision to finance this program, and to put its efforts and money into a permanent and effective solution for restoring the Lake.
It is my understanding that the geese are to be trapped in the next week. Please advise me of whether the City will fund this program, and if so, the time, date and location where the geese will be trapped. Thank you.
There you have two sides of what, I suspect will be a heavily debated issue in the next few days. So, my question to this group is; how do conservatives weigh in on Canada Geese killing as a method of reducing poop nuisance and it's negative effects on water quality? I suspect, that the original request as more to do with the bother of cleaning up the lawn than any actual decrease in water quality degradation, but that's just my view. It will make for an interesting discussion this week.
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Rank: Administration
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Joined: 1/11/2008
Posts: 239
Location: Bellingham, WA
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Stan, First off, excellent question. Second, I like the way you just laid it out there with both sides making their case, and third your assessment about the original intent and what it evolved into are evidenced as true by my own reading of the arguments you posted. I read it precisely as you stated the original intent (with one exception I'll toss out in a minute) and as I read, I began seeing statements regarding phosphorous loading, and thought, "Well, this has taken a bit of a turn here." So, a handful of questions, or thoughts:
- Do we know, and I don't mean opinion here, I mean really, really, KNOW the actual, quantifiable extent of water contamination resulting from the dung of these geese?
- What are the health related concerns from the fecal matter, particularly in places like BloDonv Park where large numbers of people play in the water? There is frequently fecal matter scattered all across the lawn and beach there. I suspect there is a health concern, but cannot speak to what that might be.
- If the geese are rounded up and euthanized, as is proposed, is this something that will need to be repeated going forward, indicating the need for a budget item? If so, is there a point at which the geese decide that this is not a good place for them to gather?
In the absence of such knowledge, it is difficult for me, personally, to voice an opinion. It would be great to get some experts to weigh-in here: Health officials. People with expertise (not agendas) in water quality as it relates to the fecal material. Animal behavior specialists... If the issue is the nuisance of having the dung on the ground, that sets a certain direction, and a cost benefit analysis. If, however, the issue is one of water quality, then the discussion and analysis goes a different direction. It could be that the issue is both of these, and then the cost-benefit analysis has to be judged by what occurs in both arenas. Given the dollar figure presented in Stan's posting, it seems somewhat nominal to this "conservative mind."
Mark Twain wrote:
A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting its shoes on.
Mark Twain
Baron Miller wrote:
Grace ruins the idea that you are fully in charge.
Baron Miller
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Rank: New Member
Groups: Member
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Joined: 12/13/2007
Posts: 98
Location: Bellingham
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The Herald is now reporting this as a dead issue. Seems there was a "public outcry" that brought the issue to its knees and killed it. 
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Rank: Administration
Groups: Administrator
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Joined: 1/11/2008
Posts: 239
Location: Bellingham, WA
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Flat Tire wrote:The Herald is now reporting this as a dead issue. Seems there was a "public outcry" that brought the issue to its knees and killed it. Yeah, and over on NWCitizen, Wendy Harris has an article that some may find interesting. See it here. Her issue seems to be, mostly, with the short notice and lack of public input. She may have a point; I don't really know. The first and only time I heard anything about this plan was then councilman Snapp posted it here last week. It didn't seem to generate a flood of discussion. Even Sam Taylor noted that he had heard nothing about the plan either, so I'm not sure what to make of it all.
Mark Twain wrote:
A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting its shoes on.
Mark Twain
Baron Miller wrote:
Grace ruins the idea that you are fully in charge.
Baron Miller
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Rank: New Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 1/9/2008
Posts: 138
Location: Zeta Reticuli
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When are permits being issued? Will it be a November /January season? Lottery drawing for permits? We donate birds to Bellingham food bank, and everyone wins.
You better laugh at yourself, Everyone else is. www.parkenfarkergroup.blogspot.com
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