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<< Previous   of   Next >> Photo courtesy Anna Porter  (click to enlarge) Snohomish County Shore Stewards member Anna Porter works to keep her shoreline clean at Warm Beach. She not only picks up after her dog Skipper, she also combs for trash and keeps her property from polluting the bay.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, November 21, 2008 Shore resident, natural steward Anna Porter of Warm Beach encourages others to protect the region's shorelines By Gale Fiege Herald Writer WARM BEACH -- When David and Anna Porter sold their McMansion in Woodinville four years ago and decided to move to their cabin on the beach, environmental concerns were a priority. In the renovation of their Warm Beach place, the Porters incorporated pervious concrete and pavers to keep run-off to a minimum. They topped their roof with plants that absorb and clean rain water and added a 625-gallon cistern that collects the rain and pumps the water into a drip system that irrigates the couple's native plants and vegetable and herb gardens. The system also reduces use of their beach community's well. To encourage wildlife, the Porters feed the birds and work to keep their community beach clean. They pick up glass, ceramic and metal bits and other beach trash. They've used some as mosaic material to cover large concrete plinths that hold up the house's waterside wall. So when they attended the Stanwood-Camano Fair in 2006, the Porters were immediately interested in a booth with information about the Shore Stewards program run by the Snohomish County Extension office of Washington State University. "We said, 'Oh, gosh, we need to do this.' It was natural that we get involved in Shore Stewards," Anna Porter said. The couple always had believed in environmental principles, she said. "But when you live at the beach and walk the shoreline every day, you develop a relationship with the beach that makes you more aware of your environment," Porter said. Shore Stewards receive free information from local experts, a monthly newsletter and a guide to shoreline living. They learn how to manage water runoff, minimize erosion risks and make landscaping choices for a coastal environment, Shore Stewards project assistant ­Jacquelyn Styrna said. Regionally, more than 1,100 people are involved in Shore Stewards, Styrna said. In Snohomish County, people join the program because it is a common-sense way to protect property from wind, water and weather while safeguarding inland waters for future generations to enjoy, she said. Being a Shore Steward gives Anna Porter the chance to talk to people about being environmentally aware. "I can talk about going green in subtle ways," Porter said. "Most people are not intentionally harming the beach, they just are not aware that the grass clippings from their fertilized lawns shouldn't be dumped into the bay. The little things we do matter." Reporter Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427 or gfiege@heraldnet.com. Be a steward To learn more or join Shore Stewards in Snohomish County, contact WSU Snohomish County Extension at 425-357-6020 or Sno.shorestewards@wsu.edu, or go to www.shorestewards.org. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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