CAMANO ISLAND — Longtime Washington State University Beach Watchers volunteer Barbara Brock has been named the Island County Coastal Volunteer of the Year.
The Island County Marine Resources Committee and WSU Island County Extension each year recognize a volunteer who is “engaged in service, science or outreach related to the health of Island County’s marine environment.”
Brock, of Camano Island, has been a WSU Beach Watcher volunteer since 2002.
She helped create the Shore Stewards program, and assisted in planning and leading shoreline community workshops on marine stewardship. She also is a member of the board of directors of the Friends of Camano Island Parks.
She also helped create and win adoption of the Camano Island Non-Point Pollution Plan and is a member of the Island County Non-Point Pollution Committee.
The Camano Beach Watchers Steering Committee nominated Brock because of “her tireless efforts in about everything related to coastal activities on Camano Island, as well as all of Island County, and for her leadership by example.”
“She is a continued protector of Island County’s shorelines and salmon, a dedicated educator, and a very important part of most county programs or committees that are dedicated to the health of our waters, both fresh and marine,” the beach watchers committee wrote.
Brock’s award was announced in February at the WSU Island County Beach Watchers’ 16th annual Sound Waters symposium, said Scott Chase of the Island County WSU Extension office.
“I’ve known Barbara since we took Beach Watchers training together in 2002, and she has been an incredible inspiration as to how a retired person should get involved in volunteer efforts to help the community,” Chase said. “She is a champion of salmon recovery in Kristofferson Creek. She is a skier, a kayaker and an avid beach hiker. In addition, she still finds ample time to do things with her husband, Wes, visit her family, and drive up to Bellingham to check on her father.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
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