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  • Whidbey’s Water Future In a Changing Climate

    Whidbey’s Water Future In a Changing Climate – Whidbey Earth & Ocean Month (whidbeyearthday.org)

    DETAILS

    Date: April 23 Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Cost: Free Event Categories: Activities & Gatherings, Sip & Science, Water

    VENUE

    Cosmic Veggies 661 SE Fidalgo Ave
    Oak Harbor, WA 98277 United States + Google Map Phone (360) 246-4940

    As seas rise and rainfall patterns change, will there be enough drinking water to support our current needs and accommodate future growth?

    Sea level rise projections are estimating around two feet of sea level rise by 2050, making a flood like that in December 2022 a regular occurrence, placing some of our shoreline communities underwater and some wells unusable due to sea water intrusion. How will this affect water availability and use?

    Rainfall patterns are predicted to change over the same period, with more intense rainfall in the winter and hotter, drier summers. How will this affect aquifer recharge and irrigation needs?

    At the same time, the county is preparing for an additional 15,000 residents. Where will they live, and will there be enough drinking water?

    We’ll attempt to answer these questions and identify areas for further study.

    John Lovie is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington State Office of Drinking Water. He is a past president of Whidbey Island Water Systems Association. John remains engaged in drinking water issues throughout the state. John also received the Island County Jan Holmes Coastal Volunteer of the Year Award for 2023, and continues to be engaged in ecosystem and salmon recovery and climate change issues around Puget Sound.

    A 12 year resident of Whidbey, John enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, and swimming on and around the island, and writing and speaking about his experiences.

    Sip Science added to ample Earth Month lineup | South Whidbey Record

  • Sip Science added to ample Earth Month lineup

    Sip Science added to ample Earth Month lineup | South Whidbey Record

    At Cosmic Veggies, located at 661 Southeast Fidalgo Avenue in Oak Harbor, people can enjoy a healthy and vegan meal while learning about the future of water on Whidbey. John Lovie, who won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington State Office of Drinking Water, will lead the event on April 23.

  • When it comes to irrigating veg fields on Whidbey, should we be worried?

    Farmers Forum — Whidbey Island Grown Cooperative

    Join us for the second annual Whidbey Farmer’s Forum, hosted and sponsored by Organic Farm School and Whidbey Island Grown. The forum will include class session, with multiple class options per time slot, mid-day panels, and a happy hour at 4:30pm. Please bring a sack lunch. Some of the class spaces are unheated, so please bring layers!

    Cost will be $25 to help cover costs of speakers’ travel.

    Class registration is open now! Read class descriptions below and sign up to reserve your seat. Classroom space is limited in some cases. If you have questions, please contact us at shannon@whidbeyislandgrown.com and judy@organicfarmschool.org.

  • Water for Agriculture

    Water for Agriculture — South Whidbey Tilth

    John Lovie presented information and considerations about water for agriculture on Whidbey Island at the South Whidbey Tilth Annual Meeting on January 21, 2024.

    You can see a video recording of his presentation here, and get a PDF of the accompanying slides, here.

    John Lovie is a leader in the world of water quality and marine resource conservation. He has been an avid volunteer, dedicating countless hours as part of community science organizations and community-driven boards to improve the water quality, coastal resources and health of Island County. In 2023 he was awarded the Sound Water Stewards Jan Holmes Award. 

    Click here to subscribe to John’s blog, Mostly Water.

    John lives on Whidbey Island and is a vegan, runner, cyclist, hiker, kayaker, open-water swimmer, environmentalist, photographer, musician, chemist and software developer. He is likely to write about any of the above. Read more on the Sound Water Stewards’ website, soundwaterstewards.org/bios/john-lovie.

  • Water quality and supply a concern on Whidbey Island

    Experts worry that one day Central and South Whidbey will not have enough quality drinking water.

    John Lovie, an expert advisor on drinking water, stands near a greensand filtration system inside a well house on South Whidbey. (Photo by David Welton)

    Water quality and supply a concern on Whidbey Island | South Whidbey Record

    By KATE POSS

    Special to the News-Times

    Even though the region has nearly continuous rain during the current El Niño winter weather pattern, which seemingly gives residents unlimited drinking water, some experts are concerned that Central and South Whidbey will not have enough quality drinking water to satisfy demand for the future.

    Addressing water availability and quality issues Monday Jan. 8, John Lovie, considered an expert advisor on drinking water and conservation of our marine environment, listened to and commented on questions posed by concerned citizens.

    Lovie was invited to speak by Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon, who represents District 1. Her district includes all of Whidbey Island, south of the greater Oak Harbor area. Bacon hosts a weekly event to meet her constituents, ‘Teas with Melanie’ at WiFire Community Space in Freeland most Mondays at 3 p.m.

    Read more

  • ‘Forever chemicals’ in drinking water found at Whidbey ‘slice of heaven’ | South Whidbey Record

    ‘Forever chemicals’ in drinking water found at Whidbey ‘slice of heaven’ | South Whidbey Record

    For as long as she can remember, Tamara Ross’ family hasn’t liked the taste of drinking water at Harrington Lagoon.

    So they’ve always brought bottled water to their vacation homes in the idyllic community east of Coupeville on Whidbey Island. The family has owned property there since 1955. They now have three homes right next to each other.

    “I love it,” said Ross, who goes there about once a month. “It’s our slice of heaven.”

  • Whidbey ‘serial volunteer’ wins stewardship award | South Whidbey Record

    Whidbey ‘serial volunteer’ wins stewardship award | South Whidbey Record

  • About that Toilet Paper

    Is PFAS from toilet paper contaminating our drinking water?

    About that Toilet Paper – by John Lovie – Mostly Water (substack.com)

    A new study published this week was showed that toilet paper is a major contributor to PFAS in wastewater.

    Rural Washington State relies heavily on septic systems for sewage treatment and on ground water wells for drinking water. In voluntary testing of public water systems in Washington State, PFAS compounds have been detected in about 10% of them. Could PFAS from our toilet paper be showing up in our drinking water?

  • John Lovie Receives Coastal Volunteer of the Year Award

    A Big Thank You!

    John Lovie with the Jan Holmes 2023 Coastal Volunteer of the Year Award

    I’m reluctant to post things about myself, particularly when it’s good news, but as about half the readership of this blog had something to do with this award coming my way, I’m going post this as a big thank you! This is as much about the relationships I’ve built along the way as it is about the work. The truth is that one could not have happened without the other. Thank you, all of you, for reading this and for caring about the issues I write about.

    Here’s an article about the award from the Island County Natural Resources Newsletter.

    Introducing John Lovie: Jan Holmes Costal Volunteer of the Year

    The Jan Holmes Award, presented by the Island County Marine Resources Committee, Sound Water Stewards, and WSU Extension – Island County, is given every year to an outstanding volunteer whose efforts contribute to the protection and restoration of the Island County marine ecosystem and coastal resources. The award is named to honor the memory of Jan Holmes, an exemplary marine scientist, educator, and champion for stewardship of the marine environment. To learn more about the Jan Holmes Award, click here!

    John Lovie is a leader in the world of water quality and marine resource conservation. He is well deserved in winning the Jan Holmes Award for 2023!

    John has been an avid volunteer, dedicating countless hours as part of community science organizations and community-driven boards to improve the water quality, coastal resources, and health of Island County. He can often be heard in his various committees as a voice of reason. He will take on projects and do the difficult work to drive environmental actions and ideas forward. John does more than simply attend meetings; whether he’s giving his opinion on a new Salmon Recovery project or developing technical tools, he always brings a presence of mind and critical eye to Island County’s restoration projects. His words are well thought out and considered, and his passion for protecting and restoring the environment and enhancing water quality always comes through. Island County and the Puget Sound region have benefited from his scientific background and expertise, and his prolific volunteering in multiple areas has given him a vast well of knowledge and context to work from. He shares information from all of his committees and uses it to enhance local knowledge, make connections, and drive projects forward. His background in chemistry and engineering makes him an expert who benefits every organization he is a part of.

    Congratulations to John! Thank you for all of your hard work to make the Salish Sea a better place!

    There was also a great article by Kira Erikson in the local paper, entitled Whidbey ‘serial volunteer’ wins stewardship award | South Whidbey Record. Thanks Kira!

  • An Imperfect Storm Part Two

    An Imperfect Storm Part Two – by John Lovie – Mostly Water (substack.com)