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VIRTUAL PROGRAM NIGHT

The Olympic Peninsula with Lauren Kuehne

It’s a bird! No…it’s a plane: Growler jets and the impacts of noise pollution on Olympic Peninsula soundscapes

The Olympic Peninsula is a unique and beautiful region. It is home to eight Tribal Nations, diverse resident communities, and the much-loved Olympic National Park, which is visited by 3 million tourists every year. It is a very popular place for wildlife viewing, whether that means encountering more than 300 species of resident birds, watching coho and Chinook salmon make their way upstream, or spotting black bear and Roosevelt elk.

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Military air training exercises out of Whidbey Island Naval Station are scheduled to increase by 62% or more over the next several years. The newer EA-18G “Growler” aircraft in use are an exceptionally loud jet, and the increase has the potential to substantially change the experience of residents and tourists in the region. Impacts of this disturbance from flights on wildlife, including some listed under the Endangered Species Act, are largely unstudied.

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In this online presentation, researcher Lauren Kuehne will present the results of a year-long project to monitor current levels of noise from military aircraft, and estimate the impact of Growler jets on the soundscape of the Olympic Peninsula. Sound was recorded in winter, spring, summer, and fall 2017-2018 at five locations, two of which had been previously monitored in 2010-2011 by the National Park Service. Lauren will present and discuss the results from that year of monitoring, along with a broader picture of current policy and regulatory processes related to the noise pollution in wilderness (and urban) areas. These include the Environmental Impact Statement currently in progress, and considering the potential impacts of jet noise on Olympic Peninsula wildlife and communities.

Lauren brings combined expertise in ecology, acoustic monitoring, noise impacts, and policy – expect a lively evening considering both the impacts of noise in this unique wilderness area as well as the impacts on of noise pollution closer to home!

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Lauren is an ecologist who studies human impacts on freshwater and forest ecosystems, with the goal of contributing to long-term sustainability of natural resources.  Her focus is on freshwaters and forests because they are so closely intertwined in the everyday lives of people and the economy.  Lauren is passionate about ensuring that the environmental resources we use and enjoy are available for future generations, so not only does she spend her time doing science, but also works to have her research directly support conservation and policy decisions. As a result, most of Lauren’s research is done in collaboration with federal, state, or local government agencies and non-profit organizations.

Please note, due to the online nature of the event, registration is required. Please sign up by following the link below. Eastside Audubon is committed to keeping your information secure. The chapter will not share or sell your contact information for any reason.