Cleaning up pet waste is a simple solution to improving watershed health.

Scoop to Win! Campaign!

During October, PSI and StreamTeam volunteers visited parks and neighborhoods within the Henderson and Nisqually Inlet watersheds to educate citizens about the impact of pet waste on water quality in urbanized environments. Volunteers flagged poop piles; counted, weighed, and removed feces; and rewarded citizens that cleaned up after their dogs (or other people’s dogs) by entering them into a drawing for prizes. 

The campaign visually illustrated the magnitude of the problem (flagging), detected problem areas, and created fun incentives for citizens to clean up after their pets.  The campaign was funded by 2010 Shellfish Protection Funds that were approved by the Henderson and Nisqually Inlet Shellfish Protection District Committee, Thurston Conservation District and Thurston County Commissioners.  Volunteers from StreamTeam and Pacific Shellfish Institute performed outreach activities.

Results from this campaign are summarized in: Scoop to Win – A Survey of Dog Waste in the Nisqually Reach and Henderson Inlet Shellfish Protection Districts. In total, staff removed over 1,200 piles of dog poop totaling more than 125 pounds!

Thank you to our generous sponsors!

  • Just Keep Swimming – gift card
  • Boston Harbor Marina – ½ day kayaking rental for 2
  • Bark Avenue – gift card
  • PetSmart – various dog toys, deluxe poop scooper
  • Henderson Inlet Community Shellfish Farm – 2 gifts of 2 dozen oysters each
  • Sound Hounds – book
  • Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association – T-shirt, pullover

Need more information? Contact PSI biologist Aimee Christy aimee@pacshell.org