Our North Sound Waterkeeper, Eleanor Hines, is just one person — but RE Sources’ team of experts make the work of Waterkeeping possible. This team is charged with protecting and restoring marine and nearshore habitats of central Salish Sea, collaborating with other local groups and volunteers, and advising government agencies.
Meet your North Sound Waterkeeper, Eleanor Hines!
Eleanor Hines
Lead Scientist / North Sound Waterkeeper
EleanorH@re-sources.org
Eleanor has a B.S. in Environmental Toxicology and M.S. in Environmental Toxicology Risk Assessment from the College of the Environment at Western Washington University. She has experience in water quality, community science, marine policy, volunteer organization, and citizen engagement and has worked with the Surfrider Foundation, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, and the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee. She has also done risk assessment modeling in South Africa with the Institute of Natural Resources to provide solutions to water issues. Growing up in Philadelphia, the Pacific Northwest was a natural place for Eleanor to settle with so many places to play outside from the mountains to the ocean. As your North Sound Waterkeeper, she works for fishable, drinkable, and swimmable waters for everyone in Whatcom and Skagit areas.
What does a Waterkeeper do?
As part of the Waterkeeper Alliance, upholding the integrity of the U.S. Clean Water Act is central to the work of our North Sound Waterkeeper team. To keep the central Salish Sea and the inland waters that feed it fishable, swimmable, and drinkable, the North Sound Waterkeeper:
- Trains community scientist volunteers to gather data and monitor the Salish Sea’s health — data that government agencies are often too underfunded to collect,
- Hosts community trash cleanups, on-the-water pollution patrols, and tours of toxic cleanup sites like those on the Bellingham and Blaine waterfronts,
- Builds a network of people keeping a sharp eye on potential pollution using their phones with the Water Reporter app. Download it today to get started!
- Serves as a voice for science in local media, and provides technical expertise to agencies;
- Advocates for water-wise, science-based policies,
- Monitors the quality of water in rivers, creeks, and the Salish Sea: by conducting regular pollution patrols, keeping an eye on permits issued to limit allowable pollution, and monitors the Water Report App and Pollution Hotline at (360) 220-0556,
- Alerts the community to public participation opportunities to protect clean water and show up to hearings to continue to fight for fishable, swimmable, drinkable water for everyone,
- And much more.
The North Sound Waterkeeper housed within RE Sources is the 25th member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, an international nonprofit that strengthens and grows a global network of grassroots leaders protecting everyone’s right to clean water. The Waterkeeper Alliance is made up of over 300 organizations and affiliates protecting rivers, lakes, and coastal waterways on 6 continents, with a goal of swimmable, drinkable, fishable water everywhere. Learn more.