This collection is open to the public for research.
Honors 350, "Earth Tones: Environmental Oral History" was a upper division Honors Seminar at Western Washington University in the Fall of 2025. The seminar gave students an opportunity to learn and apply oral history research methods while working on conducting oral history interviews to create a record of environmental work in Whatcom County. The interviews were conducted with the intention to be submitted to WWU's Center for Pacific Northwest Studies. It was taught by Maria McLeod, AS, BS, MFA; an Associate Professor of Journalism whose work focuses on public relations, oral histories, and documentary theatre.
Collection donated to the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies by Maria McLeod on January 8, 2026.
Earth Tones: Environmental Oral History Project, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections.
This collection includes 15 oral history transcripts of interviews conducted with individuals whose careers have included environmentally focused work affecting Whatcom County. Topics addressed include local governmental climate policy, Nooksack water rights adjudication, wetland protection and restoration, recycling, the invasive European green crab, maritime shipping, and Lake Whatcom water quality.
To learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see our
This finding aid was prepared by Cassi Kiger in Winter of 2026 (drawing from project descriptions and contextual information supplied by Maria McLeod and students).
Troy Abel is a professor of Enviromental Policy at Western Washington University and researcher. Interview topics include Abel's educational and professional career, foreign and domestic climate policy, and the future of climate politics both in Bellingham and nationally. This interview was conducted by Kyle Bailey, a student at Western Washington University for the Earth Tones: Enviromental Oral History Project in Fall 2025. Interviewer: Bailey, Kyle. Formats available: Audio file and edited transcript file.
Nicole Burnett is a marine scientest at Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Interview topics include Burnett's academic and professional background; the study, identification, and sampling of European green crabs at Padilla Bay; and the possible future impacts of European green crabs in Washington's coastal waters. This interview was conducted by Cora Gunderson, a student at Western Washington University for the Earth Tones: Enviromental Oral History Project in Fall 2025. Interviewer: Gunderson, Cora. Formats available: Audio file and edited transcript file.
Cathy Craver is a senior planner in the Whatcom Country stormwater division. Interview topics include Craver's educational and professional journey, the evolution of Whatcom County water quality, Sudden Valley water legislation and restrictions, and various other projects Craver manages. This interview was conducted by Audrey Gasser, a student at Western Washington University for the Earth Tones: Enviromental Oral History Project in Fall 2025. Interviewer: Gasser, Audrey. Formats available: Audio file and edited transcript file.
Greg Ebe is a lifetime resident of Whatcom County, civil engineer, and potato farmer. Interview topics include Ebe's family farm, challenges facing farming communities, water conservation in agriculture, and Ebe's opposal of the Noocksack River Adjudication. This interview was conducted by Augden Hayes, a Western Washington University student for the Earth Tones: Enviromental Oral History Project in Fall 2025. Interviewer: Hayes, Augden. Formats available: Audio file and edited transcript file.
Greg Fitzgearld is a Navy veteran and now works as an Oil Transfer and Vessel Inspector at the Washington State Department of Ecology. Interview topics include oil spill prevention in the Salish sea, the importance of community engagement with maritime shipping, and speculation on what will come with future developments to maritime shipping. This interview was conducted by Kaia Olson, a Western Washington University student for the Earth Tones: Enviromental Oral History Project in Fall 2025. Interviewer: Olson, Kaia. Formats available: Audio file and edited transcript file.
Kaylee Galloway is a Whatcom County Councilmember, the youngest to ever be elected. Interview topics include the Whatcom Climate Action Plan, women in Washington State politics, and the work that goes into creating local climate policy. This interview was conducted by Kyle Bailey, a Western Washington University student, for the Earth Tones: Enviromental Oral History project in Fall 2025. Interviewer: Bailey, Kyle. Formats available: Audio file and edited transcript file.
James Kardouni is an enviromental specialist who works in water quality management for the Department of Ecology, Bellingham division. Interview topics include Lake Whatcom's water quality, what community members can do to reduce pollution, and how the health of Lake Whatcom has changed over time. The interview was conducted by Audrey Gasser, a Western Washington University student for the Earth Tones: Enviromental Oral History Project in Fall 2025. Interviewer: Gasser, Audrey. Formats available: Audio file and edited transcript file.
Angelica Lucchetto is an invasive species specialist at Padilla Bay National Estuarine Reserve. Interview topics include her day to day work, challenges due to lack of staffing and funding, the ecological threats posed by European green crabs, and managements efforts looking to the future. This interview was conducted by Cora Gunderson, a Western Washington University student for the Earth Tones: Enviromental Oral History Project in Fall 2025. Interviewer: Gunderson, Cora. Formats available: Audio file and edited transcript file.
Chris Luerkens works for the Washington Department of Ecology as a wetland and shoreline permit ecologist. Interview topics include his career and educational path, fisheries, wetland conservation, and project funding. This interview was conducted by Cady Shaw, a Western Washington University student for the Earth Tones: Enviromental Oral History Project in Fall 2025. Interviewer: Shaw, Cady. Formats available: Audio file and edited transcript file.
Micah Mitchell works as a regional biologist for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in their North Puget Sound European Green Crab Program. Interview topics include Washington's response to the invasive green crab in the region, tribal and cross-border collaboration efforts in conservation, and the challenges facing Washington's efforts to mitigate the invasion. This interview was conducted by Cora Gunderson, a Western Washington University Student for the Earth Tones: Enviromental Oral History Project in Fall 2025. Interviewer: Gunderson, Cora. Formats available: Audio file and edited transcript file.
Rich Neyer was the manager of Western Washington University's Recycle Center until it ceased operating in 2025. Interview topics include what led Neyer to working at the RC, what he enjoyed about coordinating it, the history of the RC, what eventually led to the University shutting down the RC in 2025, and his opinions on the current use of the Sanitary Service Company for on campus recycling. The interview was conducted by Shan Robinson, a Western Washington University Student and former WWU Recycling Center student employee for the Earth Tones: Enviromental Oral History Project in Fall 2025. Interviewer: Robinson, Shan. Formats available: Audio file and edited transcript file.
Katrina Poppe is a research associate and instructor at Western Washington University in the Enviromental Science Department and a Ph.D. student at the University of British Columbia. Interview topics include beneifits of coastal wetland restoration, various projects Poppe has worked on around the Salis sea, finding funding for enviromental research, and the future of the field for young scientists. This interview was conducted by Cady Shaw, a Western Washington University student for the Earth Tones: Enviromental Oral History Project in Fall 2025. Interviewer: Shaw, Cady. Formats available: Audio file and edited transcript file.
Lovel Pratt is the Marine Protection and Policy Director for Friends of the San Juans, an enviromental nonprofit. Interview topics include details of Pratt's work with Friends of the San Juans, ecological risks of marine shipping, oil spills, community engagement, and the future of maritime shipping in the Pacific Northwest. This interview was conducted by Kaia Olson, a Western Washington University Student for the Earth Tones: Enviromental Oral History Project in Fall 2025. Interviewer: Olson, Kaia. Formats available: Audio file and edited transcript file.
Carl Weimer worked as the Executive Director of RE Sources, a Bellingham enviromental non-profit and served on the Whatcom County Council. Interview topics include the founding of RE Sources, Belllingham's recycling programs, the founding of the RE Store, and the recycling and enviromental ethics of Bellingham. This interview was conducted by Shan Robinson, a Western Washington University student and former WWU Recycling Center student employee for the Earth Tones: Enviromental Oral History Project in Fall 2025. Interviewer: Robinson, Shan. Formats available: Audio file and edited transcript file.
Dana Wilson is a Lummi tribal member and fisherman. Interview topics include Wilson's relationship to salmon as well as the Lummi nation's connection to fishing, the relocation of the Lummi nation to their current reservation site, Lummi fishing villages, and Wilson's support for the Nooksack River Adjudication. This interview was conducted by Augden Hayes, a Western Washington University student for Earth Tones: Enviromental Oral History Project in Fall 2025. Interviewer: Hayes, Augden. Formats available: Audio file and edited transcript file.