Salish Sea News and Weather

Thursday, September 28, 2023

9/28 Highbush cranberry, Biden's salmon, Fairy Cr protest ban, Woods Cr trestle, WA state budget, BC Ferries threats

Highbush Cranberry [OSU]

Highbush Cranberry Viburnum edule
Highbush cranberry or gooseberry is a species of shrub native to Canada and the northern parts of the US. Numerous Indigenous peoples have traditionally used the plant. The Nuxalk people from the Bella Coola region of British Columbia utilize the berries for food due to the plant's rapid growth rate and high berry production. Notably, a single Viburnum edule shrub can produce a yield of up to 100 berries. (Wikipedia)

Biden calls for ‘abundant’ salmon populations, directs agencies to honor tribal treaty rights
President Biden directed federal agencies to restore healthy and abundant wild salmon populations to the Columbia River Basin. The presidential memorandum also called for tribal treaty and trust obligations to be honored. Tribal and conservation groups applauded the move, calling the memorandum “incredibly historic.” Courtney Flatt and Tony Schick report. (NW News)

Court order that prevents protest blockades at Fairy Creek expires
The court order that made it illegal to block logging activity in the forest near the Fairy Creek watershed on southwestern Vancouver Island has expired. Teal Cedar hasn't said whether it will apply to extend injunction that sought to stop anti-logging protests. Kathryn Marlow reports. (CBC)

As Woods Creek railroad trestle comes down, a new doorway for salmon
The trestle was a toxic, physical barrier for salmon since 1939. Now, migrating fish will benefit from its removal. They are the first group of salmon to benefit from a more than $1.4 million restoration project less than a mile away. The Adopt a Stream Foundation, in partnership with several environmental organizations, helped remove a 165-foot creosote railroad trestle that impeded their migration for decades. Ta'Leah Van Sistine reports. (Everett Herald)

New state budget forecast offers $1B worth of good news for Washington leaders
Lawmakers will have nearly $1 billion more to spend in the current budget, according to the latest analysis from the state’s chief economist. A new forecast released Tuesday projects state revenues will reach $66.7 billion for the two-year budget cycle that began July 1, an increase of $663 million from what chief economist Steve Lerch predicted in June. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

B.C. Ferries moves public consultation online after threats
At a recent Sunshine Coast ferry advisory committee meeting, a woman said if B.C. Ferries didn’t make changes, she would ‘take a gun’ to everyone. Also cited: keying of vehicles, shouting, foul language and a disrespect for personal space. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 233 AM PDT Thu Sep 28 2023
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of showers.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming NW to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 5 ft at 9 seconds. A slight chance of showers.

--
"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to mikesato772 (@) gmail.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

9/27 Red Irish lord, warm waters, worst fire season, BC mineral claims

Red Irish lord

Red Irish lord Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus
Red Irish lord are common from the Bering Sea, Alaska to Washington, and are rare south to Central California. They are found in shallow rocky waters. Red Irish lord tend to rest on the bottom, blending in with their surroundings. They are found from shallow waters to depths of 450 m (1,476 ft). Red Irish lord can grow up to 51 cm (20 in) in length, and 1.11 kg (2.45 lbs) in weight. Maximum age is at least 6 years old. (WDFW)

Warm ocean waters work their way into Puget Sound
Unusually warm waters in the Pacific Ocean — now pushing up against the Washington coast — are keeping oceanographers on alert for changes that could reverberate through the food web, potentially affecting fish, birds and marine mammals in coastal waters and in Puget Sound. Rising ocean temperatures may be related to recent sightings of warm-water fish not usually seen in the Northwest, including a bluefin tuna that washed up on Orcas Island and large schools of mackerel observed in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Worrisome levels of domoic acid, a dangerous toxin produced by a type of plankton, have been reported off the Oregon coast. Chris Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

This has been the worst wildfire season on record. What could 2024 have in store?
Dry conditions and warmer-than-usual temperatures helped fuel a long and unrelenting wildfire season that, to date, has burned more than 17,500,000 hectares, a 647 per cent increase over the 10-year average. Tens of thousands of residents were forced to flee, and six firefighters lost their lives battling the seemingly endless flames. Nicole Mortillaro reports. (CBC)

Mineral claims require First Nations consultation, B.C. Supreme Court rules
The decision transforms the province’s mineral rights regime, which previously allowed almost anyone to stake a claim in First Nations territory without a duty to consult or even notify them. Francesca Fionda reports. (The Narwhal)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 229 AM PDT Wed Sep 27 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING
TODAY E wind 5 to 15 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 12 ft at 12 seconds becoming W 8 ft at 11 seconds in the afternoon. Showers likely and a slight chance of tstms in the morning then a chance of showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SW to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 1 to 2 ft after midnight. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds. Showers likely in the evening then showers after midnight.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

9/26 Burning bush, Elsie Mae the seal, TM pipe route, rat defense

Burning bush

Burning bush Euonymus alatus
Burning bush is a species of flowering plant in the family Celastraceae, native to central and northern China, Japan, and Korea. The common name "burning bush" comes from the bright red fall color. The bush is identified as invasive on the east coast.

Elephant seal Elsie Mae teaches, inspires during molting haulout
A quirky northern elephant seal had much to teach visitors to an Anacortes beach this summer. Richard Arlin Walker reports. (Salish Current)

Regulator rules in favour of Trans Mountain route deviation
The Canada Energy Regulator has approved Trans Mountain Corp.'s application to modify the pipeline's route, a decision that could spare the government-owned pipeline project from an additional nine-month delay. The regulator made the ruling Monday, just one week after hearing oral arguments from Trans Mountain and a B.C. First Nation that opposes the route change. Stephenson reports. (The Canadian Press)

In Defense of the Rat
Rats are less pestilent and more lovable than we think. Can we learn to live with them? J. B. MacKinnon answers. (Hakai Magazine)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 236 AM PDT Tue Sep 26 2023 SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 18 ft at 14 seconds. A slight chance of tstms in the morning. Showers. A chance of tstms in the afternoon.
TONIGHT E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 to 3 ft building to 3 to 5 ft after midnight. W swell 15 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of tstms in the evening. Showers. A slight chance of tstms after midnight.

Monday, September 25, 2023

9/25 Vine maple, NW Straits Initiative, Duwamish cleanup, Columbia R negotiations, Tsawout Nation, WA transportation funding, wildfire impacts, Garry oak

Vine Maple

Vine Maple Acer circinatum
“Vine” Maple, although not really a vine, has very slender, often sprawling, branches. Circinatum refers to the “rounded,” regularly lobed leaves. t is found from Alaska and British Columbia to northern California, from the east side of the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific coast. There is some variability in the fall color display. Those growing in shade tend to turn a pale yellow; those growing in sun are more likely to turn orange or scarlet. (Native Plants of the Pacific NW)

Locals in small operation take on 'tall order' in marine ecosystem
Volunteer power is channeled into marine conservation by the Northwest Straits Initiative. Adam M. Sowards reports. (Salish Current)

The secret dispute behind cleaning Seattle’s only river
Toxic legacy of Seattle’s only river could cost Boeing, taxpayers $1 billion. Talks over who pays more are secret. Lulu Ramadan reports.(Seattle Times/ProPublica)

Money, power and an ecosystem are all at stake in Canada-U.S. negotiations over a massive river
...Hammered out between Canada and the United States and ratified in 1964, the treaty outlines control of the river's water flow and benefits from that bonanza of hydroelectric power, including the tens of millions of dollars a year that come with it. The Columbia River Treaty is being negotiated again — a process that has already lasted years — and the potential deal could have profound consequences both for the electrical output of the river and the people and wildlife that depend on it. Christian Paas-Lang reports. CBC)

Tsawout Nation embarks on economic development push
The Tsawout First Nation on the Saanich Peninsula has set up a new corporation with a Surrey-based construction company to generate self-sufficiency through training programs and the creation of jobs. Prior to that deal, the nation bought a Sidney-based wildlife and whale-watching company in the spring. It continues to work with a seaweed cultivation company and is in the midst of talks for potential ventures in other sectors. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Judge upholds Washington’s $17B transportation package
The decision keeps funding plans and climate policies in the 2022 law on course. Opponents, who contend the law is unconstitutional, may appeal. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

Scientists say there's still much to learn about how wildfires impact wild animals
Giant 'megafires' likely changing long-term landscape in B.C., but effects on wildlife still unclear. Brenna Owen reports. (Canadian Press)

Garry oak ‘mast year’ a boon for city plant nursery
It’s being called a “mast year” for Garry oaks in the region, as the gnarly limbs drop more than their usual amounts of acorns. Mast years can happen every two to five years — it’s a trigger in a tree’s genetics that ensures the species’ survival. By dropping nearly 20 times the usual amount of acorns in one year, the trees ensure there will be enough to feed the squirrels, birds, deer and others that typically feast on acorns — and for future seedlings, too. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 251 AM PDT Mon Sep 25 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY E wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds building to 11 ft at 9 seconds in the afternoon. Rain in the morning then showers and a chance of tstms in the afternoon.
TONIGHT E wind 20 to 30 kt becoming 20 to 25 kt after midnight. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 13 ft at 14 seconds building to 16 ft at 14 seconds after midnight. Showers likely and a chance of tstms in the evening then a chance of showers and a slight chance of tstms after midnight.

Friday, September 22, 2023

9/22 Crabgrass, Upper Columbia salmon, selling sewage, saving pinks, Coastal GasLink fined, net zero pushback, planting trees, cutting down tree, tugboat death fines, week in review

Crabgrass

Crabgrass Digitaria sanguinalis
Cabgrass may reach up to two feet tall but is often prostrate. Stems lying along the ground may root, forming mats. Crabgrasses are weedy in waste places, cultivated areas, lawns, and other sites, commonly on light soils. (WSU)

Biden administration promises $200 million to help reintroduce salmon in Columbia River
Dams have blocked salmon’s passage, driving them toward extinction and violating tribal fishing rights. The Biden administration agreed Thursday to spend more than $200 million to fully fund Native tribes’ plans to reintroduce salmon in the Upper Columbia River Basin — more than 80 years after construction of the Grand Coulee Dam rendered the fish extinct in parts of Washington, Idaho and British Columbia. Tony Schick reports. (OPB)

Could selling sewage save the Salish Sea?
Waste flushed into Puget Sound harms fish and marine life. A nutrient pricing system — like WA’s cap-and-trade program — may curb pollution. John Stang reports. (Crosscut)

Restoring the flow: Tsleil-Waututh’s race to save salmon habitat in drought stricken southwest B.C.
When tens of thousands of pink salmon became stranded in the Indian River during September’s unrelenting drought, the nation raced into action, continuing their work to rehabilitate culturally significant spawning streams crippled under the twin pressures of climate change and industrial development. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

Reed canary grass
David Beatty of Bellingham writes regarding yesterday's flora profile: "Reed Canary Grass, a non-native invasive, is intolerant of shade. Consequently, an important role of a functioning riparian zone with a canopy of trees and shrubs along both banks of smaller creeks that have salmon."

Coastal GasLink fined $346K for erosion, sediment control issues and providing false information
Coastal GasLink has been fined $346,000 in total for erosion and sediment control issues in the construction of the natural gas pipeline and for providing false information in inspection records. Coastal GasLink is a 670-kilometre pipeline spanning northern B.C. that will carry natural gas across the province to the LNG Canada processing and export facility in Kitimat, about 206 kilometres east of Prince Rupert on the province's northwest coast. Michelle Gomez reports. (CBC)

Inside the World Petroleum Congress and the pushback against net zero
At one of the largest gatherings of the oil and gas industry, the focus on a transition confronts complexity and profit. Drew Anderson reports. (The Narwhal)

New tree-planting projects to sprout in Washington with help from $36M in grants
Over a dozen communities around the state will share in the federal urban forestry funding, which comes amid concerns about climate change and extreme heat. Laurel Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)

100-year-old big leaf maple tree to be removed on Capitol Campus Friday
A 100-year-old big leaf maple tree will be removed from the Washington state Capitol Campus on Friday. The Department of Enterprise Services said in a news release that the 60-foot-tall tree with an 80-foot-wide canopy is decaying from within and has reached the end of its lifespan. DES said it is removing the tree because it poses a safety risk to pedestrians and parked cars in the Pritchard parking lot. Shauna Sowersby reports. (Olympian)

B.C. tugboat owner and company fined $310K for fatal sinking that killed 2 workers
The owners of a tugboat that sank near Kitimat, B.C., killing two, have been fined a total of $310,000 at a sentencing hearing in Prince Rupert. James Geoffrey Bates was fined $15,000 by Judge Nina Purewal for failing to provide workers with necessary information, instruction, training and supervision. He was also handed 100 hours of community service. Karin Larsen reports. (CBC)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 9/22/23: Astronomy Friday!, TM pipeline, WA cap-and-trade suit, WA litter, Oly Park fires, heat pumps, American Climate Corps, BC firefighters, Upper Columbia salmon.

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 311 AM PDT Fri Sep 22 2023
TODAY Light wind becoming NW to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds. A slight chance of rain after midnight.
SAT NE wind to 10 kt becoming SE in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the morning then rain in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT SW wind to 10 kt becoming SE 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds building to 7 ft at 8 seconds after midnight.
SUN E wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W swell 4 ft at 8 seconds.

Thursday, September 21, 2023

9/21 Canary grass, BC firefighters, American Climate Corps, TM sale, heat pumps, EV sales, Bowen Is park

Reed Canarygrass

Reed Canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea
Canary grass is a major threat to natural wetlands. It outcompetes most native species as it forms large, single-species stands with little wildlife habitat value. Its invasion can cause siltation in irrigation ditches. (WA State Noxious Weed Control Board)

‘Treated like machines’: wildfire fighters describe a mental health crisis on the frontlines
Extreme working conditions, low pay and high turnover are leading to a crisis exacerbated by more intense wildfires. Eighteen firefighters tell their stories of the mental toll — from burnout to PTSD to the loss of peers to suicide. Trina Moyles and Jesse Winter report. (The Narwhal)

Wanted: 20,000 Young Americans to Fight Climate Change
President Biden intends to use executive authority to train and employ thousands of young people in jobs to fight global warming, Ali Zaidi, the White House national climate adviser, said on Tuesday. The American Climate Corps, as the White House has named the organization, would provide young people with skills to work in wind and solar production, disaster preparedness and land conservation, Mr. Zaidi said. The White House expects about 20,000 recruits in the first year, he said. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times)

Trans Mountain sale to start with federal meeting next week
The government will be meeting with members of some of the roughly 130 indigenous groups that have shown interest in a partial ownership stake. Robert Tuttle reports. (Bloomberg News)

Heat pumps key to WA, coalition’s plan to end building emissions
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee vowed this week to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from new buildings, in large part by rapidly expanding the installation of heat pumps. Inslee is joined in that promise by 24 other governors representing states that belong to the Climate Alliance (of which the Washington governor is a founding member). In all, the governors agreed to install 20 million new heat pumps across their states by 2030. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

Is Inslee’s plan working? The electric car age arrives — for some
Our state’s sizzling gas prices, second highest in the nation, have been described this summer as annoying, painful, even scandalous, depending on who’s doing the talking. But here’s another aspect to expensive gas that leaders seem shy to acknowledge: It’s working. Something is happening in the car market, suddenly, but also as part of a long-building strategy. Going electric — saying goodbye to oil — is surging. Danny Westneat writes. (Seattle Times)

Group offers $30M to buy proposed Bowen Island park where camping has become contentious
A Bowen Island, B.C., group opposed to overnight camping at a proposed regional park wants to buy the park site from Metro Vancouver. The Bowen Island Conservancy has sent a letter to the regional district, offering $30 million to buy lands slated for the park on Cape Roger Curtis. Liam Britten report. (CBC)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 247 AM PDT Thu Sep 21 2023 TODAY E wind to 10 kt in the morning becoming light. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 5 ft at 11 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

9/20 Bulrush, Olympic fire, CA oil suit, BC crabbers, eat frogs, WA litter, clownfish

American bulrush

American bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus
Common tule occurs on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east throughout all of North America except southeastern U.S.in pond and lake margins, wetland and riparian areas.

Blazes spread in center of Olympic National Park
Large helicopters were requested this week to fight fires in Olympic National Park as blazes chew up acreage in the interior of the park. Peter Segall reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

California Sues Oil Giants, Claiming Decades of Deception
Launching one of the most prominent climate lawsuits in the nation, the state claims Exxon, Shell, BP and others misled the public and seeks creation of a special fund to pay for recovery. David Gelles reports. (NY Times)

B.C. crab fishers tagged with $287,000 in penalties, first-time prohibition, says Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Federal fisheries officials say Canadian crab fishers along the Canada-U.S. border in southern B.C. are facing stiff financial penalties and a first-of-its-kind prohibition for illegally setting traps in U.S. waters beginning in 2018 in Boundary Bay. (CBC)

Seeing so many invasive frogs, he asked permission to harvest them for food. This B.C. district said yes
North Cowichan Mayor said private citizen stepping up to help with bullfrog issue well received by councillors. (CBC)

‘Marred by litter’: Millions of pounds of trash soil Washington roads and state lands
Washington has a litter problem. Nearly 38 million pounds of garbage and other debris were strewn across roads, rest areas and state lands last year, according to a new Department of Ecology-commissioned study. That’s nearly 5 pounds per resident annually. The bulk of the waste – about 26 million pounds – is found on roads and highway interchanges, the report says. Another 10.6 million pounds sullies state and county parks. Laura Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)

In Hot Water, Clownfish Grow Up Quick
As climate change becomes more serious, even fish may be forced to grow up too soon. Elizabeth Landau reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 827 AM PDT Wed Sep 20 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY NW wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 7 ft at 12 seconds building to 9 ft at 12 seconds in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt becoming NW after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 6 ft at 11 seconds.