10/3 Salish Sea News & Weather: La Nina, Hood Canal, septic tanks, shellfish closures, Fisher Slough, Vancouver floods, Pathfinder prize, Sound Living, SCAMP

Image: NOAA

Friends and Readers: It’s been a month of compiling Salish Sea News & Weather and there are just about a hundred individual subscribers to the daily postings. As always, I’m interested in hearing from you if you have comments or news items to share— and appreciate having others subscribe to the daily postings. I also have hung a shingle out as Salish Sea Communications to provide communications and public relations services on projects large or small. Best regards, Mike Sato.

Andy Wappler, former TV weatherman and now Puget Sound Energy spokesperson predicts: “The indicators are this will be another La Niña — with colder, stormier weather than normal.” Ready? Best to prepare for another La Niña winter
 
Christ Dunagan in the Kitsap Sun follows up on his Hood Canal fish-kill stories with a sobering account of how what was once a rare occurrence is becoming almost an annual event. "’It gives us a sense of urgency to do something about it,’ said Scott Brewer, executive director of the Hood Canal Coordinating Council. ‘I feel like we are trying to do the right thing. It may seem like we are not doing enough ... but we need to all put our minds to this, understanding how humans are contributing to the problem.’” Fish kills no longer rare event in Hood Canal

Malfunctioning septic systems are one major problem that can be remedied by us humans but costs often are a barrier. In Whatcom County, a low-cost loan program is now available to help residents repair failing systems.  Financing help offered for Whatcom County septic tank work

The state Health Department reopened commercial oyster harvest in Hood Canal and Samish Bay this weekend due to cooler fall weather and lowered risk of bacteria Vibrio parahaemolyticus in shellfish. Oyster closures lifted in Hood Canal and Samish Bay reopening to shellfish harvesting

Like to watch? You’ll enjoy The Nature Conservancy’s YouTube video of the Skagit’s Fisher Slough restoration.  Fisher Slough: Countdown to Completion

Vancouver BC is at the greatest risk for flooding damage due to climate change in all of Canada, according to the report, “Paying the Price: The Economic Impacts of Climate Change for Canada.”  Metro Vancouver especially vulnerable to climate-change flooding

Sustainable West Seattle challenges at least 40 adults to attend a presentation on October 10 at Pathfinder K-8 School in West Seattle to hear a talk on “What you can do to save Puget Sound.” The prize, if attendance is met, is a $1000 grant to the Earth Project to install a water catchment system for the Pathfinder Garden. Want to be one of 40 people that really helps Puget Sound?

Calendar marking: On November 5, “Sound Living,” a day-long “communiversity” workshop, will be held at Everett Community College featuring 40 presentations ranging from "Rock Fish and Marine Preserves" to "Backyard Chickens 101: Raising an Urban Flock" and "Harvest the Rain: How to Build Your Own Rain Barrel." Workshops focus on the Sound

You like boats? Barbara Bach in Three Sheets Northwest does. At less than 12 feet, SCAMP boat offers big features in a tiny package

Now, your tug weather:
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 630 AM PDT MON OCT 3 2011
  SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
  TODAY
 SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT...EASING TO 10 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT SUBSIDING TO 1 OR 2 FT. SW SWELL 6 FT AT 8 SECONDS...BUILDING TO W 10 FT AT 12 SECONDS IN THE AFTERNOON. RAIN EARLY IN THE MORNING...THEN SHOWERS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.
 TONIGHT
 W SWELL 12 FT AT 12 SECONDS. SE WIND 10 TO 15 KT... BECOMING S 10 TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. SHOWERS.

--
"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter.