2/20 BP fire, Salazar&Cantewell, tug call-out, novovirus, training sea lions, Ron Sims, SVP, Nisqually, Saltpring, Pt Defiance Aquarium, salmon derbies, greening vets

Celebrating Presidents' Day 2012

Cliff Mass writes: "I am going to break my normal "120 hr rule" (don't talk about forecasts for more than 5 days out because uncertainty is so large)." Chance of Lowland Snow Next Weekend?

Overall production at BP Cherry Point could be cut at least in half in the coming days, and possibly for the coming months, because of a dramatic fire in the refinery’s sole crude vacuum distillation unit Friday afternoon.  BP Cherry Point fire started in crude vacuum unit; overall production likely cut in half for now

U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says he's pleased community members are as dedicated as ever to preserving the natural treasures of the San Juan Islands. Islanders met with Salazar and Senator Maria Cantwell in Anacortes on Saturday to reaffirm their support for permanent, locally-driven protection of Bureau of Land Management federal properties in the islands. Salazar, Cantwell push to protect San Juan Islands

Thank goodness for rescue tug:  The 685-foot U.S. Military Sealift Command-contracted ship, SS Cape Island, lost propulsion early Sunday while heading westbound into the Pacific off Cape Flattery.  The Department of Ecology and Coast Guard said the ship posed the risk of an oil spill, and dispatched the Delta Lindsey, an industry-funded emergency-response tug stationed at Neah Bay. The ship returned to Port Angeles safely. Military cargo vessel safe after being adrift

With an estimated 20 million infections a year nationwide, norovirus is the No. 1 cause of the intestinal crud people call stomach flu, the curse of cruise ships, cheerleading competitions — and any other venue that brings large numbers of people into proximity. But, a vaccine could be available within five years, said Charles Arntzen, a molecular biologist at Arizona State University, speaking at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Vancouver.  Nasal vaccine may soon toss cruise-ship crud overboard

Incredible but true: Canadian researchers have trained sea lions to take part in an experiment designed to find out why the species is dying out. The team strapped cameras and tracking equipment onto endangered Steller sea lions to see how they dived for food. Early results from the project indicate that overfishing might not be the main factor in their decline as had previously been thought. Sea lion test to probe declines

Former King County executive and now recent appointee to the Puget Sound Leadership Council Ron Sims opines that it makes more scientific sense to spend money on reducing urban stormwater runoff than sewer overflows.  Saving Puget Sound: the battle between good intentions and science

Social Venture Partners, the Seattle organization that describes itself as the world's largest network of engaged philanthropists, approaches its 15th anniversary with a couple of major initiatives about to unfold. First is an expansion into India next fall and second is creation of a “mezzanine fund” that will offer more philanthropic cooperation among member cities, allowing them to function much the way angel investors do in syndicating deals. Social Venture Partners seeks to expand its reach

Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club has filed an appeal of a Pierce County judge’s ruling that effectively shut down the club’s shooting range on Seabeck Highway.  Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club files legal appeal  

The Nisqually Indian tribe broke ground Friday on a 26,000-square-foot administration building, its next growth step in transforming the Nisquallys from small tribe to major South Sound player. Nisqually tribe breaks ground on $7.9M facility

"This last year we have had one major spill a month and five years ago we had one or two a year," said David Rogers, founder of B.C. Hazmat Management, one of the private sector spill responders in Greater Victoria. Surge in calls to mop up toxic spills

A unique property on Saltspring Island has been protected through a partnership between the provincial government and The Nature Trust of B.C. The 22-hectare parcel was the missing piece in a jigsaw of protected areas between the Mount Maxwell Ecological Reserve and Burgoyne Bay protected area. Saltspring's missing jigsaw piece protected  

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is getting ready to roll out its plan for a new complex that will feature a modern aquarium, bigger facilities for marine mammals and family-oriented activities such as a wave tunnel and diving with the fish. The North Pacific Aquarium, which opened in 1963, is deteriorating and showing signs of corrosion from saltwater. Damages could force the zoo to vacate the building in five to six years. Point Defiance Zoo's upgrade plans include a modern aquarium

Salmon fishing derbies have always been a big draw around the state, and those in the Puget Sound region date back to the 1930s, writes Mark Yuasa in the Seattle Times. There are 14 events this year in the Northwest Salmon Derby Series.  Salmon derbies remain a tradition in the Northwest

About a dozen current and former soldiers and an equal number of Sierra Club volunteers gathered for a retreat on Bainbridge Island this weekend to discuss how the environmental organization can make its outdoor programs more welcoming to military families. The Sierra Club's Military Families and Veterans Initiative, which seeks to get former and current soldiers into rock-climbing, snowshoeing, bird-watching and other nature-related activities. Introducing vets to the great outdoors

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST MON FEB 20 2012
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING
TODAY
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT...EASING TO 10 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 4 FT AT 12 SECONDS. A
 LITTLE LIGHT RAIN.
TONIGHT
S WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 11 SECONDS. RAIN LIKELY.

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

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter.

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told