2/22 Bob Ferris, David Suzuki, derelict ships, L112, gas prices, TransMountain, ocean future, state budget, Metro farmlands

Ocean's future: Big fish, small fish

Cliff Mass writes:  Heavy Rain, Avalanches, and Reduce Threat of Lowland Snow

Bob Ferris, executive director of RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, "has chosen to leave the organization and pursue other opportunities," according to board president Ken Bronstein. Ferris took the RE Sources job in mid-2010, moving here from Arlington, Va. In early 2011 he was among the first and most outspoken critics of the Gateway Pacific Terminal coal export facility proposed for the Cherry Point waterfront. Crina Hoyer, RE Sources' program director, has been named interim head of the organization. Bob Ferris resigns from RE Sources top post

David Suzuki follows last year’s Japan tsunami in his The Nature of Things: Journey to the Disaster Zone program Thursday at 8 PM on CBC. David Suzuki trails tsunami’s wake

Ashley Ahearn at Earthfix reports on how state agencies are only partly equipped to take care of the problems in Washington waters arising from more than 200 abandoned or sunken ships which an threaten navigation, human safety and the environment. State Funding Not Available To Deal With Largest Derelict Vessels

Amy Traxler of The Friday Harbor Whale Museum reports that federal officials will turn over the remains of L112, the 3-year-old killer whale that washed up on a beach in southern Washington, to the museum sometime in the next few weeks. Traxler said the museum intends to showcase L112’s skeleton as part of an educational exhibit that’s reminiscent of a grey whale that’s long-been on display. Body of killer whale heads home following tragic end

Lost gasoline production at the BP Cherry Point refinery is already beginning to make itself felt in the price at the pump, and company and state officials declined to speculate when the fire-damaged facility, which provides about 20 percent of Washington state's gasoline supply, might be back in production. Impact of BP refinery fire may show up at gas pump this week  

Meanwhile, Speculators blamed for rising oil, gas prices  

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP said Tuesday it has received commercial support to decide by the end of March on a $3.8-billion expansion of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline that could double existing capacity to connect growing Alberta oil sands production with Canada’s West Coast. Kinder Morgan is proceeding with initial project design and planning to boost capacity on the 300,000 barrel-per-day line from Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C.  Kinder Morgan to decide on TransMountain expansion by March

Tom Banse reports on the first computer simulations from University of British Columbia researchers predicting future ocean conditions. Ocean's Future: 'Goodbye Big Fish, Hello Small Fish'

Deep below the surface, the ocean has its own weather. Check out the NASA photo of the huge plankton eddy near the Agulhas current off southern Africa. These ocean whirlwinds draw nutrients up from the deep, nourishing blooms of microscopic marine life in the otherwise barren open ocean. Plankton-fuelled ocean eddy is 150 kilometres wide  

House Democrats unveiled their plan to fix the state's budget shortfall Tuesday, relying on $400 million in delayed payments and reduced support for local governments while largely protecting basic education from further cuts. In total, the plan saves about $890 million without asking voters for a temporary sales tax increase, but the proposal keeps open higher local taxes. Budget from House Dems relies on delayed payments

Threats against Metro Vancouver’s agricultural land reserve are growing, with winery restaurants joining mega homes, truck parking and port expansion on the list of potential pressures. The Agricultural Land Commission is questioning whether it’s appropriate to allow non-farm use of Metro’s agricultural land, noting the primary use of the land — growing and producing crops — could end up taking a back seat as more farmland is swallowed up for other purposes.  Farmland under increased pressure from commercial, private interests  

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST WED FEB 22 2012
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY
W WIND RISING TO 20 TO 30 KT. WIND WAVES BUILDING TO 2 TO 5 FT. W SWELL 13 FT AT 14 SECONDS. RAIN LIKELY EARLY...THEN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT
NW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 5 FT. W SWELL 14 FT AT 13 SECONDS.

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