3/14 Fish protection, L112, Navy training, Gateway pipe, Harper dock, Vashon septics, Bainbridge sewage, wasted biomass, Skagit study, Mill Cr boardwalk

Dr. Joe Gaydos and L112 (Photo: Scott Rasmussen)

New blog:  “I read in the LA Times that last weekend’s poll of Republican voters in Alabama and Mississippi found about half still believe President Obama is a Muslim and about 1 in 4 believes his parents’ interracial marriage should have been illegal.“ Ignorant and Stupid People Vote, Too  

The Harper government is planning to gut the powers in federal legislation intended to protect fish habitat, making it easier for projects such as Calgary-based Enbridge Inc.’s Northern Gateway pipeline to B.C. to clear federal hurdles, according to retired fisheries biologist Otto Langer.  Canada poised to 'gut' fish protection laws, biologist claims

Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research says that the young female killer whale, known as L112 and Sooke, which died recently didn't die of disease or starvation. "Clearly the animal was blown up.” Balcomb says the signs of trauma on the body and on the head and, more importantly, among the tissues in the rear of the killer whale’s jaw are strikingly similar to the injuries that he witnessed in a group of stranded beaked whales several years ago in the Bahamas. He said those whales stranded themselves on a beach shortly after a military ship traveling in the same vicinity passed by with its sonar engaged. Scott Rasmussen at the Journal of the San Juans reports: Death at sea: speculation swirls over sonar

Meanwhile, the Navy will host an open-house information session in Quilcene today on a proposal to expand training activities, including use of sonar.  The meeting will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Quilcene School District multipurpose room at 294715 U.S. Highway 101. Navy hosting public meeting in Quilcene today

Chief Jackie Thomas of the Saik'uz First Nation and leader of the Yinka Dene Alliance said her group will pursue a legal challenge if Ottawa approves the Northern Gateway pipeline over their objections. Decrying federal ‘bully tactics,’ B.C. natives vow to block pipeline

What to do about the Harper fishing pier? The dock was built in the late 1800s to serve the small steamboats of the Mosquito Fleet. And though the deck has been rebuilt, much of the original underpinning remains. Wooden piles are rotting. Metal cross beams hug deteriorating wooden predecessors. The dock has been duct-taped together to keep it open to its many visitors, but ultimately it'll have to be fixed. Ed Friedrich at the Kitsap Sun reports: Harper dock has long history, uncertain future

A few Vashon Islanders are pushing King County to find funds to help cover the costs of repairing failing septic systems along Vashon’s six Marine Recovery Areas. The call for financial aid comes after notices went out to more than 100 waterfront homeowners stating they’re in violation of county code and could face civil penalties. Islanders push county to find funds for septic repairs

The rusty sewer pipe running under an Eagle Harbor beach was overdue for replacement when it erupted in 2009, spewing up to 490,000 gallons of raw sewage into the harbor. By next year — four years after the a pipe failed — the city may finally have the money to replace it-- if a $4.16 million state Public Works Trust Fund loan remains in both the House and Senate's capital improvement lists of projects. State loan could help Bainbridge avoid another sewer leak in Eagle Harbor  

Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark has released a study on forest biomass that shows the industry is currently using only about a third of the woody biomass that could be sustainably harvested and then converted into liquid fuel or heat for electricity generation. Currently, the biomass is mostly burned in the slash piles that are a bi-product of logging. An under-used resource in Washington: forest biomass

Three years after the devastating 1990 floods tore through levees on Fir Island, Skagit County Commissioners authorized a study of the Skagit River in hopes of preventing future widespread flooding. To date, nearly $12 million in local and federal money has been spent to advance the Skagit River General Investigation Study over the past 20 years. The study is one of the longest-running in the country. Skagit River flood study hits milestone

The North Creek boardwalk stretches about three-quarters of a mile through a wetland just west of the Bothell-Everett Highway, south of Mill Creek. It gives bird-watchers a great perch. At the same time, the wetland plays an important role controlling floodwaters. The boardwalk decking and plastic foam floats are being upgraded. Mill Creek wetland boardwalk won’t soak feet after work is done

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT WED MAR 14 2012
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON PDT TODAY
TODAY
SE WIND 25 TO 35 KT BECOMING S 15 TO 25 KT LATE IN THE MORNING. COMBINED SEAS 8 TO 11 FT WITH A DOMINANT PERIOD OF 11 SECONDS. RAIN.
TONIGHT
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 5 FT. SW SWELL 10 FT AT 9 SECONDS. RAIN.

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

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter.  

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told