4/6 Bluffs, Samish poop, Padden plant, pipeline review, ghost ship, salmon season, natural gas, Fishman

The First Trillium (Dave Green)

Geologist Dana Hunter blogs: “Whidbey Island, Washington is a fantastic place to see glacial deposits while you enjoy some seascapes. You can also see excellent evidence of why it’s not a good idea to build on a bluff.” Whidbey Island Erosion  

Dave Green at Lake Padden News blogs: "The trillium only spends as much time above ground as needed to gain sufficient energy stores then escapes (dies back) to its underground rhizome." The First Trillium  

Because of a high fecal coliform reading Wednesday, Samish Bay will not be upgraded from “conditionally approved” to “approved” by the state. Due to a greater than 200 cubic feet rise in the river, the bay was automatically closed as a precaution Tuesday night. A water sample Wednesday then confirmed a reading of 5.1 trillion fecal coliform colonies per day, just exceeding the 4.7 colonies per day criteria. No upgrade for Samish Bay 

North Sound Baykeeper blogs: "What happens when a dozen farmers, a half dozen interested citizens, a shellfish farmer, a Skagit County Commissioner, staff from Skagit County Public Works and the Skagit Conservations District, and a couple environmentalists all get together? A lot of ideas are generated! This happened during a recent meeting at the Alger Community Hall hosted by the Skagit Conservation District. The purpose of the meeting was to give everyone a chance to talk about ways to solve fecal coliform pollution in the Samish River caused by animal waste." Brainstorming for Clean Water at the Alger Community Hall – Got Ideas?  

The federal review of the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline has hit another setback this week after a coastal first nation community withdrew from the process, saying the Harper government has predetermined the outcome. Pipeline review process hits another snag as second native band pulls out  

A U.S. Coast Guard cutter poured cannon fire into a Japanese ghost ship that had been drifting since last year's tsunami, sinking the vessel in the Gulf of Alaska and eliminating the hazard it posed to shipping and the coastline.  Coast Guard guns sink drifting ghost ship   Raw video

The 2012 salmon fishing seasons, developed by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and treaty tribes, were finalized yesterday during the Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Seattle. The package sets regulations for salmon fisheries in Puget Sound, Washington’s ocean and coastal areas and the Columbia River. Washington, tribes agree to salmon fishing seasons for 2012

Two large Puget Sound-area ship operators are planning to spend $100 million each to convert their vessels from diesel fuel to liquefied natural gas — and they expect to save a lot of money in the process.  The Washington State Ferries and cargo operator Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) are just two among many big energy users turning to natural gas as its price plummets. State ferries seek $100M conversion to liquefied natural gas

Cathy Lehman will resign her position as director of the local chapter of Futurewise and will take a marketing and communications position at the Center for Economic Vitality at Western Washington University.  Bellingham council member Lehman to leave Futurewise, join WWU

In his new book, The Big Thirst, Charles Fishman isn’t out to add to the chorus of laments about the global water crisis. Instead he focuses on solutions. He envisions a world where conservation is habitual and recycled wastewater becomes part of everyday life. Green Acre Radio reporter Martha Baskin reports: Charles Fishman, author of The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water  

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 931 AM PDT FRI APR 6 2012
TODAY
SW WIND 5 TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 9 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
LIGHT WIND...BECOMING NE 10 TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 8 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS THIS EVENING.
SAT
NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 3 FT AT 10 SECONDS.
SAT NIGHT
E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 4 FT.
SUN
E WIND 15 TO 25 KT...EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT...SUBSIDING. W SWELL 4 FT.
SUN NIGHT
SE WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 5 FT.

--
"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