6/13 Springer, dead humpback, coal export debate, SJ Monument, timber habitat plan, biomass, Woods Tour, Navy wharf, tsunami debris, algae blooms, Pt Westward coal port

White Rock humpback (Photo: Nick Procaylo)

June 13, 2002: NOAA Fisheries and its partners completed the initial rescue action. A73 was moved safely to a floating net pen at a federal facility on the west side of Puget Sound. Veterinarians assessed her medical condition and treated her. The whale soon recovered her health and gained weight. Video monitoring was an important part of making sure A73 didn't become too attached to people. The staff collecting behavioral data around the clock could watch from a remote video observation station and see what she was doing. Observations of A73 feeding on live salmon put in the pen could be done from a distance, so she wouldn't learn to associate food with people. NOAA: Orphan Killer Whale A73 (Springer)  

With the death of a whale in White Rock on Tuesday shining a spotlight on the health of our oceans, our government is being urged to get to work pulling old fishing gear out of the water.  The cleanup is happening in Washington state, but environmentalists say it's a different story here in Canada. The whale in White Rock was entangled in some kind of line, and the Georgia Strait Alliance believes we can help prevent other sea creatures from meeting the same fate.   Environmentalists want old fishing gear cleaned up   See also: Immature humpback whale washes ashore, dies in White Rock  

Both of Washington’s major gubernatorial candidates used Tuesday’s debate to call for a comprehensive review of Washington’s three proposed coal export terminals. And while neither Democrat Jay Inslee or Republican Rob McKenna gave bottom line positions on the issue, each used their first debate together to hint at where they might come down if forced to choose. Ashley Ahearn reports. Wash. Gubernatorial Hopefuls Weigh In On Coal  

President Obama should follow in the footsteps of Theodore Roosevelt and Bill Clinton, and use his authority to designate a new national monument in Washington, Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., said Monday.  In a letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Larsen said it’s time for the administration to step in and preserve a 955-acre network of pristine places in the San Juan Islands. Joel Connelly reports. Larsen to Obama: Get moving on Monument     See also: Larsen joins chorus calling for San Juans National Monument  

The state, conservation groups and timber industry have agreed on a plan that should make the 50-year habitat conservation plan for state and private forestlands work better. The settlement agreement averts a legal challenge by conservationists, who said the habitat conservation plan was plagued by lack of funding, spotty compliance and cumbersome decision-making. John Dodge reports.  Parties amend habitat plan

Our Man on the Peninsula writes: "Excellent news. Thanks to The Puget Soundkeeper Alliance for their work. This funding will allow a lot of smaller organizations to apply to drive forward their projects to make the Sound cleaner."  New funding source for water quality based non-profits  

Five environmental groups are proceeding with their appeal against Port Townsend Paper Corp.’s ongoing biomass project before the state Court of Appeals. No Biomass Burn, the Olympic Environmental Council, the Olympic Forest Coalition, the World Temperate Rainforest Network and PT AirWatchers will file their first supporting brief by mid-July in an effort to get Port Townsend Paper to prepare an environmental impact statement on the project. Paul Gottlieb reports.  Biomass appeal proceeding in Port Townsend    See also: Foes of Port Angeles biomass plant digest judge's rejection of their appeal  

North Sound Baykeeper Lee First writes: “I’m no stranger to logging operations in Washington.  I spent 5 years working as a member of a 50-person reforestation collective planting trees on clear cuts throughout the Pacific Northwest.  So when I was invited to attend the 29th annual “Woods Tour,” sponsored by Whatcom Women in Timber, I jumped at the chance....” Meeting the Bull of the Woods  

Skanska's U.S. unit will earn $149 million from a U.S. Navy contract for building an explosives handling wharf in Silverdale, Washington. Skanska to build U.S. Navy explosives wharf

Federal officials say its likely that much of the foamlike material that is littering beaches in Southwestern Washington and Oregon is some of the first debris from Japan's calamitous 2011 tsunami to show up on U.S. shorelines.  Coastal debris comes in; cleanup alert goes out  

Algae blooms that changed water off several Bainbridge shorelines bright red this week pose no risk to humans or shellfish, according to Kitsap County Public Health District officials.  Algae blooms near Bainbridge pose no risk  

One of the proposed Port Westward coal export terminals near Clatskanie will nearly double barge traffic past Longview and will have "unavoidable impacts" on protected fish and habitat in the Columbia River, according to biological assessment of the project.  The report, written by civil engineering firm Anderson Perry in La Grande, Ore., was created for Ambre Energy as part of its Morrow Pacific project application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  Report: Columbia River coal transport likely to threaten fish habitat

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT WED JUN 13 2012
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY
W WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 4 FT AT 9 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
W WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 4 FT AT 9 SECONDS. PATCHY DRIZZLE AFTER MIDNIGHT.

--
"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