6/22 Springer!, Olympic wilderness, WA shellfish, humpback death, West Bay cleanup, Fisheries Act, Skagit flooding, Surfrider, Thurston CAO

First summer weekend. Making the most of it: Celebrate Springer! 10th Anniversary on Saturday, 11 AM- 3PM, West Seattle’s Alki Bathhouse, Celebrate Springer!

Key leaders of Washington's congressional delegation have introduced legislation intended to protect Olympic Peninsula forests and rivers from logging, dams and other development. Three years in the negotiating, The Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic River Act of 2012 was introduced Thursday by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Bremerton. The bill is a far cry from the original and more controversial version proposed in 2010 by conservationists, but still takes big steps to permanently protect some of the Olympics' most beloved landscapes. Lynda Mapes reports. 126K acres of Olympic Peninsula would be protected by new bill

Shellfish-growing areas in Puget Sound have experienced an ongoing reduction in bacterial pollution problems since 2003, according to a new analysis released Thursday by the Washington State Department of Health.Of 38 active shellfish-growing areas with some pollution problems, the fecal pollution index has declined from 1.29 in 2003 to 1.11 in 2011 — a 14 percent reduction. Chris Dunagan reports. Puget Sound shellfish areas show reduced pollution  

A Willapa Bay shellfish company is shifting some of its business to Hawaii because of ocean acidification that scientists believe is killing tiny oyster larvae in shellfish farms along Washington's coast. Craig Welch reports. Willapa Bay oyster grower sounds alarm, starts hatchery in Hawaii  

Preliminary results from a necropsy on a young humpback whale confirm the creature likely died a slow death from starvation after being entangled in fishing gear.  Veterinary pathologist Stephen Raverty with the ministry of agriculture's Animal Health Centre in Abbotsford says ropes had obviously been buried deep in the whale's mouth.  Necropsy shows entanglement, starvation, likely killed young humpback in White Rock

Cleanup of the former Hardel Mutual Plywood plant site on West Bay Drive has been ruled complete by the state Department of Ecology. Barring any surprises during a public comment period that runs through July 6, Ecology is prepared to take the waterfront property off the agency’s hazardous waste site list this summer. Ecology still has eight other hazardous waste sites in various stages of cleanup in lower Budd Inlet. John Dodge reports. West Bay site cleanup done  

Three scientists from B.C. have used an internationally prestigious journal to launch an attack against changes to the federal Fisheries Act currently before the Senate. In a letter published online Thursday in the journal “Science,” the scientists from Simon Fraser University criticize cutbacks at eco-toxicology labs and an aquatic research facility and changes to the act itself, saying the government’s rational for making the changes is not supported by fact.  Three B.C. scientists attack changes to Fisheries Act  

By the end of the century, fall flooding on the Skagit River will be more severe, catastrophic coastal flooding could happen every year and salmon could be further endangered by low summer runoff, a University of Washington climate scientist told a packed house Thursday morning. University of Washington’s Alan Hamlet with the Climate Impacts Group explained how climate change is expected to affect the Skagit River. His talk focused on how greenhouse gases, like those created with the burning of fossil fuels, will cause Earth’s temperature to rise. Hamlet had been invited to speak by Skagit County as part of Envision Skagit 2060, a grant-funded effort to take a look at how the county might plan for future growth. The audience included county officials and members of the public, including some who are skeptical about climate change. Kate Martin reports. Climate change, Agenda 21 skeptics flood county meeting

Tonight at Harbinger Winery, 2358 W. U.S. Highway 101, Port Angeles: You don't have to know the lingo; no need to worry about pronouncing “dude” right or about what makes a wave truly gnarly.  The only requirement for full International Surfing Day participation, according to local Surfrider Shawn Canepa, is that you care.  ISD, as it's known, is a global party in honor of the oceans. Surfriders raising awareness with fundraising party  

The public will have the opportunity to comment on Thurston County’s proposed Critical Areas Ordinance on Saturday. The ordinance, nearly a decade in the making, is at its final steps, with its adoption possible within the next four to six weeks.  Critical Areas: County to hold public meeting Saturday for input  

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 231 AM PDT FRI JUN 22 2012
TODAY
W WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 3 FT AT 11 SECONDS. SHOWERS LIKELY THIS MORNING...THEN SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT
W WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. SW SWELL 3 FT AT 16 SECONDS. SHOWERS LIKELY.
SAT
W WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. SW SWELL 3 FT AT 15 SECONDS. SHOWERS LIKELY.
SAT NIGHT
W WIND 10 TO 20 KT EARLY...BECOMING LIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT...SUBSIDING TO 1 FT OR LESS AFTER MIDNIGHT. SW SWELL
 3 FT.
SUN
LIGHT WIND...BECOMING NW 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. SW SWELL 3 FT.

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