7/12 Copper salmon, coal trains, Enbridge, Kinder Morgan, Stanley Park birds, Elwha salmon, Partnership, Asian smoke, Paddle 2012, species protection

(PHOTO: Russ Maddox)

Researchers have known for years that copper from brake pads and pesticides can confuse salmon entering their natal streams — but the outcome could be far worse than confusion, according to a new study. Juvenile salmon exposed to copper in a stream are more likely to be eaten by predators. That's the conclusion of Jenifer McIntyre, a research biologist who conducted a series of experiments at the University of Washington's Big Beef Creek Research Station near Seabeck. Christopher Dunagan reports.   Copper can make salmon vulnerable to predators, UW researcher finds  

A new study purports to add to mounting evidence that more coal trains will further strain already taxed rail lines in the Pacific Northwest. The study was both commissioned and conducted by groups who promote the interests of farmers and ranchers in the West. A spokeswoman for BNSF Railway had serious reservations about the study. Even so, the study's authors insist the results are objective and should demand the attention of those who will decide the fate of proposed coal terminals in Oregon and Washington, including the Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point. Study: Coal terminal near Bellingham would tie up rail lines    See also: How coal trains could choke NW's economic engines

Edmonds residents and officials on Wednesday rallied against plans to double coal train traffic through their community. The coal would be shipped to a proposed terminal a 100 miles to the north. It’s something the city fears because more than 40 trains per day already bisect the waterfront, causing limited access to the Kingston ferry dock and waterfront businesses. The ferry system chief said a solution like a new tunnel or underpass would require a partnership between state and local officials with private companies. "But I know enough to know we don't have the money, the city doesn't have the money and the private sector doesn't have all the money but together we might be able to craft a solution that really we need now,” said David Mosley.  Edmonds residents rally against coal train traffic  

British Columbia Premier Christy Clark has issued a public warning to Enbridge Inc. about its proposed Northern Gateway pipeline in the wake of revelations about the company’s handling of a massive 2010 oil spill in Michigan.  B.C. Premier puts Enbridge on notice over pipeline safety

Starting in September 2012, Texas-based pipeline giant Kinder Morgan will begin public consultations for an estimated $4 billion expansion of its Trans Mountain pipeline from Alberta’s oil sands in Edmonton to Metro Vancouver. Their plan is to more than double the capacity of the pipeline by 2017. The project rivals Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline, which aims to export oil sands crude through the Great Bear Rainforest. With the benefit of an existing right-of-way, could Kinder Morgan succeed in making Vancouver the first major artery of oil sands expansion on the West Coast? Or will their record of oil spills tar up their plans?  Southern Gateway: An American pipeline giant's plans for Vancouver  

At least 236 bird species that rely on Stanley Park for food, wintering, migration stopovers, or breeding habitat would be at risk from an oil-tanker spill in Burrard Inlet, a Wilderness Committee report warned Wednesday. The report, written by Greenpeace International co-founder Rex Weyler, notes that a spill would have devastating and long-lasting impacts on aquatic habitat critical to birds. Among them are globally significant populations of wintering Barrow's goldeneye and thousands of surf scoters, a species of special concern in B.C.  Wilderness Committee raises alarm over oil-tanker threat to Stanley Park wildlife  

Scientists knew ocean-going fish would eventually return to the Elwha River on Washington state's Olympic Peninsula, once two massive concrete dams were torn down. They just didn't think it would happen so soon. Biologists tracking fish in a tributary of the Elwha last month spotted wild steelhead that likely made it on their own past the site where the Elwha Dam stood for nearly a century -- before it was dismantled in March as part of the nation's largest dam removal project. With 1 of 2 dams down, fish return to Elwha River  

Todd Myers of the Washington Policy Center writes: "The cleanup is on a third boss in five years. One problem may be a lack of focus on the hard science of saving the Sound."  Puget Sound Partnership: Can anybody here figure out a plan?

I asked Cliff Mass if he was certain the fireworks he refers to were made in Asia and not in the U.S.: “In a previous blog I made the case that smoke from huge Asian wildfires was moving across the Pacific, greatly degrading air quality in Northwest....and as I shall tell you, poor visibility is only one of the effects.  And our Asian friends also contributed to a major degradation of air quality on two days in particularly--July 4th and 5th--as a result of the massive amount of fireworks they have sold us.”  Asian Fires and Fireworks Smoke Up the Northwest  

Pullers from central and southern Washington coastal areas will reach LaPush today in the 2012 Paddle Journey. The canoe journey of Native Americans from the Pacific Northwest, Canada and other areas will end in a celebration at the end of the month hosted by the Squaxin Island tribe in Kamilche near Shelton.  Paddle Journey 2012 canoes due in LaPush today  

Five amphibians and reptiles that call Washington home are among more than 50 included in a petition for federal protection. Arizona’s Center for Biological Diversity has filed the petition for protection of 53 amphibians and reptiles in 45 states. 5 Washington critters among species group would have feds protect  

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 900 PM PDT WED JUL 11 2012
THU
W WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 3 FT AT 7 SECONDS. AREAS OF MORNING FOG AND PATCHY DRIZZLE.
THU NIGHT
W WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 3 FT AT 7 SECONDS. AREAS OF DRIZZLE AFTER MIDNIGHT.

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