8/30 BC quake, Tsawwassen sewage, rockfish challenge, Free Deschutes, Salish Sea Festival, Skagit floods, ambergris

Spill drill (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

New blog: “After Friends of the San Juans’ board member San Olson told me about a talk he was giving on risks associated with increased vessel traffic in our shared Salish Sea waters, I came across a photo with a story about an oil-spill drill conducted last week around Port Angeles....” ‘Tis Only Human to Spill...

A minor earthquake has shaken southern Vancouver Island. The Pacific Geosciences Centre reports that the tremor, which occurred at 3:20 p.m. PT, had a magnitude of 3.0 and was centred about 20 kilometres west of Victoria. The quake occurred about 25 kilometres underground, a centre spokesman said, and was felt on both coasts of the southern island, from Sooke to Sidney, and as far north as Cowichan Lake.  Earthquake shakes Victoria area   

The Tsawwassen First Nation’s ambitious plans for undeveloped reserve land are being throttled by a lack of infrastructure. The Tsawwassen have made land available to commercial and residential developers who have plans for 1,900 housing units and a 1.8-million-square-foot mall complex that would be the single-largest retail shopping destination in British Columbia. Tsawwassen plan lacks sewage capacity  

Lopez-based conservation laboratory Kwiáht has issued a challenge to high school teachers and their classes throughout San Juan County to devise “reliable, economical” electronic devices to study and monitor the islands’ declining rockfish populations. Kwiáht director Russel Barsh said relatively little is known about their ecology or behavior because a few hours of underwater video observation can cost thousands of dollars. The solution, Barsh suggests, will be compact electronic packages that rest on the sea floor “like the NASA Mars lander” or are attached to individual living fish.  Understanding rockfish: Kwiaht issues tech challenge to local high schools 

Attend the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team picnic on Sept. 1st at Olympia’s Heritage Park and support the vision of a restored estuary and the benefits of removing the dam from Capitol Lake. From 1 p.m., speakers will include Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark, Thurston County Commissioner Sandra Romero, local historian Emmett O'Connell and music by The Hinges and Dana Lyons. Go with the Flow....Free the Deschutes!!!  

On Sunday September 2nd, the Wilderness Committee and Tanker Free BC join Coast Salish First Nations to co-host the Save the Salish Sea Festival. The free, family-friendly event will be held from noon to 6 p.m. at Waterfront Park in North Vancouver, right next to the Lonsdale Quay Seabus. The event comes a day after a First Nations canoe journey through the Burrard Inlet, which hopes to raise awareness about the increasing tanker traffic coming in and out of Kinder Morgan’s Burnaby marine terminal. Save the Salish Sea Festival Sunday Sept. 2

Skagit County cities and dike districts may have to prepare for a bit of unexpected sticker shock this year, as the county could ask them for money to help pay the local share of a critical flood study. Skagit County’s Natural Resources Division manager Dan Berentson told commissioners Monday that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is asking the county to come up with $150,000 by year’s end, and another $600,000 next year. The money would pay for the continuation of the Skagit River General Investigation Study. The federal agency and the Skagit County communities are expected to split the costs 50-50. More than $11 million in local and federal funds have been spent on the study, which began in the early 1990s — and the clock is still ticking. Kate Martin reports.  County could ask cities, dike districts, for money to advance critical flood study

A schoolboy has stumbled across a rare piece of whale vomit which could be worth a staggering £40,000. Officially called ambergris, the substance is highly sought after and is used to prolong the scent of perfume. Charlie Naysmith made the discovery at Hengistbury Head, much to the amazement of his parents. Schoolboy's rich after finding Moby's sick  

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 230 AM PDT THU AUG 30 2012
TODAY
LIGHT WIND BECOMING NW 10 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT. W SWELL 2 FT AT 9 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
W WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 3 FT AT 8 SECONDS.

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