9/18 Longview coal, Columbia Chinook, rat war, Shell drill, B'ham Bay, Everett sewage, Tethys pullout

Making Plum Syrup (Laurie MacBride)

Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "For several weeks I’ve found it impossible to get a post written, and difficult to even to download my camera. The reason? I’ve been enslaved by TOTH. Perhaps you’re familiar with this mighty force, which strikes in late summer and fall. It’s full name is “Tyranny of The Harvest”, and when it takes hold, It keeps me trapped in the kitchen for long hours and days at a stretch. By late afternoon, I have barely enough energy to cook a simple (and I do mean simple!) dinner, let alone get creative on the computer. I know what you’ll likely say: it’s a good problem to have. I agree. So I’m not exactly complaining…just explaining..." When Tyranny Reigns

About 2,000 people jammed into the Cowlitz Expo Center on Tuesday evening, capping six hours of hearings on a proposed Longview coal terminal in which both sides rallied vigorously but without the incivility law enforcement officials had feared. With opponents dressed in red and supporters donning blue, the Expo Center resembled a mixed-party political convention, with the reds, many bused in from outside the area, having a decided majority. Outside, a sign on a 12-foot-tall inflatable globe declared “Coal is poison,” and a majority of people shared those sentiments when they urged state, federal and Cowlitz County regulators to conduct a broad environmental review of a $643 million Millennium Bulk Terminals proposal to export 44 million tons of coal annually at the old Reynolds Metals site. Erik Olson and Barbara LaBoe report. Longview coal hearing draws foes, backers

Take a listen: Chinook salmon returns are setting records on the Columbia this year. But 80% are hatchery fish. 13 wild salmon populations in the region are listed as endangered and 11 are threatened. It’s illegal to catch wild salmon, as any fisherman knows. Martha Baskin reports on our salmon’s latest threat, warming waters. What Will It Take for Wild Salmon to Return in Record Numbers? Warming Waters Present New Threat with Dams an Ever Present Danger

If you like to watch: Nisqually Tribe tracking historic pink run

Parks Canada staff are waging war against an army of rats on two remote northern islands in Gwaii Haanas national park, in the Haida Gwaii archipelago, with an aerial drop of poison pellets they hope will eradicate the rodents and restore ecological balance. The aerial drop is the second phase of project Night Birds Returning, a five-year, $2.5-million plan that experts hope will eradicate the rats first introduced more than century ago by visiting ships and that now number possibly in the hundreds of thousands on Murchison and Faraday islands. Dene Moore reports. Parks Canada declares war on rats in Haida Gwaii  

Rapidly thawing sea ice in the Arctic Circle has threatened polar wildlife and contributed to global changes in weather and climate. It has also opened the polar region for industrialization and resulted in new shipping lanes and a chance to drill for precious offshore oil reserves. As the NewsHour reports this week on climate change and its impact on the people and businesses along Alaska's Arctic border, we take a look at how operations in the Arctic by Royal Dutch Shell Oil, the first to drill for oil in the waters near Barrow, Alaska, have been fraught with accidents and controversy. Rebecca Jacobson reports. Controversy Over Shell's Oil Exploration in Arctic Continues

"We're doing a little myth-busting here," Port Environmental Director Mike Stoner told Port of Bellingham commissioners Tuesday, Sept. 17, as he delivered an update on the waterfront planning process. Stoner said he has heard what he believes are misconceptions about waterfront redevelopment plans that are now getting final review by both port commissioners and the Bellingham City Council... Stoner took pains to rebut two key criticisms of waterfront plans that have been heard in recent weeks: Not enough attention is being paid to habitat restoration for wildlife, and the port has never studied alternatives to plans for eventual installation of a marina inside the old G-P water treatment lagoon's massive trapezoidal breakwater. John Stark reports. Port of Bellingham's Stoner defends waterfront plans for wildlife, lagoon

The city (of Everett) is weathering a surge in new damage claims for recent storm-related sewer overflows, pushing the total to 73 as of Tuesday. That's about 30 more than last week. More claims are expected as a result of separate storms that flooded Everett homes and businesses in late August and early September. The city's latest claim tally, for example, doesn't include an estimated $700,000 in damage to the basements of two Snohomish County Public Utility District buildings. Noah Haglund reports. Everett sewage overflow damage claims keep pouring in

Reactions are mixed to the announcement last week that Tethys Enterprises backed out of its plans for a bottling facility on the island. Some residents were pleased the proposed 1-million-square-foot plant is off the table while others are lamenting the potential jobs lost. But all are looking to the future and how Anacortes could plan to best utilize the property — and how to attract a business that more people can get behind and support. Kimberly Jacobson reports. Tethys’ pullout draws mixed response

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 304 AM PDT WED SEP 18 2013
TODAY
W WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 6 FT AT 10 SECONDS. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS THIS MORNING.
TONIGHT
NW WIND TO 10 KT...BECOMING E AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. NW SWELL 5 FT AT 10 SECONDS.
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