1/22 TransMtn pipe, Keystone XL, coal dust, urchin poacher, climate news, VanAqua battles, bird survey, Curley Cr.

[PHOTO: Laurie MacBride]

A Lot to Bite Off
Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "At a marina near Desolation Sound last summer, a school of small fish were busily swarming a jellyfish, biting off and eating bits of it, right beside the dock. I’d never seen a fish (or any animal, for that matter) eating a jellyfish, and nor had the other people who stopped to watch. Murphy’s Law prevailed, so by the time I’d fetched my camera from our boat, the fish had darted off, leaving one lone individual whose resolve seemed to have vanished along with his buddies. So you’ll have to take my word for it: the large chunk missing from the jellyfish in the photo above was removed by a school of fish that included this little guy. Since then I have learned that very few creatures eat jellyfish: the Leatherback turtle (a reptile), the Northern fulmar (a bird) and the Ocean sunfish (a fish, but a large one) are among the only known “medusivores”. I’ve been unable to find any mention of small fish in the Pacific Ocean eating jellyfish…." (more)

B.C. considering appeal of NEB dispute process for permitting of Trans Mountain pipeline
The B.C. government says it may appeal a decision by the National Energy Board that has established a process for the national regulator to adjudicate permitting disputes between Kinder Morgan and provinces and municipalities over the $7.9-billion Trans Mountain expansion. The decision, released Thursday, came after Kinder Morgan had put a motion forward over its complaints that permits were being unnecessarily delayed for the oil-pipeline project, pointing to issues in Burnaby, a municipality that opposes the project. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun) Metro Vancouver cities, residents to oppose Trans Mountain route at hearings  Laura Kane reports. (CBC)

TransCanada says it has secured enough customers to proceed with Keystone XL pipeline
The Canadian pipeline company that set out a decade ago to build the $8-billion Keystone XL oil pipeline across the Great Plains said Thursday it had secured enough shipping orders to proceed with construction. A statement released by TransCanada stopped short of making a commitment to construct the 1,189-mile pipeline from Hardisty, Canada, to Steele City, Neb. Jane Kleeb, the founder and president of Bold Nebraska, the activist group leading the opposition to the Keystone XL project, said TransCanada faced significant regulatory and state court challenges and the company’s announcement changed little about the prospects that the pipeline would be built. Keith Schneider reports. (LA Times)

Concern about coal dust from passing trains prompts B.C. petition
A resident of Salmon Arm, B.C., is fighting to get an additional safeguard in place for Interior communities affected by oily, black dust spread by passing coal trains. Canadian Pacific Railway already has two spray stations in B.C. — facilities which spray coal with a glue-like polymer in order to prevent residue from escaping… But Marijke Dake has been concerned about the lack of facilities east of Salmon Arm ever since she noticed coal dust escaping a passing train last summer.  Jaimie Kehler reports. (CBC)

This poacher got busted with 1,088 sea urchins. Their sex organs sell for $100 per pound
Sea urchins — those spiny creatures beach goers carefully avoid stepping on — are a hot commodity. Sometimes too hot. A sea urchin poacher was caught Jan. 7 when he pulled into Tacoma’s Breakwater Marina, just east of Point Defiance Park. Officer Jake Greshock with the state Fish and Wildlife Department’s Central Sound Marine Detachment was watching the commercial diver from shore as he harvested green sea urchins north of the Tacoma Narrows bridges. Craig Sailor reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

A further search for truth among stories about climate change
Chris Dunagan in Watching Our Water Ways writes: "When it comes to reports of climate change, I cannot escape “fake news,” which I define as wholly made up with little basis in fact. More often than not, however, what I observe are news stories in which the reporters exaggerate or simply misunderstand the results of scientific studies. In a confusing landscape of climate news, it is not easy to know what to believe. That’s why we need news reporters who work hard to get things right by understanding the science and conveying information in a meaningful way…."

Behind scenes Vancouver Aquarium frustrations revealed in court battle
Documents filed in fight with Park Board detail tense meetings and unique legal arguments, Jason Proctor reports. (CBC)

New survey documents Fidalgo Bay birds
Armed with binoculars and spotting scopes Thursday, volunteers scanned the choppy waters of Fidalgo Bay, calling out the birds they saw. They ticked off their counts as part of a new survey to track what types of birds, and how many, are seen in the bay. The survey began in September at the recommendation of the Fidalgo Bay Aquatic Reserve Citizen Stewardship Committee — a group of volunteers working to ensure that efforts to restore and protect the bay are successful — and the Skagit Audubon Society. Kimberly Cauvel report. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Donation will aid salmon in South Kitsap stream
…. The chum spawning season was over, but a faint fishy odor still hung over Curley Creek, one of the county's most important salmon streams. The South Kitsap creek provides habitat not only for chum but also coho, chinook and steelhead, making it a priority for conservation.  The effort to protect the waterway took a leap forward this winter when landowner Steve Tyner donated 28 acres on the creek to the Great Peninsula Conservancy. The non-profit group had secured a state grant to purchase the property, but the funding was held up in the state's capital budget. Spontaneously, Tyner decided to gift the land instead. Tad Sooter reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  237 AM PST Mon Jan 22 2018  
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY  AFTERNOON  
TODAY  SW wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 1 to 2 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 14 ft at 13 seconds subsiding to 12 ft at  13 seconds in the afternoon. Showers in the morning then showers  likely in the afternoon.
TONIGHT  S wind to 10 kt becoming E 10 to 20 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft after midnight. W  swell 11 ft at 12 seconds subsiding to 9 ft at 11 seconds after  midnight. A chance of showers in the evening then a chance of  rain after midnight.

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"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.

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