2/19 Snowdrop, endangered whales, Electron Dam, WSF, grizzly plan, Skagit gravel mine, nature's value

 

Snowdrop

Snowdrop Galanthus
Galanthus is a small genus of approximately 20 species of bulbous perennial herbaceous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae. The plants have two linear leaves and a single small white drooping bell-shaped flower with six petal-like tepals in two circles. The smaller inner petals have green markings. Most species flower in winter, before the vernal equinox (20 or 21 March in the Northern Hemisphere), but some flower in early spring and late autumn. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Water worries on the rise: Nooksack addresses increased flooding

Oregon classifies orca whales as endangered
Oregon’s Fish and Wildlife Commission has decided to add a group of whales that forage along the Oregon Coast to the state’s endangered species list. The vote followed a presentation by a fish and wildlife official calling for the animals to be listed and testimony from dozens of conservationists, biologists, teachers, anglers and residents, some of whom had traveled hundreds of miles. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Puyallup Tribe celebrates as Electron Hydro is ordered to remove temporary rock dam
On Friday, District Court Judge John C. Coughenour ruled that energy company Electron Hydro must remove part of a temporary rock wall at the Electron Dam site. The ruling came in response to the Puyallup Tribe's latest lawsuit against Electron Hydro's owners. The court found that the structure harms three endangered species: Chinook salmon, steelhead and bull trout, in violation of the Endangered Species Act. Bellamy Paithorp reports. (KNKX)

Washington's ferry system has a trust problem
Officially, the Washington State Ferries had a 99% reliability rating in January 2024. But in waterfront communities hurt by too few boats and ferry-run cancellations, people remain skeptical. Joshua McNichols reports (KUOW)  See also: Letters to Inslee: More passenger-only ferries could be among solutions to Washington ferry woes  Dyer Oxley and Joshua McNichols report. (KUOW)

Snohomish County partners with feds on North Cascades grizzly plan
Last week, the Snohomish County Council approved a memorandum of understanding between the county’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Ta'Leah Van Sistine reports. (Everett Herald)

Groups appeal permit issued for gravel mine
Central Samish Valley Neighbors and property owner Cougar Peak LLC and its caretakers have appealed a Feb. 1 Skagit County hearing examiner decision to grant a permit for a proposed gravel mine northwest of Sedro-Woolley. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

Nature Has Value. Could We Literally Invest in It?
“Natural asset companies” would put a market price on improving ecosystems, rather than on destroying them. Lydia DePillis reports. (NY Time

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  228 AM PST Mon Feb 19 2024   
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 11 seconds. A  slight chance of rain in the morning then a chance of rain in the  afternoon. TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft building to  2 to 4 ft after midnight. SW swell 3 to 4 ft at 13 seconds  becoming W 1 to 5 ft at 12 seconds after midnight. A chance of  rain after midnight.

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