9/16 Red sponge nudibranch, river otter attack, battery storage, Cornwall landfill, saving birds, hot humpbacks, quakes

Red sponge nudibranch [Dave Cowles]

Red sponge nudibranch Rostanga pulchra
This species feeds on, and is often found on, red sponges such as Acarnus, Esperiopsis,Ophlitaspongia, and Plocamia. It is believed that its orange pigment comes from the sponge.  Adults can locate and navigate to distant Ophlitaspongia sponges by smell.  Some individuals seem to stay quite close to one area while others range for distant sponges.  Predators may include the flatworm Notoplana acticola.  The cephalaspidean predatory nudibranch Navanax inermis is repelled by secretions from Rostanga. (Walla Walla Univ)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Lummi Nation to honor orca and community with launch of ‘Our Hearts Beat as One / Micro-hydroelectric power may be the next big climate solution

River otter attacks child at Bremerton Marina, issue with infestation was known
A child walking on a dock at the Bremerton Marina was attacked and pulled under the water by a river otter Thursday morning, then pulled from the water by their mother, who was also bitten on the arm by the otter, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. David Nelson and Kai Uyehara report. (Kitsap Sun)

Sedro-Woolley considers another option in stopping battery energy storage facility
The city of Sedro-Woolley continues to look at its options in its attempt to prevent the construction of a battery energy storage facility on 14 acres just east of city limits. City Administrator Charlie Bush told the council that the city could petition for what is known as intervenor status, which could cost the city about $50,000 if the matter is handled by the city attorney and more if the city hired a firm that specializes in such matters. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)  See: Battery farms, energy industry’s new darling, lining up to enter Pacific NW Don’t you be my neighbor, say some to proposed fields of big batteries Tom Banse reports. (Salish Current)

$7.3 million state grant will go toward cleanup of contaminated Bellingham Bay site
A state grant is providing $7.3 million to address a toxic waste site on the Bellingham waterfront, the site of a planned city park. Officials at the state Department of Commerce Public Works Board announced the $7.3 million award for the Cornwall Avenue landfill cleanup earlier this week. It was among $175 million directed toward infrastructure projects statewide. The site is a former city dump located along the Bellingham waterfront at the south end of Cornwall Avenue. It’s adjacent to the former R.G. Haley plant, another contaminated site, and both are part of the planned Salish Landing park. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald)

These birds are almost extinct. A radical idea could save them.
As climate change and other threats destroy the habitats of living things, biologists are beginning to think of doing the once unthinkable: finding new homes for species outside their native ranges. Dino Grandoni and Matt McClain report. (Washington Post) 

Too hot for humpbacks: The race to protect Pacific whales
Move over Moby Dick. Big Mama, the first humpback whale to have returned to the North Pacific's Salish Sea after decades of absence, is telling a new story about the global threat to whale populations. Riley Farrell reports.(BBC)

2 earthquakes strike off the coast of British Columbia, but no damage reported
Two earthquakes struck off the northern coast of the Canadian province of British Columbia Sunday but there were no immediate reports of damage. The United States Geological Survey said the first earthquake, measuring magnitude 6.5, happened around 3:20 p.m. local time. It was located off the tip of Haida Gwaii, an archipelago located about 1,720 kilometers (1,069 miles) north of Vancouver and occurred at a depth of 33 kilometers (20 miles). Natural Resources Canada said a second earthquake, measuring 4.5, occurred about an hour later in the same area. (Associated Press)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  239 AM PDT Mon Sep 16 2024    
TODAY  SE wind around 5 kt, veering to NW early this afternoon,  then becoming W 10 to 15 kt late. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds.

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