9/9 Sweetgum, Fraser sockeye, battery storage, wave personhood, Haida Gwaii, La Niña, marmots, wastewater fentanyl, ferry sale

 

Sweetgum

Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua
The sweetgum is a large, aromatic tree, with a straight trunk and conical crown that becomes round and spreading. Yellow-green flowers appear in spherical clusters in April-May, and give way to the infamous gum balls, which are hard, spherical, bristly fruiting clusters up to 1.5” diameter. The common name of sweetsgum refers to an aromatic balsam or gum that exudes from wounds to the tree. Native Americans would use the resin from the sweetgum tree to maintain dental hygiene, and early pioneers in America would use the resin as chewing gum.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Logging decision looms over Concrete neighborhood fearing landslide

Very few sockeye have passed Chilcotin River landslide area
Fisheries and Oceans Canada says this year's Fraser River sockeye salmon run is 2nd lowest on record. Isaac Phan Nay reports. (CBC)

City council joins in opposing battery storage facility
Not here. That was the overwhelming consensus of those who packed the Sedro-Woolley City Council chamber for Wednesday night’s study session, where a company proposing to build an energy storage facility to the town’s east presented its project. 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)

For the First Time, Part of the Ocean Has Been Granted Legal Personhood
The Brazilian city of Linhares has legally recognized its waves as living beings, marking the first known time part of the ocean has been granted legal personhood. Isabella Kaminski reports.  (Hakai Magazine)

Haida Gwaii’s future, Haida Gwaii’s past
Three generations of one Haida family share what a historic title agreement will mean for their efforts to protect their land and culture. Padraig Moran reports. (CBC)

'Wimpy' winter ahead for Pacific Northwest despite La Niña prediction, climatologist says
La Niña conditions are expected in the Pacific Northwest this winter, which usually bring colder, wetter weather to the region. After a dry summer — and a below-average snowpack accumulated last winter — we could use the moisture. Climatologist Nick Bond said this year's La Niña will likely be weaker than previously expected. Angela King and Katie Campbell report. (KUOW)

A record 86 Vancouver Island marmot pups born this year
The critically endangered ­Vancouver Island marmot is experiencing a baby boom. So far, 86 pups have been born in the alpine regions of the Island — a record number — and scientists and volunteers have yet to finish their count. Adam Taylor of the ­Marmot Recovery Foundation said it’s the highest ­number for wild-born marmots since 2011, when 75 babies were born. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Metro Van wastewater fentanyl levels highest in Canada
New data from Statistics Canada shows that out of the seven Canadian cities studied, Metro Vancouver had the highest level of fentanyl byproduct in its wastewater. The Canadian Wastewater Survey measures the level of 10 different drugs, according to Statistics Canada, including norfentanyl— a byproduct of fentanyl breakdown in the body. Maryse Zeidler reports. (CBC)

WA scuttles $200,000 sale of two retired state ferries
Talks are underway with potential new buyers who want to showcase them, officials said. The former buyer planned to tow them to Ecuador for scrap. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  238 AM PDT Mon Sep 9 2024    
TODAY  W wind around 5 kt, veering to NW late this morning and  afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 8 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato at salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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