9/28 No Shell drill, pipe benefits, oil train law, whale talks, climate pledge, sea stars, Pt Gamble, plastics

Super blood moon eclipse 9/27/15 (Sy Bean/Seattle Times)

Shell stops Arctic activity after 'disappointing' tests
Royal Dutch Shell has stopped Arctic oil and gas exploration off the coast of Alaska after "disappointing" results from a key well in the Chukchi Sea. In a surprise announcement, the company said it would end exploration off Alaska "for the foreseeable future". Shell said it did not find sufficient amounts of oil and gas in the Burger J well to warrant further exploration. The company has spent about $7bn (£4.5bn) on Arctic offshore development in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. (BBC)

Kinder Morgan files new reports to NEB touting benefits of proposed pipeline
Kinder Morgan has filed new reports to the National Energy Board touting the economic benefits of its proposed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, replacing evidence that the regulator ordered removed from the record last month. The filings include an 89-page market analysis by Dallas consulting firm Muse Stancil and an updated Conference Board of Canada tally of the project's broader economic spinoffs. Muse Stancil estimates $73.5 billion (in 2012 dollars) will be added to producers' bottom lines over 20 years if the Alberta-to-B.C. project goes ahead. Lauren Kruegel reports. (Canadian Press)

Oil train law still in works
A new state law requires cities, counties and fire departments be told ahead of time when an oil train is coming through their community. But it may be the summer of 2017 before they start getting such a heads-up. The state Department of Ecology is working to determine what details on the type and source of oil being shipped must be in the notices to help communities prepare for a derailment, spill or other type of accident. Jerry Cornfield report. (Everett Herald)

Killer Whale Talks in October
Erich Hoyt is featured in talks along the Whale Trail: Oct 3, Saturna Island Marine Research & Education Society (tickets at the door); Oct 6, Shaw Center Ocean Discovery Center, Sidney (tickets at Eventbrite ); and Oct 10, Olympia Friends Meeting Hall, Oct 11, UW Carwein Hall Tacoma, and Oct 13, the Hall at Fauntleroy in West Seattle (tickets at Brown Paper Tickets  (search Erich Hoyt)). Carl Safina speaks on Oct 7 at the Seattle Aquarium (tickets at Brown Paper Tickets .

Robertson launches Vancouver Climate Pledge
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has ended a week in New York by launching Vancouver’s Climate Pledge. The pledge calls for businesses to get behind the push for stronger action on climate change globally and align with Vancouver’s vision to shift to 100 per cent of renewable energy, to have their own corporate carbon reduction and renewable energy targets, and to challenge other businesses to sign the pledge. Kelly Sinoski reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Starfish Are Still Dying, But Here's Reason for Hope
It's been three years since millions of sea stars from Alaska to Canada and down to Baja, Mexico started wasting away into gooey white mounds. And although the destruction wrought by this disease shows no signs of stopping, the pace of the die-off has slowed. That's partly because so many sea stars have already died, says Ben Miner, a marine biologist at Western Washington University in Bellingham. Some areas have seen up to a 90 percent decline in their populations… Scientists identified the likely culprit last year: A pathogen known as a densovirus, part of the same parvovirus group that can cause gastrointestinal problems in unvaccinated dogs. So they've shifted their efforts to monitoring sea star populations and investigating why this disease—probably caused by a very common ocean virus—is now rampaging through 19 species of sea stars. Jane J. Lee reports. (National Geographic)

Making amends for mistakes that damaged our natural world
Preservation is cheaper than restoration. If you need proof, one place to look is the Beard’s Cove estuary-restoration project on Hood Canal, about a mile outside of Belfair. The project, nearing completion, is re-establishing 7.3 acres of saltwater wetlands by excavating and removing about 4,000 dumptruck loads of old fill dirt from an area originally built as a private park for the Beard’s Cove community. It is a rare restoration project, because essentially the same dirt used to fill the wetlands in 1973 is being taken out and put back where it came from — across North Shore Road from the development. The cost is estimated at $1.1 million, as reported by Arla Shephard in a story in the Kitsap Sun. Chris Dunagan reports. (Watching Our Water Ways)

Collaborative restoration project improves local beach for people and fish
A barge arrived on Brown Island in a recent downpour to unload heavy equipment and the removal of a large rock bulkhead along three adjacent residential waterfront properties was finally underway…. Over the next week local contractor Carson Sprenger and his Orcas Island based team at Rain Shadow Consulting will remove 175 cubic yards of rock from the project site, working carefully to retain existing trees and shrubs. Following bulkhead removal, the upper beach will be nourished with sand and small gravel. Native plants including dune grass, Nootka rose, ocean spray and snowberry will be planted by Barry Bartmasser of Naturescapes Landscaping, a San Juan Island based firm. Project funding has been provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Puget Sound Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program, participating property owners and FRIENDS members. (San Juan Islander)

Cleanup Effort Begins In Port Gamble Bay
About 20 years after the Pope & Talbot mill shut down, the Washington Department of Ecology is scheduled to begin a $17 million project to remove wood waste and contaminated sediment from the Port Gamble Bay. The Kitsap Sun reports that the two-year-long cleanup effort will begin Monday. The department plans to either dug up or cover 70,000 cubic yards of waste and contamination left over from the mill, which closed in 1995. The department also plans to removed creosote-treated pilings from the water and demolish piers, docks and other structures. (Associated Press)

New design for Point Defiance aquarium revealed to public
Imagine standing in a tunnel of water with hammerhead sharks swimming above your head and sea turtles gliding in front of you. That’s the experience officials at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium are aiming for as they design a three-story aquarium to in part replace the North Pacific Aquarium…. Construction is expected to begin next summer, and the aquarium could open by 2018. Stacia Glenn reports. (Olympian)

Port Townsend research delves into problem of microplastic debris in the ocean
Research gathered under the auspices of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center is being used to call attention to the effects of microplastic debris in ocean. “There is a lot of plastic that you can't even see,” said Ann Murphy, the center's former executive director.... Murphy and retired biologist and statistician Wally Davis have published an article in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, “Plastic in surface waters of the Inside Passage and beaches of the Salish Sea in Washington State.” Charlie Bermant reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 255 AM PDT MON SEP 28 2015
TODAY
E WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 7 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
LIGHT WIND...BECOMING E TO 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
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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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5/27 Geoducks, 'Chester,' Pt Gamble Bay, quiet RRs, fuel use, Longview oil, steelhead, cormorants

Geoduck check (Katie Campbell/EarthFix)

Poaching 100-Year-Old Geoducks For Big Money
Of all the shellfish that sell on the black market, one clam is above the rest -- the geoduck…. Wholesale geoduck prices at Puget Sound docks have more than doubled from $4 per pound in 2006 to as much as $15 per pound today. With the average adult geoduck weighing one to three pounds, a good geoduck diver can harvest thousands of dollars’ worth in a few hours…. Rising demand, especially among China’s growing middle class, has sent geoduck retail prices in Asia to as high as $150 per pound. Those soaring prices have created an incentive for poachers back in Puget Sound, giving rise to an international black market.  Katie Campbell reports. (KUOW) See also: Go Undercover With Northwest Shellfish Detectives  Katie Campbell reports. (KU)W)

False killer whale 'Chester' won't be released from Vancouver Aquarium, says DFO
A young false killer whale, nicknamed "Chester", rescued from a Tofino, B.C. beach last summer by the Vancouver Aquarium, won't be released to the wild because he doesn't have the skills to survive, said a fisheries official. Fisheries and Oceans Canada convened a panel of marine mammal experts to make the decision independently of the aquarium, said Paul Cottrell, marine mammal coordinator for the department. Lisa Johnson reports. (CBC)

You can help: Kitsap Forest & Bay Project Needs $15,000 to complete its online campaign to “Save Grovers Creek Preserve” by raising money towards the purchase of over 200 acres of ancient trees, wetlands, and salmon stream in North Kitsap County. The campaign ends on May 29 and you can get more info and make a donation at igg.me/at/SaveGroversCreek.

Port Gamble Bay cleanup starts in July
A major cleanup project that starts this summer will dig up and remove decades-old contaminated sediments and other materials from Port Gamble Bay’s waters. At a meeting 4:30-7:30 p.m. May 27 at Hood Canal Pavilion in Port Gamble, residents can talk with Washington Department of Ecology staff members about the project. According to Ecology, preliminary work is expected to start in June with cleanup work slated to begin in July. The project is expected to last about two years. (Kingston Community News)

Feds to meet with Bellingham neighbors to discuss railroad quiet zones
People interested in learning why trains blast their horns and how they might be silenced are invited to attend an informational meeting on railroad quiet zones Wednesday evening, May 27. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Chrysalis Inn meeting room, 804 10th St. in Fairhaven. Chris Adams, a grade crossing manager from the Federal Railroad Administration, will make a short presentation, and she will be available to answer questions from attendees. The event was put together by members of the South Hill and Fairhaven neighborhood associations. Samantha Wohlfeil reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Despite huge anti-oil protest, 93% of Puget Sound drivers are gas guzzlers
Anti-oil protesters may have filled Elliott Bay with colorful kayaks to protest Royal Dutch Shell Oil’s presence at the Port of Seattle because of concern over use of fossil fuels, but, according to a new study by the Puget Sound Regional Council, many Puget Sound-area residents are heavy users of fossil-fuel burning vehicles themselves. In 1999, 86 percent of people in the region drove regularly. Compare that to 2014, where 82 percent still drive their cars regularly. That's despite increases in public transit, such as the light rail and Rapid Ride buses, and more bike lanes. While hybrid and electric vehicle use is on the rise nation-wide, PSRC data found that 93 percent of 2014 drivers still use gas to fuel their cars. The other 7 percent use diesel, drive a hybrid, electric car or use flex fuel. Eastside residents make up the highest percent of hybrid drivers. Sarah Aitchison reports. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Longview port in talks over oil refinery on Columbia River
The Port of Longview says it is negotiating with an energy company on a proposal for a new crude oil refinery on the Columbia River. The Longview Daily News reports the project by Riverside Energy LLC would receive oil-by-rail shipments from the Bakken region in North Dakota at a 47-acre site in southwest Washington. The proposed refinery would process 45,000 barrels a day, including 30,000 barrels of crude oil and 15,000 barrels of seed oil and used cooking oil. (Associated Press)

Steelhead tags track mortality
Researchers are taking a unique opportunity to figure out why steelhead are dying on their way to the ocean through Puget Sound. Near the Nisqually River on Tuesday morning, NOAA fishery biologist, Megan Moore, made tiny incisions in the gut of nearly 20 juvenile steelhead…. Moore inserted an acoustic tag in each and sewed them up…. The signal transmitted from the tag is picked up receivers at several points along Puget Sound, with the final one in the Straight of Juan de Fuca. Most importantly, researchers can track when and where the signal dies off. Alison Morrow reports. (KING)

Officials Start Killing Columbia River Cormorants
Crews with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services have started killing cormorants on an island the Columbia River, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The crews are shooting adult birds using rifles with silencers and applying vegetable oil to unhatched eggs to kill unborn chicks. It’s part of the Corps’ controversial plan to reduce the number of nesting cormorants on East Sand Island to protect salmon. The plan calls for cutting the number of birds on the island from 14,000 breeding pairs to 5,600 by 2018. Cassandra Profita reports. (EarthFix)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT WED MAY 27 2015
TODAY
W WIND TO 10 KT BECOMING NW 5 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 14 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
W WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 13 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG 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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5/30 Herring, Kitsap shores, Powell R. aquaculture, Ecology, Cap Sante cleanup, Oly isthmus, Weed Watchers

PHOTO: DFO/VENUS Project

Once one of the most abundant fishes in coastal waters, many populations of Pacific herring, a cornerstone of the marine food web, have been on a downward spiral. A new population spawning in Elliot Bay may show the tide is turning. Marine ecologists are diving into near shore waters to determine their genetic identity. It’s not yet clear if the population will take up permanent residence. Martha Baskin reports. A New Phenomenon: Diving for Spawning Herring in Elliot Bay  

Forterra and Pope Resources signed a purchase and sale agreement Wednesday for 535 acres of forestland and 1.5 miles of shoreline along Port Gamble Bay and State Route 104. The Kitsap Forest and Bay Project is a longtime effort to conserve 6,700 acres and 1.8 miles of shoreline in north Kitsap County. The forests and shorelines have cultural significance to local Tribes and communities; draw thousands of outdoor recreationists annually; and support fish and wildlife in the integrated ecological and watershed systems of Port Gamble Bay, Hood Canal and Central Puget Sound. Forterra signs purchase agreement for Port Gamble shoreline block  

City of Powell River officials are continuing to explore the possibility of establishing an aquatic industries park in conjunction with Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation. The proposal centres on about 40 hectares (100 acres) of undeveloped waterfront land owned by PRSC Partnership Ltd. next to Catalyst Paper Corporation’s Powell River division. The site has a number of infrastructure advantages for aquaculture, according to a brochure produced by PRREDS (Powell River Regional Economic Development Society), including both salt and fresh water supplies, electricity and thermal energy. Laura Walz reports. Officials explore closed containment facility

One potentially divisive piece of the Washington Senate-House budget talks is whether the Washington Department of Ecology faces significant cuts, including the potential closure of its Bellingham office. As with much of the rest of the state's operating budget, the Republican-oriented Senate wants to trim part of Ecology's budget for 2013-2015. The Senate's Majority Coalition Caucus — an alliance of 23 Republicans and two Democrats — believes the ecology department has become too fat and should be trimmed to become more cost-effective. The ecology department disagrees. The Bellingham office plays a variety of roles, ranging from helping out in the response to the recent I-5 bridge collapse to working on the review of a proposed coal port north of the city. John Stang reports. Ecology budget squeeze: Efficiency or neglect?

A public comment period on draft documents related to the final cleanup work in the west basin of the Cap Sante Marina opens Thursday. Most cleanup work is already done at the site between 11th and 13th streets east of Q Avenue on the Fidalgo Bay shore. Ecology and the Port of Anacortes, which owns the site, are working to finish and maintain cleanup efforts. That includes long-term monitoring and protecting people and the environment from two remaining small pockets of low-level contamination. The site known as the Cap Sante Marine site was formerly occupied by that company’s chandlery from the late 1970s to 2007. Joan Pringle reports. Ecology seeks comments on final cleanup plans for Cap Sante Marine site

The Olympia City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to scrap a requirement that the city secure $1 million in state funding to purchase property on the downtown isthmus for a park. While the city still is pursuing the state money, council members also expressed their willingness to take money from several other parks projects — including developing a park at Ward Lake — to pay for the isthmus project if the state money doesn’t come through. The council in April approved a purchase and sale agreement to pay an estimated $3.3 million to Capital Shores Investments to acquire the parcels at 505 and 529 Fourth Ave. W., which total 2.3 acres. The council previously committed $1.7 million to the park, plus $600,000 in Conservation Futures funding from Thurston County. Matt Batcheldor reports.  Olympia council prepared to use parks money to buy isthmus

Oxeye daisy can take over meadows. English ivy can crawl up trees and choke the life out of them. Japanese knotweed can push out other plants at creeks. These weeds and others cause major problems in forests. That's why the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and Washington Department of Natural Resources have teamed up with the Mountaineers and King County Noxious Weed Program to train volunteers to find invasive plants on trails. Jim Davis reports. Weed Watchers on alert for noxious and obnoxious

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT THU MAY 30 2013
TODAY
S WIND TO 10 KT...BECOMING E IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 9 SECONDS. SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
W WIND TO 10 KT...BECOMING SW 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 11 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

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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.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

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3/26 National monuments, anti-tanker ad, greenhouse gas, coal letter, BC fish farms, Asarco cleanup, Port Gamble, Renton sewer, pipeline ads, derelict vessels, Olympic logging, black riverkeeper

Iceberg Point, SJI National Monument (Wikimedia)

New blog: “I got treated on my birthday to the best piece of cheesecake I’ve ever had— a piece of haupia cheesecake baked by the one-named cheesecake baker Otto who does business on the edge of Honolulu’s Chinatown as Otto Cake. Not light. It was like eating light...” Otto Cake Light and Dark

Upcoming: March 26— Joe Gaydos of Sea Doc Society talks about Bears to Barnacles: Incredible Animals of the Salish Sea, 7 pm, at Seattle’s Town Hall, $5.  March 28-- The Whale Trail presents a talk on harbor porpoises by Cascadia Research director John Calambokidis, 6:30 pm, at C&P Coffee in West Seattle. Tickets, $5 suggested donation, brownpapertickets.com  And on March28-- Ocean Acidification Seminar featuring local experts from the WA State Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification. 6 pm, Bellingham Cruise Terminal Dome Room, free.

President Obama on Monday established five new national monuments, including one in Washington’s San Juan Islands and one in northern New Mexico. Bettina Boxall reports.  President Obama creates five new national monuments  

If you like to watch: Video: Anti-tanker ad sets Exxon Valdez spill to Simon & Garfunkel classic

A measure championed by Gov. Jay Inslee to study the best practices for reducing greenhouse gas emissions has passed the state House and heads next to the governor's desk. Under the measure passed Monday, an outside consultant would review both Washington state's ongoing efforts to cut carbon emissions and similar endeavors elsewhere. It would then report back to the governor and legislative leaders. Jonathan Kaminsky reports. Inslee's climate change bill passes Legislature

Gov. Jay Inslee has joined with Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber to ask the Obama administration to review the climate-change consequences of leasing and exporting Western coal. “Increasing levels of greenhouse gases and other pollutants resulting from the burning of coal ... are imposing direct costs on people, businesses and communities in the U.S. and around the world,” said the letter sent Monday to Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality. The letter also called for the Obama administration to undertake a review of coal lease rates on federal lands to determine if they are too low and helping to subsidize coal exports. Hal Bernton reports. 2 governors wade into coal-export controversy

Critics of British Columbia's salmon-farming industry fear they could be "shouted down" and that their concerns will disappear into a "black hole" when a new committee meets to advise federal fisheries officials on aquaculture issues. The advisory committee, which is being set up by Fisheries and Oceans Canada as part of its Integrated Management of Aquaculture Plan, is expected to hold its first meeting on Wednesday in Richmond, B.C.  Kevin Drews reports. B.C. fish-farm foes criticize aquaculture committee, fear being "shouted down"

The state Department of Ecology has released plans for a $62 million cleanup of some 1,200 residential yards polluted by the old Asarco smelter in Ruston. The voluntary program will cover homes not only within the one-square-mile Asarco Superfund site but also some 3,900 homes outside the Superfund boundaries in West Tacoma. It also includes an estimated 700 properties on southern Vashon and Maury islands. Rob Carson reports. State plans to clean up land polluted by Asarco smelter

Port Gamble's historic forest is ripe for development. Can water quality wins shift the tides of conservation so long dominated by logging interests? Dan Chasan reports. Rolling the dice on the Kitsap Peninsula's sweetest forests

The decades-old fight by the Duwamish to be recognized as a tribe gained new life in a legal victory last week. U.S. District Judge John Coughenour on Friday vacated the 2001 denial of the tribe’s recognition by the U.S. Department of the Interior and told the agency to take another look. Lynda Mapes reports. Duwamish get another shot at recognition as a tribe

King County’s clean-water utility has budgeted $195.7 million in capital projects to expand the wastewater system, modernize existing facilities, and ensure continued compliance with environmental laws. King County is budgeting $6 million to upgrade pumping equipment and system controls at the South Treatment Plant in Renton. King County plans $6 million upgrades for treatment plant in Renton

One of the key concerns for the federal government in a multimillion-dollar Natural Resources advertising campaign was the negative publicity around the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, according to internal government documents. In particular, the statement of work provided to the ad company a year ago noted that media coverage had been critical of legislative changes that gave the federal cabinet power to override the National Energy Board recommendations on project approval. There was also criticism of changes that limited public participation in joint review panel hearings that are currently taking place in B.C., said the April 2012 document obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act. Federal ad campaign driven by Northern Gateway criticism

Bills to fund the clean up and prevention of derelict vessels have now been passed in the Washington house and senate. Final legislation is expected in the coming weeks, but no permanent sources of funding for large vessel removal have been identified.  Ashley Ahearn reports. Washington Set To Pass Legislation On Derelict Vessels But Funding Problems Remain

U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer said he’s meeting with timber industry officials and other interest groups in hopes of coming up with a plan to boost production in Olympic National Forest. It’s been a decades-long complaint that the U.S. Forest Service has never met the logging goals set forth in the Northwest Forest Plan, despite an increased demand for timber. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said she will reintroduce legislation this year that would expand wilderness designations and put areas just outside Olympic National Park off limits to logging. Kilmer, who succeeded Dicks in Congress, has not yet signed on to the plan. Steven Friederich reports. Kilmer hopes to boost Olympic National Forest timber production  

Around the time that Patuxent Riverkeeper Fred Tutman, now 54, was certified as a riverkeeper, the African American Environmentalist Association issued a report card for 26 environmental groups based on their diversity for 2003-2004. Eighteen declined to respond to the request for the makeup of their staffs, and most of the others received poor scores. Of at least 200 riverkeepers in the world, Tutman today is the only African American. Darryl Fears reports.  Within mainstream environmentalist groups, diversity is lacking  

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 229 AM PDT TUE MAR 26 2013
TODAY
E WIND 5 TO 15 KT THIS MORNING...BECOMING LIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 17 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 5 FT AT 16 SECONDS.
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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.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter.

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told

3/25 Exxon Valdez, Port Gamble, Victoria sewer, DuPont gravel, Stavis NRCA, B'ham jobs, Marysville offramp, bathing crabs, Point No Point lighthouse, Alderwood sewer, Shell drill

Exxon Valdez (NOAA)

New blog: “On most days, real issues are painted in shades of gray and we need to tease out the surrounding facts and values in order to come to a clearer position. Some days, we’re blessed. Today, President Obama will will designate the 1,000-plus acres in the San Juan Archipelago under the Bureau of Land Management as the San Juan Islands National Monument, the third in Washington state....”  A True Legacy

Where were you 24 years ago on March 24, 1989 when the Exxon Valdez went aground in Prince William Sound? Oil Spill Facts

Art Sterritt with Coastal First Nations says the catastrophic Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska over two decades ago is proof that massive oil tankers don't belong in B.C. waters because the state is still trying to clean up. Sterritt is launching a TV and social media campaign to air on networks along the proposed pipeline route to warn the public about the potential threat to B.C.'s environment. He says a spill like the Exxon Valdez disaster would cost taxpayers approximately $21.4 billion to clean up and destroy thousands of jobs in the fishing and tourism industries. Enbridge, the company behind Northern Gateway, has launched a multi-million dollar ad campaign of its own in support of the pipeline. First Nations group launches anti-pipeline ads on 24th anniversary of Alaskan oil spill  And: Anti-tanker ad marks anniversary of Alaskan oil spill  See also: Group launches anti-pipeline ads on anniversary of Exxon Valdez oil spill

Funny, sad but true: British Columbia’s largest oil spill response vessel got stuck on a sandbar en route to a federal news conference about strengthening Canada’s oil spill defences. The shipping-industry-funded company in charge of the vessel confirmed it ran aground briefly on an uncharted sandbar off Sand Heads at the mouth of the Fraser River en route from its Esquimalt base to the Coal Harbour news conference. But it denied the ship had a “close quarters situation” with a B.C. ferry near Active Pass earlier Monday – as claimed by the Coast Guard’s marine communications union. Mike Hager reports on 3/21. Oil spill clean-up ship hit sandbar en route to government news conference in Vancouver

Breaking their weeks-long impasse, the Washington Department of Ecology and Pope Resources have agreed on a $17-million cleanup plan for Port Gamble Bay. The agreement, to be spelled out in a legally binding consent decree, ensures that Ecology will provide $2 million toward the purchase and protection of 83 acres of tidelands and 470 acres of uplands along the western shoreline of Port Gamble Bay. The agreement will allow Pope Resources to keep two docks at the south end of the former Pope & Talbot sawmill site until 2015. The company had been seeking to keep the docks in place until a new one at the north end of the property could be approved. No agreement was reached for settling natural resource damage claims to be paid by Pope Resources. That raises questions about whether plans can move forward to use Ecology funds to purchase additional property on the mill site, where an educational and research center had been proposed. Chris Dunagan reports. Agreement reached on Port Gamble Bay cleanup

Esquimalt’s MLA joined the town’s mayor Thursday in opposing a plan to build two sewage treatment facilities on prime Esquimalt property, calling it a “betrayal” of local taxpayers. NDP MLA Maurine Karagianis said she refuses to accept a Capital Regional District proposal to build a sewage sludge facility on a Viewfield Road property that the CRD bought for $17 million. Combined with a proposed secondary sewage treatment plant at McLoughlin Point and an existing sewage outfall at Macaulay Point, Esquimalt is in the unfair position of having three regional sewage facilities, Karagianis said. Rob Shaw reports. Esquimalt MLA, mayor up in arms over proposed sewage facility

CalPortland got one step closer yesterday to expanding its mining footprint in DuPont. The City of DuPont has released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement that examines a proposal to sequentially clear, mine and reclaim 142 of 201 acres CalPortland Company owns adjacent to and north of its existing sand and gravel mine. The DEIS indicates that North Parcel mining would result in no significant unavoidable adverse impacts to the environment. Plus, 45 acres of bluffs and nearly a mile of Puget Sound shoreline would be preserved as open space, wildlife habitat and visual screening. CalPortland closer to mining site approval

About 455 acres of state land within Stavis Natural Resources Conservation Area would be protected forever under a land-transfer plan announced this week. The 4,300-acre Stavis NRCA, south of Seabeck, is one of the largest areas of intact lowland forest in the Puget Sound region. It is associated with Kitsap Forest, which contains some of the last old-growth trees on the Kitsap Peninsula. Chris Dunagan reports. Stavis land to be transferred for protection

Environmentalists and labor union members are joining forces to stress the need for rigorous cleanup and living-wage jobs on the waterfront. At a Thursday, March 21, public hearing on waterfront plans conducted by the city planning commission, it was clear that the two groups had made a conscious decision not to let their bitter dispute over a Cherry Point coal terminal get in the way of an alliance on other issues. John Stark reports.  Unions, environmentalists call for living-wage jobs on Bellingham waterfront

A proposed coal terminal in Bellingham that could bring 18 more trains per day through Marysville could, in a backhanded way, work to the city's advantage. It could help Marysville get money for a major road project: an offramp from northbound I-5 to northbound Highway 529 at the new Ebey Slough Bridge. Currently there's no funding for the $50 million project. The ramp has been on Marysville's wish list for years and would help the city's traffic problems, with coal trains or without, officials said. Bill Sheets reports. Coal terminal could help Marysville build offramp

Deep beneath the ocean surface, in Bubbly Gulch off Vancouver Island, a crab doing an inadvertent backflip has given scientists new information about the world’s largest source of untapped fossil energy. The crab was taking a Jacuzzi-style bath in bubbles of methane gas percolating from the ocean floor in Barkley Canyon when its muddy face was caught by cameras on Wally the Crawler, NEPTUNE Canada’s undersea robot. The methane bubbles — which are lighter than water — stuck under the crab’s shell, upsetting its balance and fascinating NEPTUNE scientists looking at the changing rates of bubbles and whether a warming ocean is affecting the ice-encased gas hydrates. Judith Lavoie reports. In Bubbly Gulch of Vancouver Island, bathing crabs hint at vast potential of an untapped fuel

After undergoing more than $200,000 in upgrades, Point No Point lighthouse officials are now asking for the community to help complete the restoration project. The lighthouse needs to raise $50,000 by June to receive a matching grant from the Birkenfeld Memorial Trust to restore a building called the keeper’s house, one of three registered historic structures part of Point No Point lighthouse. Amy Phan reports. $40,000 needed for Point No Point lighthouse renovations

Construction on a $93.4 million sewage treatment plant in south Snohomish County is nearly two years behind schedule and $400,000 over budget -- and the roof leaks. Work at the site at 6315 Picnic Point Road between Edmonds and Mukilteo is expected to wrap up in the next few months, said Nancy Davidson, capital projects manager with the Alderwood Water & Wastewater District, based in Lynnwood. Rikki King reports. Alderwood sewer plant late and $400K over budget

The heavy-lift vessel Xiang Rui Kou is in Dutch Harbor, preparing to pick up the Kulluk, Shell’s Arctic floating drilling platform, and carry the Kulluk to Asia for repair, Shell spokesman Curtis Smith confirmed in a March 19 email to Petroleum News. The drillship Noble Discoverer that Shell is using in the Alaska Arctic is also being carried to Asia by a heavy-lift vessel for repair. Smith also confirmed that Shell is in the process of testing its Arctic containment dome in Puget Sound, near Seattle. Shell has had modifications made to the dome since a failed test in September. Kulluk being picked up from Dutch harbor

Upcoming: March 28-- The Whale Trail presents a talk on harbor porpoises by Cascadia Research director John Calambokidis, 6:30 pm, at C&P Coffee in West Seattle. Tickets, $5 suggested donation, brownpapertickets.com  And on March28-- Ocean Acidification Seminar featuring local experts from the WA State Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification. 6 pm, Bellingham Cruise Terminal Dome Room, free.

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT MON MAR 25 2013
TODAY
E WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 5 FT AT 11 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF RAIN.
TONIGHT
SE WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 11 SECONDS. CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
--
"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.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate


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3/20 Coal export, Tethys water, BC herring, pesticide pollution, pipeline, Port Gamble, species-at-risk, harbor porpoise, giant squid, sage grouse, GM salmon

Pacific herring (NOAA)

Scoop Jackson didn’t have the Internet in mind when he wrote the Environmental Protection Act in 1969, but that marvelous invention has dramatically changed the way the Washington senator’s legacy has operated. The democratizing of information has given community activists a shot at the Big Guys, who always have had access to data. Floyd McKay reports. Coal Wars: Port opponents make big use of access to information

The Skagit County Growth Management Act Steering Committee today meets from 11 AM  to 1 PM at Burlington City Hall to discuss the city of Anacortes’ petition to modify its urban growth area (UGA) to include six parcels needed by Tethys to build a plant that could bottle up to five million gallons of water a day. Then: Anacortes Public Works Director Fred Buckenmeyer at a public meeting tonight at 7 PM in the Anacortes Public Library will make a presentation and answer questions about Skagit River water: how much water Anacortes draws from the river, what the “instream flow” rule means and why residents are occasionally asked to cut back consumption while new customers are brought on. Skagit water system questions answered  

Sierra Club B.C. and some fisheries scientists are calling for a moratorium on B.C.’s herring fishery because of fears declining stocks could affect the entire marine ecosystem. Herring are eaten by coho and chinook salmon, humpback, minke and killer whales, other marine mammals and seabirds. Herring roe is eaten by bears and wolves, and the roe-on-kelp fishery — which does not kill the fish — is important to coastal First Nations. Judith Lavoie reports. Advocates call for moratorium on B.C. herring fishery in wake of declining stocks

Scientists have discovered an overall improvement in the amount of pesticides flowing in Washington State streams. That announcement wouldn’t mean much in the past because the levels can change from year to year depending on rainfall, stream flows, temperature and dozens of other factors. But now, researchers with the state departments of Agriculture and Ecology have ten years of accumulated testing, enough to show a trend. State Agriculture officials said pesticide concentrations declined over the past decade in salmon bearing streams. They also said most were below levels of concern. But they did find 10 of the 74 pesticides they test for were increasing in concentrations. Gary Chittim reports. Pesticide detectives discover what's streaming our waterways  

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has named an envoy to defuse the tension between First Nations and the energy and pipeline industry that threatens his plan to quickly develop Canada's natural resources. Vancouver-based lawyer Doug Eyford will focus on energy infrastructure in Western Canada and submit a preliminary report directly to Harper by the end of June and a final report by the end of November. Envoy to deal with First Nations concerns on pipelines  

A community meeting seeking input for an upcoming environmental analysis of the Port Gamble revitalization project attracted more praise for the project than concerns. The meeting, which attracted about 40 people Monday to Poulsbo City Council chambers, is part of a public comment period known as scoping for an environmental-impact statement. Amy Phan reports.  Public generally upbeat about Port Gamble plans

The B.C. government released a draft species-at-risk plan Tuesday that was immediately dismissed by environmentalists as an empty pre-election gesture that offers little for conservation. The draft plan emphasizes that any efforts to save species at risk must “take into consideration social and economic interests.” Larry Pynn reports. B.C.’s draft species-at-risk plan criticized as ‘hollow’ conservation effort

Construction on Gig Harbor's scenic North Harborview Drive may be causing headaches for drivers, but locals remain in high spirits. The project, Donkey Creek Restoration, aims to clean up the intersection of Harborview Drive, North Harborview Drive and Austin Street. The project will also improve the local fish habitat. Migrating fish currently swim through 200 feet of buried pipe to get from Donkey Creek to the harbor. The pipe will be removed and a channel will be dug, creating open access to the harbor. Nathan Shoup reports. Gig Harbor road project a headache, but 'saving salmon is really cool'

What do you know? The 85 or so southern resident Orcas are doubtless the Sound’s most famous inhabitants. The movie stars of the maritime Northwest, our local paparazzi photograph and report their every move. We know a lot about them, as we should, given their iconic status. Yet of the Sound’s most populous whale or dolphin, we know only a little. As it turns out, local scientists are beginning to think that the Orca’s plebeian cousin, the harbor porpoise, may reveal much about the state of the Sound—and yet we scarcely bother to count or track them. Numbering more than 10,000 when last we checked a decade ago, harbor porpoises are genuine residents of the Sound. Unlike the jet-setting “resident” Orcas who in truth spend much of their time far from the Sound, a distinct population of harbor porpoises lives out their lives in the Salish Sea—eating, breeding, and raising their young solely in its waters. Eric de Place blogs. Should the Harbor Porpoise Be the New Orca?  

They're the stuff of myth and B-grade horror movies, giant tentacled sea monsters roaming the deep in search of prey. In recent years giant squid have made an appearance off the West Coast, and now new research is shining some light on the B.C. sea monsters and their siblings. A team headed by Danish researchers tested DNA samples from 43 giant squid from around the world — including a specimen from Newfoundland. They were stunned to find that there is likely just a single species of the massive squid that migrates to oceans around the world. B.C. sea monster research delivers more questions than answers, says scientist

Sign-ups have started for the next training session for Beach Naturalists. Beach Naturalist volunteers explore Kitsap beaches and learn about marine life and local water issues. They receive extensive in-class and on the beach training and, in return, give back to the community through a variety of volunteer projects. This year’s training begins March 28.  Registration begins for Beach Naturalist training

The federal government has pulled a veil of secrecy over its plans – or even whether it has any plans – to save the greater sage grouse, a critically endangered species known for its fantastical courtship rituals. In the Federal Court of Appeal, Tuesday, a panel of three judges listened while lawyers argued over whether Environment Minister Peter Kent has to reveal if he has made a recommendation to cabinet concerning the fate of the sage grouse. Mark Hume reports. Court weighs Peter Kent’s right to silence on endangered sage grouse  

Several supermarket chains have pledged not to sell what could become the first genetically modified animal to reach the nation’s dinner plates — a salmon engineered to grow about twice as fast as normal. The supermarkets — including Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s and Aldi — stated their policies in response to a campaign by consumer and environmental groups opposed to the fish. The groups are expected to announce the chains’ policies Wednesday.  Andrew Pollack reports. Markets pledge not to sell genetically-modified salmon

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT WED MAR 20 2013
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY
SW WIND 20 TO 30 KT...BECOMING W 30 TO 40 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. COMBINED SEAS 7 TO 8 FT WITH A DOMINANT PERIOD OF
 9 SECONDS...BUILDING TO 14 TO 16 FT WITH A DOMINANT PERIOD OF 10 SECONDS IN THE AFTERNOON. RAIN THIS MORNING...THEN SHOWERS AND A CHANCE OF TSTMS IN THE AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT
W WIND 25 TO 35 KT...EASING TO 20 TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. COMBINED SEAS 18 FT WITH A DOMINANT PERIOD OF 11 SECONDS.
 A CHANCE OF TSTMS. SHOWERS LIKELY.
--
"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.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

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3/18 BC review, Port Gamble revival, WA lege, bay cleanups, Elwha mud, Tethys water, Woodard Bay, BC fish, gravel mining bill, BC trees, Shell drill, boo BP, dying Lk Erie

Governor Booth Gardner (AP)

Farewell, Governor. Booth Gardner, Washington state’s 19th governor, has died from complications of Parkinson’s disease. Former Gov. Booth Gardner dies at 76

The B.C. and federal governments have signed a deal that will eliminate duplicate environmental assessments of major resource projects. Under the agreement, the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office, with the help of some federal experts, will conduct a single review of specific projects, including ensuring the proper consultation with First Nations. The results will be given to the federal and provincial environmental ministers to make separate decisions on the impacts of the projects. B.C., federal governments eliminate duplicate environmental reviews

Plans to revive the town of Port Gamble by building 176 new homes and commercial buildings are moving forward with a public meeting scheduled for Monday. The meeting, which begins at 5 p.m. at Poulsbo City Hall, is for people to describe what issues they think should be examined in an upcoming environmental analysis. Chris Dunagan reports. Meeting will review plans for Port Gamble development

If you like to watch: Aurora turns Washington skies green for St. Patrick's Day

Last December, Sen. Rodney Tom announced that he would leave his caucus to helm a majority consisting of himself, another like-minded Democrat and 23 Republicans. The Medina lawmaker said the new coalition would focus on a discrete set of goals. “This is about jobs, education and the budget,” Tom said. With the session halfway gone, the biggest fight remains on the horizon: how to plug an estimated $975 million budget hole while adhering to a state Supreme Court decision requiring more money for public schools. At halfway point, big state budget hole still looms  

A bill advanced by a local state senator would make it easier to fund slow-moving cleanup projects on Bellingham Bay. Part of the solution, said Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, would be to change the way the agency overseeing the cleanups does its job. The bill, which is still being debated in the Senate, would make money more readily available to projects that have passed all reviews and are ready to begin. It also would benefit projects still under review by creating an incentive for the Department of Ecology to review projects more efficiently. Ecology would be required to commit to a 10-year funding plan. Ecology, which is supposed to be a partner in the cleanup program, has become more of a barrier, Ericksen said. Ralph Schwartz reports. Senator: Bill would fund cleanup projects on Bellingham waterfront this year   See also: Bellingham waterfront plan ready for community feedback

A mother lode of mud is making its way down the Elwha River, and with it, an armada of floating and waterlogged debris. Contractors are taking two dams out of the Elwha River as part of a watershed and fishery recovery project that is the largest of its type ever in the world. The first, Elwha Dam, came out a year ago. Glines Canyon dam is about two-thirds gone. Scientists recently learned there was about 41 percent more sediment trapped behind the dams than originally thought — and that the river is transporting more mud and wood than they expected. As the river, dammed for 100 years, comes back to life, the other surprise is a forest of waterlogged wood and other organic debris the Elwha is muscling out of the former lake beds of the reservoirs. Lynda Mapes reports. Elwha gnaws away at a century of sediment See also: Kelp armageddon at the mouth of the Elwha

A proposal by the city of Anacortes to include into its urban growth area about 11 acres of county land where Tethys Enterprises Inc. hopes to build a massive beverage bottling plant will have its first county-level public meeting Wednesday. The regional Growth Management Act Steering Committee will consider including a petition from the city of Anacortes to change its urban growth boundary as part of the Skagit County Comprehensive Plan Amendment process. If fully constructed, the Tethys bottling plant could use up to 5 million gallons of city owned water per day. Kate Martin reports. Committee to hear urban growth expansion proposal  

The Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area is now open after being closed for the winter as contractors completed $700,000 worth of restoration, part of a long-term project to restore the closed log dump to its natural state. The conservation area was purchased by the Department of Natural Resources from Weyerhaeuser and transformed from its timber-harvest operations to a natural resource reserve. The state declared the area eight miles north of Olympia a wildlife sanctuary in 1987. The area closed to the public in October while contractors removed 16,000 cubic yards of earthen fill and 500 tons of creosote-soaked materials at Woodard Bay and Chapman Bay Pier. Chelsea Krotzer reports. Woodard Bay reserve reopens  

B.C. has decided that "Pacific salmon," an umbrella group of seven salmon and trout subspecies, will be its official provincial fish emblem. The announcement, which came Saturday, adds a ninth entry to B.C.'s collection of representative symbols. 'Pacific salmon' named B.C.'s official fish

A Senate bill to fast-track approval of a gravel mining project near Hood Canal stalled this week amid opposition from lawmakers convinced it would speed up permitting of a controversial coal export facility in Whatcom County. Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, said his Senate Bill 5805 sought to simply bring the gravel mining operation under a state law allowing expedited permitting of major industrial projects. But environmental groups said the bill's wording was broad enough to also enable speedier approval of other mega-projects such as the coal export pier at Cherry Point. Jerry Cornfield reports. Bill to fast-track gravel mining project dies

British Columbia is the last place in Canada where you can still find ancient, monumental trees standing outside parks. We are not talking here just about big, old trees, but about trees 250 to 1,000 years old, that tower 70 metres in height. If one grew on the steps of Parliament, its tip would block out the clock face on the Peace Tower. And set down in Vancouver, they would be as tall as many office towers. Mark Hume reports. The fight to protect what’s left of old-growth forests  

Interior Department officials, in a report released Thursday, faulted Shell Oil for poor oversight of contractors during a troubled season of exploration in the Arctic last year off Alaska. The problems included an oil-spill-containment system that initially failed to pass a Coast Guard inspection, an oil drill ship cited for safety and environmental violations and a drill rig that broke loose from a tow line in a December storm and went aground off Kodiak Island. Hal Bernton reports. Interior cites Shell’s contractor oversight in Alaska oil troubles

Oil giant BP is taking legal action in the US to limit payouts by a fund set up to compensate those affected by the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. BP said some of the claims being paid by the scheme's administrator were "fictitious" and "absurd". BP appeal over 'absurd' Gulf oil spill payouts

For those who live and play on the shores of Lake Erie, the spring rains that will begin falling here soon are less a blessing than a portent. They could threaten the very future of the lake itself. Lake Erie is sick. A thick and growing coat of toxic algae appears each summer, so vast that in 2011 it covered a sixth of its waters, contributing to an expanding dead zone on its bottom, reducing fish populations, fouling beaches and crippling a tourism industry that generates more than $10 billion in revenue annually. Michael Wines reports. Spring Rain, Then Foul Algae in Ailing Lake Erie

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 903 PM PDT SUN MAR 17 2013
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING
MON
W WIND 15 TO 25 KT...EASING IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 TO
 4 FT...SUBSIDING. W SWELL 6 FT AT 8 SECONDS. SHOWERS LIKELY.
MON NIGHT
W WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING E. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR
 LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
--
"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.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter.

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told

3/11 Oil globs, contingency plan, herring, Coos Bay coal, tsunami, salmon health, salmon logs, no sonar, derelict vessels, boat bill, surface collector, Narbeck Wetland, Whidbey osprey, Seal Sitters, state web

Raindrop Catcher (Laurie MacBride)

Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "Fifteen years ago I bought a young Deodar cedar at a charity auction. I knew nothing about Cedrus deodara, but it looked pretty. And cedars grow well on the west coast of BC, right? Turns out this species is a  true cedar, unlike our native Western redcedar (which is actually a cypress). Deodars come from the Himalayas and are the national tree of Pakistan..." The Charming Giant

Hundreds of globs of an orange, grease-like substance washed ashore on Maury Island this week, prompting state officials to begin a cleanup effort. Officials with the state Department of Ecology (DOE), noting that the incident is unusual, believe the globs may be a marine lubricant from a ship. The grease balls were reported to the state yesterday by Amy Carey, a local environmentalist and director of Preserve Our Island who heard the report from a Maury resident. The globs range in size from about an inch across to the size of an apple and are mostly at the high-tide line among driftwood and other debris. DOE has reported that the grease washed up on a two-mile stretch of shoreline between Point Robinson and the Maury Island Marine Park, and the agency is asking that people who see globs on any other beaches report the sighting immediately. Natalie Johnson reports. State plans cleanup of grease globs that washed ashore on Maury   Subsequently: J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Martinac) of Tacoma cooperated in the cleanup effort. The company uses the material, called Neptune Slip Coat, to lubricate rails when launching ships. During a pre-dawn ship launching on Jan. 25, 2013, at the company’s shipyard on the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma, some of the lubricant floated away in the darkness. Martinac provided shoreline cleanup in Tacoma’s Browns Point area on Feb. 7 and 8 after residents reported the material on beaches there. Lubricant removed from Maury Island beaches

A new oil-skimming system is up and running at Neah Bay. The Elastec/American Marine X150 grooved-disc skimmer has more storage capacity and is three to four times faster than other systems, state Department of Ecology officials said. The state-of-the-art skimmer is part of the Washington State Maritime Cooperative's umbrella oil-spill readiness plan that Ecology approved last week. The contingency plan covers more than 1,600 commercial vessels that enter the Puget Sound and Grays Harbor. Rob Ollikainen reports. New skimmer preps Neah Bay for oil spills

Gilnetters and seiners hauled in thousands of tons of herring from the Strait of Georgia this week, but there are fewer fish in the water than last year, even though the quota for the roe herring fishery is higher. That has herring conservationists concerned about the future of stocks, especially as some populations, such as in the Gorge, have all but disappeared while others, such as on the west coast of Vancouver Island, remain too depleted to allow a fishery. Judith Lavoie reports. Quota rises as herring count falls

A coal export terminal proposed for Oregon’s South Coast has hit a setback. Two of the project’s investors have dropped out, according to documents obtained Friday by EarthFix. Project Mainstay in Coos Bay is one of five proposed coal export terminals in the Pacific Northwest. They’re intended to ship coal from mines in Montana and Wyoming to markets in Asia. Project Mainstay is the only one of those five terminals that hasn’t reached the permitting stage. Amelia Templeton reports. Coal Export Terminal Faces Setback On South Oregon Coast

Monday's two-year anniversary of Japan's devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe is highlighting the country's continuing struggle to clean up radiation, rebuild lost communities and determine new energy and economic strategies. More than 300,000 people remain displaced and virtually no rebuilding has begun along the battered northeastern coast, where the tsunami swept away entire communities.  Japan still cleaning up 2 years after tsunami  See: Canadian volunteers tackle Japanese tsunami cleanup   See also: B.C. woman finds tsunami boat, meets owner in Japan

For years Kristi Miller has been probing the complex and controversial world of fish diseases on the West Coast, where scientists are trying to unravel the mystery of why millions of apparently healthy salmon die annually. Now Dr. Miller, the groundbreaking head of molecular genetics for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Brian Riddell, a former top scientist with DFO who directs the non-profit Pacific Salmon Foundation, are teaming up with Genome B.C. in the most comprehensive study of salmon health ever undertaken in the world. Mark Hume reports. Largest study of salmon health ever undertaken set to begin in B.C.  

State wildlife officials say a Port of Manchester commissioner is breaking shoreline protection laws and putting sensitive fish at risk, and neighbors say it's not the first time he's done it. Commissioner Jim Strode is facing a criminal charge for allegedly directing a backhoe to move a log onto Pomeroy Beach. That's illegal without a proper construction permit, which the Port of Manchester didn't have. A state Fish and Wildlife incident report says Strode admitted moving the log, but got very agitated and threatened the officers, saying he had "connections." Tracy Vedder reports. Port commissioner accused of acting 'above the law'

Three man-made logjams, designed to improve salmon habitat in the Dosewallips River, are scheduled for construction this summer inside Olympic National Forest. These “engineered” logjams, which include massive trees embedded into the riverbank, were approved Friday by Dean Yoshina, district ranger for the Hood Canal Ranger District. The long-term plan is to install 14 logjams and other woody debris in five separate projects along the Dosewallips. Chris Dunagan reports. Logjams planned for Dosewallips River  

The California Coastal Commission on Friday rejected a Navy explosives and sonar training program off the Southern California coast that critics said could harm endangered blue whales and other sea life. Commissioners meeting in San Diego ruled unanimously that the Navy lacked enough information to back up its argument that the threat to marine mammals would be negligible. The program had been scheduled to begin in January. Commission staffers had recommended that the panel require additional wildlife protections before endorsing it. The panel and the Navy could now seek mediation to iron out their differences — or the Navy could simply choose to proceed with the training, as it did in 2007 and 2009. That probably would prompt the commission to sue in an effort to block the program, as it has in the past. Julie Watson reports.  California commission rejects Navy sonar training, says it would harm whales  

Legislation that would encourage state officials to deal with derelict vessels sooner was approved by the state House of Representatives this week on a 96-1 vote. The bill, HB 1245, would require inspections of large vessels before sale. It includes a pilot program that would allow owners of derelict vessels to turn them over to the state before they become a major liability. The bill also includes provisions for increased enforcement. Chris Dunagan reports. Derelict vessel bill passes House

A House bill making its way through the state Legislature is gaining support from local boat repair companies who say current law makes it a challenge to attract out-of-state boaters. The Marine Tourism Bill would increase to six months the amount of time an out-of-state boat owned by a business could stay in Washington. Currently, such boats can stay in Washington up to 60 days without potentially facing thousands of dollars in state taxes. Lengthening the time they could stay would help bring more money into the state because boat owners would be more likely to stay here for boat maintenance and would spend money on other products while visiting. Dave Gallagher reports. Proposed state bill could boost local marine service businesses

Negotiations about a cleanup plan for Port Gamble Bay have continued for the past week and are not yet over, officials say. Monday’s deadline for an agreement, imposed upon Pope Resources by the Washington Department of Ecology, has come and gone. As of Friday, both sides were still in discussions, but neither will say publicly how the talks are going. At stake in the dispute is a restoration plan that would include $9 million appropriated by the Legislature and another $7 million offered by Pope Resources. That restoration plan, which is separate from the $17 million cleanup plan, could fall apart if the parties can’t agree on how to conduct the cleanup. Chris Dunagan reports. Parties still discussing Gamble Bay cleanup

After two years of construction, Puget Sound Energy recently brought its second “floating surface collector” online. The 1,100-ton barge is anchored in Lake Shannon just before the Lower Baker River Dam and should help migrating salmon get past the hydroelectric facility, according to a news release from the utility. The new collector is modeled after a similar system PSE pioneered at Baker Lake, the upper reservoir of the Baker River. Mark Stayton reports. PSE salmon collector online at Lake Shannon  

A cherished local wetland is getting a face lift and possibly a new caretaker after nearly two years of misuse. The past few weeks, the gates have been closed to the Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary near Paine Field. Snohomish County workers have been giving the wetlands, and its parking lot, some extra care as spring draws near. A change in management is also on tap. The Snohomish County Council will hold a public hearing at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday over a plan to fund the salary for a park ranger, who would oversee Narbeck. The three-quarter-time position would cost $57,641. Michelle Dunlop reports. Everett wetland park to see improvements after neglect

When osprey return to Whidbey Island from the south this spring they’ll find a few changes in their homes. Some will be gone, some were moved, and some must be rebuilt starting from scratch. The fish-eating raptors don’t know it, but their nests are well taken care of during the winter months by a Puget Sound Energy (PSE) expert who keeps the supportive Whidbey Audubon Society apprised of his efforts. Jim Larsen reports. Surprises await ospreys’ return to South Whidbey

Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network is seeking a sculpture artist for their educational outreach project, The Year of the Seal. The project will culminate with the installation on Alki Beach of a largely realistic bronze work depicting a harbor seal mom and pup. Harbor seals are considered by biologists to be an indicator species for the health of our waters. The sculpture will raise awareness of our fragile marine ecosystem and all marine life that calls Puget Sound home. The artwork is funded by a grant from Seattle's Department of Neighborhoods. Seal Sitters is seeking a sculpture artist for Year of the Seal

State government plans to outsource the operation of its main face on the Internet to a private company that it says can run the Access Washington website at no cost to state taxpayers. Kansas-based NIC Inc. will, of course, recoup its expenses – along with a profit – for running the Web portal and other “e-government” services for the state. But the money will come from transaction fees on businesses that, for example, want information about vehicle licenses. Jordan Schrader repots. State decides to outsource Web work to private company

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 900 PM PDT SUN MAR 10 2013
MON
E WIND 5 TO 15 KT...RISING TO 15 TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS...BUILDING TO 2 TO 3 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. W
 SWELL 5 FT AT 12 SECONDS. RAIN.
MON NIGHT
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT...BECOMING SW AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 4 FT AT 11 SECONDS. RAIN.
--
"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.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter.

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told

3/5 Weather, BC closure, Port Gamble, Amtrak routing, Oly shores, maritime jobs, Arctic routes

BirdNote: Red-throated loon (Gregg Thompson)

If you like to listen: The word “loon” comes from the Old Norse word for “lame.” Because their feet are so far back on their bodies, loons cannot walk on land. But in flight, they’re graceful, and under water, they're swift in pursuit of fish. Red-throated Loons – like this one – breed in the far north and winter along both coasts of the United States. Red-throated Loons of Deception Pass  

A passion for weather was the common denominator on display Friday and Saturday at the 2012 Pacific Northwest Weather Workshop at the NOAA Western Regional Center in Seattle. Those like me with a simplistic understanding of meteorology were in the minority. Most of the more than 100 people who attended are active or retired meteorologists and atmospheric scientists with an abiding passion — make that obsession — with weather. Me? I took Atmospheric Sciences 101 at the University of Washington in 1967. I’ve had more than 45 years to forget most of what I learned. Yet much of my newspaper career, I’ve served as a messenger for National Weather Service forecasters who need the media to relay forecasts aimed at keeping people out of harm’s way when wind, rain, snow and ice storms lash the Pacific Northwest. Then, once the storms have passed, I’ve been left the task of writing about the damage to property and lives those storms wrought. John Dodge muses. Everybody was talking about the weather

B.C. Environment Minister Terry Lake criticized the federal government Monday over the imminent closure of an office that co-ordinates governmental protection of the Lower Mainland’s two most significant aquatic ecosystems, the Fraser River estuary and Burrard Inlet. The multi-government office, a self-described “pioneer” in intergovernmental co-operation that will close at the end of the month, was set up in 1985 and reviewed 153 development projects in 2011. Peter O'Neil reports. B.C. minister attacks closure of office that helps protect Fraser River estuary and Burrard Inlet  

Negotiations about a cleanup plan for Port Gamble Bay continued through the weekend and into Monday evening, according to Jon Rose of Pope Resources, the primary party involved in the $17 million cleanup effort. Last week, the Washington Department of Ecology gave Pope Resources until Monday to agree to a proposed cleanup plan or face an administrative order issued by the agency. The two sides were still trying to work out their differences as of 5:30 p.m. Monday, Rose said, taking a break to report that talks were ongoing. Chris Dunagan reports. Talks continue on Port Gamble cleanup  

An $89 million project to reroute Amtrak trains through DuPont, Lakewood and South Tacoma has won key federal approval but could face a local court challenge. State transportation officials announced Monday that the so-called Point Defiance Bypass would move forward. The Federal Railroad Administration approved the project at the end of a three-year review that determined the bypass would not adversely affect the environment. Officials with the Washington Department of Transportation say rerouting passenger trains away from the Puget Sound waterfront would decrease travel times through the Nisqually-Tacoma corridor by up to 10 minutes, improve rail safety and allow two more trains to run between Portland and Seattle each day. Christian Hill reports. Feds OK Amtrak rerouting; courts may be next    See also: Amtrak rail ridership thriving in Oregon, Washington, study says

After nearly four hours of discussion last week, the Olympia City Council will resume deliberations on its Shoreline Master Program Tuesday night. Council members will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 601 Fourth Ave. E. The discussion will move to about the northern half of the Budd Inlet shoreline on West Bay and the north and east sections of the peninsula housing the Port of Olympia. Like last week, it will take up most of the council’s time. Matt Batcheldor reports. Council resumes shoreline plan talks

Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon are all big Seattle employers, but a different industry desperately needs workers. The maritime industry is actively looking to hire more men and women.   "There's a lot of jobs available in the maritime industry in the Puget Sound region. We employee nearly a quarter million people either related directly or indirectly to maritime industry," said Chris Peterson, Crowley Marine Services Vice President. He says the tide is changing. Companies are seeing a wave of workers retire and need to fill a big gap. Teresa Yuan reports. Maritime industry needs to get new workers on board  

Shipping lanes through the Arctic Ocean won't put the Suez and Panama canals out of business anytime soon, but global warming will make these frigid routes much more accessible than ever imagined by melting an unprecedented amount of sea ice during the late summer, new UCLA research shows. The findings, which explore accessibility during the Arctic's most navigable month of the year, September, appear in the latest issue of the scholarly journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Plus. The first thorough assessment of trans-Arctic shipping potential as global temperatures continue to rise, the study is based on independent climate forecasts for the years 2040 to 2059. Global Warming Will Open Unexpected New Shipping Routes in Arctic, Researchers Find  

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 900 AM PST TUE MAR 5 2013
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY
E WIND 25 TO 30 KT BECOMING SE 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 5 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 16 SECONDS. RAIN.
TONIGHT AND WED
E WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 15 SECONDS. SHOWERS LIKELY.
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