3/17 Rain, sewage overflow, rain gardens, eulachon, 'humane' fishing, Samish cleanup, Shell fumes, US-CA traffic

L121 and mother L94 (Candice Emmons,
NWFSC, NOAA Research Permit #16163)

2015 Killer Whale Research Survey, presentation by Brad Hanson
Last month NOAA researchers were the first to spot new orca calf L121 during a research cruise on the Northwest coast. Join The Whale Trail at 7 pm on March 26 at C&P Coffee in West Seattle to hear about the cruise from lead researcher Brad Hanson. Get tickets early - this will sell out!

Deluge and Divine Intervention
On Friday, Governor Inslee declared a drought emergency.   He is obviously a favorite of the weather gods...they have answered his plea.   Deluge. You can tell that divine intervention was involved because the actual weather deviated greatly from the consensus of many of our best forecast models.  This is very unusual at such a short range.   A relief to forecasters, such as myself, who had worried that they had missed something. Cliff Mass writes. (Weather Blog) See also: Sunday’s soaking sets rainfall records, stops train service  Lynn Thompson reports. (Seattle Times)

Rainfall pushes 7 million gallons of diluted sewage into Port Angeles Harbor; health officials urge that people stay out of water
Stay out of Port Angeles Harbor for the next week, Clallam County public health officials advised today after heavy rainfall on Sunday pushed 7 million gallons of diluted sewage into the water. The advisory will remain in effect until next Monday, March 23. The environmental health section of county Health and Human Services said that contact with fecal-contaminated water can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. The overflow contained heavily diluted raw sewage but was mostly rainwater, city Engineer Mike Puntenney said Monday. Paul Gottlieb reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Seattle helping pay for rain gardens
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) and King County on Monday invited 14,000 more Seattle residents to get thousands in rebates for installing rain gardens in their yards. SPU said there are now a total of 55,000 homes eligible for the Rain Wise rebates. Contractors direct roof drains to the gardens, which are holes filled with drainage friendly plants and soils. Many residents use them as colorful features to their yards. SPU said currently there are 600 homes participating; combined they reduce annual runoff by 9 million gallons. Gary Chittim reports. (KING)

Eulachon fish run draws crowds along B.C.'s Skeena River
The eulachon fish —  not totally understood by science or capitalism — is suddenly a star, as spectators gather in droves to watch the oily, shiny fish make their run down B.C.'s Skeena River…. The run is drawing spectators, not fishermen, because of the show that comes with it — when sea lions, eagles and other wildlife chase after the fish. The eulachon — also known as the oolichan, hooligan, ooligan, candlefish or Pacific Smelt — has no market value and isn't eaten widely in Canada by non-aboriginal people. Due to the fact that Fisheries and Oceans Canada doesn't consider it economically viable, it's often ignored by scientific research. (CBC)

Blue North Fisheries CEO works towards a ‘humane harvest’
echnology to stun cod as they are brought out of the water could improve the fish’s last moments as well as its taste and shelf life, says CEO Kenny Down. Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times)

Samish River cleanup effort gets a 90-day jolt
In an effort to expedite a shellfish harvest upgrade for Samish Bay, Clean Samish Initiative partners have launched a new 90-day plan with ambitious goals for the watershed…. Due to high river flows Sunday, Samish Bay was closed to shellfish harvest. The Office of Shellfish and Water Protection expects water sampling results Tuesday afternoon, according to Scott Berbells, state Department of Health growing section supervisor. If bacteria levels are high, the bay will remain closed. Clean Samish Initiative partners hope to achieve an upgrade for Samish Bay from the state’s characterization as conditionally approved to approved. Under conditionally approved regulations, harvest is closed whenever river flow exceeds a certain threshold, whether bacteria is confirmed present or not. Under approved status, the bay is only closed if bacteria is actually found in water samples. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Study Finds Some Fish Can Live In Low-Oxygen Dead Zones
Concerned that low-oxygen dead zones in the Pacific off the West Coast are getting more common as the climate changes, scientists are looking at how commercially valuable fish are reacting. A study published in the journal Fisheries Oceanography found overall numbers and diversity of fish declined as oxygen levels dropped in deep waters, but some fish remained, able to ride it out. (Associated Press)

CSIS helped government prepare for expected Northern Gateway protests
Canada's spy agency helped senior federal officials figure out how to deal with protests expected last summer in response to resource and energy development issues — including a pivotal decision on the Northern Gateway pipeline. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service prepared advice and briefing material for two June meetings of the deputy ministers' committee on resources and energy, documents obtained under the Access to Information Act show. Jim Bronskill reports. (Canadian Press)

La Conner files fumes complaint about Shell emission
La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes has filed a complaint with the Northwest Clean Air Agency against Shell Puget Sound Refinery for its Feb. 20 discharge of fumes. Several La Conner residents had headaches, coughs and watery eyes due to the fumes, and Hayes wants to get to the bottom of the cause of the odor, he said. The city wants a detailed investigation into what happened and why, as well as a breakdown of exactly what was released, said Town Administrator John Doyle. Shannen Kuest reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

New U.S., Canada border deal geared to improving traffic flow
A new preclearance agreement between the U.S. and Canada could make it easier for private companies to move people across the border. The agreement, signed Monday, March 16, by U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and Canadian Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney, would allow for some inspections to take place prior to arriving at the border, potentially reducing congestion and delays. Both countries must enact legislation for the agreement to be implemented. This should be good news for ferry, bus and small airplane companies that take people into either country, said Laurie Trautman, associate director at the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University. Dave Gallagher reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT TUE MAR 17 2015
TODAY
SE WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING E IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 12 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT
SW WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 14 SECONDS. A 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.

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2/16 Forage fish, Ticiang Diangson, dog poop DNA, end-of-coal lege, pilot whales, Lummi marina, Tacoma aroma

Surf smelt (top) and sand lance (WDFW)

Proposal wants big study for Puget Sound's little fish
Puget Sound's little fish - the kind that school together near the shore - don't have the celebrity status of salmon or orcas. But as the populations of herring, smelt and other forage fish dwindle, so too may the sound's more iconic species. A bill by state Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island, aims to improve what state regulators readily admit is a poor understanding of the small fish that serve as prey for the sound's larger predators…. Senate Bill 5166 would initiate the most comprehensive study of forage fish ever undertaken in Puget Sound. It would also require a recreational fishing license for smelt, a species typically caught with dip nets near the shore…. Sound Action, the Coastal Conservation Association and the National Audubon Society's Washington chapter are among the environmental groups that have spoken in favor of the bill. Tristan Baurick reports. (Kitsap Sun) If you like to watch: Sound Action - Forage Fish Matter

Fighting Over Herring—the Little Fish That Feeds Multitudes
The Pacific herring—an oily, silvery, schooling fish—is rarely high on the list of marine animals people fret about. But for the second straight year, the Canadian government has ignited a skirmish in British Columbia by moving to let fishing nets scoop up spawning herring, despite objections from scientists, Native people, and even commercial fishing groups. Pacific herring stocks are shadows of their former abundance. But the Canadian government wants to reopen fishing off British Columbia. Craig Welch reports. (National Geographic)

In memory of … Ticiang Diangson: A legacy of environmental justice  
A pioneer in the field of environmental justice, Ticiang Diangson died peacefully on Jan. 29 at her home on Beacon Hill.  The legacy of her work lives on in Seattle and in cities throughout the nation. (NW Asian Weekly)

Apartment complex using DNA to track down dog dropping offenders
Dog owners at the Monterra Apartment Homes in Tacoma are held responsible for pet droppings through a DNA matching system. KOMO reports owners are required to register their dog's DNA, which is taken with a mouth swab. When a dog pile violation is reported, a maintenance worker takes a small sample. A DNA lab matches it to the guilty pooch. The owner gets a $200 fine. (Associated Press)

Bills in Washington State Seek to End Use of Coal
Lawmakers hoping to wean Washington State off coal power are trying to ease the way for the state’s utilities to end the electricity they get from coal. Bills in the House and Senate would set favorable conditions for three private utilities if they decided to shut down a large coal-fired power plant in eastern Montana that provides power to a chunk of the Pacific Northwest. Supporters say the proposal gives the utilities the tools to begin divesting from coal power plants, including a way to issue bonds for a shutdown. But the Sierra Club and other critics say the proposal removes too much utility oversight, sets too long a timeline for closing a power plant and does not ensure that coal power would be replaced by something cleaner. (Associated Press)

Rescuers refloat 66 pilot whales stranded in New Zealand
Rescuers on Saturday refloated 66 pilot whales stranded on a remote beach in New Zealand as a race to save their lives continued. Nearly 200 whales were beached Friday in Farewell Spit on New Zealand's South Island. Scores got back in the water, only to return to land -- leaving more than 100 dead. Faith Karimi reports. (CNN)

Lummi Nation moves forward with plans for marina at Gooseberry Point
A marina for Lummi Nation fishermen at Gooseberry Point is still years away, but Whatcom County officials this year will begin working on a plan to accommodate the marina by altering the Lummi ferry dock. The county will not be required to relocate the dock, but it likely will need to be realigned, as outlined in the lease that allows the county to use Gooseberry Point as a ferry landing. The tribe’s preferred marina design includes a floating breakwater directly in front of the dock. Ralph Schwartz reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Cleaner air moves Pierce County, Tacoma off polluters list
Progress made by Tacoma and Pierce County in improving air quality has persuaded the federal Environmental Protection Agency to remove the area from its most-wanted list of polluters. Effective Tuesday, Tacoma and Pierce County no longer will be classified as a “nonattainment area,” a label that has been not only embarrassing for the city and county, but which also makes economic development more difficult. Rob Carson reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

WWU marine center lets students plunge into science
It’s a drizzly, February day, but the spirits of the elementary school students at Western Washington University’s Shannon Point Marine Center are bright as they scour the beach for signs of marine life. Kera Wanielista reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST MON FEB 16 2015
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY
E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 2 FT AT 10 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
E WIND 10 TO 15 KT...RISING TO 15 TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 2 FT AT 12 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

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2/10 Bird count, Puget Sound pollution, stormwater, nature at work, coal terminal, SO2

Northern cardinal (Jeff Rogerson/BirdNote)

Annual Great Backyard Bird Count
The annual Great Backyard Bird Count, February 13 - 15, 2015, is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Birdwatchers across the country count birds and then report the numbers on-line. Although it may seem that crows are everywhere, the Northern Cardinal is reported on the most lists nearly every year, far above the crow. Well, if there's a male cardinal at your feeder, it is pretty hard to miss! Birds reported in the highest numbers in 2012 were the European Starling and the American Robin, and more recently Tree Swallows and Snow Geese! There's no cost, and you don't need to register. Learn more and sign up. (BirdNote)

Loving the Puget Sound to Death
Four decades after the passage of the Clean Water Act, regulators haven’t kept up with the pollution pressure that growing populations put on America’s shorelines. Madeline Ostrander reports. (The Nation)

Company developing way to filter out stormwater pollution upstream
Researchers at the Center for Urban Waters at the University of Washington Tacoma are working to “understand and quantify the sources, pathways and impacts of chemical pollutants in urban waterways.” Part of that research — which is funded by the federal Environmental Protection Agency — is analyzing new technologies, and one of the first options to be tested at the center is a “stormwater interceptor mechanism” developed by a new company in Kitsap County…. A growing awareness of the problem is spurring more work on finding solutions, and Buzz Holmes and Ken Perry, principals in Pure Stormwater, are developing a line of storm drain filtration basins they think will be highly effective. Tim Kelly reports. (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal)

If you like to watch: Seal and octopus battle off Victoria's Ogden Point
A harbour seal wrestling a large octopus in its mouth treated a handful of Victorians to a rare glimpse of wildlife survival skills in the city on Family Day. Bob Ianson and his family were out for a stroll along the Ogden Point breakwater around 2 p.m. Monday when they spotted a seal with something in its mouth. “It was incredible. It looked like he was bringing it up to show it off,” said Ianson, a hobby nature photographer who started snapping as soon as he saw the seal. Sarah Petrescu reports. (Times Colonist) See also: Sea lion flash mobs prey on fishermen’s catch (with video) Sea lions feast on fishers' catch of herring. Larry Pynn reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Coal applicant’s latest statement doesn’t jibe with Corps’ position
There has been a lot of back-and-forth over the past five weeks among Lummi Nation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Gateway Pacific Terminal as the tribe asserts its rights to stop the coal terminal from being built…. The latest volley came today, Monday, Feb. 9, from Gateway Pacific Terminal, which made a curious statement about the subject of the most recent of the above stories, the one about a Corps letter asking the Lummis for more information…. Gateway Pacific Terminal spokesman Craig Cole wrote (that) the Corps won’t consider Lummis’ request to “take immediate action and deny the permit” until an environmental impact statement is finished. That could be a year from now…. “Our treaty trust responsibility (to protect tribal fishing rights) is distinct from our documentation requirement under NEPA (to prepare an EIS). To assess our trust responsibility, we needn’t have concluded NEPA documentation,” Corps spokeswoman Patricia Graesser said. Ralph Schwartz reports. (Bellingham Herald)

International law dramatically reduces sulphur dioxide emissions in Metro Vancouver
A new international law requiring virtual elimination of sulphur from bunker shipping fuel is having a dramatic impact on air pollution in Metro Vancouver. The amount of sulphur dioxide released into the atmosphere in the region in 2015 is expected to drop 79 per cent from a decade ago due in large part to new restrictions on shipping fuel within 200 nautical miles of the Canadian and U.S. coastlines. Larry Pynn reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST TUE FEB 10 2015
TODAY
W WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING SW TO 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. SW SWELL 6 FT AT 13 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
E WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 13 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.

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12/8 Rhapsody, storm, Growlers, coal air, enviro careers, pit-to-pier, Clearwater R., Mountains-to-Sound, bird flu

Rhapsody, J-32 (CBC)

Necropsy on killer whale J-32 reveals orca had full-term fetus
Canadian marine mammal scientists who spent most of Saturday performing a necropsy on killer whale J-32 say the female orca had been pregnant with a full-term fetus. The whale, nicknamed Rhapsody, was dissected as she lay on a concrete boat ramp at Bates Beach near Courtenay, B.C. However, Department of Fisheries and Oceans spokeswoman Lara Sloan said tests to determine the cause of death were inconclusive. She said more tests will be done on the whale, which scientists say would have contributed to its pod for decades. (CBC) See also: Killer whale J-32's teeth removed, prompts investigation into dead orca  (CBC)

The Whale Trail’s next West Seattle gathering: ‘Find light in the dark for the whales’
With the heartbreaking news these past few days of the death of pregnant Puget Sound-resident orca J-32, many wonder, can anything more be done to keep the Southern Resident Killer Whales’ numbers from dwindling further? Come hear and talk about them at The Whale Trail‘s next West Seattle event, 6:30 pm December 17th at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). Tickets at  Brown Paper Tickets  (West Seatte Blog)

Storm warning: 'Incredible' subtropical storms bearing down on B.C.
Environment Canada warns resident to brace for 3 to 4 days of 'extraordinary' rainfall (CBC) See also: When is normal not normal? And the coming heavy rains  .... Very few days are normal and averaging conditions for a month, a year or whatever can be very deceptive.  This is going to be a very wet week for the Northwest and northern California, with a deep trough over the eastern Pacific that will bring very moist, warm air and the jet stream right into us. Cliff Mass explains and predicts. (Weather Blog)

Hundreds gather, speak minds at Port Townsend open house for proposed Growler jet additions
An open house focusing on a proposal to add up to 36 Growler jets to the 82 currently based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island was heavily attended, with many expressing opposition to both the project and its presentation. According to Navy spokesman Ted Brown, 377 people were counted entering the open house at Fort Worden Commons on Thursday. Charlie Bermant reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Crowdfunding goal met for Bellingham coal train air-pollution study
A scientist who launched an online fundraising campaign for a coal-train pollution study met his monetary goal on Friday, Dec. 5, and will begin collecting data along the railroad tracks in Bellingham as soon as possible. According to Dan Jaffe’s Web page on experiment.com, he had received $13,172 in contributions as of Friday. Jaffe, a professor of atmospheric and environmental chemistry at the University of Washington-Bothell, had set his goal at $12,000 to cover student and staff salaries, equipment and travel. Ralph Schwartz reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Padilla Bay visit shows students environmental career options
Students involved in various environmental clubs at high schools from around the Puget Sound region convened Friday at the Breazeale Interpretive Center to explore environmental science, sustainability and related career paths. University of Washington oceanography professor Deb Kelly said during her keynote speech that today’s youth can look forward to opportunities for environmental exploration and discovery. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

'Pit-to-pier' claims against state back in county superior court
A month after a U.S. District Court judge dismissed its claims against state officials, the developer behind the controversial “pit-to-pier” project filed Nov. 21 an amended complaint against the state in Jefferson County Superior Court…. In October, U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle dismissed with prejudice Hood Canal Sand and Gravel's claim that state officials violated federal law and its Fifth and 14th Amendment rights when granting the U.S. Navy an easement for tidelands along the Hood Canal shoreline, effectively blocking its plan to build a pier. Settle found the private developer has no right to sue a state agency and its officials in federal court. Nicholas Johnson reports. (Port Townsend Leader)

Nature Conservancy’s 2,538-acre land purchase conserves rain forest on Clearwater River in Jefferson County
he Nature Conservancy has purchased nearly 4 square miles of Jefferson County forestland along the Clearwater River from Fruit Growers Supply Co. The 2,538-acre sale, which closed last Wednesday, is part of an initiative to increase salmon populations, promote sustainable economies and restore temperate rain forest along coastal salmon streams, officials said last week. Combined with earlier acquisitions, The Nature Conservancy is now managing nearly 8,000 acres of forestlands along the Queets and Clearwater rivers in West Jefferson County. Rob Ollikainen reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

House passes Mountains to Sound legislation
The U.S. House of Representatives passed U.S. Congressman Dave Reichert’s Mountains to Sound Greenway Heritage Act on Thursday. The act would expand the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area and designate a stretch of scenic landscape from Seattle to Ellensburg as a National Heritage Area. A National Heritage Area is a large, lived-in area designated by the U.S. Congress where historical, natural, recreational and cultural resources combine to form a landscape worthy of national distinction. (Daily Record)

Seven countries impose restrictions on Canadian poultry due to avian flu
Seven countries have imposed trade restrictions on Canadian poultry as a fifth farm in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley was put under quarantine for avian influenza, officials said Saturday. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said that more than 140,000 turkeys and chickens from the affected farms will be euthanized. Jeremy Hainsworth reports. (Associated Press

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST MON DEC 8 2014
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING
TODAY
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT...RISING TO 25 TO 35 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 10 TO 12 FEET WITH A DOMINANT PERIOD OF 10 SECONDS.
 RAIN.
TONIGHT
SE WIND 25 TO 35 KT...BECOMING S AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 11 TO 14 FT WITH A DOMINANT PERIOD OF 13 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.

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12/3 Duwamish, climate, toxic soil, Shell air, Dodge Cove, BC LNG, dam safety, Dabob Bay shellfish

(1997 Mountaineer Books)*

(*There are a bunch of these stored in the garage; if you’d like one, let me know.)

Mammoth $342 million cleanup ahead for fouled Duwamish River
After 14 years of work, the Environmental Protection Agency shares a plan for cleaning up Seattle’s polluted waterway. But when cleanup is complete, how much fish and shellfish from their home waters will South Park residents be able to eat? Craig Welch reports. (Seattle Times) See also: EPA Releases Cleanup Plan For Seattle’s Polluted Duwamish River  Ashley Ahearn reports. (EarthFix) EPA's Final Plan Just A Start For Seattle Groups Watchdogging Duwamish Cleanup  Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KPLU)

Hotter, weirder: How climate has changed Earth
In the more than two decades since world leaders first got together to try to solve global warming, life on Earth has changed, not just the climate. It's gotten hotter, more polluted with heat-trapping gases, more crowded and just downright wilder. The numbers are stark. Carbon dioxide emissions: up 60 percent. Global temperature: up six-tenths of a degree. Population: up 1.7 billion people. Sea level: up 3 inches. U.S. extreme weather: up 30 percent. Ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica: down 4.9 trillion tons of ice. "Simply put, we are rapidly remaking the planet and beginning to suffer the consequences," says Michael Oppenheimer, professor of geosciences and international affairs at Princeton University. Seth Broenstein reports. (Associated Press)

Metal contamination found in Vancouver community garden, brownfield sites
An eight-month study of Vancouver garden and agricultural soils has found levels of lead and other metals above the most stringent Canadian standards for human health. Samples taken from the 16 Oaks community garden averaged 219 parts per million of lead, which exceeds the standard of 70 to 140 ppm for agricultural, residential and park land set by the Canadian Council of Environment Ministers. Levels of lead — a potent neurotoxin — are five times higher than those measured at UBC Farm, a site remote from urban activity just a few kilometres away. Randy Shore reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Agency renews Shell refinery's air operating permit
The Northwest Clean Air Agency has renewed Shell Puget Sound Refinery’s air operating permit. The agency issued the renewal for the Anacortes refinery after receiving no comments from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during a 45-day review period…. Most of the permits do not get public attention. But because of a crude-by-rail proposal for the same facility, Shell’s permit renewal drew more than 70 people to a public hearing. (Skagit Valley Herald)

LNG terminal proposal could turn Dodge Cove, B.C. into ghost town
A small village on B.C.'s North Coast is on the verge of becoming a ghost town with news that a massive liquefied natural gas terminal will be built next door. Dodge Cove is situated on Digby Island, which is a short boat ride from Prince Rupert. About 40 people live in the community, and there are no paved roads, no cars and no stores. The international energy company Nexen Energy has picked Digby Island for a proposed $20 billion LNG terminal with the goal of shipping 10 to 20 million tons of LNG from B.C. to Asia each year. George Baker reports. (CBC)

B.C. in ‘good shape’ to close $10-billion LNG deal: Premier
B.C. is in “good shape” to lure Malaysia’s state-owned energy company into a final investment decision for a proposed $10-billion liquefied natural gas plant, says Premier Christy Clark. Clark said she would not publicly disclose the substance of negotiations Monday between her government and Petronas CEO Shamsul Azhar Abbas, who was in Vancouver for high-level meetings over his company’s proposed Pacific Northwest LNG export facility near Prince Rupert. Rob Shaw reports. (Vancouver Sun)

B.C. takes steps to post dam safety reports online
The B.C. government is taking steps to create a web-based system where dam safety inspection reports and other documents can be publicly posted. The government has awarded global engineering firm Hatch Ltd. a contract to review expedited dam safety inspections and third-party reviews of B.C.’s 60 mines ordered by the provincial government as a result of the Mount Polley tailings dam collapse. The $305,000 contract also requires Hatch to create a public webpage where the reports can be posted. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Jefferson's Dabob Bay opens for harvesting of some shellfish species
Dabob Bay has partially reopened to recreational shellfishing, although butter and varnish clamming remains closed because of the danger of potentially deadly paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), Jefferson County Public Health said Tuesday. The closure zone includes Tarboo Bay, the western shore of the Toandos Peninsula south to Zelatched Point and the eastern shore of the Bolton Peninsula to its southern tip near Red Bluff. Quilcene Bay, including Point Whitney, remains closed for all species. (Peninsula Daily News)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST WED DEC 3 2014
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY
SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT...EASING TO 15 TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 3 TO 5 FT. SW SWELL 3 FT AT 10 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
SE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. SW SWELL 5 FT AT 14 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

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9/30 Seattle waterfront, indoor air, train notification, Enbridge challenge, BC kokanee

Kokanee salmon (BC Environment/Vancouver Sun)

With costs up, mayor wants to roll back Seattle waterfront plan
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray says the city should save money by scaling back its ambitious downtown waterfront-redevelopment plan — including a proposed swimming-pool barge. In a presentation to the City Council on Monday, Murray staffers said cost estimates have gone up, and the plan would eat up about $200 million more than previously thought unless modifications are made. That’s partly because much of the work can’t begin until the Highway 99 tunnel is completed and the Alaskan Way Viaduct is brought down. David Beekman reports. (Seattle Times)

EPA working with South Seattle residents to clean up air quality inside homes
The EPA is teaming up with the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition to help homeowners clean up the air indoors. "This area of South Park and Georgetown have some of the worst air quality anywhere in the city. Also higher rates of asthma (than) anywhere in the city," said James Rasmussen, coordinator for the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition. He said back in July the nonprofit entered into a cooperative agreement with the federal agency, which contributed $120,000 for the cause. The money will go toward in-home air quality assessments for residents primarily in South Park and Georgetown. David Ham reports. (KIRO)

Senators ask for more oil train notifications
Four West Coast senators are asking the federal government to expand a recent order for railroads to notify state emergency responders of crude oil shipments. The letter, sent Monday to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, says railroads should supply states with advanced notification of all high-hazard flammable liquid transports — including crude from outside the Bakken region of North Dakota and Montana, as well as ethanol and 71 other liquids. The letter was signed by Oregon senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and California senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. Gosia Wozniacka reports. (Associated Press)

BC First Nation wins bid to challenge pipeline
A First Nation from British Columbia's North Coast says the Federal Court of Appeal has agreed to hear its legal challenge of the Northern Gateway pipeline project. The Gitxaala Nation filed the court action in July over a federal cabinet decision to approve the project that would link the Alberta oilsands with a marine terminal on the B.C. coast. The Gitxaala say it has now been given the green light for a judicial review of the controversial $7-billion pipeline project proposed by Calgary-based Enbridge (TSX:ENB). The First Nation is challenging the Joint Review Panel report that the government based its decision for approval on, claiming Canada failed to provide reasonable accommodation and consultation over aboriginal rights and title. (Canadian Press)

Genomic tools eyed to reverse kokanee fishery collapse
New genomic tools are being developed in an attempt to halt and reverse the “invisible collapse” of B.C.’s kokanee salmon stocks. Funding from Genome BC, the provincial government and local stakeholders will be used to identify unique regional stocks and migratory patterns, and to support hatchery programs aimed at bringing the province’s landlocked freshwater salmon back from the brink. Randy Shore reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 1215 AM PDT TUE SEP 30 2014
TUE AND TUE NIGHT
W WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS.
 W SWELL 6 FT AT 10 OR 11 SECONDS. A 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.

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9/18 Burnaby, home toxics, DNR HCP, Seahurst Park, WA investment, BC humpback, Kitsap sewage, Shell refinery, canoe journey, GBR coral

George the goldfish (ScienceBlogs)

If you like to watch: 10-year old goldfish undergoes surgery to remove a tumor
No joke. George (the goldfish) had developed a rather large tumor over the past year and the owners loved the fish so much, they spent $200 to have the life-threatening tumor surgically removed… Dr. Dolittle reports. (ScienceBlogs)

Burnaby's Trans Mountain Pipeline injunction rejected by B.C. court  
The City of Burnaby's application for a temporary injunction to stop Kinder Morgan cutting trees for survey work on Burnaby Mountain has been rejected by a B.C. Supreme Court Judge. The judge in the case has not yet issued the reasons for the decision. Those could be issued next week. The city was seeking the temporary injunction while it prepares for an upcoming court case challenging the company's right to cut trees in the conservation area as part of its survey work for a new route for its existing Trans Mountain Pipeline. (CBC)

Mystery solved: How household toxics get into the environment
Scientists have well chronicled the vast reach of flame retardants in waterways and wildlife -- even in the most remote corners of the planet. But exactly how toxic flame retardants get from inside homes and then out into the environment has never been confirmed until now, says the author of a new study. The peer-reviewed study published Wednesday in the journal Environmental Science and Technology found household flame retardants, a portion of which degrades into dust, cling to our clothing and are then washed away in our washing machines. The wastewater then goes to municipal treatment plants, where it passes through into the environment. While some levels of certain kinds of flame retardants tend to cling to sludge and then disposed on land, much of it is water soluble and exits the treatment plants directly into waterways. Jeff Burnside reports. (KOMO)

DNR seeks comment on aquatic lands plan
Washington’s Department of Natural Resources invites the public to review the new draft Aquatic Lands Habitat Conservation Plan. In a press release, the agency said that over the next 50 years, the HCP is designed to guide DNR in better ways to protect at-risk native aquatic species on 2.6 million acres of state-owned lands under marine and fresh waters of the state. DNR manages these lands as a public trust…. The draft HCP is a culmination of nearly eight years of effort by DNR aquatics staff, working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service. It will protect 29 sensitive, threatened and endangered aquatic species—several listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. It will help identify and restore important habitat on state-owned aquatic lands. The plan allows DNR to address protection of species and their habitats through management decisions, including authorizing public and private uses of state-owned aquatic lands. These lands include the marine bedlands under Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca and the coast, including 30 percent of their related tidelands; the freshwater bedlands and about 70 percent of the shorelands of the navigable lakes and rivers—or basically, all the lands under the navigable water bodies in the State of Washington. (Wahkiakum County Eagle)

Ribbon-cutting at Seahurst Park merges environmental and community interests
On Friday, September 12th, community members and leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting at newly restored Seahurst Park in Burien…. At the Seahurst Park beachfront, where once there was a concrete wall, there are now wetlands. Children climbed on logs, waded through surf grass and sedges, and tested pooled water with fingers. The pooled water on the beachfront is a vital part of the Puget Sound estuary. Some species of fish lay eggs on the gravel and during low tide, the gravel remains wet enough to keep the eggs alive. Since restoration, the Environmental Science Center has seen a healthy rise in the population of fish species and invertebrates. Maggie Nicholson reports. (Highline Times)

Report: Wash state investment accounts included big money in coal exports, oil shipping
How much of the Washington State Investment Board’s portfolio is sunk into controversial fossil fuel investments is a bit in dispute, but a Seattle-based think tank that focuses on environmental issues thinks the figure is in excess of $500 million and could be in the billions of dollars. The Sightline Institute published an online report Wednesday that cited two private-equity investments alone worth $250 million each, including funds in a private equity company linked to both a coal export proposal and oil-by-rail project. It also identified money the Oregon Investment Council put into those controversial energy projects. But the Washington SIB is disputing the report’s details. Spokeswoman Liz Mendizabal said a screen of total investments shows the share of WSIB’s $75 billion trust fund that is devoted to coal investments is closer to $108 million, or 0.14 percent of total assets under management. Brad Shannon reports. (Olympian)

Rescuers search for entangled humpback whale off Vancouver Island
A humpback whale tangled so tightly in thick rope that its fins are torn is somewhere along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island in need of help. “We need to put the word out that if anybody sees it, they call our hotline,” said Paul Cottrell, marine mammal co-ordinator for Fisheries and Oceans Canada. “This entanglement is almost certainly going to be lethal if nothing is done.” Cottrell got a call Sunday morning that a distressed whale had been spotted off the coast of Tofino by researcher Jim Darling. Darling sent photos, showing rope digging several inches into the whale’s blubber. Sarah Petrescu reports. (Times Colonist)

Broken pipe at PSNS results in sewage spill, beach closure  (paywall)
Local health authorities have issued a no-contact advisory for the waters in Sinclair Inlet and Port Washington Narrows following a 45,000-gallon sewage spill at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Shipyard officials reported that a sewer line running along the beach inside the shipyard apparently broke Sunday, according to Stuart Whitford of Kitsap Public Health District. At high tide, large volumes of seawater flowed into the line. The high flows were noticed at a nearby pump station, which delivers sewage into Bremerton's sewer system. The spill was repaired Wednesday, Whitford said. Chris Dunagan reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Northwest Clean Air Agency takes comments on Shell refinery offloading plan  
The Northwest Clean Air Agency is now accepting public comment on a draft construction permit for the Shell Puget Sound Refinery’s crude-by-rail offloading facility proposal. The regional air agency announced the start of the comment period Tuesday, and will accept comments through Oct. 16. The agency has also set a public hearing for the permit for Oct. 16. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Tribal Canoe Journeys on hiatus in 2015 after no host comes forward
The Tribal Canoe Journeys, traditionally an annual event, is expected to take a one-year hiatus in 2015 for the first time since 1993. “No one has stepped up to the plate to host [the Canoe Journey] in 2015,” said Frances Charles, tribal chairwoman of the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe. The first canoe journey was the 1989 “Paddle to Seattle,” which was conceived by Quinault tribal member Emmet Oliver and Frank Brown of Bella Bella. That led to the first Canoe Journey in 1993 in Bella Bella. Arwyn Rice reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Effect of ocean acidification: Coral growth rate on Great Barrier Reef plummets in 30-year comparison
Researchers working in Australia's Great Barrier Reef have documented that coral growth rates have plummeted 40 percent since the mid-1970s. The scientists suggest that ocean acidification may be playing an important role in this perilous slowdown. (Science Daily)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT THU SEP 18 2014
TODAY
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 4 FT AT 11 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
W WIND TO 10 KT...BECOMING SW AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 10 SECONDS. A 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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7/15 BC pipe suit, B'ham Bay cleanup, BC air quality, clam kill, Pit to Pier, Oly port, anchovies, Oly Sanctuary

Townsend's Warbler (David Sibley/BirdNote)

If you like to watch and listen: David Sibley - Sketching and Painting Impressions
David Sibley’s paintings connect millions of people with the lives of birds. His talent in observing and portraying birds culminated in The Sibley Guide to Birds, now in its second edition. Sibley describes how he learned to sketch and illustrate birds such as this Townsend’s Warbler: “I spent years in the field, just traveling and birding and sketching,” he says. “ . . . The drawing was so important to me, that there was never any question in my mind of continuing to paint the birds. It’s how I study the birds.” (BirdNote)

Northern Gateway pipeline: First Nations outline constitutional challenges
Several B.C. First Nations are launching at least nine court challenges to try to block Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipeline, leaders revealed at a news conference [Monday] morning in Vancouver. The First Nations leaders said they will argue the proposed pipeline and its recent approval by the federal government is a constitutional violation of their aboriginal land rights in their respective territories, particularly in light of the Supreme Court of Canada victory last month by the Tsilhqot'in First Nation. Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Grand Chief Stewart Phillip said he was aware of at least nine separate legal actions being launched by various First Nations, as part of a co-ordinated effort to stop the project. Mike Laanela reports. (CBC)

Plan would move contaminants, cap others at Bellingham waterfront site
The Washington Department of Ecology likely will recommend the Port of Bellingham spend $5.7 million to cap and remove some contaminated portions of a waterfront site rather than asking for removal of all contaminated materials. The plan is the cheapest of four cleanup alternatives Ecology proposed for the 31-acre parcel on the former Georgia-Pacific Corp. property in a recently released feasibility statement that is up for public review. Samantha Wohlfeil reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Cruise ship emissions in Victoria hit peak on weekend
Sulphur dioxide emissions related to cruise ships hit a peak Saturday not seen since 2009, says Marg Gardiner, president of the James Bay Neighbourhood Association. Saturday saw the highest recorded one-hour SO2 levels related to cruise ship plumes in five years at Topaz Avenue, three kilometres from Ogden Point, Gardiner said. Monitoring sites in both James Bay and Topaz recorded maximum SO2 levels exceeding World Health Organization 24-hour guidelines, she said. Bill Cleverley reports. (Times Colonist) See also: Air quality advisory issued for eastern Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley  (CBC)

What's Killing Clams? Solve This Low Tide Mystery
One of the lowest tides of the year this weekend revealed a "crime scene" at the beach at Golden Gardens Park in Seattle. The victims: thousands of clams that died in the prime of their lives. Each bivalve victim has a tiny hole drilled near its hinge. Also strewn on the beach were gray rubbery things that looked like toilet plunger heads. The Beach Naturalists from the Seattle Aquarium say concerned citizens have collected them in buckets, upset that someone would have dumped so much litter on the beaches. But it turns out that the holes and the toilet plunger heads are all the products of a little-known predator: the moon snail. Joshua McNichols reports. (KUOW)

Pit to Pier and the Navy and DNR Aquatic Lease
Dan McShane at Reading The Washington Landscape blogs on how the "Pit to Pier" project took a bit of a blow last week when the Washington State Department of Natural Resources completed an agreement with the United States Navy regarding aquatic leases within Hood Canal and why the Navy made the agreement. But there’s more: Jefferson County continues the permitting process for the project and has issued a Draft EIS open for public comment until August 11.

New blog: What Does It Mean To Be Hawaiian?
The best part of thinking about what it meant to be Canadian was to be in Montreal during St-Jean Baptist Day eating hand-pulled Nouilles de Lan zhou in a large bowl, spicy, surrounded by people speaking Chinese. Over the last couple of weeks, the best part of thinking about what it means to be Hawaiian was to be in Honolulu eating the laksa at Panya Bistro and the Belly Bowl ramen at Lucky Belly restaurant and driving my mother to hula lessons at the Alama Sisters’ hula studio....

Port commission rejects bids for second marine terminal warehouse
In a surprise move, the Port of Olympia commission voted to reject all bids for a proposed second marine terminal warehouse Monday night, instead taking a cautionary step after warehouse critics had raised concerns about the overall environmental process. Commissioners Sue Gunn and George Barner voted to reject all bids, while Commissioner Bill McGregor voted to move forward with the second warehouse. All three commissioners, however, voted to move forward with a related step: a master plan and a supplemental environmental impact statement for the marine terminal. Rolf Boone reports. (Olympian)

If you like to watch: Anchovy school at Scripps Pier, July 8, 2014
A school of California anchovies so big it rivals anything seen off the San Diego coast in decades was spotted off La Jolla by researchers with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography June 8. Footage from Scripps Pier by Scripps staff and underwater by Scripps graduate students. But wait, there's more: BONUS anchovy footage

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary to mark 20th anniversary at Wednesday’s Concert on the Pier in Port Angeles
The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary will celebrate its 20th anniversary Wednesday by sponsoring a free party on City Pier, and everyone is invited. The sanctuary’s mascot, Sanctuary Sam the sea lion, will greet visitors from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. during the Concert on the Pier, the music series organized by the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce. Arwyn Rice reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Now, your tug weather--

WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT TUE JUL 15 2014
TODAY
W WIND TO 10 KT...RISING TO 10 TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS...BUILDING TO 1 TO 3 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. W
 SWELL 5 FT AT 7 SECONDS. AREAS OF FOG.
TONIGHT
W WIND 10 TO 20 KT...EASING TO 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT...SUBSIDING TO 1 FT OR LESS AFTER MIDNIGHT. W
 SWELL 4 FT AT 7 SECONDS. AREAS OF FOG AFTER MIDNIGHT.
--
"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

5/12 Frank Jr., orcas & fish, Oso mudslide, Kinder Morgan, oil spill, sewage spill, Shell air permit

Peregrine Falcon (BirdNote)

If you like to listen: Mother Birds
Avian motherhood is a mixed bag. Peregrine Falcon mothers share duties fairly equally with Peregrine dads. At the other end of the spectrum is the female hummingbird, which usually carries the entire burden of nesting, incubating, and tending the young. And then, there's the female Western Sandpiper: she usually leaves the family just a few days after the eggs have hatched! (BirdNote) See also: Black-capped chickadee crowned Vancouver's bird for 2015 (CBC)

Billy Frank Jr. remembered as humanitarian, ‘spokesman for the salmon’
Six thousand people attended a memorial service on Sunday for the tribal leader, who died last Monday at age 83. Paige Cornwell reports. (Seattle Times) See also: Billy Frank Jr. honored at Shelton memorial Adam Mertz reports. (KING)

Southern Residents: Data Behind the Impressions
Orca Watcher Monika Wieland writes: "I recently participated in two workshops about orcas and salmon: The Whale Museum's naturalist gear-up here on San Juan Island and a joint effort by several regional organizations of an orca and salmon recovery workshop in Seattle. Finally, thankfully, it seems like some discussion about the real issues facing these whales is starting to happen. There was a lot of public attention given to potential vessel impacts on the whales as NOAA went through the process of instituting new regulations for boating around the whales. General consensus is that the real issue facing these whales is not boats, not toxins, but salmon. No fish, no blackfish. It's that simple..."

Applying science to the Oso mudslide
.... Work at the mudslide has entered a new phase. With the active search for victims finished, scientists now are working to find out what happened that Saturday morning when the mountain came down. It will take time for researchers to fully understand what triggered the slide above Steelhead Haven, which sent a deadly torrent of slurry across the valley and up the slopes on the far side. In coming months, teams of geologists, hydrologists, geomorphologists, engineers and other researchers will visit the site and observe, measure, record and analyze. Chris Winters reports. (Everettt Herald)

State: Review now required before logging near risky landslide areas
Timber companies that want to harvest near potentially dangerous landslide areas will now have to conduct geologic reviews before getting a logging permit from the state, officials said Friday. Under the new standards announced by Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark, the state will require a geotechnical report when there’s a potential risk to public safety — even if the harvest area itself doesn’t include unstable territory. Mike Baker and Ken Armstrong report. (Seattle Times) See also: Landslide clogs river, floods Maple Valley properties Coral Garnick reports. (Seattle Times)

Analysis puts big benefits figure on Kinder Morgan expansion
The latest analysis of Kinder Morgan Canada’s proposed $5.4-billion expansion of its Edmonton-to-Burnaby pipeline indicates dramatically higher economic benefits, especially for B.C. The report by the Conference Board of Canada almost triples previous company figures for projected federal, provincial and municipal tax revenues over the life of the project. Peter O'Neil reports. (Vancouver Sun)  See also: PHOTOS: Pipeline plan protesters rally at Vancouver's Sunset Beach

Legal challenges could stall decision on Kinder Morgan pipeline: experts
The federal government’s efforts to speed up decisions on oil pipelines are at risk of backfiring, according to legal and policy observers. In the first real test of the National Energy Board’s new review rules, Kinder Morgan’s $5.4-billion Trans Mountain pipeline is being assailed with legal action and a flurry of motions calling for a more open and lengthy public process. The federal review of the pipeline expansion — which will nearly triple oil output and bring another 400 tankers each year to the Burrard Inlet — is set to begin in August and supposed to be complete in 15 months. But the challenges — particularly those from First Nations — have the potential to be successful and delay a decision on the project, says University of B.C. law professor Gordon Christie. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun) See also: Burnaby, B.C., has some tough questions for Trans Mountain  Mark Hume reports. (Globe and Mail)

Mallards affected by oily spill in Gorge Waterway
An environmental organization said its members have seen as many as six mallards affected by the oily substance that entered the Gorge Waterway via Gorge Creek late last week.... Jeff Miller, Esquimalt’s director of engineering and public works, said the substance is a petrochemical that entered through the stormwater system. Jeff Bell reports. (Times Colonist)

Bacteria levels normal at 2 Everett beaches after sewer line break
Water samples taken on Saturday show bacteria levels are back to normal at Pigeon Creek beach and Howarth Park. As a cautionary measure, city officials were leaving closure signs in place on Sunday. They warned people to avoid contact with the water and closed the beach because of elevated bacteria levels after a sewer main broke and dumped waste into Port Gardner on Thursday night. Two pumps and the sewer lift station were submerged in the break. One pump is back in operation. It may be weeks before the other is fully restored. (Everett Herald)

NWCAA opens public comment on different Shell refinery permit
The Northwest Clean Air Agency is accepting public comment on a draft construction permit for the Shell Puget Sound Refinery’s proposed rail unloading facility. The facility would have the capacity to unload 14 railcars per day carrying a heavy petroleum “feedstock” that is not Bakken crude, according to a news release from the air agency. This rail extension project is separate from the refinery’s application to receive light, mid-continent crude, which could include Bakken oil from North Dakota. The emissions from this project would be “very low,” at 0.03 tons per year of volatile organic compounds and 4,500 metric tons per year of greenhouse gases, according to the agency. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 250 AM PDT MON MAY 12 2014
TODAY
E WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 2 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
E WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 1 TO 2 FT AT 11 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

4/29 Frogs, Shell air, Victoria sewer, Skagit flood study

Pacific Chorus frog (Laurie MacBride)

Salish Sea Communications will be at the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference  for the next few days. Look for some blogs on the proceedings and follow @savepugetsound on Twitter #SSEC14

If you like to watch and listen: Leaps and Lullabies
Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "I’ve been rushing about, leaping from one task to another. April has kept me hopping, between preparing prints and hanging them for my show which opens this week, planting seeds and transplanting my veggies starts to the garden, doing our income tax returns, and a long list of other “must-do’s”.Fortunately, after each busy day, sleep has come quite easily, thanks to the steady nighttime music provided by the Pacific Chorus frogs (AKA Pacific Tree frogs) who have been hanging out at our pond. For the past six weeks the males’ lusty courting songs have filled our night air – a stimulating sound for the lady frogs, but more like a lullaby for me. (Here’s a link to their calls if you’re curious.)"

A helping hand for endangered frogs
Call it Head Start for frogs. The Department of Fish and Wildlife is working with several partners in Washington to restore the population of native Oregon spotted frogs, which has been listed as an endangered species in this state since 1997. Fish and Wildlife collects egg masses, and the partners raise the tadpoles to adult frogs in a safe environment before they are released. Oregon spotted frogs are found only in Whatcom, Skagit, Thurston, Klickitat and Skamania counties. They now occupy 10 percent or less of its former range of wetlands in the Pacific Northwest. Sharon Wooton reports. (Everett Herald)

Shell air permit gains ‘unprecedented’ public attention
The Northwest Clean Air Agency will host a public hearing Wednesday regarding the Shell Puget Sound Refinery’s draft Air Operating Permit in response to a flurry of phone calls and letters that showed unprecedented community interest. Agency officials believe the public has confused the permitting process with the refinery’s separate crude oil offloading facility proposal, which gained attention with a nationally growing concern over crude-by-rail projects.... Agency officials said they have learned that groups are organizing demonstrations and advertising the public hearing to protest oil trains and refinery emissions. The anticipated crowd is expected to be larger than the 35-person capacity of the agency’s conference room, so Northwest Clean Air has moved the hearing to the Skagit County Administration Building, 700 S. Second St., Room C. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Sewage plan soundly rejected: poll
A new poll says those guiding the Capital Regional District’s $783-million sewage treatment plan are on a collision course with citizens. The Sewage Treatment Action Group commissioned the poll, carried out by research company Popular Change. The poll found 76 per cent of 2,311 respondents from Victoria, Saanich and Oak Bay are concerned about the sewage plan.... Victoria Coun. Geoff Young, chairman of the CRD’s liquid waste management committee, said the poll questions were leading. But he said the CRD and some municipalities are indeed on a collision course if the regional government can’t be allowed to make economic decisions about where the sites are going to be. Cindy Harnett reports. (Times Colonist) See also: Sewage foes' survey skewed, says Seaterra director  (Times Colonist)

Skagit River GI flood study reaches milestone
The Skagit River General Investigation Study has reached a major milestone, Skagit County Public Works announced Monday. County officials were notified last week that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers settled on a “tentatively selected plan” for the GI Study, according to a news release. The agencies are now moving forward to study the plan’s feasibility. Out of four alternatives, one being “no action,” the Corps selected the Comprehensive Urban Levee Improvement Plan, which includes modifying the upper and lower Baker dams north of Concrete to increase water storage on the Baker River to improve flood-risk management. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 230 AM PDT TUE APR 29 2014
TODAY
E WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 7 FT AT 14 SECONDS. CHANCE OF RAIN THIS MORNING.
TONIGHT THROUGH THU
E WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 4 TO 6 FT AT 12 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

4/28 Heat wave, Grays Harbor oil, Shell air, Clallam septics, derelict vessels, Roger Wilson

Tulips (Linda Quinn/Skagit Valley Herald)

Temperatures in the 80s expected for Puget Sound area
The Puget Sound area’s first taste of warm weather in 2014 is on the way, with temperatures that could reach into the 80s by midweek. Jack Broom reports. (Seattle Times)

Residents Voice Fear And Concern Over Grays Harbor Oil Terminals
More than 100 people gathered at the local high school Thursday night with questions and concerns about proposals to build train-to-ship oil terminals in their community. The projects proposed for Grays Harbor are part of a regional increase in oil train traffic from North Dakota to the Pacific Northwest. And although the Bakken oil fields are more than 1,000 miles away, the boom is raising a lot of concern in this small city on Washington’s coast. The Westway and Imperium terminals would be serviced by roughly two trains per day, each one a mile long. Their payloads of crude oil would bring more than 300 ships and barges to Grays Harbor each year year. The third and newest project, proposed by US Development, could draw three or four trains per week and up to 60 vessels per year, each 1,000 feet long. If all three terminals are built, Grays Harbor would have storage capacity for almost 3 million barrels of oil. Ashley Ahearn reports. (EarthFix)

The Northwest Clean Air Agency will hold a public hearing on April 30 at the Skagit County Administration Building, 700 S. 2nd St., Mount Vernon, on a clean air permit for Shell’s Puget Sound Refinery. For the first time ever, this permit will include limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Rally at 9:30 AM; hearing begins at 10.

New law: Septic system inspections required at time of property sale in Clallam County
A septic system inspection will be required at the time of a property sale under a revised Clallam County sewage code that takes effect Thursday (May 1). The revised on-site sewage system code governs the design, operation and maintenance of septic systems in the county. It broadens continuing education requirements for licensed professionals to keep their certifications and gives the county more authority to enforce sewage system violations. Violators can be ticketed with $125 or $250 civil infractions under the revised code. (Peninsula Daily News)

Decision on building moratorium near landslide areas postponed
The Snohomish County Council has again postponed a decision about whether to impose an emergency moratorium on homebuilding construction near landslide hazards. The discussion is now scheduled for the council’s regular Monday-morning meeting at 10:30 May 5. The meeting will be held on the eighth floor of the county’s Robert Drewel Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.

Local pollution prevention program makes statewide splash
Prevention of derelict vessels is becoming the new paradigm in dealing with sinking, abandoned or illegally moored boats in Washington. Because identification and removal of derelict boats has been such a success in San Juan County, the Puget Sound Partnership in 2013 awarded the county more than $300,000 to develop and coordinate a derelict vessel prevention program in other Puget Sound counties. The county was chosen to administer the money because it is the only county in the state, and perhaps the nation, to create a prevention program to identify vessels at risk before they become a hazard to navigation, a burden to taxpayers and a danger to the environment. Steve Wehrly reports. (San Juan Journal)

Port Townsend Marine Science Center volunteer honored with governor's service award
Roger Wilson, a volunteer with the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, has received the Governor's Volunteer Service Award. He was one of 44 honorees in the state and the only one from the North Olympic Peninsula to be given the award at the governor's mansion April 21.... He began volunteering with the center in 2002 and has given more than 2,000 volunteer hours. (Peninsula Daily News)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT MON APR 28 2014
TODAY
SE WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT. W SWELL 9 FT AT 12 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
SE WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT. W SWELL 8 FT AT 12 SECONDS. CHANCE OF RAIN AFTER MIDNIGHT.
--
"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