8/15 Marine mammals, drones, carbon tax, refinery safety, Petrogas, coal export, Big Beef Cr., KNKX, mining mess

A Crow That Makes Tools
A crow named Betty learned how to take a straight piece of wire and bend one end into a hook. She then used the hooked end to haul a tiny bucket of meat from the bottom of a long tube. A postage stamp was issued in honor of this New Caledonian Crow. (BirdNote) If you like to watch:  How smart is a crow?

Demanding international changes to help protect marine mammals
After 43 years and some legal prodding, the United States is preparing to use its economic and political power to protect whales, dolphins and other marine mammals around the world. On Monday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is scheduled to publish regulations that will set up a system to ban imports of seafood from any country that fails to control the killing of marine mammals in its fishing industry. To avoid a ban, foreign controls must be as effective as standards adopted by the United States to reduce the incidental death and injury to marine mammals in the U.S. fishing industry. Harvesting nations that wish to continue selling fish and fish products to U.S. markets will have five years to implement their marine mammal protection programs, if they have not already done so. Chris Dunagan reports. (Watching Our Water Ways)

Whale wars: humpbacks versus orcas focus of new study 
It's a strange marine phenomenon: humpback whales actively defend other marine mammals like seals and grey whales from orca attacks, according to a new study. But while some people might call it a rare example of interspecies altruism, the study also found that these attacks are likely a survival behaviour due to orcas' tendency to feed on humpback calves. Robert Pitman, a marine ecologist in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Southwest Fisheries Science Center in southern California, is the lead author of the study recently published in the Marine Mammal Science journal. Roshini Nair reports. (CBC)

From scientists to activists, everyone has eye in the sky
From high above two pods of orcas near Telegraph Cove, a drone captured images that hold clues to the threatened species’ health. Northern resident killer whales are picky eaters, with an almost exclusive diet of chinook salmon. Using aerial images such as those taken on Thursday, researchers are keeping track of the whales’ size in relation to salmon abundance over time — from a perspective they can’t get on a boat…. Unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, pose risks to both humans and animals when used irresponsibly. Washington state Fish and Wildlife officers ticketed two drone operators for flying too close to whales near the San Juan Islands last year. And firefighting efforts had to be halted twice last year and once this year, when amateurs flew drones over B.C. wildfires. But increasingly, everyone from researchers to firefighters are finding ways to take advantage of the new technology. Amy Smart reports. (Times Colonist)

Carbon-tax initiative backers press campaign despite green opposition
Carbon Washington campaigners seek to persuade voters to embrace Initiative 732, which would implement a carbon tax with the goal of driving down fossil-fuel use. But the state’s environmental community is divided. Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times)

Federal agency critical of oil refinery safety measures
A federal agency issued new oil refinery safety recommendations Thursday that it says if not followed would leave the industry vulnerable to more incidents such as the explosion that killed seven workers in 2010 at Anacortes Tesoro Refinery. The safety recommendations by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board stem from a board investigation into the Anacortes explosion. In that incident, a device called a heat exchanger cracked and weakened over time even though safety measures aligned with industry standards, according to the board’s report. Aaron Weinberg reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Petrogas plans to take over Alcoa Intalco pier at Cherry Point
Petrogas West, which receives, stores and ships liquefied petroleum gas at Cherry Point, plans to take over Alcoa Intalco Works’ wharf and pier, pending a sale deal that includes transfer of a state aquatics lease. Petrogas currently employs about 30 full-time workers at the Ferndale terminal, and already uses the pier with permission from Intalco, as allowed under the state lease. Samantha Wohlfeil reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Judge upholds Oregon denial of coal export permit
An administrative law judge in Oregon has upheld the 2014 rejection of a proposed coal terminal on the Columbia River that could be a conduit for millions of tons of American coal headed to Asia annually. Administrative Law Judge Alison Greene Webster found Friday state lands regulators were within their authority when they denied the permit to Brisbane, Australia-based applicant Ambre Energy. Ambre Energy wants to transport coal mined from the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming through Oregon on its way to power-hungry Asian markets. (Associated Press)

Hospitality for salmon coming with restoration of Big Beef Creek
Big Beef Creek, which flows into Hood Canal near Seabeck, will soon undergo a major wetland renovation that should improve the survival of coho salmon and steelhead trout. Other work, which started last year, involves placing large woody debris in the stream to create deep pools for salmon to cool off and rest before continuing their migration. The wood also will help to form new spawning areas for coho, fall chum and the threatened summer chum of Hood Canal. Chris Dunagan reports. (Watching Our Water Ways)

KPLU renamed KNKX (pronounced ‘connects’)
The newly saved public-radio station KPLU has a new name: KNKX, or “Connects.” The station had to change its call letters as part of the deal that bought its independence from Pacific Lutheran University a few months ago. Brendan Kiley reports. (Seattle Times) [or, try KNKX=’kinks’]

Mining company facing charges for alleged damage to Hecate Strait island
A B.C. mining company, along with its CEO and chief geologist, are facing charges for allegedly releasing waste material into woods, wetland, and water on a Hecate Strait island. They have been charged with 18 offences for allegedly violating the province's Environmental Management Act, including failure to report a spill of a polluting substance and repeatedly failing to comply with environmental permits. Banks Island Gold Ltd., president and CEO Benjamin Mossman and chief geologist Dirk Meckert have not yet appeared in court. They will make their first appearance in Prince Rupert on Sept. 7. According to the Gitxaala First Nation, the company has left behind environmental damage that has people worried about the safety of their food and fish.  Andrew Kurjata reports. (CBC)

Program set to learn more about health of state park's lakes
Jack Hartt is looking to science for help in understanding a pesky problem that plagues a couple of the state park’s lakes. Hartt, the park’s manager, is spearheading a research project involving Cranberry and Pass lakes, and is enlisting the help of volunteers to create a scientific profile of both lakes through data gathered over time…. Hartt is trying to find out why both lakes are plagued by cyanobacteria, a toxic algae known for its blue-green color. Cyanobacteria is a natural component of water, but certain types produce toxins that can lead to both acute and chronic health effects. When certain levels of toxins are reached, lakes are closed. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

'Toadvisory' issued for Whistler area as toadlets migrate
The migration of tens of thousands of tiny Western toads, or "toadlets," begins this week as the dime-sized amphibians continue their biologically-driven quest from Lost Lake into the surrounding forest area. Every spring, about 50 of the toads lay hundreds of thousands of eggs along the shores of the lake, resulting in a black cloud of tadpoles when they hatch several weeks later. Once they sprout arms and legs in July and August the toadlets are on the move towards the forest surrounding the lake. Anna Dimoff reports. (CBC)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-  259 AM PDT MON AUG 15 2016  

TODAY  LIGHT WIND...BECOMING NW 10 TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.  WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT...BECOMING 1 TO 3 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. W  SWELL 4 FT AT 12 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG IN THE MORNING.  TONIGHT  W WIND 10 TO 20 KT...BECOMING 5 TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.  WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT...SUBSIDING TO 2 FT OR LESS AFTER MIDNIGHT.  W SWELL 4 FT AT 14 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG.

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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 at salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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8/12 Black birding, no Fraser fishing, ocean blob, tidal power, Nippon mill, skunk season, wolf kill, farmlands, Si'ahl

Drew Lanham

If you like to watch: Diversity In Nature: Ecology Professor Drew Lanham On ‘Rules For The Black Birder’
The Pacific Northwest is known as a Mecca for bird watchers. Diverse habitats offer shelter for hundreds of species throughout the state. In summer, urban parks offer viewing of everything from osprey and bald eagles to chickadees and warblers, hummingbirds, owls and woodpeckers. But what if while pursuing that passion you felt out of place, because of the color of your skin? Wildlife ecologist and avid birder Drew Lanham uses satire to get people talking about it. His essay “9 Rules for the Black Bird Watcher” first appeared in Orion Magazine and was then adapted by BirdNote into a short YouTube video. It’s full of zingers such as, “Be prepared to be confused with the other black birder” and “Carry your binoculars — and three forms of identification — at all times” or “Don’t bird in a hoodie. Ever.” Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KPLU)

DFO shutting down all salmon sports fishing on Lower Fraser to protect sockeye
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has taken the extraordinary measure of shutting down all sports salmon fishing on the Lower Fraser River because of a lower-than-anticipated return of sockeye. The closure of all recreational fishing for salmon — including Chinook and possibly Chum when they arrive later in the year — is taking place so that sockeye aren’t inadvertently caught while other salmon species are being fished. Anglers can still fish for trout, steelhead and sturgeon. The closure was to go into effect one hour after sunset Thursday until further notice. It covers the mouth of the Fraser River to the Alexandra Bridge south of Hell’s Gate in the Interior, a stretch of about 200 kilometres of river. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun)

The Blob That Cooked the Pacific
When a deadly patch of warm water shocked the West Coast, some feared it was a preview of our future oceans. Craig Welch reports. (National Geographic)

Tidal power technology rolls into Haida Gwaii shores
A Haida Gwaii company has developed a technology that may one day provide power to parts of Haida Gwaii by harnessing the energy from tides. Right now, the northern half of Haida Gwaii uses diesel to provide power to all homes and buildings. It's an expensive power source and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Clyde Greenough, business manager of Yourbrook Energy, says his company has developed a generator that is powered solely by the ocean's tide.. The technology harnesses the powerful pull of the tide to turn the blades of a pump that then pressurizes the water and sends it up an incline. Anna Dimoff reports. (CBC)

Nippon paper mill, cogeneration plant in Port Angeles for sale
The paper mill that has anchored Ediz Hook for 98 years is for sale. The Nippon Paper Industries USA plant and the company’s newly built biomass cogeneration plant west of downtown Port Angeles are being marketed for sale by PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance LLC in southwest British Columbia. There is no sign the mill, which employed 160 as of June 2015, would be closed, said City Manager Dan McKeen. (Port Angeles Daily News)

Skunk season arrives in Vancouver
In the wilds of Vancouver, perhaps no animal inspires more terror to walking pedestrians than the skunk. August is high season for the notoriously stinky black-and-white creatures, and many are being spotted around the Lower Mainland — especially in Vancouver's West End, West Vancouver and North Vancouver. "Now's the time of year that most of the baby skunks are starting to leave their mothers and become independent," said Janelle Vanderbeek, a wildlife hospital coordinator with the Wildlife Rescue Association in Burnaby. Roshini Nair reports. (CBC)

State wildlife staff kill two adult female wolves in Northeastern Washington
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff on Aug. 5 killed two adult female wolves from the Profanity Peak pack in Northeast Washington by shooting them from a helicopter. Wolves began recolonizing Washington about a decade ago, and this is the third time the department has removed some of them.  The department director Jim Unsworth approved the killings earlier this month, after wolves were linked to cattle deaths. Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times)

Army Corps downplays value of prime farmland in Washington
The Army Corps of Engineers proposes to convert about 800 acres of prime farmland in Whatcom County to fish habitat, a loss of cropland the agency calls “insignificant,” but that farm groups say could threaten agriculture’s long-term survival in the state’s northwestern corner…. Government agencies have spent years reviewing hundreds of sites for the state-federal Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project. The corps has narrowed the project to converting 2,100 acres in Jefferson, Skagit and Whatcom counties into fish habitat, mainly by removing dikes. The largest project would breach dikes along the Nooksack and Lummi rivers in Whatcom County. The $260 million project would expose 1,800 acres to tides and rivers, including the 800 acres characterized by the corps as prime farmland. Dan Jenkins reports. (Capital Press)

If you like to listen: What’s in a namesake? The enigma of Chief Si’ahl 
We know that the city of Seattle was named after a prominent Native American chief called Si’ahl. We have remnants of words of wisdom attributed to him. But in most ways, Seattleites have never known the legacy of their namesake.  Writer and historian David Buerge has steeped himself in the history of the people who thrived in this region before explorers and pioneers arrived. His knowledge of what life was like here before it was “discovered” will likely surprise and fascinate you. David Buerge spoke with journalist and writer Knute Berger at Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum on August 3. (KUOW)

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-  300 AM PDT FRI AUG 12 2016  

TODAY  LIGHT WIND...BECOMING NW 5 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.  WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 TO 5 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
TONIGHT  W WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING LIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 FT  OR LESS. W SWELL 4 TO 5 FT AT 9 SECONDS.
SAT  LIGHT WIND...BECOMING W 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR  LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
SAT NIGHT  W WIND 10 TO 20 KT...EASING LATE. WIND WAVES 1 TO  3 FT...SUBSIDING. W SWELL 5 TO 6 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
SUN  SW WIND 10 KT OR LESS...BECOMING W 10 TO 20 KT. WIND  WAVES 3 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 TO 6 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 at salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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8/11 Cetacean set-to, Perseid shower, cancelled festival, Owl Is., microbes, bad water, news bot

Cetacean set-to (Valerie Shore/Canadian Press)

Whale watchers witness battle of behemoths in waters off Vancouver Island
A whale watching association says a battle between some of the largest creatures in the seas off the coast of British Columbia appeared to end with the human equivalent of fist waving and name calling, although they can't be sure of the outcome. Several whale watching boats at the western edge of the Salish Sea off Jordan River on Vancouver Island spotted a group of transient orcas surrounding two adult humpback whales and a calf on Sunday. (Canadian Press) See also: A humpback whale's death hints at good news for the species  Kim Malcolm, Katherine Banwell & Gil Aegerter report. (KUOW)

Awesome Perseid Meteor Shower set to dazzle Northwest skies this week
The best meteor shower of the year is upon us, and for once, the weather around the Pacific Northwest is going to cooperate! Dare we even say, perfect? The Perseid Meteor shower peaks around Aug. 11-13 each year (this year it's Aug. 11-12) as the Earth moves through the dust and debris about the size of Grape-Nuts cereal left over from the Swift-Tuttle Comet, which comes around these parts every 133 years. As the leftover dust and rocks from the comet burn up in our atmosphere, they make for the streaks of light in the sky - commonly known as "shooting stars." Scott Sistek reports. (KOMO)

Horsefly River Salmon Festival cancelled because of lack of sockeye
The community of Horsefly, B.C., is canceling its annual salmon festival because of a shortage of the main attraction — Fraser River sockeye. "Basically there's not going to be any fish for anybody to look at," said Maureen LeBourdais, chair of the Horsefly River Roundtable, the environmental stewardship group that organizes the festival. LeBourdais said the Horsefly River spawning ground in B.C.'s Interior usually sees more than 100,000 sockeye salmon. But so far this year, only 3,000 have arrived. Andrew Kurjata and Maryse Zeidler report. (CBC)

Tsawout Nation mounts campaign for Owl Island
Owl Island is the latest Salish Sea property to land in the crossfire between development pressure and conservation claims. The tiny two-acre islet located off the coast of Prevost Island is currently listed for sale at $1.68 million. Unlike other similar islets in the region, it has not experienced much in the way of modern human disruption. It’s also one of the few places that’s escaped colonization by rabbits or deer. Added to the huge ecological significance of such a paradise, the islet contains one documented First Nations archeological site and others that have yet to be registered. Elizabeth Nolan reports. (Gulf Islands Driftwood)

Oregon, Union Pacific Use Microbes To Clean Up Oil Train Spill
Oil that spilled from a derailed train in the Columbia River Gorge in June contaminated nearby groundwater. Starting in the next week, Union Pacific Railroad will be working with Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality to clean it up. Crews are installing a treatment system that aims to speed up an already naturally occurring process, where microbes that exist in the soil consume the oil. It’s called bio-sparging.  Emmily Schwing reports. (KPLU)

Cancer-causing chemical in drinking water traced to fire-fighting foam
Fire-fighting foam containing highly fluorinated chemicals is contaminating drinking water supplies around many of the nation’s military bases, airports and industrial sites, according to a new study by UC Berkeley and Harvard University researchers. In humans, these chemicals have been linked to kidney and testicular cancer, high cholesterol, obesity and endocrine disruption. The study authors estimate that 6 million or more people may be drinking water contaminated with these highly fluorinated chemicals – in this case, poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These chemicals are used widely to extinguish liquid fuel fires and during training exercises, and are referred to as aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) because they contain a fluorocarbon surfactant, such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), that reduces surface tension and increases spreading over the liquid. Robert Sanders reports. (UC Berkeley News)

Washington Post bot gets a floor exercise in Rio
It’s the summer of bots, after a spring of bots, probably before an autumn of bots. At the Republican and Democratic conventions, news outlets trotted out their new experiments: BuzzFeed’s Facebook messenger bot collected news, The Washington Post’s bot on wheels rolled around live streaming video, and CNN reported the news to teenagers via a Kik bot. Now, at the Rio Olympics, another non-human reporter is making its debut. Heliograf is the Post’s automated storytelling software, and while it’s been in use since the primaries, the Olympics is its first public appearance. Heliograf takes data, like scores and tallies from sports or elections, and outputs templated stories. “It’s like reverse Mad Libs,” with the data used to fill in the blanks of an already written story, says Jeremy Gilbert, director of strategic initiatives at the Post. The software was named after the heliograph, a nineteenth-century invention that used sunlight and mirrors to transmit Morse code faster than a telegraph. The Post’s twenty-first century iteration uses data and code to transmit stories nearly in real-time. (Columbia Journalism Review)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-  255 AM PDT THU AUG 11 2016  

TODAY  NW WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3  TO 4 FT AT 8 SECONDS. PATCHY MORNING FOG.
TONIGHT  W WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4  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 at 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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8/10 Cherry Pt. fuel, fish farm conflict of interest, hidden pollution, green crab, summer heat

Spotted ratfish (Puget Sound Wikia)

Rise of the Ratfish in Puget Sound
From the August 14, 2010 Seattle Times:  Ask a Northwesterner to pick the creature that epitomizes Puget Sound, and odds are the answer will be orcas or salmon. Ask Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Wayne Palsson, and he’ll tell you the ugly truth: Ratfish rule. Pound-for-pound, the green-eyed bottom feeders dominate the Sound’s ecosystem like Doug fir dominates the forests. Heap all the fish from the main basin on a scale, and nearly 70 percent of the flopping mass would be what fisheries veterans call “rats.” Sandi Doughton reported. (Seattle Times)

Whatcom County puts new unrefined fossil fuel exports on hold
No new applications to ship unrefined fossil fuel through Cherry Point can be approved for at least the next two months after Whatcom County Council passed an emergency moratorium Tuesday night, Aug. 9. The council unanimously passed the moratorium to address concerns about potential public health and safety risks that could come with the increased transportation of unrefined fossil fuels, such as crude oil traveling by rail through the county to two refineries at Cherry Point. The moratorium does not impact the current refining and shipment of products through the BP Cherry Point and Phillips 66 refineries. Samantha Wohlfeil reports. (Bellingham Herald)

DFO not in conflict of interest for promoting salmon farming: LeBlanc
Canada’s fisheries minister is dismissing concerns from stakeholder groups over suggestions the government agency tasked with conserving wild fish stocks is in a conflict of interest by also being in charge of championing the salmon-farming industry. Removing industry advocacy from the purview of Fisheries and Oceans Canada was one of the key recommendations from a 2012 report by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Bruce Cohen into the 2009 collapse of sockeye salmon in British Columbia’s Fraser River. The public mandate letter from the Prime Minister to the minister of fisheries and oceans, a portfolio Dominic LeBlanc took over in June, directed him to “act on recommendations of the Cohen commission on restoring sockeye salmon stocks in the Fraser River.” However, Mr. LeBlanc said the ministry’s mandate to preserve fisheries is fundamental to its responsibility to promote a viable, long-term salmon-farming industry. Geordon Omand reports. (Canadian Press)

Study Maps Hidden Coastal Pollution in the U.S.
Researchers have uncovered previously hidden sources of ocean pollution along more than 20 percent of America’s coastlines. The study, published online August 4 in the journal Science, offers the first-ever map of underground drainage systems that connect fresh groundwater and seawater, and also pinpoints sites where drinking water is most vulnerable to saltwater intrusion now and in the future. Audrey Sawyer, assistant professor of earth sciences at The Ohio State University and leader of the study, said that while scientists have long known that freshwater and seawater mix unseen below ground, until now they hadn’t been able to pinpoint exactly where it was happening, or how much, except in limited locations. (Marine Executive)

Where's the hot Seattle summer weather?
People may wonder when Seattle will get the 90 degrees days that were common over the last couple summers. Where's that hot weather? The first weeks of August are typically the hottest all year in Seattle. But the clouds above will tell you, we're not breaking any records this week. The fact is, these cooler temperatures are normal for this time of year. The last two summers were the anomaly. The state faced major drought and historic wildfires in 2014 and 2015.  Paige Browning reports. (KPLU)

Coast is clear: European green crabs absent from Strait of Juan de Fuca — so far
Scientists have called on the public to help monitor shorelines for an invasive species of crab over the summer. Teams of citizen scientists have searched the Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca for European green crabs and so far the results are good. “So far no green crabs have been found,” said MaryAnn Wagner, spokesperson for Washington Sea Grant, the organization leading the effort…. This is the second year of the project, which is monitoring for the small but highly efficient and adaptable predator. The European green crab has been blamed for the collapse of the soft-shell clam industry in parts of Maine; some are concerned it might likewise affect native and commercial species in Puget Sound, Wagner said. Jesse Major reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-  300 AM PDT WED AUG 10 2016  

TODAY  LIGHT WIND...BECOMING W 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR  LESS. W SWELL 2 TO 4 FT AT 10 SECONDS.
TONIGHT  W WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5  FT AT 9 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 at 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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8/9 Fraser sockeye, new boat, restored shore, marbled murrelet, sick water, Tacoma LNG, news matters

Williamson's sapsucker (Paul Bannick/BirdNote)

Woodpeckers Love Ants
Woodpeckers - such as this Williamson's Sapsucker - eat far more ants than do most birds. Although many other vertebrates avoid ants because of their stings or the foul taste, the Northern Flicker is known to have ingested over five thousand ants in one sitting! A woodpecker's sticky tongue can reach several inches beyond the tip of its bill, so it can lap up hundreds of ants from their nest. (BirdNote)

'Grim' Fraser River salmon runs even worse than forecast
This year’s Fraser River sockeye return, already forecast to be below average, has turned out to be even worse. One First Nation leader described the return as going from poor to grim. The forecast run this year — which has traditionally been one of the low-run years in the four-year cycle of sockeye — was 2.27 million. That was already below the average of the past half century of 3.9 million. The latest estimates from test fisheries and through sonar counts show that only about half of the expected sockeye had returned by last Friday: 400,000 to 500,000 of the anticipated 840,000, according to the Pacific Salmon Commission, a Canadian-American agency that helps manage fisheries. The peak of the remaining summer sockeye run is expected about mid-month, but there is little expectation that the numbers will change, said Pacific Salmon Commission executive secretary John Field. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun) See also: Federal government expected to act on 2012 report examining Fraser River sockeye  (Canadian Press)

Check out speedy, new $2M boat that sniffs out bad waste water in Puget Sound
Every day, starting at 7 a.m., scientists with King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division head out to monitor Puget Sound’s water quality. Given that King County dumps more treated waste into the Sound than any other county in the state, that’s an important duty. Until recently, they traveled in a 40-year-old vessel named Liberty, which chugged along at 13 knots and spewed blue diesel smoke into the air and water. But in late July, they received a new, $2 million research vessel, SoundGuardian, a name inspired by the famous Seattle rock band Soundgarden. Erica Pandey reports. (Seattle Times)

Shoreline restoration project at Fort Townsend nears completion
Shoreline restoration providing easier access to a beach at Fort Townsend and habitat for shorebirds, forage fish and other marine animals is nearly complete. The $400,000 project, managed by the Northwest Straits Foundation, includes removing about 1,700 cubic yards of large rock and soil, which are being moved out by barge. The remaining small landing will be reshaped. “The purpose of this project first and foremost was to uncover habitat that had been buried by the fill pad,” said Lisa Kaufman, project manager for the Northwest Straits Foundation. “Also equally important was to improve public access.” Jesse Major reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Washington State Finalizing Long-Delayed Conservation Plan For Marbled Murrelet
When the marbled murrelet was first listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1992, so little was known about the elusive sea bird that the state postponed finalizing its long-term habitat conservation plan, opting instead for interim strategies until more scientific research could inform the best strategies. Now the Washington State Board of Natural Resources is completing that work. It’s considering six alternatives for how to manage forests on state trust lands to grow more habitat. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KPLU)

Study links global warming to rise in waterborne illnesses
Rising global temperatures are clearly linked to increasing waterborne food poisoning, particularly from eating raw oysters, along with other nasty infections, a new study shows. About a dozen species of vibrio bacteria make people sick from eating raw or undercooked seafood or drinking or swimming in tainted water. It also causes cholera, although that was not the focus of the research. Lab-confirmed vibrio infections in the United States have increased from an average of about 390 a year from the late 1990s to an average of 1,030 in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But most cases aren’t confirmed by tests and reported. (Associated Press)

Who Will Bear The Cost Of Tacoma's LNG Plant?
Plans for a terminal that would make and store liquefied natural gas at the Port of Tacoma are moving closer to reality.  But there’s still a question of how the costs should be divvied up.  Puget Sound Energy, the private utility hoping to build the plant, is in talks with state regulators over how to structure the corporate entity that would run the facility — essentially a chilled steel tank wrapped in three feet of concrete.  One question is which costs the utility’s customers should cover and which costs should fall to the utility’s investors and shipping companies that would buy some of the fuel. Will James reports. (KPLU)

HBO’s John Oliver gives a passionate pitch for local newspapers
On the most recent episode of “Last Week Tonight,” John Oliver offered earnest support to local newspapers and the original reporting found therein. Watch it here. Evan Bush reports. (Seattle Times)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-  300 AM PDT TUE AUG 9 2016  

TODAY  W WIND 10 KT OR LESS. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL  4 TO 5 FT AT 8 SECONDS. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
TONIGHT  W WIND 10 KT OR LESS. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL  4 FT AT 11 SECONDS. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE EVENING.

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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 at 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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8/8 Fraser fish, dead humpback, marine cleanup, stressed trees, sewage, canoe journey

(PHOTO: Associated Press)

Ichiro Suzuki Gets 3,000th Career Hit In Major Leagues
Ichiro Suzuki has gotten his 3,000th career hit in the major leagues, becoming the 30th player to reach the milestone. The Marlins outfielder did it Sunday with a triple in the seventh inning against Colorado at Coors Field. Miami players came out of the dugout to congratulate Suzuki, and he waved his helmet to acknowledge the cheers. (Associated Press)

Fraser River sockeye run may be a no-go for local fishermen
With fish counts remaining extremely low, it’s looking less likely that local commercial and tribal fishermen will get a chance to catch Fraser River sockeye salmon this summer. Fishermen in Canada and the U.S. have been waiting for the green light from the Pacific Salmon Commission to begin fishing for sockeye that are returning to the Fraser River in lower British Columbia. In its most recent assessment on Friday, Aug. 5, the sockeye run remains below expectations and the river remains warmer than normal, both factors in not opening the run. Dave Gallagher reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Humpback whale dies after stranding in West Seattle
Hundreds of people flocked to the Fauntleroy ferry terminal in West Seattle on Sunday morning to watch the dramatic — and ultimately heartbreaking — attempt to save a juvenile humpback whale that became stranded just 20 feet from shore. Angela Wood and Michael Sughrue raced from Renton when they learned from the Orca Network that the approximately 30-foot marine mammal was in trouble. Both sat on a log looking out toward the water and cried silently after learning that efforts to save the cetacean had failed. Christine Clarridge reports. (Seattle Times)

Living Oceans seeks funding for tugboat services for marine cleanup
What’s been billed as the biggest marine cleanup in Canadian history may not be completed unless a tugboat can be hired to haul an estimated 40 tonnes of marine debris from Vancouver Island to the Lower Mainland. According to the Living Oceans Society, $50,000 must be raised in the next month to pay for the services of a tugboat operator to pull a barge loaded with trash down the west coast of the Island and then to Steveston in Richmond, where the harbour authority has provided dock space and equipment for volunteers to sort the debris and send it out for recycling…. The cleanup began in February and involves a number of groups, including The Resort Municipality of Ucluelet, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, the Ocean Legacy Foundation, Surfrider Foundation and the Vancouver Aquarium. Jennifer Saltman reports. (Vancouver Sun)

From mountain forests to city parks, trees are stressed and dying
From mountain forests to city parks, trees that suffered terribly in last year’s drought are dying, and burgeoning pests are taking advantage of stressed trees struggling to hang on. More than 500 dead trees from big leaf maples to cottonwoods, birches and more already have been counted this year in Seattle city parks, and summer’s far from over. A typical year sees 130 trees culled, said Jon Jainga, urban forestry operation manager for Seattle Parks and Recreation. Statewide, officials are seeing trees with red needles, dead tops, dying branches, dropped needles and other signs of stress. Implicated in the unfolding treemageddon is the drought of 2015. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Japan uses sewage to fuel hydrogen-powered cars
When Mutsuro Yuji, chief of the central sewage plant in this southern Japanese city, first heard about the idea of making hydrogen from biogas — the combination of methane and carbon dioxide produced by the breakdown of organic matter — he was skeptical. “I thought it was a joke,” he said. But after a $12 million investment from Japan’s government, plus research, engineering, design and building work by Mitsubishi, Toyota and Kyushu University, Yuji is no longer laughing. Starting late last year, drivers of vehicles like the Toyota Mirai and Honda Clarity have been able to drive up to the sewage plant and power up their hydrogen fuel cell cars. The station is working only 12 hours a day but is making enough hydrogen to fill 65 cars daily. That could increase to 600 if all the biogas at the plant is used. Julie Makinen reports. (Los Angeles Times)

Pleasant Beach sewer issues resolved
Development is flowing once again on the south end of Bainbridge Island. The city took steps in the past year to address a sewage capacity shortage that stalled new construction south of Winslow, according city spokeswoman Kellie Stickney. New relief valves were installed on a force main pipe running between Lynwood Center and a treatment plant off Fort Ward Hill, which will help prevent airlocks in the line. Stickney said the city also installed a bypass vault at a pump station to allow workers to flush the pipe. It conducted a daylong flush that removed 20 years of sludge buildup…. The city resumed issuing building permits in the south end this summer, Stickney said, though additional sewage upgrades are still being considered. Tad Sooter reports. (Bainbridge Islander)

Nisqually’s Canoe Journey reignites Coast Salish culture
Dancers wearing black and red shawls with fringe that shimmered in the sunshine gracefully stepped and spun to the heartbeat-like cadence of hand drums. Nisqually tribal elder Cleo Frank proudly watched as the Coast Salish group shared its songs and dances on the soccer field-sized patch of dusty brown grass circled by huge white tents. A wide grin spread across Frank’s face when she talked about the joy she gets from seeing the tiny tots mimic the older ones. It’s one of the ways that Coast Salish culture will stay alive, she said. And it’s going to ensure the canoe journey and all of its traditions remain accessible for future generations. Lisa Pemberton reports. (Olympian)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-  300 AM PDT MON AUG 8 2016  

TODAY  SW WIND TO 10 KT...BECOMING NW 5 TO 15 KT IN THE  AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 9 SECONDS.  SHOWERS IN THE MORNING...THEN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON.  TONIGHT  W WIND 5 TO 15 KT...EASING TO 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND  WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 8 SECONDS. A SLIGHT 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 at salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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8/5 J2 Granny, bird die-off, 'sea snow,' fish fee, weekend tug weather

J2 Granny (Heather MacIntryre/KIRO)

A whale that predates the Titanic is still splashing through the Pacific
She was in ocean waters before the Titanic made its voyage across the Atlantic. She’s lived through two world wars, and is even older than women’s right to vote. And last week, J2 Granny – the whale that turned 105 this year – was seen swimming in high spirits in waters near Washington state, according to Orca Network. Kiana Cole reports. (Charlotte Observer)

Scientists consider starvation or illness in eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca bird die-off
Scientists are getting closer to understanding why hundreds of rhinoceros auklets, a seabird closely related to puffins, have been found dead in the eastern part of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. They may have starved. About 400 emaciated birds have washed ashore on beaches west of Port Angeles, near Victoria, and as far east as Whidbey Island since May, said conservation biologist Peter Hodum, an associate professor at the University of Puget Sound. Necropsies of some of the birds performed by the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center showed the birds may have died from bacterial pneumonia. What isn’t clear is whether they first caught pneumonia then starved, or if the birds couldn’t find food and then became more susceptible to pneumonia, Hodum said. Jesse Major reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Underwater photographer captures 'sea snow' in Puget Sound
On a June day in Colvos Passage, south of Olalla, "Doc" Thoemke dropped a homemade underwater video camera over the side of his boat. As he lowered it to the bottom of Puget Sound, flakes appeared on the video monitor. "We're looking really good. See how thick the flakes are? They're just huge," Thoemke said. As the camera moved to a depth of 300 feet, beyond where divers can go, the flakes became thicker…. KIRO 7 showed the underwater video clips to Christopher Krembs, an oceanographer in the marine monitoring unit at the Washington Department of Ecology. Turns out, Thoemke wasn't far off when he called it sea snow. "It's called marine snow. and it doesn't sink very fast, and so basically, it gets transported with the currents over long distances," Krembs said. Marine snow is microalgae that forms at the surface where there's light and then dies and sinks slowly through the water column. Graham Johnson reports. (KIRO)

License fee increases part of plan to support fish, wildlife programs 
South Sound residents will have the chance this week to comment on proposed license fee increases to expand conservation programs and provide more fishing and hunting opportunities. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is holding four meetings to gather input on the proposals. The workshops are part of “Washington’s Wild Future: A Partnership for Fish and Wildlife,” the agency’s effort to strengthen the department’s relationships with communities, increase support for conservation and outdoor recreation, and help ensure its programs and services meet the public’s needs, according to a news release. Jeffery Mayor reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-  300 AM PDT FRI AUG 5 2016  

TODAY  W WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT  8 SECONDS.
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 5 FT AT 8 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
SAT  LIGHT WIND...BECOMING N TO 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND  WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 7 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
SAT NIGHT  W WIND TO 10 KT IN THE EVENING...BECOMING LIGHT. WIND  WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
SUN  LIGHT WIND...BECOMING NW TO 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND  WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 9 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 at 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