Salish Sea News and Weather

Thursday, July 22, 2021

7/22 Queen Anne's Lace 'dead zones,' Fairy Cr reporting, native plants, woolly dog, oyster recall, derelict boats, wild salmon menu, rodenticide ban, Caroline Gibson

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Queen Anne's Lace [Gardening Know How]

Queen Anne's Lace Daucus carota
The Queen Anne’s lace plant, also known as wild carrot, is a wildflower herb found in many parts of the United States, yet it was originally from Europe. Queen Anne’s lace can reach heights of about 1 to 4 feet (30-120 cm.) high. This plant has attractive, fern-like foliage and tall, hairy stems that hold a flattened cluster of tiny white flowers, with a single dark-colored floret just off its center. You can find these biennials in bloom during their second year from spring on into fall. (Gardening Know How)

Low oxygen levels off Northwest coast raise fears of marine ‘dead zones’
Low oxygen levels measured off the coast of Oregon and Washington are raising fears of large “dead zones” that could wipe out crabs and bottom-dwelling fish within. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, announced Wednesday that researchers have detected unseasonably low oxygen levels in a large area off the Pacific coast. Bradley W. Parks reports. (OPB)

Judge rules in favour of journalists' access to Fairy Creek blockade
The Canadian Association of Journalists, along with a coalition of news organizations and press freedom groups, has won a court case that will require the RCMP to grant media full access to the Fairy Creek blockades. The judge ruled that such access must be granted unless there is a genuine operational or safety reason to restrict it. (CBC) 4 things we learned from the court case challenging the RCMP’s treatment of journalists at Fairy Creek logging blockades Mike De Souza report. (The Narwhal)

Indigenous Plants Forum raises awareness of native botanical treasures
A Lopez Island-based nonprofit says the protection of critical habitat for native plants can also preserve a wealth of traditional knowledge. The group is working with private landowners to raise awareness of culturally important plants hidden in the bogs and underbrush of Puget Sound's natural areas. Sarah DeWeerdt writes. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine)

What ever happened to the Salish woolly dog? Learn more about this extinct breed with virtual history lessons
Senaqwila Wyss wants people to know what really happened to the furry companions of her people. Wyss, who hails from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), is the Indigenous cultural programmer at the Museum of North Vancouver and starting July 21, she will be holding virtual knowledge-sharing sessions on alternating Wednesdays that will look at the history and extinction of the Salish woolly dog. (CBC)

Samish Bay oyster recall issued, harvest closed due to bacteria-related illness
An illness caused by eating bad oysters is reaching record case numbers following the heat wave that baked the region, including its beaches. The illness, caused by the marine bacteria vibrio parahaemolyticus, led to the closure of commercial oyster harvesting in Samish Bay on July 16 and, as of Tuesday, a recall of any oysters harvested from the bay since June 29. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Another cost of COVID: WA state saw sharp increase in derelict boats in 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic caused some people to neglect their boats, one state official says. The state’s Derelict Vessel Removal Program saw an uptick of derelict vessels mid-2020, said Troy Wood, program manager of the state’s Derelict Vessel Removal Program. That was around the same time Washington state had its stay-home order. Angelica Relente reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

A stronger electricity grid is crucial to cutting carbon. Does that make it green?
Three viewpoints: A proposal to lay cables beneath the Columbia River is met with skepticism from an Indigenous activist and the river’s advocates. Peter Fairley reports. Investigate West)

Some B.C. restaurants remove wild salmon from menu in response to declining stocks
The Naramata Inn in the Okanagan has temporarily removed wild salmon from its summer menu, a decision chef Ned Bell said he made in an effort to allow salmon populations to recover. "It is a species that needs all the love we can give it." Bell, who is a former Ocean Wise executive chef, said that it's a temporary measure and he looks forward to bringing salmon back on his menu and supporting community fisheries again. The Vancouver-based Ocean Wise Conservation Association rates the sustainability of seafood so that consumers can avoid eating species that are over-fished or in decline. Michelle Gomez reports. (CBC)

B.C. bans rat-killing rodenticides for 18 months over wildlife concerns
B.C. is banning the use of rat-killing rodenticides over concerns the poison is inadvertently killing owls, among other wildlife. The ban will last 18 months and follows a series of prohibitions at the municipal level in B.C., including in North Vancouver. The provincial order took effect Wednesday, prohibiting second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARS) specifically, which the province said is particularly strong and risks the secondary poisoning of animals who consume poisoned rodents. (CBC)

Caroline F. Gibson February 6, 1964 - July 11, 2021
Caroline passed away at home with her partner Walt and her sister Mary Jane by her side in Port Townsend on July 11, 2021 following a lengthy battle with cancer. (Port Townsend Leader)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 244 AM PDT Thu Jul 22 2021
TODAY Light wind becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves less than 1 ft becoming 2 ft or less in the afternoon. SW swell 2 ft at 15 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 13 seconds.

--
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Wednesday, July 21, 2021

7/21 Rose weevil, J-pod absence, whale sanctuaries, protected watersheds, border agents

Rose Curculio [BugGuide]

Rose Curculio Merhynchites bicolor
Rose Curculio is a single generation Weevil that feeds on buds and petals of roses. The species name “bicolor” refers to the bright red elytra and thorax with the black head with a long snout. Wild roses are the main host for these native Weevils. They are attracted to pink and yellow roses with hips in the garden. Their feeding resembles that of earwigs, holes in buds and sometimes young shoots. Eggs are laid in bites made by the female and the larvae over winter in the rose hips, pupate, with the adults emerging the following spring to mate and begin a new cycle (WSU)

100 Days Without Js: J-Pod Absent from Core Summer Habitat for 100 Days and Counting
J-Pod was last seen in the San Juan Islands on April 10th. K-Pod made a brief visit to the Salish Sea on July 1 before heading back west to the outer coast; other than that, K-Pod and L-Pod have not been documented in inland waters since late February. While members of all three pods have been spotted at Swiftsure Bank off the western end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca in July, none of them have taken their typical summer route to follow Chinook salmon migrating towards the Fraser River. Monika Weiland writes. (Orca Behavior Institute)

The Hard Sell of Whale Sanctuaries
As aquariums end captive-whale programs, advocates seek to build ocean-based retirement homes for the animals—but finding the right host community is a feat. Matthew Halliday reports. (Hakai Magazine)

B.C. gets economic bang for bucks it spends on protecting watersheds
For the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, stream-bank stabilization work in the Chilako River watershed west of Prince George is about improving the future prospects for salmon. But it is also a project with economic side benefits... Watershed-conservation groups view this effort, which offered training in habitat restoration and jobs to 11 Lhedli T’enneh members and non-Indigenous Prince George residents, as a small ripple in what they estimate to be a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. Derrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Border reopening plan facing roadblock as thousands of border officials consider strike action
The federal government's plan to reopen the border to fully vaccinated U.S. citizens next month could be complicated by the threat of strike action. This week, more than 8,500 Canada Border Services Agency officers — who have been without a contract since June 2018 — are voting on whether they're willing to walk out. If more than half vote yes, they could be in a strike position by early August — just as the country prepares to again welcome fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Catharine Tunney reports. (CBC)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 302 AM PDT Wed Jul 21 2021
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. SW swell 1 ft at 11 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 1 ft at 10 seconds.

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

7/20 Black-eyed susan, border, spotted owl, tire pollution, Lower Elwha restoration, murder hornets, forest protected, derelict boats, glacial flour, BC LNG, Discovery Bay

Black-eye Susan [Lee Page]

Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
This cheerful, widespread wildflower is considered an annual to a short-lived perennial across its range. Bright-yellow, 2-3 in. wide, daisy-like flowers with dark centers are its claim-to-fame. They occur singly atop 1-2 ft. stems. The stems and scattered, oval leaves are covered with bristly hairs. Coarse, rough-stemmed plant with daisy-like flower heads made up of showy golden-yellow ray flowers, with disk flowers forming a brown central cone. (Wildflower)

Canada Announces US Border Reopening
Fully vaccinated residents of the United States will be allowed to cross the 49th Parallel and visit Canada beginning August 9 at 12:01, the Canadian government announced on Monday. Visitors from “the States” will not be required to undergo a quarantine. Children too young to be vaccinated will be allowed across the border but are advised to stick with their parents and avoid large gatherings...Travelers to the Great White North will have to meet conditions. They must have received two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna,or AstiaZeneca-Oxford vaccines, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, at least 14 days before arrival. They must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arrival. Air travelers must show they have been tested within 72 hours of boarding a Canada-bound flight. Canada-bound travelers must submit vaccination information using the ArriveCAN app. They are then emailed a receipt to show at the border, along with proof of vaccination. Joel Connelly reports. (Post Alley)

With rollback of Trump proposal, new Biden plan cuts just 2% of spotted owl protections
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to withdraw the previous administration’s rule that slashed millions of acres of critical habitat protections for the northern spotted owl. The proposed new rule would reduce the protected habitat area in Oregon by 200,000 acres — leaving far more land protected for the threatened owl than called for by the Trump administration. This comes after the Biden administration’s U.S Interior Department delayed and reviewed the Trump administration’s Jan. 15 rollback of 3.4 million acres of designated critical habitat protections for the imperiled species in Washington, Oregon and California. Monica Samayoa reports. (OPB)

Salmon-killing tires get congressional hearing
A study that pinpointed a chemical from car tires as the cause of salmon die-offs in West Coast creeks has prompted a congressional hearing. The toxic effects of tire dust and skid marks on coho salmon were the subject of a U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee hearing Thursday. Washington State University researcher Jenifer McIntyre said 6PPD-quinone, a chemical recently discovered in used tires, has been washing off roadways and killing coho salmon. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Lower Elwha restoration project in progress
The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe is conducting a beach restoration project at the former Olympic Rowing Club site on Ediz Hook through mid-August. The tribe’s restoration crew will remove existing piers and shoreline armoring such as concrete, creosote beams, riprap and metal, said Tiffany Royal, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission spokesperson. The area will be restored with logs and clean beach sand. A former building pad and parking area will be removed and prepped to be planted with native dune grass in 2022. (Peninsula Daily News)

Citizen scientists enlist in fight against WA's murder hornets
Thousands of volunteers are looking for the invasive, bee-killing insect, leaving officials optimistic about keeping the hornets at bay. Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

Great Peninsula Conservancy receives grant for North Kitsap Divide Block Forest
The North Kitsap Divide Block Forest won’t be developed if Great Peninsula Conservancy has anything to say about it — and a recent $2,935,000 state conservation grant will help. According to Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC), the 490 acres of habitat known as The Divide is one of the last remaining large blocks of private timberland in North Kitsap, part of the massive Kitsap Forest and Bay Project to preserve a historic forest south of Port Gamble. Jesse Darland reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Abandoned boats washed up at Howarth Park slated for removal
Two beached boats at Howarth Park in Everett have overstayed their welcome, authorities say. The Everett Police Department is working with state agencies and the county’s Marine Resources Committee to remove the pair that washed up earlier this month. Joseph Thompson reports. (Everett Herald)

Commencement Bay clouded by 'glacial flour' after historic heat wave
The waters of Commencement Bay off the shores of Tacoma continue to be clouded by what is called “glacial flour” after extreme temperatures led to an increase in snowmelt in recent weeks. Glacial flour is fine sediment produced by the grinding of glaciers on rock as they move across the ground. When glaciers melt, this powdery sediment often ends up reaching rivers and streams, clouding the water and making it appear milky. (KING)

B.C. First Nation and partners propose new $10B LNG megaproject
A First Nation in British Columbia is proposing a new liquified natural gas (LNG) export facility to be built on the community's treaty land and is making an environmental pledge to reach net-zero emissions within three years of commencing operations. The Nisga'a Nation, whose territory is north of Prince Rupert near the Alaska border, is partnering with a group of Western Canadian natural gas producers called Rockies LNG Partners and a Texas-based energy company called Western LNG. The project is called Ksi Lisims LNG and would include a pipeline to transport natural gas from the northeast corner of the province to the coast. The facility itself is estimated to cost $10 billion. Kyle BaKx reports. (CBC)

Biotoxins in shellfish lead to closure at Discovery Bay
Discovery Bay is closed to shellfish harvesting due to high levels of marine biotoxins discovered in the water. Shellfish samples taken from Discovery Bay were found to contain elevated levels of the marine biotoxin that causes diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, resulting in the state Department of Health closing the beaches around the bay for all shellfish harvesting, Jefferson County Environmental Health said in a press release. Zach Jablonski reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 233 AM PDT Tue Jul 20 2021
TODAY SW wind to 10 kt becoming W 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. W swell 2 ft at 7 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 2 ft at 6 seconds.

Monday, July 19, 2021

7/19 Ringed doris, PFAS, plastics, fish passage, Capitol Lake, vibriosis, drought, hawkpocolypse,looper moths, Jerry Franklin, Suzanne Simard, fish meth, Maui water

Ringed Doris [Reef Life Survey]

Ringed Doris Discodoris Sandiegensis
Oval shape. Body is creamy white to gray, with various-size, dark brown, round spots or circles in back. Covered with tiny, stiff hair-like projections. Antennae are comblike. Fees on encrusting sponges, especially Haliciona. Up to 3 inches. (Marine Life of Puget Sound, the San Juans, and the Strait of Georgia)

Seattle study of breast milk from 50 women finds chemical used in food wrappers, firefighting foam
In August 2019, Vera Harrington put a quarter cup of her breast milk into the refrigerator. She gave this milk not to her daughter, Flora, but a team of researchers investigating a pervasive class of chemicals that have found their way into humans all over the world. These chemicals are called Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — or PFAS — and have been used over the decades in products ranging from firefighting foams to cosmetics, nonstick pans, rain gear, stain-protected sofas, some types of fast food wrappers and even dental floss. Harrington, who lives in an Eastlake town house in Seattle, was one of 50 Puget Sound area first-time mothers who participated in the study. This past April, she got the results, which documented nine types of PFAS in her breast milk. Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times)

Cleanup crews tackle gargantuan task of cleaning B.C. beaches inundated with plastic
...In what was once a stretch of pristine Vancouver Island sand, a large piece of styrofoam had been pummeled into pieces by West Coast storms. Ben Boulton reached down and picked up a chunk of the foam, which is technically known as polystyrene plastic, widely used for insulation and packaging and apparently employed in this case for buoyancy beneath a large wooden dock...Boulton is part of a project funded under a $7 million B.C. government coastal cleanup program. It's the most ambitious attempt yet to tackle the problem — the goal is to collect debris along 1,200 kilometres of coastline. Greg Rasmussen reports. (CBC)

Fish passage projects to start on Highway 20 in east Skagit County
The latest work to improve fish passage under state roadways in Skagit County is set to begin Monday in the Concrete area. The state Department of Transportation this summer will replace two, 2-foot diameter culverts under Highway 20 — one on Lorenzan Creek in Concrete and the other on Fish Creek in Grassmere. Transportation spokesperson R.B. McKeon said the cost of the projects is a combined $3.6 million. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

10 questions answered about the draft environmental report for Capitol Lake
At the end of June, the state Department of Enterprise Services released a key document: the draft environmental report for Capitol Lake and the adjacent areas from the end of Tumwater Falls on the Deschutes River to West Bay in Budd Inlet. The lake’s north basin, a not-so-shimmering body of water flanked by Heritage and Marathon parks, was created decades ago by a small dam on Fifth Avenue that separates it from Budd Inlet. It’s the poor quality of the lake water that has long been the focus and concern of the community, finally resulting in the draft environmental impact statement released at the end of June by DES. Rolf Boone reports. (Olympian)

Vibriosis infections on rise, state officials say
An outbreak of vibriosis in Washington has already surpassed the highest number of cases ever recorded by the state for the month of July, the state Department of Health said in a press release. Health officials say 52 cases of vibriosis have been reported in July, KING-5 reported. They blame the record-breaking high temperatures that killed millions, if not billions, of sea creatures during the Pacific Northwest heat wave. The infections are associated with eating raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters, that are contaminated with Vibrio. (Associated Press)

West Coast drought puts fish and forests in dire straits
Vancouver Island fish and forests are in greater peril than ever as the B.C. government issues widespread drought warnings after a record-breaking heat wave and an explosion of wildfires across the province. Drought is impacting much of southern British Columbia and the central Interior due to very low rainfall, exacerbated by the recent extreme heat wave, according to the province. Water scarcity and low stream flows are affecting Vancouver Island, the entire Thompson-Nicola region, the Cariboo, Shuswap, and the Okanagan. Rochelle Baker reports (National Observer)

‘Hawkpocalypse’: Baby birds of prey have leaped from their nests to escape West’s extreme heat
Around the West, young birds of prey have been jumping out of their nests before they can fly to escape historic heat, landing helpless on the ground and in some cases sustaining injuries so serious they are euthanized. With more scorching temperatures coming for the northwestern United States and Canada starting this weekend, experts worry extreme weather fueled by climate change is set to take a growing toll on wildlife. Hannah Knowles reports. (Washington Post)

Infestation of looper moths stresses North Shore trees for third year in a row
An infestation of hungry moths has returned to Metro Vancouver for the third straight year, threatening to defoliate coniferous trees already stressed from drought conditions. The Western hemlock looper moth is native to B.C. and sees outbreaks every 11 to 15 years on the South Coast due to environmental conditions, with outbreaks lasting one to four years...Robyn Worcester, a natural resource management specialist with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks, says the recent heat wave could have stressed native trees more than usual...ecology of our forests," she said. "We don't want to be spraying that in our watersheds, anyway, or our parks. So there are no plans for that at this point." Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC)

Meet the eminent scientist, now 84, who vowed as a boy to protect Washington’s old-growth forests
Perhaps it was destiny that one of the world’s premier authorities on old-growth forest ecosystems would be Jerry Franklin, whose middle name is Forest. Franklin was among the first to discover the unique ecological value of old-growth trees, and forest ecosystems. He also was among a team of scientists whose work led to the protection of millions of acres of old growth on federal land in Washington, Oregon and Northern California with implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan in 1994. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Finding the Mother Tree: ecologist Suzanne Simard offers solutions to B.C.’s forest woes
From eating dirt as a child to discovering the mycorrhizal network below the forest floor, Simard has spent her entire career trying to find answers about how forests work; now, armed with those answers, she’s calling for change. Matt Simmons report. (The Narwhal)

Fish can get hooked on meth, a troubling sign of how the drug can pollute water
Methamphetamine use is on the rise worldwide. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, approximately 27 million people use meth and similar drugs each year. But meth use doesn’t just take a toll on people — it can harm animals, too. A study in the Journal of Experimental Biology tracks meth’s unintended toll on fish. When researchers exposed brown trout to methamphetamine in their aquatic habitat, they showed signs of addiction and withdrawal. Erin Blakemore reports. (Washington Post)

Maui County Loses Again In Federal Court Over Pollution Discharges
A federal judge ruled Thursday that Maui County can no longer discharge treated sewage into the ocean without a permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, potentially putting an end to a decade old standoff over the reach of the Clean Water Act. Nick Grube reports. (Honolulu Civil Beat)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 201 AM PDT Mon Jul 19 2021
TODAY Light wind becoming W 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves less than 1 ft becoming 2 ft or less in the afternoon. W swell 3 ft at 7 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 1 to 2 ft after midnight. W swell 2 ft at 7 seconds.

Friday, July 16, 2021

7/16 Smokey Bear, border opening, ecosystem health, NW summer, BC methane, Kimberly-Clark cleanup, cruise ships, ship crash, grizzly, coyotes, oil cleanup, opah, week in review

Smokey Bear

Smokey Bear
Smokey Bear is an American campaign and advertising icon of the U.S. Forest Service. In the Wildfire Prevention Campaign, which is the longest-running public service announcement campaign in United States history, the Ad Council, the United States Forest Service (USFS), and the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), in partnership with creative agency FCB, employ Smokey Bear to educate the public about the dangers of unplanned human-caused wildfires. A campaign began in 1944 featuring Smokey and the slogan "Smokey Says – Care Will Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires". His slogan changed to "Remember... Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires" in 1947 and was associated with Smokey Bear for more than five decades. In April 2001, the message was officially updated to "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires" in response to a massive outbreak of wildfires in natural areas other than forests (such as grasslands), and to clarify that Smokey was promoting the prevention of unplanned outdoor fires, not prescribed burns. (Wikipedia)

Fully vaccinated Americans may enter Canada as of mid-August
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday Canada could start allowing fully vaccinated Americans into Canada as of mid-August for non-essential travel and should be in a position to welcome fully vaccinated travelers from all countries by early September. Rob Giles reports. (Associated Press)

How healthy is the Salish Sea? Canada-U.S. study tracks ecosystem decline
A joint Canada-U.S. report on the health of the Salish Sea has found either an overwhelming decline or stable trend in nine out of 10 environmental indicators tracked by researchers. The only positive? Shellfish. Stefan Labbe reports. (Coast Reporter)

Hot NW summer: More high temps and low precipitation ahead
Crews are trying to contain wildfires that have already burned tens of thousands of acres throughout the Northwest. The already dire situation is being made worse by gusting winds, a lack of rain, and above-average heat. The coming months aren't likely to be much better. Angela King and Katie Campbell report. (KUOW)

B.C. oil and gas sites releasing up to 2.2 times more methane emissions than federal estimates: study
New research, supported in part by the BC Oil and Gas Commission, confirms what watchdog groups have been arguing for years — that some of the province’s most significant greenhouse gas emissions aren’t being properly counted and accounted for, with potentially serious consequences for Canada’s stated climate targets. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Legacy of pollution makes Everett port project ‘challenging’
Though dump trucks hauled away some 14,000 loads of polluted material last year, much remains below the surface where the Kimberly-Clark pulp and paper mill once stood along the waterfront. Metals, PCBs and other chemical remnants of milling still taint sand and silt, highly vulnerable to seismic shifts. Pilings that once supported mill buildings are buried alongside debris of brick and concrete. Sawdust and other wood wastes fill underground pockets up to 40 feet deep that will compress under heavy weight. The vestiges of the plant’s century-long life make for conditions geotechnical consultants have deemed “challenging.” Rachel Riley reports. (Everett Herald)

Cruise ships to be allowed to visit Canadian ports in November
Cruise ships will be allowed back in Canadian waters on Nov. 1, the federal transport minister announced Thursday. Minister Omar Alghabra said cruise companies will be required to "fully comply with public health requirements" in order to sail through Canada's waters and dock at its ports. Federal officials had originally extended the cruise ship ban until the end of February. Speaking from Victoria on Thursday, Alghabra said the government felt it was possible to shorten the restriction period since the country has made progress with vaccinations and reducing COVID-19 case counts. (CBC)

Ship crash in Vancouver harbour blamed on 'systematic failure,' communications 'breakdowns'
A federal investigation into two bulk carrier ships that crashed in Vancouver's Inner Harbour two years ago has blamed the collision on "breakdowns in situational awareness and communications." The Transportation Safety Board released its report into the incident on Thursday. The March 17, 2019, crash saw the ship Caravos Harmony — a 229-metre bulk carrier loaded with 70,000 tonnes of corn — crash into another bulk carrier more than double its weight, the 292-metre, 170,000-tonne bulk carrier Pan Acacia. David P. Ball reports. (CBC)

1st female grizzly in 40 years collared in Washington state
Wildlife biologists have captured a female grizzly bear in Washington state for the first time in 40 years, fitting it with a radio collar so they can track its movements, officials said Thursday. The grizzly, along with her three cubs, were released to help biologists learn more about the endangered animals, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists captured the bear about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the Washington-Idaho state line on U.S. Forest Service land. Nicholas K. Geranios reports. (Associated Press)

Vancouver Park Board says 4 coyotes euthanized after more than 30 attacks in Stanley Park
Conservation officers tracked and euthanized four coyotes in Stanley Park Wednesday night after months of unprovoked attacks on visitors, according to the Vancouver Park Board... [O]fficers are continuing to patrol the popular downtown park and that the trail network west of the causeway is closed for people's protection until further notice. (CBC)

Oil cleanup complete at historic shipwreck off Vancouver Island
The Canadian government says the removal of oil from a shipwreck off Vancouver Island is complete after oil was spotted leaking from the wreck in December. On Monday, Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan said roughly 60 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and diesel had been removed from the MV Schiedyk, which sunk off Bligh Island in 1968...The U.S.-based Resolve Marine Group was contracted to help remove the fuel in the spring. Much of the oil was coming from the ship's four fuel tanks after the vessel had sunk to a depth of roughly 122 metres. Adam Chan reports. (CTV)

Tropical fish rare to Oregon Coast found on beach
A fish rarely found on the Oregon Coast washed up on Sunset Beach north of Seaside, The Seaside Aquarium said. A 3.5-foot, 100-pound opah was reported to the aquarium Wednesday morning, according to the aquarium’s Facebook page. Sunset Beach is located between Seaside and Warrenton on the northern coast. Aquarium officials said on social media that after seeing photos of the fish staff responded and recovered it. (Associated Press)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 7/16/21: Snake day, marbled murrelet, Meadowdale Beach, Nooksack water, tree fungus, ecosystem health, B'bay cleanup, shellfish loss, WA drought, Tongass NF, 2030 flooding, ship crash, NW summer, border opening

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 248 AM PDT Fri Jul 16 2021
TODAY SW wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 8 seconds. Chance of showers.
TONIGHT NW wind to 10 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 8 seconds. A slight chance of showers.
SAT Light wind becoming NW to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds. A slight chance of showers.
SAT NIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.
SUN W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.

Thursday, July 15, 2021

7/15 Fire ants, WA drought, seismic ship, Stanley Park coyotes, Youth Ocean Advocates, saving Tongass NF, tricking murrelets, octopus talk, 2030s flooding

Fire ants [Stephan Ausmus/USDA]

Fire ants
Fire ants are several species of ants in the genus Solenopsis. They are, however, only a minority in the genus, which includes over 200 species of Solenopsis worldwide. Solenopsis are stinging ants, and most of their common names reflect this, for example, ginger ants and tropical fire ants. (Wikipedia)

Drought emergency declared in Washington state
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday declared a statewide drought emergency because of hot, dry conditions that have plagued the region and water supply. Citing recent record temperature that killed at least 91 people in the state, increased wildfire activity and drought, Inslee called it “the summer of climate change.” “This is not political hyperbole,” Inslee said. “It is a scientific consensus that is jarring the life of every Washingtonian in some way.” A drought emergency declaration is issued when water supply is projected to be below 75% of average, and poses a hardship to water users and the environment. The declaration allows expedited emergency water right permitting and allows the state to aid state agriculture, protect public water supplies and boost stream flows to safeguard fish. Rachel La Corte reports. (Associated Press)

Seismic research ship goes boom-boom to seek answers at origin of the next Big One
Earthquake researchers are eager to dig into a trove of new data about the offshore Cascadia fault zone. When Cascadia ruptures, it can trigger a megaquake known as "the Big One." The valuable new imaging of the geology off the Oregon, Washington and British Columbia coasts comes from a specialized research vessel.The National Science Foundation seismic research ship Marcus Langseth zigged and zagged for nearly six weeks over the full-length of the undersea Cascadia Subduction Zone -- from the Oregon-California border north to Vancouver Island. The research expedition departed from Newport, Oregon, on June 1 and returned to shore in Seattle late Sunday. Tom Banse reports. (NW News Network)

Conservation officer advises the public to stay away from Stanley Park following another coyote attack
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service is advising the public to avoid a popular park in downtown Vancouver as aggressive coyotes continue unprovoked attacks on visitors...More than 30 people have been attacked by coyotes in the park since December 2020, including a two-year-old child who was taken to hospital after an attack Monday. Courtney Dickson reports. (CBC)

Seattle Aquarium inspires the younger generation
The Seattle Aquarium is helping to educate hundreds of young volunteers about meaningful action for preservation. Passionate about the marine environment, Samantha Lynn Martinez is excited to share her knowledge with each visitor she encounters at the Seattle Aquarium...A dedicated Youth Ocean Advocate, Martinez is completing her third and final summer in the program at the aquarium. The Youth Ocean Advocate program is geared towards high school students. It has attracted more than 2,100 young people in the Puget Sound region since it began in 1994. Tracey Leong reports. (KIRO)

Biden to Restore Protections for Tongass National Forest in Alaska
Former President Donald J. Trump invited mining and logging to a vast wilderness of bald eagles, black bears and 800-year-old trees. President Biden is reversing course. Coral Davenport reports. (NY Times)

Scientists Are Tricking Birds into Finding New Homes
New research has added marbled murrelets to the list of seabirds that can be manipulated with misinformation... In recent experiments, the team, led by OSU biologist Jonathon Valente, showed that a marbled murrelet’s choice of where to nest is strongly influenced by hearing the calls of other murrelets in the area. The authors suggest this could be leveraged to attract marbled murrelets away from stretches of threatened forest into currently unoccupied stands that offer prime breeding habitat. Their research shows that the simple act of playing marbled murrelet calls through a speaker is enough to spur the birds to relocate. Carolyn Cowan reports. (Hakai Magazine)

If you like to listen: How Octopuses Upend What We Know About Ourselves
What these mysterious sea creatures can teach us of the wonders of consciousness. Ezra Klein interviews Sy Montgomery. (NY Times podcast)

A Study Predicts Record Flooding In The 2030s, And It's Partly Because Of The Moon
A new study on high tide flooding predicts that the mid-2030s could be catastrophically wet in U.S. coastal regions — and it could stay that way for an entire decade. Led by members of the NASA Sea Level Change Team from the University of Hawaii, the study says that high tide flooding could happen more frequently on several U.S. coasts. Flooding at high tide, often called nuisance flooding, already occurs with regularity in many coastal communities as water routinely sloshes into streets, yards and businesses. Two factors could converge to worsen flooding at high tide, the study says: rising sea levels fueled by climate change — and the moon. Josie Fischels reports. (NPR)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 236 AM PDT Thu Jul 15 2021
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt becoming NW 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. W swell 4 ft at 7 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 8 seconds. A slight chance of drizzle after midnight.

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

7/14 Burning bush, ecosystem action plan, shellfish loss, defamation case, B'ham Bay cleanup, golden paintbrush, Fairy Cr protest, Lytton fire

Burning bush [Chris Barton/WikiMedia]

Burning bush Euonymus alatus
Euonymus alatus, known variously as winged spindle, winged euonymus, or burning bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Celastraceae, native to central and northern China, Japan, and Korea. The common name "burning bush" comes from the bright red fall color. (Wikipedia)

Canada and the United States release new action plan for Salish Sea Ecosystem
...Today, the governments of Canada and the United States announced that they have signed a new four-year "Action Plan" under their Joint Statement of Cooperation—first signed in 2000—that commits both countries to work together on transboundary issues and challenges facing the Salish Sea ecosystem. Under the action plan, the two nations will continue to engage with partners across the region to advance shared priorities for ecosystem health, including information sharing, improving transboundary coordination, and reporting on ecosystem health. Environment and Climate Change Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also updated their joint "Health of the Salish Sea Ecosystem Report" analyzing ten indicators of the health of the Salish Sea. Overall trends described in this report reveal some improvement, but also areas of no change or decline that can be identified as ecosystem priorities for future action. (Yahoo Finance)

Can biologists estimate the massive loss of shellfish caused by low tides, high temps?
The putrid smell of rotting shellfish on some beaches in Puget Sound and elsewhere along the West Coast were a clear sign that large numbers of clams, mussels, oysters and other intertidal creatures were killed from exposure to extreme low tides, record-breaking temperatures and a blazing hot sun. The total losses of shellfish that perished late last month may be difficult to estimate, but experts are beginning to piece together evidence from shoreline residents, state and tribal biologists, and commercial shellfish growers. Their goal is to describe what took place during the record-breaking temperatures of June 25-29 during some of the lowest tides of the past century. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

Conservationists’ fight against developer’s defamation case a test of B.C.’s law to protect free speech
Lawyers say Todsen Design and Construction’s libel case against two individuals and the Qualicum Beach Preservation Society — each fighting to protect a small coastal Douglas fir forest from development — will test a fairly new provincial law designed to halt strategic lawsuits against public participation. Stephanie Wood reports. (The Narwhal)

This Bellingham Bay cleanup is taking longer than expected. Here’s why
If you’ve strolled along Bellingham Bay at any point in the last few years, you’ve probably seen the sign on South Bay Trail — the city of Bellingham has big plans to clean up two former industrial sites, transforming the waterfront area into a public access point informally called Cornwall Beach Park....The only challenge? The cleanup planning process has been in the works for nearly a decade, due to lengthy bureaucratic processes at the city, state and federal levels. In 2015, construction was expected to begin in 2017. Now, officials are hoping for a start date of 2023. The project is currently in the engineering design process and permitting is anticipated to begin in the coming months. Ysabelle Kempe reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Golden paintbrush prairie flower proposed as no longer threatened
The bright visage of butterflies fluttering in a field of swaying golden paintbrush flowers was a rare sight up until a few years ago. The perennial flower, native to prairie lands in the Pacific Northwest, became elusive in areas it once blanketed and was listed as threatened in 1997 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Twenty-four years later, the agency has proposed it be taken off the Endangered Species Act — which lists both threatened and endangered species. Daisy Zavala reports. (Seattle Times)

Six more old-growth logging protesters arrested on Vancouver Island
Six more people protesting old-growth logging in the Fairy Creek watershed area of Vancouver Island were arrested on Tuesday for breaching a court injunction. Five of them were locked in an interconnected arrangement of devices dug in a series of trenches in the area of Reid Mainline Road. To make matters more difficult, a number of large boulders had been perched above the heads of the people lying in the trenches. Mike Raptis reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Did a Train Start the Lytton Fire?
Experts say it’s likely. And last year CN paid $16.6 million for sparking another blaze near the community. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 255 AM PDT Wed Jul 14 2021
TODAY W wind to 10 kt rising to 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. NW swell 5 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. NW swell 4 ft at 8 seconds.