10/20/11 Salish Sea News and Weather: Orcas, runoff rules, Elwha, Cantwell, fishing rules, invasives, N.Kitsap forest, at-risk youth, deer season, menhaden

PHOTO: Orca Network

Going on today: Orca Network notes that It's orca time in central Puget Sound and The Whale Trail alerts travelers that  New Whale Trail signs installed on Washington State Ferries will help riders identify species

Going to Surrey? Remember George W. Bush? Throng of protesters expected for Bush speech in Surrey

State environmental regulators released draft rules Wednesday that spell out exactly how governments should incorporate the strategies to control polluted runoff that can harm fish and water quality. Those of us who care about reducing the amount of runoff pollution going into Puget Sound and restoring the Sound to health consider the draft rules inadequate. Tell ‘em that in the review process. Wash. rules to spell out strategies to curb runoff

Remember the Elwha? Check out the latest progress: Instant waterfall on the Elwha River as water diverted to the west of former dam

Very busy lady: Senator Maria Cantwell and Alaska senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich introduced legislation asking government scientists to develop a response to the recently-discovered salmon virus. Sen. Cantwell wants game plan to stop salmon virus  Cantwell also has asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help control the spread of Asian clams recently discovered in Lake Whatcom, Whatcom Creek and Lake Padden. Cantwell seeks federal action on Asian clams found in Whatcom County waters

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is taking public comment on new fishing rules for next year at its web site through December 30. Among the proposed rules are closing winter steelhead fishing early in many Puget Sound rivers and preventing anglers from keeping sturgeon in the Sound and its tributaries. Proposed new rules for steelhead, sturgeon in Washington

Check out the state’s invasive species report. Knapweeds and gypsy moths are two invasive species found at Point Roberts. Two invasive species identified in Point Roberts

Got $70 million? That’s an estimated price for protecting 7,000 acres of forestland in North Kitsap. Olympic Property Group and Cascade Land Conservancy now have an option agreement for sale of the property, and Cascade Land Conservancy has 18 months to work out the finances. North Kitsap forestland deal could protect 7,000 acres 

Can’t eat Asian clams in Whatcom County, don’t eat paralytic shellfish poisoning-contaminated shellfish south of Point Whitehorn near Birch Bay. Most recreational shellfish harvesting unsafe in Whatcom County

Barbara Bach in Three Sheets Northwest has a fine story on the  Center for Wooden Boat’s Job Skills Training Program which helps young people from low-income or underserved backgrounds explore marine careers and learn professional skills. New program teaches at-risk kids how to navigate through the waters of Puget Sound, and of life

“Bambi might be beautiful, but he has absolutely no sense of right-of-way.” It's deer season -- on the roads

And from the other great waters: Clare Leschin-Hoar blogs that menhaden is a tiny fish considered “the most important in the sea.” However, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission now has fixed a technical error in how they have been measuring the stock’s health and has concluded that the fish have been overfished for more than half of the fishing seasons for the last 54 years. Good menhaden are hard to find

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 237 AM PDT THU OCT 20 2011
  TODAY
 LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 5 FT AT 9 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF RAIN.
 TONIGHT
 LIGHT WIND...BECOMING SE 10 TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES BUILDING TO 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 4 FT AT 9 SECONDS. RAIN LIKELY.

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