11/30 Salish Sea News and Weather: Nov. weather, salmon virus, pipeline risks, screwing wetlands, deer traps, Peninsula internet, Archie Satterfield, raven gestures

PHOTO: Meegan Reid, Kitsap Sun

Well, here we are at the last day of November. Weatherwise, climate scientist Cliff Mass says the last week or two of November is climatologically the worst period of the year by many measures. Climatologically, The Worst of Winter is Over!

New blog by Christopher Dunagan at the Kitsap Sun: Coho, chum salmon running with high water
 
Salmon virus drama. Joel Connelly at SeattlePI.Com writes: “A 2004 draft manuscript, leaked out of Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans, indicates that the deadly infectious salmon anemia virus was identified eight years ago in coho, pink and sockeye salmon taken from southern British Columbia, Southeast Alaska and Bering Sea waters. Testing done in 2002 and 2003 ‘lead us to conclude that an asymptomatic form of infectious salmon anemia occurs among some species of wild Pacific salmon in the north Pacific,’ said the manuscript.”  A 'smoking salmon' report: Was deadly fish virus detected years ago?    Also, see Craig Welch’s article, Canada kept detection of salmon virus secret

No, thanks: Three leading environmental groups -- the Pembina Institute, Natural Resources Defense Council and Living Oceans Society -- released a report Tuesday on Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, saying the risks of shipping Alberta oilsands bitumen by pipeline through British Columbia outweigh the benefits. Risks of Northern Gateway Pipeline outweigh benefits to B.C.
 
Destroying wetlands, period, is a bad idea: “In the near future, builders in rural and unincorporated King County could purchase credits to offset construction-related damage to wetlands. Under a plan proposed by County Executive Dow Constantine, builders could pay a fee, rather than completing projects in a process called mitigation to compensate for damaged or destroyed wetlands.” Streamlined process for wetlands proposed
 
On the topic of ‘nuisance wildlife,’ check out the “clover traps” being used by northern neighbors to capture marauding urban deer. These nets stop deer, not pucks

The nonprofit corporation -- Northwest Open Access Network, or NoaNet  -- tasked with bringing high-speed Internet access to the most rural reaches of the North Olympic Peninsula promises when folks can logon.  High-speed Internet tapped for Peninsula by August 2013

Archie Satterfield, a former journalist and author, died from a stroke after surgery on Nov. 21 in Bellingham. He was 78. Obituary: Archie Satterfield, author, former journalist 

Scientists now provide the first evidence that ravens (Corvus corax), like great apes and humans, also use deictic gestures -- pointing and holding up objects -- in order to test the interest of a potential partner or to strengthen an already existing bond. 'Look at That!' Ravens Gesture With Their Beaks to Point out Objects to Each Other

Now, your tug weather--
 WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 900 AM PST WED NOV 30 2011
  SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
 TODAY
 W SWELL 14 FT AT 11 SECONDS...SUBSIDING TO 11 FT AT 11 SECONDS IN THE AFTERNOON. E WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT.
 TONIGHT
 W SWELL 10 FT AT 11 SECONDS. E WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT.

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