12/1 Salish Sea News and Weather: Destroying wetlands, protecting orcas, underwater explorers, NZ mud snails, SJ Preservation Trust, Olympic wilderness, CPR Steamship Terminal, Belfair sewer

(Encyclopedia of the Earth)

From our northern neighbors: “It poured snow on Whistler. And Vancouver was far drier than usual as the year’s wettest month delivered less rain and more sun to the city.”  Much to like about November weather in Vancouver and Whistler

Yesterday’s story about King County allowing developers who destroy wetlands to purchase “mitigation credits” instead of restoring wetland functions cited support from homebuilders Quadrant Homes and the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties and the conservation group People For Puget Sound. Why the latter? Quote: ‘“While the first preference is for projects to do no harm and then to mitigate onsite, we are pleased that King County has proposed this innovative and forward-thinking plan which will address losses of storm water infiltration,” Executive Director Tom Bancroft said in a statement.’ OK, I don’t get it: You mean, “if you can’t fight ‘em, join ‘em?’ Why not just go to the mat protecting wetlands?  County executive proposes new wetlands process

In December 2010, Canada’s Federal Court ruled that Ottawa had not done enough to protect the critical habitat of killer whales related to issues of salmon availability, environmental contamination and noise pollution from marine traffic. The federal government appealed the ruling and yesterday the court asked for more written submissions before making a judgment.  Federal Court of Appeal reserves judgment in killer whale protection case

Go deep at 10 AM today on KUOW Weekday when local underwater explorers share their adventures beneath the lakes and the Sound.  Seattle's Underwater Explorers

The state is emptying Olympia’s Capitol Lake to expose invasive New Zealand mud snails to the expected freezing weather the next few nights. Exposing the miniscule snails to freezing temperatures has helped reduce the infestation.  Capitol Lake lowered to kill snails

“The National Land Trust Census, a report released this month by the Land Trust Alliance, shows that voluntarily protected land increased 27 percent between 2005 and 2010. Locally, the San Juan Preservation Trust worked with private land owners to permanently protect 3,681 acres in the San Juan Islands, a 36 percent increase since 2005.” San Juan Preservation Trust places 2nd in nation

The Clallam County Republican Party doesn’t like the proposal designating 134,000 acres of Olympic National Forest as wilderness area and adding 37,000 acres of state trust lands and private timber company land to Olympic National Park as a wilderness area if the owners agree to sell. That’s because it’s “a not-so-subtle invasion of both public and private property rights.”  Anti-Wild Olympics resolution presented
See also Public forum on draft wilderness plan today in Port Townsend

“Shopping, eating and drinking should be in place by late summer at a renovated CPR Steamship Terminal building, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority said Wednesday, after its proposal for the harbourfront landmark won out over three other projects.” Greater Victoria Harbour Authority is the winning bid for CPR Steamship Terminal
 
Mason County can build the second of four phases of its Belfair sewer project for just $7 million instead of the $18 million earlier estimated. Good news for clean water but folks don’t want to pay for hooking up. Mason County considers moving more quickly on next phase of Belfair sewer

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST THU DEC 1 2011
  SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM PST EARLY THIS MORNING
  TODAY
 W SWELL 10 FT AT 12 SECONDS EARLY...THEN 8 FT AT 11 SECONDS. SE WIND 10 TO 15 KT...BECOMING SW IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT.
 TONIGHT
 W WIND 10 TO 20 KT...BECOMING NW AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 7 FT AT 14 SECONDS. CHANCE OF RAIN.

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