11/9 Coal, octopus reserves, Peninsula spill, Tethys water, Skagit water, streaked horned lark

Streaked horned lark (David Maloney,USFW)

Ready? Cliff Mass writes: “The "official" snow season in the Northwest lowlands starts on November 15th and the threat this winter is greater than we expected a few months ago....” Seattle Gets Ready for Snow!


If you like to listen: Martha Baskin brings us more public testimony from hearings held in the San Juan Islands and Bellingham about Peabody Coal’s proposal to build North America’s largest coal export terminal at Cherry Point, Bellingham. We hear from those concerned about raising children in a healthy place, climate change, tribal fishing rights and the impact of increased vessel traffic on tourism, marine life and oil spills. Thousands of Citizens Weigh in on Proposal to Build North America’s Largest Coal Export Terminal - Part Two    See also: Coal Export Public Meetings Are Drawing Northwest Crowds  

The Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife announced today it will consider bans on octopus harvesting near popular Seattle beaches and possibly other areas in the Puget Sound. Dylan Mayer, the octopus hunter who sparked an outrage when he took one of the charismatic animals at Cove 2, a popular dive site in West Seattle, was the first voice for a ban on hunting in the cove at a public hearing before the state Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting in Olympia on Thursday. “I didn’t know they were so beloved, or I wouldn’t have done it,” he told the commission, according to a news release issued by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Thursday.   Fish & Wildlife to consider Puget Sound octopus harvesting bans  

Cleanup crews will be removing heavy oil from the side of a barge, the Tesoro Terminal’s fuel dock and the pilings underneath for several days after a small fuel oil spill Wednesday, a state Department of Ecology spokesman said Thursday. By the end of the day Wednesday, cleanup contractors Global Diving & Salvage and Marine Spill Response Corp. had cleaned up nearly all of the spilled oil — except for a thin sheen that was unrecoverable — from the water using absorbent materials. “They got between 90 percent and 95 percent of the oil out of the water,” said department spokesman Curt Hart. Now, crews are focusing on cleaning structures, a job that may take them through the weekend, Hart said.  Leah Leach reports. Crews continue oil cleanup in Port Angeles

Tethys Enterprises is “on track” to meeting a Dec. 1 milestone to acquire property for its proposed food-grade bottling plant in Anacortes, company CEO Steve Winter said Thursday in a presentation to the Anacortes Rotary Club. The city of Anacortes has agreed to provide the plant with up to 5 million gallons of water a day. The contract gives Tethys until Dec. 1 to line up property for the site, though the city could approve another extension. Tethys would then have two years to complete the necessary studies and apply for permits. The plant must be up and running by June 1, 2018, according to the contract. Jack Darnton reports. Tethys ‘on track’ for Dec. 1 land deadline  

Skagit County commissioners sent a letter to various agencies Monday indicating they want to pull out of a landmark agreement to help secure Skagit River water rights for 50 years. They cited a breach of that agreement by the city of Anacortes and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and a lack of good-faith attempts to resolve ongoing issues.  The commissioners are requesting a governor’s mediator to resolve ongoing water rights issues. In their letter, the commissioners say they won’t sue — yet. Kate Martin reports. Commissioners want to back out of water agreement  

When you think of creatures on the endangered species list, pristine habitat comes to mind: spotted owls swooping through old-growth forests, salmon straining to reach Idaho's clear waters.  The streaked horned lark is a bird of a different feather.  With its traditional territory mostly destroyed, the Northwest's latest candidate for a federal listing has set up shop in some unlikely places. Scott Learn reports. Streaked horned lark, Northwest's latest candidate for endangered species list, favors airports, farms and dredge islands  

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 231 AM PST FRI NOV 9 2012
TODAY
E WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 7 FT AT 11 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
E WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. NW SWELL 6 FT AT 9 SECONDS.
SAT
E WIND 15 TO 20 KT...EASING TO 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 5 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
SAT NIGHT
E WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 5 FT AT 16 SECONDS.
SUN
E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 5 FT AT 15 SECONDS.
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