1/14 Climate rally, diving safety, orca tracking, SJ MRC, Skagit flooding, navy wharf, Poulsbo cruise, Columbia gillnets

Idle No More, Seattle (PHOTO: Bettina Hansen, Seattle Times)

If you like to watch: Hundreds participate in 'Idle no more' rally at Victor Steinbrueck Park  

If you like to watch: The Atlantic's Jordan Weissmann writes, "I'm not sure if this video is more heartbreaking or heartwarming, but it pretty well captures what's going on in Europe's economy right now. While the day-to-day drama of the continent's debt crisis has subsided, painful austerity measures have helped leave huge swaths of the population jobless. In Spain, unemployment is at 25 percent.  To cheer up the crowd at a one of the country's very full unemployment offices, Spanish radio program Carne Cruda 2.0 organized a flash mob of musicians to come and play a version a version of the Beatles classic "Here Comes the Sun." Just try not to feel moved.” Flashmob oficina paro (Carne Cruda 2.0)

Activists with the Fellowship of Reconciliation and other groups plan a climate-change rally from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, coinciding with the start of a 105-day legislative session. The goal is to draw attention to rising global temperatures that have been tied to human activities such as burning coal for power. The event also coincides with severe high tides on Puget Sound, which offer a glimpse early in the week of future sea level effects as the effect of global warming continue. Brad Shannon reports. Climate-change activists to rally as lawmakers start session Monday

The state Department of Natural Resources faces a fine of nearly $173,000 after being cited for 15 worker-safety violations following the drowning death of a diver. The citation was issued Friday by the Department of Labor & Industries. David Scheinost of Puyallup was part of a dive team sampling geoduck clams for paralytic shellfish poisoning on July 24. He reportedly surfaced briefly and sank. Among the violations found were numerous occurrences where divers were deployed without carrying a reserve breathing-gas supply, and DNR not having a designated person in charge to supervise. State agency cited, fined in death of geoduck diver

In just two weeks, a group of killer whales from Puget Sound has been tracked by satellite from South Kitsap to an area in the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco Bay. On Dec. 29, a male orca known as K-25 or "Scoter" was darted to attach a satellite transmitter to his dorsal fin as he swam with his pod near Southworth. Since then, the transmitter has provided daily updates on the whale's location. Experts have confirmed that Scoter is still traveling with the 19 or so members of K pod — one of three pods that frequent Puget Sound. Christopher Dunagan reports. Orcas tracked to waters off San Francisco  

The executive committee of the [San Juan] Marine Resources Committee has been asked to meet with three members of the San Juan County Council to discuss the division of responsibilities between the two bodies and the authority of the council to set policy, according to council Vice-Chairman Rich Peterson. Two issues — "no-go zones" for orca protection and the work closure period to protect juvenile salmon in San Juan County — have raised concern on the council that the MRC's "valuable role in protecting and enhancing the marine environment doesn't conflict with the council's policy setting role," said councilman Marc Forlenza, Friday Harbor, who will be attending the meeting along with Peterson and Patty Miller, East Orcas. Steve Wehrly reports. Who's in charge? Council, MRC at odds over 'work window' in marine waters

Skagit County residents could decide as soon as spring which method they prefer to protect the valley from catastrophic flooding. For more than a decade, federal and local leaders have studied the Skagit River through the General Investigation Study, a process outlined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Skagit’s GI has taken more than 10 years and is one of a few such studies in the nation to have been given a second chance. In that time, it has cost about $12 million in local and federal dollars and has been used as an example of government waste. The study was all but scrapped in early 2012, but “reset” by the Army Corps. Now it is expected to be completed in 2015, with $3 million or less in federal and local money. The community could decide among three flood protection methods this spring. Those methods include a plan to direct water out of the Skagit River before it gets to Burlington, called the Joe Leary Slough bypass or sheet flow project; a bypass or directed sheet flow to the Swinomish Channel; or rebuilding the levees farther apart, called a setback, starting at the downstream end of the Skagit River. Kate Martin reports. Lawmakers discuss Skagit flood study

Construction of a second explosives handling wharf at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor can continue. A U.S. District Court judge denied motions Friday from Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action and the Suquamish Tribe to halt the $715 million project until environmental effects are more fully explained and considered. Construction began Sept. 27. Ed Friedrich reports. Judge won't stop construction of second wharf at Bangor   See also: Judge's order making documents secret complicates Bangor wharf lawsuit  

With its protected bay, snapshot views of the Olympic Mountains and its quaint, Norwegian-themed downtown, Poulsbo is the quintessential stop for cruise ship voyagers looking to experience the individuality of Puget Sound. American Cruise Lines plans to navigate its 100-passenger cruise liner, American Spirit, in to Liberty Bay at least 15 times this year to introduce its passengers to the inland waterways of the area. The 200-foot vessel will make its first stop in April as a part of an eight-day cruise around Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. Other stops include Port Townsend, Port Angeles, Anacortes and Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. The cruise starts and ends in Seattle. Brynn Grimley reports. Inland cruise line adding Poulsbo stop  

The state Fish and Wildlife Commission [was] scheduled to vote Saturday on phasing out the use of commercial gill nets on the lower Columbia River, except in a few bays and side channels. The plan would offer sports anglers more time to fish for the prized Columbia River salmon and also would give commercial fishermen new opportunities on the main channel to use more selective seine gear to catch hatchery-raised salmon. But many commercial fishermen are hostile. Hal Bernton reports. New salmon plan would restrict gill-net fishing on lower Columbia     See: Commission approves policy to revamp Columbia River fisheries

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST MON JAN 14 2013
TODAY
S WIND TO 10 KT...BECOMING SW 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 11 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SPRINKLES.
TONIGHT
SW WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 12 SECONDS.
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