2/28 Duwamish & B'ham cleanups, derelict ships, Tony Angell, BC deer, CA reserves, BPA, Shell, Hood Canal, BP

Spring crocuses (Laurie MacBride)

Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "They’re often overlooked in favour of taller, fancier flowers, but how can anyone not be charmed by spring crocuses? As the days lengthen, these lovely little harbingers of spring emerge from winter’s cold and gloom as if from our dreams – lifting tired spirits, renewing our hopes and fueling our anticipation of the warm seasons to come. Who could possibly ask for more, and from such a simple, undemanding plant?" Crocuses: Nature’s Anti-Depressant  

If you like to watch: February 23, 2013. Orcas in the lineup near Tofino, British Columbia. Orcas chase surfers out of the water!

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center (PTMSC) is seeking a charismatic and visionary executive director who embraces its vision and who is capable of leading PTMSC’s efforts to ensure sustainable growth and continued program excellence.  For a full job description and instructions on how to apply, click here.

New blog: People for Lake Padden’s director Betsy Gross addresses Lake Padden stewardship needed from many to preserve popular park.

The Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday released a $305 million draft cleanup plan for Seattle’s lower Duwamish River, a price tag on the lower end of what some local business owners had feared. Top-end estimates had been as high as $1.2 billion, and some property and business owners had said paying their portion of a too-expensive Superfund cleanup might drive them out of business. An organization including local governments and Boeing, calling itself the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group, last year proposed a $260 million alternative. Steve Wilhelm reports. EPA proposes $305M cleanup for Duwamish

A $25 million cleanup project will begin on Whatcom Waterway this summer, aimed at curbing the environmental damage from decades of industrial uses. Besides removing contaminated sediment, the project also will remove creosote-treated timbers and concrete and asphalt rubble to create more natural shorelines in and around the channel at the mouth of Whatcom Creek, not far from the spot where the early white settlers built a sawmill. The area later became home to Georgia-Pacific Corp.'s pulp and paper mill and the Port of Bellingham's shipping terminal. Before cleanup work begins, Ecology is making a draft engineering design report available for public review and comment through March 27, 2013. John Stark reports. Ecology's plan to clean up Whatcom Waterway is ready for review   Meanwhile: Port Angeles Harbor cleanup plan inches toward public review

State ecology officials say derelict vessels, especially old fishing and work boats, are serious threats all over the Puget Sound, and it turns out these things get bought and sold all the time, but are rarely fixed up and put back in use. "We're seeing long term tenants that are defaulting on their moorage and ultimately leaving their vessels to rot at our facilities and other facilities,” said Mike DeSota, Environmental Compliance Program Manager, Port of Seattle. Such was the case of the Deep Sea, the rusty wreck that showed up one day on Penn Cove and several days later caught fire, sank and fouled beaches and shellfish farms with its toxic fuels and fluids. The Port of Seattle had tried but failed to sell it by auction. Gary Chittim reports. Port of Seattle sold derelict fishing vessel on Craigslist   And: State Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark opines: Derelict vessels damage state's budget and environment  

Tony Angell is an award-winning author, illustrator and naturalist. He can't get enough of birds or the books written about them. Valerie Easton reports. Book City: A bird in the hand is the perfect book subject  

Farmers should try to work more closely with hunters this year to deal with problem deer, Greater Victoria officials say. Measures available under the Farm Practices Protection Act — which allows hunting to protect crops — should be given a chance before the province will consider other options, Capital Regional District planning members were told Wednesday. Bill Cleverley reports. Hunters touted as answer to farmers’ deer troubles  Meanwhile: Sequim elk on the move, may cross U.S. 101

Six years after California put in place the nation's most expansive network of marine reserves -- a controversial experiment aimed at bringing back crashing populations of fish and other ocean species by creating dozens of "no-fishing zones" along the coast -- the effort appears to be working. In the first major study of its kind, scientists have found that populations and sizes of several key species of fish, along with starfish, urchins, crabs and other sea life, have increased more in the protected areas established in 2007 between San Mateo and Santa Barbara counties than in unprotected ocean areas nearby. Researchers cautioned that years of additional study are needed, noting that in some areas there was little or no difference. But overall, they said, the trends are encouraging -- a key finding because California's marine protected areas are being closely watched by other states and countries as a possible solution to  improving the health of the world's oceans. Paul Rogers reports. California's new no-fishing zones appear to be working, scientists say

The state’s Department of Ecology on Wednesday announced it had approved Poulsbo’s shoreline master plan, which regulates what uses are allowed along the city’s shoreline and estuaries. City council members approved the update in May, ending a review process that took nearly three years. The city’s shoreline plan hadn’t been updated since 1976. Amy Phan reports. State approves Poulsbo's shoreline master plan  

While water bottles may tout BPA-free labels and personal care products declare phthalates not among their ingredients, these assurances may not be enough. According to a study published February 27 in the Nature Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, we may be exposed to these chemicals in our diet, even if our diet is organic and we prepare, cook, and store foods in non-plastic containers. Children may be most vulnerable.  Contaminated Diet Contributes to Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: Phthalates and BPA

Shell Oil Co. has put Arctic drilling on hold. The company announced Wednesday that it will not attempt to drill for oil in the Arctic Ocean this year. The announcement comes after a year of accidents and setbacks for Shell’s Arctic drilling efforts. In a press release, Shell Oil president Marvin Odum called the move a “pause” in the company’s program to explore for oil off the north coast of Alaska. Shell has already spent nearly $5 billion on the effort. John Ryan reports. Shell Cancels Arctic Drilling For 2013

Mason County commissioners have decided to continue as members of the Hood Canal Coordinating Council, an intergovernmental organization that coordinates environmental restoration in and around Hood Canal. The commissioners — two of whom have since left office — voted at the end of last year to pull out of the council, saying they had serious reservations about the way the organization has been run. The Hood Canal Coordinating Council consists of county commissioners in Kitsap, Mason and Jefferson counties along with tribal officials with the Port Gamble S’Klallam and Skokomish tribes. The council generally meets once a month. Chris Dunagan reports. Mason County will stay in Hood Canal council

Expert witness Alan Huffman told the third day of the New Orleans trial over the Gulf of Mexico spill that BP should have heeded a "kick" in the well. "It is truly egregious to drill that extra 100 feet, knowing you could lose the well in the process," he said. BP accepts partial responsibility for the oil spill, but claims other firms at the trial share the blame and costs.  BP 'egregious' for drilling Macondo oil spill well

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 900 AM PST THU FEB 28 2013
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY
E WIND 20 TO 30 KT EASING TO 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 5 FT. W SWELL 7 FT AT 14 SECONDS SUBSIDING TO 5 FT AT 13 SECONDS. RAIN.
TONIGHT
SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 12 SECONDS. RAIN.
--
"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato@salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter.

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told