2/8 BC subsidies, salmon migration, rain gardens, Victoria sewage

Geraniums (Laurie MacBride)

Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "People fuss a lot over geraniums – or more properly, “Pelargoniums” (since true geraniums are actually quite different than these popular garden flowers). They’re not frost hardy, so they need to be brought inside for the winter. Every gardener seems to have a favorite method for dealing with them. Some people dig them up, shake the dirt off the roots and store them in paper bags or newspaper. Others take cuttings and root these in soil, then throw out the original plants; the following spring, they move the new plants to the garden. Variations on these themes abound. As for me, I take the easy way...." Big Colour, Little Fuss

The Canadian oil and gas industry is asking Ottawa for subsidies that could be worth $2 billion in tax savings to encourage the development of liquefied natural gas plants in British Columbia. Giving the industry a tax break would make the LNG export industry more competitive and influence investment decisions favourably, David Collyer, president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, argued in an appearance last fall before the standing committee on finance. The committee was holding pre-budget consultations in advance of the 2013 federal budget, expected to delivered next month. It has since recommended “that the federal government expeditiously encourage and support the development of infrastructure in relation to liquefied natural gas exports.” Gordon Hamilton reports. Oil and gas industry seeks billion-dollar tax break to lure LNG plants

One of the world’s great migration mysteries – how salmon find their way home from the distant ocean – may have been solved. Researchers studying the movement of sockeye salmon from British Columbia’s Fraser River say the fish are imprinted with a magnetic map when they are juveniles. And they later use that map as adults to read the Earth’s geomagnetic field, which guides them back from the North Pacific to the river mouth. Mark Hume reports. Magnetism guides salmon migration, research suggests   Listen to: EarthFix Conversation: Salmon Use Earth’s Magnetic Field To Go Home

When it comes to Seattle Public Utilities’ RainWise rain garden program, it’s hard to find a dissatisfied customer. You can ask Steve Severin. “It looks beautiful, but it’s also functional,” he said. “It’s doing something. It’s really cool.” Zachariah Bryan reports. RainWise rain gardens a hit in Ballard

Liberal leadership hopeful Joyce Murray supports the region’s provincially ordered secondary sewage treatment — unlike at least two of her challengers. “I think we need to treat the sewage when the testing is showing it’s creating a problem,” said Murray, MP for Vancouver-Quadra and a former B.C. environment minister. “But let’s find a way to have that treatment serve our other goals of energy efficiency and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” Liberal leadership candidate Joyce Murray supports sewage treatment


Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 900 AM PST FRI FEB 8 2013
TODAY
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 8 FT AT 12 SECONDS.
TONIGHT
W WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 11 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG.
SAT
W WIND 5 TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 6 FT AT 16 SECONDS. AREAS OF FOG IN THE MORNING.
SAT NIGHT
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 8 FT AT 17 SECONDS.
SUN
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 8 FT AT 17 SECONDS.
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