6/28 State budget, oil terminal, BC pipe, Skagit floods, Smith Is., Oly Park, sixgill, Stanley Park, sea study, Steve Sulkin

New blog: “I grew up in Hawaii with no idea what I was singing about when rumbling along with Tennessee Ernie Ford in my deepest pre-teen bass voice to the lyrics of Sixteen Tons...” Coal: “I Owe My Soul To The Company Store”

Right on time for July-- Cliff Mass writes: "The past several days has brought strong showers, lightning, and occasional gusty winds.  But that inclement weather will soon be a memory as a major ridge develops over the western U.S.  Temperatures will climb into the 80s west of the Cascades, with highs reaching into the lower 100's early next week over portions of eastern Washington." Major Warm Up Ahead  

One-hundred and fifty days of contentious budget negotiations — and the threat of a government shutdown — ended Thursday morning with a handshake.... In the end, negotiators agreed on a $33.6 billion, two-year state budget that would put an additional $1 billion into public schools and ensure state offices will remain open Monday.The package represents a roughly $2.5 billion increase in spending over the current $31.1 billion budget that expires at midnight Sunday. Andrew Garber reports. $33.6B budget gets tentative OK; gives $1B boost to schools  

Oil refiner Tesoro and a terminal operating company named Savage detailed plans Thursday for the biggest crude oil shipping terminal to be proposed in the Northwest.   The proposed terminal, which would be located on the Columbia River at the Port of Vancouver in Washington, would receive crude by rail from oil fields in North Dakota and the like. The oil would then be transferred onto oceangoing tankers for delivery to West Coast refineries. Tom Banse reports. Proposed rail-to-ship crude oil terminal biggest yet in region   Also see: What You Can Do About Oil-By-Rail in the Northwest

A B.C. First Nations group says it will not support Premier Christy Clark’s liquefied natural gas strategy unless the province withholds drilling permits for the proposed $6.5-billion Northern Gateway oil pipeline. Enbridge has applied for provincial permits in 32 locations in northern B.C. along the proposed oil pipeline route to carry out work this summer meant to provide more information about below-ground conditions. Gordon Hoekstra reports. First Nations group calls for B.C. to reject Northern Gateway pipeline work permits

The area’s congressional delegation has secured nearly $300,000 to allow work to continue on a Skagit River flood protection study through October. This will allow work on the Skagit River General Investigation Study to continue at a pace that could see a final report in about two years... The money will go to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. But first, officials will unveil the top choice for protecting residents and property from a 100-year flood. Such a flood has a 1 in 100 chance of happening in a given year. The Skagit River GI Study has continued for more than a decade and cost more than $11 million in local and federal money. Such studies are not supposed to take this long or cost this much; the Skagit River’s is of the longest running studies in the country. Money secured to fund flood study

Snohomish County on Tuesday withdrew the final environmental study issued earlier this month for an $18 million project to restore salmon habitat on Smith Island. The county made the decision after deciding the June 10 environmental impact statement would benefit from more technical details, surface water management director Debbie Terwilleger said. The county plans to reissue the study next month when it seeks its first major permit required to construct the project. The county withdrew the study after the local diking district and the county Farm Bureau appealed it.  County seeks more study of Smith Island salmon project

The North Olympic Peninsula's national park is celebrating its diamond anniversary this weekend. And those who oversee Olympic National Park agree that it looks pretty good for its age. “Seventy-five is the new 40,” National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis said Wednesday.... As the park, signed into existence June 29, 1938, by President Franklin D. Roose-velt, steps into its next 75 years, Jarvis and Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum agreed that two of the biggest challenges it faces is climate change and keeping the national park relevant for younger generations. Jeremy Schwartz reports. Olympic National Park diamond jubilee: Looking ahead to next 75 years  

The (Friday Harbor) Labs biological preserve at San Juan Island's Argyle Lagoon became a makeshift laboratory Wednesday afternoon, June 26, after a call came in that a 12-foot-long sixgill shark had washed up on the beach. Students and instructors bundled up a batch of scientific equipment and exited the marine facility en masse, according to biologist Adam Summers, a shark specialist and associate director of the Labs comparative biomechanics department. Scott Rasmussen reports. Stranded sixgill offers 'rare' look at predator from the deep  

Four years after the project began, volunteers have finally finished combing through Stanley Park, stripping 8,000 trees, shrubs and stumps of English ivy. While the invasive species is not poisonous, it chokes out branches of native species and when it reaches a certain height, it flowers and spreads... More than 1,000 people have volunteered their time in the last year alone to fight invasive species in Stanley Park... Park Board Commissioner Aaron Jasper says the four-year project is the result of a culmination of partnerships that began after a devastating windstorm struck the park in December 2006.  Volunteers clear Stanley Park of invasive English ivy  

The University of Washington research ship Tommy Thompson sits a the end of Pier 91 and is getting ready to sail in a few days. On board are most of the 570 miles of fiber optic cable that will turn the ocean floor off the northwest coast into a research paradise, and not just for scientists. The public will also be able to watch high definition video of hot volcanic vents and unusual sea life in real time starting in 2015. The public may even be invited to help with research. The project is called the Ocean Observatories Initiative. It's the larger of two such observatories, with one operating off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. Glen Farley reports. UW takes major step in establishing ocean observatory

For 28 years, Steve Sulkin has guided Shannon Point Marine Center as it added new facilities and programs and welcomed more and more students and others from around the country taking advantage of its research facilities. Sulkin, who came to the Western Washington University facility in the West End in 1985 as its first full-time director, will retire at the end of August. Joan Pringle reports. Sulkin to retire from Shannon Point center

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 251 AM PDT FRI JUN 28 2013
TODAY
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 4 FT AT 10 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG THIS MORNING.
TONIGHT
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 4 FT AT 15 SECONDS.
SAT
LIGHT WIND...BECOMING W TO 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 4 FT AT 14 SECONDS.
SAT NIGHT
W WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 14 SECONDS.
SUN
W WIND TO 10 KT...BECOMING NW 5 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 14 SECONDS.
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"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.

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6/27 BC pipe leak, spill coverage, Tacoma water, 'Dune' park, Obama on climate and coal

Cedar Waxwing (Greg Lavaty/Birdweb)

If you like to listen: As the symphony of spring birds begins to fade with the breeding season wrapping up, Puget Sound birders can take solace in Cedar waxwings. These beautiful native birds are the sounds of our summer days. Give them a listen, here on Seattle Audubon’s BirdWeb.  Lynda Mapes reports. Cedar waxwings: the sound of summer

Kinder Morgan has shut down the Trans Mountain pipeline once again — this time, while the company is gearing up for a public meeting on a possible expansion. The company says the pipeline was shut down north of Hope after “a small amount of petroleum product” was found in the soil around the pipe during a routine investigative dig. The pipeline was shut down as a precaution while the company continues to investigate. The news comes as Kinder Morgan is slated to host an open house in Burnaby Thursday evening on its plans to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline. Small oil leak shuts Trans Mountain pipeline

The federal Conservative government is planning to force existing and new pipeline companies to have a minimum of $1-billion on hand to cover spills on Canadian soil. The government also plans to enshrine the currently implicit polluter-pays principle in law. Both measures were announced Wednesday by Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver during a visit to Vancouver. Ian Bailey reports. Pipeline operators will require $1-billion to cover possible oil spills: Oliver

Tacoma Water. The Water of Destiny. It’s the Water – that they want. Pierce County officials announced Wednesday that California-based Niagara Bottling LLC has plans to develop a $50 million, 311,000-square-foot bottling plant on 18 acres at the privately owned Randles Business Park in the Frederickson Industrial Area. Following the expected approval by the board of Tacoma Public Utilities and the Tacoma City Council, construction might begin as early as this fall with an opening early next year. CR Roberts and Kathleen Cooper report. Like taste of Tacoma water? Company will soon bottle it

Columnist Peter Callaghan writes: "Here are four more reasons why Metro Parks of Tacoma should support the campaign to name the emerging parkland on the old Asarco smelter site after internationally known science fiction author Frank Herbert..." Real name could change Asarco slag ‘Dune' to real park

Two contrasting perspectives from two who deeply care: Obama on right course to tackle coal pollution issue and Obama’s Climate Failure

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 250 AM PDT THU JUN 27 2013
TODAY
E WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 12 SECONDS. SHOWERS...ESPECIALLY THIS MORNING.
TONIGHT
E WIND 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 6 FT AT 11 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
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"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

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6/26 Obama on climate, fish study budget, Salish Sea salt, L-119, Tolt pipe, Gulf 'dead zone'

PHOTO: T.J. Gehling/BirdNote

From BirdNote: Don't mess with crows when they're nesting! Although the American Crow may seem blasé about pillaging another bird's nest, it regards a threat to its own young as a punishable offense. To protect their nest, adult crows dive-bomb people, cats, and other animals, and even other birds. Young crows fledge when they are around five or six weeks old, and their parents continue to care for them for months. Crow Parents, Fearless Defenders

President Obama proposed a sweeping plan to address climate change on Tuesday, setting ambitious goals and timetables for a series of executive actions to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and prepare the nation for the ravages of a warming planet. The plan, announced in a policy address at Georgetown University, is the most far-reaching effort by an American president to address what many experts consider the defining environmental and economic challenge of the 21st century. But it also could provoke a backlash from some in Congress and in states dependent on coal and other industries, who will say that it imposes costly, job-killing burdens on a still-fragile economy. John Broder reports.  Obama Outlines Ambitious Plan to Cut Greenhouse Gases  And read: Obama’s Conservation Message Resonates In The Northwest  

A dispute on how much seafood Washington residents devour entangled lawmakers Tuesday as they worked to reach agreement on a budget and avert a partial shutdown of state government next week. The House and Senate collided on whether a study is needed before any work is done to revise state rules that tie the amount of fish each resident eats with the levels of contaminants allowed in water discharged from industrial facilities. Boeing Co. opposes efforts to increase the fish consumption figure because it would lead to stricter water quality standards. Compliance could require the company to spend millions of dollars in renovations at the facilities....House Democrats and Gov. Jay Inslee strongly oppose the Senate approach. Representatives reached Tuesday said they viewed the study as an attempt to indefinitely delay the process of changing the fish consumption standard. Jerry Cornfeld reports. Budget snags on fish study  

Brady Ryan is turning bay water into San Juan Island Sea Salt, sharing a taste of his native island — and the Salish Sea — one pinch at a time. Nancy Leson reports. Making salt from the Salish Sea is a labor of love  

Chris Dunagan in Watching Our Water Ways writes: "In May of last year, when all three Southern Resident killer whales returned to Puget Sound, they brought along a new baby, designated L-119... Apparently, since last fall, more than a few naturalists and researchers have been worried that this young calf may not have survived. Personally, I was not aware that this calf was “missing” until yesterday, when I received a news release from Pacific Whale Watch Association saying L-119 was alive and doing well. Year-old orca baby alive and doing quite well

The huge Tolt pipeline that provides 30-40 percent of the water for much of the Puget Sound region could crack under the weight of the shifting earth if something isn't done. "The earth is moving some 90 feet below the surface," said Senior Water Systems Manager Eugene Mantchev, "to the tune of about three to four inches a year." Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) engineers noticed the movement a dozen years ago when a forestry company began legally clearing the land above the Tolt pipeline. Fewer trees meant more water runoff, saturating the ground and making it unstable. Then five years ago they spotted cracks in the asphalt around the pipeline. Tolt River pipeline threatened

This year’s “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico could be very large and potentially record-setting, predict researchers, who also offer a forecast for the Chesapeake Bay. Spring floods across the Midwest are expected to contribute to a very large and potentially record-setting 2013 Gulf of Mexico “dead zone,” according to a University of Michigan ecologist and colleagues who released their annual forecast today, along with one for the Chesapeake Bay.... This year’s Chesapeake Bay forecast calls for a smaller-than-average dead zone in the nation’s biggest estuary. Gulf ‘dead zone’ could be as a big as Jersey

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT WED JUN 26 2013
TODAY
SE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 13 SECONDS. SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
N WIND 10 TO 20 KT BECOMING E TO 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT SUBSIDING TO 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 6 FT AT 12 SECONDS. SHOWERS.

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"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

6/25 BC pipe, tsunami debris, elephant seal, no drip, rain garden soil, BC midden, Cedar Grove odor

Red-breasted nuthatch (Laurie MacBride)

Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "We’ve added a number of trellises, tripods and other supports to our garden this year. They’re functional rather than glamorous, and some are on the rustic side, made from scrap wood. But they seem to have made the birds pretty happy. The nuthatch in the photo...tried out the new pea trellis one recent afternoon, along with the frames for the netting that will soon surround the blueberry and raspberry beds. All seemed to pass muster..." Perches Aplenty

Check out Dan McShane's blogs on the Salish Sea landscape: Notes on Salish Sea Landscape 20,000 Years Ago and Notes on Salish Sea Landscape:18,000 to 16,900 Years Ago

The proposed Northern Gateway project has reached a major milestone with the end of public hearings on the pipeline, and now the company will focus on resolving lingering questions, says president John Carruthers. Mr. Carruthers said the focus that has been on the joint review process for several years will move to building public support and working with the British Columbia government, aboriginal groups and others who brought their concerns to the panel. Robin Rowland reports. Northern Gateway hearings wind up in B.C.  

At least eight vessels suspected to be from the 2011 tsunami have now drifted into B.C. waters, everywhere from the northern tip of Haida Gwaii to Aristazabal Island and Klemtu, on the north and central coast, and to the west coast of Vancouver Island. Large amounts of debris — not even officially being tracked by the province — are also making their way to the central coast to be converted into floats by local residents. Larry Pynn reports. Japanese tsunami vessels arrive in B.C. waters

For the third time this year, a juvenile elephant seal has landed on a Port Townsend beach as part of his annual molting process. And downtown is preparing for what could be a two-week visit.  He's already received a violin serenade. “We don't know why we are getting so many seals this year,” said Chrissy McLean, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center's marine program coordinator who is monitoring the seal's progress. Charlie Bermant reports. Third elephant seal of year in Port Townsend given town hospitality

Every year 7 million quarts of oil and other auto fluids wash into Puget Sound contaminating water and harming marine life. Looking for a way to address the issue the Department of Ecology and Seattle Public Utilities are teaming up with community colleges to offer free workshops to help you not "drip and drive." They’re drawing eager participants. Inspecting cars, Green Acre Radio learned, is serious fun. Martha Baskin reports. Don’t Drip & Drive. Fix That Leak!

The recent dust up over troublesome amounts of pollutants leaching out of a Redmond rain garden got me thinking about soil. That’s because the soil in a rain garden has to meet a lot of needs, some of which are in conflict with each other. It needs to soak up potentially large volumes of stormwater quickly, filter and capture pollutants, keep plants alive through sodden winters as well as summer droughts, and avoid leaching nutrients. Plus, the ingredients for the soil need to be locally, readily, and affordably available. We’re asking a lot of this dirt. Lisa Stiffler reports. It’s the Soil, Stupid  

A rare inland midden has been unearthed on Prevost Island, off the east coast of Saltspring Island, more than 30 years after archeologists first recorded the location of the site. Midden comes from the Danish word “køkkenmøddinger,” which means kitchen waste or compost. “They’ve come into view in the last 30 years,” said Eric McLay, who led the excavation. “No one’s taken a good look at what they are and studied them.” Inland shell middens are unique to the Salish Sea region and are slowly emerging into public view. Nick Wells reports. Rare midden near Saltspring Island a gem for research  

In the hot summer months, neighbors say they can smell it a mile away. They close their windows because they don’t want a whiff of what’s outside. The Cedar Grove composting facility on Smith Island has long prompted complaints from neighbors about its facility, which processes tons of rotting compost each year. Cedar Grove has racked up 12 Clean Air Act violations in the past five years at its Everett plant. The company received its latest two clean air violations at the Everett plant earlier this month, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) spokeswoman Joanne Todd said. But no one seems to know what to do. Michael Whitney reports. Cedar Grove odor issues persist, but no easy answers to control smell

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT TUE JUN 25 2013
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING
TODAY
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT BECOMING S 5 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT SUBSIDING TO 2 FT OR LESS. SW SWELL 6 FT AT 16 SECONDS. SHOWERS THIS MORNING...TAPERING IN THE AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT
SE WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 6 FT AT 14 SECONDS. SHOWERS LIKELY.

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"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

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6/24 Smith Is, oil trains, BC pipe, coal export, L-pod, roof runoff, toxics bill, seaweed harvest, mud safari

Big Moon (Stephan Michaels)

New blog: “It’s a morning ritual: get up and let the dog out the front door and walk to the spot in the lawn where the morning Bellingham Herald’s been tossed in its bright red plastic wrapper. Sure, sometimes like this Monday morning, the paper’s about as thin as its plastic covering but having the morning paper in hand is a nice, familiar ritual...” Who Reads Newspapers Anyway?

Biologists see Snohomish County's Smith Island project as their best chance to revive threatened chinook salmon in the Puget Sound basin. Others consider it a threat to their livelihood. The project is a massive undertaking to breach an old 1930s dike along Union Slough north of Everett and build new dikes farther from the water. By flooding more than 300 acres, the county hopes to bring back some of the salmon habitat converted to farmland after settlers arrived here in the 1800s. Noah Haglund reports. Biologists want island for salmon habitat; farmers worry about livelihoods  

Each week, more and more mile-and-a-half long tanker trains filled with oil travel into the Pacific Northwest. The sweet crude — sucked from deep under North Dakota — brings opportunity for business and jobs in the Lower Columbia region and stirs fears the river will become a fossil fuel highway. Meanwhile, analysts warn the historically volatile market for oil makes building new oil terminals in the Pacific Northwest a risky investment.  Roger Werth  reports. Oil superhighway? Trains full of fracked N. Dakota oil are heading our way  

Kinder Morgan’s proposed $5.4-billion Trans Mountain pipeline twinning project through Langley and Surrey will divert from its existing route to avoid built-up areas, but puts the pipeline closer to the Fraser River. The Calgary-based company released its proposed route plans for Surrey on Friday and the Langley route earlier this week, showing the first major diversion from the existing pipeline, which began operation in 1954. The rest of the proposed pipeline, through the Fraser Valley and Interior, largely follows the existing route. Gordon Hoekstra reports. Proposed route would bring Kinder Morgan pipeline closer to Fraser River

If coal export terminals proposed for the Pacific Northwest are never built, the number of trains rumbling through Washington state filled with coal would still increase. Coal is already shipped from British Columbia, and terminals there are expanding.  Based on projected numbers, however, those increases would not come close to equaling the combined capacity of the terminals proposed for Cherry Point near Bellingham and two others in the Northwest. Bill Sheets reports. Even without terminals, coal trains will increase   See also: Coal Industry Pins Hopes on Exports as U.S. Market Shrinks

Two female killer whales from the endangered southern residents have been confirmed dead by the Center for Whale Research. The deaths of 52-year-old L2, who had not been seen since last December, and 57-year-old L26, who had not been seen since March, when she was in poor condition, brings the number of whales in the three pods to 82 animals, the lowest in more than a decade. It is gloomy news, especially as no calves have yet been born this year, said Ken Balcomb, the executive director of the centre in Friday Harbor, Wash. Judith Lavoie reports. Local orca numbers lowest in 10 years  

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center is looking for a few good roofs for a stormwater runoff study. The center, working with scientists at the University of Washington Center for Urban Waters, is leading a study of toxic chemicals of roof runoff. Center personnel are seeking roofs from houses that have been built or re-roofed with composite (three-tab) roofing material within the past three years and which have metal rain gutters. Marine science center seeks roofs for runoff study

A bill shepherded into law by Whatcom County's two state senators has local officials optimistic that the cleanup of Bellingham's derelict industrial waterfront may happen sooner rather than later. Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, who sponsored the bill, sees it as a victory for Republicans in an arena where they don't usually fare well - the environment. The legislation reforms how Model Toxics Control Act money is spent on toxic cleanups, with the intent of broadening the scope of eligible projects and putting the money to use more quickly. Although the bill was championed at times by Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, he and environmentalists came away partly dissatisfied. Ranker said on Friday, June 21, that the legislation was just introduced in the House to correct some defects in the bill.... Ericksen indicated that the "trailer" bill to adjust the toxics legislation likely won't get a hearing in the Senate. Besides, Democrats' concerns are overstated, he said..... Bellingham Mayor Kelli Linville and Port of Bellingham Executive Director Rob Fix said the bill should make it easier to address contamination on the city's waterfront. The port and the city are partners in plans to redevelop 237 acres, much of it the site of a former Georgia Pacific mill. Ralph Schwartz reports. Hard-won toxic-cleanup bill wins praise in Bellingham

Should the government allow mass harvest of seaweed on the British Columbia coast? Certainly there seems to be an overabundance of it on most beaches, where it often collects in long, thick mats known as wracks. A commercial seaweed harvest has been proposed for B.C. – a new “fishery” that would target an untapped resource potentially worth millions of dollars – but a study led by a group of retired fisheries scientists has raised concerns about its environmental impact. Mark Hume reports. Cashing in on seaweed isn’t so green, study says

The tiny sea creatures didn’t know what they were in for. More than a dozen children donned rubber boots and headed for the mud flats Friday morning to search for beach animals and learn what they were. Children ranging in age from 5 to 10 years old— known that morning as junior ecologists — joined their parents and a guide for their “Mud Flat Safari” as part of the Art for Learning Watershed Science program at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve . Daniel DeMay reports. Watershed science workshops kick off

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT MON JUN 24 2013
TODAY
S WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. SW SWELL 3 FT AT 14 SECONDS. AREAS OF FOG THIS MORNING. SHOWERS LIKELY.
TONIGHT
E WIND 10 KT RISING TO 10 TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. SW SWELL 4 FT AT 16 SECONDS. RAIN LIKELY.
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"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. 


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6/21 Trainwatching, plankton blooms, Orca Sing, Vic sewage, BC LNG, Lummi quarry, WQ standards

Summer Solstice (nickNEWS)

New blog: Some of us remember the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973-74 when the foreign oil we depend on was cut back, resulting in cars lining up for gas and higher prices at the pump. The embargo also prompted a law outlawing export of our domestic oil to foreign countries... Greased Rails for Oil and Coal

If you like to watch: Team members for Eyes Over Puget Sound, a Washington Department of Ecology program, were excited to discover and report on a second major plankton bloom during their flight this week. Chris Dunagan reports. Plankton bloom in Puget Sound: art on the water

Islanders and visitors will gather at Lime Kiln Point State Park to sing for our marine neighbors this Saturday, June 22. The Annual Orca Sing Concert brings friends, families, wildlife enthusiasts and musicians together for a celebration of the Salish Sea ecosystem and—hopefully—to see the orcas in person. “Whenever the whales go by, it’s the best,” Erin Corra says. Corra is the founder and program director of Friends of Lime Kiln Society (F.O.L.K.S.), a group of islanders dedicated to financially supporting one of our county’s most treasured historic parks.... “We want to keep the tradition alive, but this year we’re shifting from being ‘plugged’ to ‘unplugged’, so we’re just looking for local acoustic musicians,” Corra says. “It’s really just about keeping it local and low-key. We don’t need to amplify it.” Elwyn Pratt reports. New sound for ‘Orca Sing’

Esquimalt should not change its land-use rules to accommodate construction of a sewage plant at McLoughlin Point, says the group advising council on planning issues. The rezoning bid for the $210-million plant got an unvarnished rejection from all seven members of the advisory planning commission after a three-hour question-and-answer session with expert proponents from the Capital Regional District and CitySpaces Consulting on Tuesday. The advisory group cited shortcomings in the application by the Capital Regional District. Issues raised included safety during a tsunami, the impact on tourism and harbour views, potential First Nations land claims, smells and indifference to taxpayer feedback. Katherine Dedyna reports. Esquimalt planning advisers reject McLoughlin sewage plan

Exxon Mobil Corp. has jumped into the race to export liquefied natural gas from Canada’s west coast to Asia, with a huge proposal to process 30 million tonnes per year in Kitimat and Prince Rupert. Exxon and its Canadian arm, Imperial oil Ltd., filed an application Thursday with the National Energy Board for a licence to export the gas, putting it in competition with several plants planned by Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Chevron Corp., and Malaysia’s Petronas, which last year acquired Calgary-based Progress Energy as part of its Canadian gas strategy. Shawn McCarthy reports. Exxon, Imperial apply to export LNG from West Coast

The state has fined a Lummi Island rock quarry $10,300 for oil and fuel spilled in 2012 into Smuggler's Cove during the removal of two sunken barges. Pending a possible appeal of the fine, the state gets in line with creditors of the quarry's owner, Lummi Rock, LLC, and its operator, Aggregates West, Inc. Both businesses went into receivership this year - all of their assets were taken over by a firm charged with selling off those assets to pay the companies' debts. On top of the fine, the Department of Ecology billed Lummi Rock $2,668 to recoup the cost of the agency's responses to the spills. The quarry also must pay $3,943 for damages to the environment. Ralph Scwartz reports. Lummi Island quarry fined for oil spills, faces $10M debt

The state Department of Ecology is seeking public input as it works to set new standards for water quality and levels of allowable toxic pollution. The department is hosting a policy forum from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at the Yakima Convention Center, where people can watch and interact through a free webinar. The toxin standards that protect human health are based on a number of factors, including how much fish Washingtonians eat. Learn more about water quality standards and the rule-making process, and register for the webinar or call Becca Conklin at 360-407-6413.  Ecology seeks input on water standards  

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT FRI JUN 21 2013
TODAY
W WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 8 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
NW WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING W TO 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 10 SECONDS.
SAT
LIGHT WIND...BECOMING NW TO 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 9 SECONDS.
SAT NIGHT
W WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
SUN
LIGHT WIND. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT. W SWELL 3 FT AT 7 SECONDS.

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"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

6/20 Kayaking Shaw, beach seining, right whale, gray whale, humpbacks, Mercer Is shore rules

PHOTO: Pacific Northwest Seasons

Jill in Pacific Northwest Seasons writes: "Northwest, we're fortunate to have such a sea kayaker's paradise in the San Juan Islands.  I've kayaked and camped many times in this scenic archipelago over the years, but this is my first time camping on and circumnavigating Shaw Island.  It doesn't disappoint..." Kayaking the San Juans: Shaw Island Circumnavigation

If you like to watch: Volunteers and staff from Shannon Point Marine Center collect marine life from the tidal area east of the Anacortes state ferry terminal. Photos by Scott Terrill. Beach Seine

Fisheries and Oceans Canada says biologists have spotted a rare, endangered whale in British Columbia waters for the first time in more than 60 years. North Pacific right whales were once abundant between B.C. and the Bering Sea before they were hunted to near extinction before the 20th century. They are now listed as endangered in Canada and scientists believe only a few hundred may remain alive, mainly in the western north Pacific. Rare North Pacific right whale spotted off coast of Haida Gwaii  

A gray whale that generated the concern of onlookers on shore successfully made its way Wednesday out of the shallow waters of Burley Lagoon, near Purdy, Pierce County. Although a whale expert says the animal was probably never trapped in the lagoon, as some observers feared, the juvenile whale, perhaps about 25 feet long, does appear to be emaciated and may be injured. John Calambokidis of Cascadia Research said it’s not unusual to see gray whales in Puget Sound and off Whidbey Island in the spring and summer, but seldom would they make it to Burley Lagoon — west of Highway 16 north of Gig Harbor — one of the farthest reaches of Puget Sound waters. Jack Broom reports. Young whale’s close call in Puget Sound  

Posters are going up at Vancouver Island marinas in areas where humpbacks have been spotted in an effort to avoid whale-boat collisions. Information sheets, put together by Cetus Research and Conservation, the Northern Island Marine Mammal Stewardship Association and the Marine Education and Research Society, warn boaters to look out for signs that humpbacks are in the area. Judith Lavoie reports. Watch out for humpbacks, whale groups warn boaters

Waterfront homeowners on Mercer Island planning to build homes, patios, docks — or major additions to them — should be prepared to do landscaping as well. The City Council, tightening proposed shoreline rules, has decided to require homeowners to create a 20-foot-wide buffer extending the width of the property, at least half of it covered with native plants, when redeveloping their property. That’s a significant change from an earlier version of the city’s shoreline master program update, which would have required landscaping on only 25 percent of the lakeside buffer. The earlier approach was rejected by the state Department of Ecology as failing to adequately protect Lake Washington and habitat along the water’s edge. Keith Ervin reports. Mercer Island to require more native plants in shoreline plan  

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT THU JUN 20 2013
TODAY
W WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 3 FT AT 7 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF RAIN THIS MORNING...THEN RAIN IN THE
 AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT
W WIND 15 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 3 FT AT 7 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
--
"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

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6/19 Corps coal, coal poll, Oly coal, state budget, L Pod, BC oil pipe

The U.S Army Corps of Engineers will not review the broader climate-change impacts of proposed coal export terminals in the Pacific Northwest, an agency official told Congress on Tuesday, June 18. The much-anticipated decision is a significant victory for the supporters of three coal terminals in Washington and Oregon - including Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point - and a setback for environmentalists and state and local officials who oppose the projects.... (Jennifer Moyer, acting regulatory chief for the Corps) said that the Corps would not consider the impact of the transportation of coal by rail from mines to the ports on waterways and air quality - something that the governors of Washington and Oregon, environmental groups and Indian tribes had demanded.... Larry Altose, spokesman for the Washington Department of Ecology, said the state may choose to commission studies of climate change and rail traffic impact under the State Environmental Policy Act, even if the Corps says it is not required to do so under federal law. Curtis Tate reports. Army Corps of Engineers says climate change won't be studied for coal terminals   See also, from Floyd McKay, Federal decision hands coal ports a big victory

Meanwhile, a new survey finds support for coal export terminals has dropped over the past year among Northwest residents. It also finds support for a region-wide approach to measuring the environmental impact of exporting coal. Courtney Flatt reports. EarthFix Poll: NW Residents’ Support For Coal Dropping

The Olympia City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to pass a resolution opposing the construction of coal export facilities in the Northwest. The resolution states the council’s opinion, but exerts no control over the shipment of coal through the city or the construction of coal terminals, which in this state are proposed for Longview and near Bellingham. The resolution notes that it “is expected” the coal would travel through land adjacent to the city’s drinking water source, McAllister Springs and Wellfield, which sits in unincorporated Thurston County. Matt Batcheldor reports. Olympia takes position against coal

There’s suddenly a flurry of talk in Olympia about a quick resolution to the weeks-long budget stalemate. The change in rhetoric follows Tuesday’s positive revenue and caseload forecasts. Budget writers will now have more than $300 million in additional funds to help bridge their differences, thanks to a recovering housing market and improved consumer confidence. Austin Jenkins reports. Positive revenue news could break budget logjam in Olympia

Yesterday the Center for Whale Research reported that two adult female orcas are now dead.  While both were senior members of the Southern Resident orcas and no longer able to bear calves, their roles in the orca culture nonetheless were important. The most disturbing fact about the death of one of the females is that she leaves behind just one son with no other offspring to continue the family line. Candace Calloway Whiting reports. L Pod Orcas Lost Two Members, End of a Matriline Looms  

There is a growing imbalance between oil supply and delivery in Canada, and a spokesman for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers says doing nothing is not an option. The association’s lawyer, Keith Bergner, told the review panel weighing the Northern Gateway oil pipeline in Terrace, B.C., that producers are finding themselves with product on their hands and no way to ship it to buyers. Northern Gateway needed to deliver excess oil supply, hearing told  

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT WED JUN 19 2013
TODAY
LIGHT WIND...BECOMING W 10 TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES LESS THAN 1 FT...THEN 1 TO 3 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. SW SWELL 3 FT AT 10 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
W WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. SW SWELL 3 FT AT 10 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

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"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.

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6/18 Skagit bridge, BC pipe, coal benefits, Surfrider, robot fish, Bill Nye Science Guy

Skagit River I-5 Bridge (Scott Terrell, Skagit Valley Herald)

Crews worked on a temporary span for the Skagit River Bridge Monday morning. The decking will need to be paved and striped before the bridge can open for traffic. Speed limit on the temporary span is expected to be approximately 40 miles per hour. The temporary span is planned to open before Saturday, but will need to be taken down to install a permanent span sometime in September. Bids to build a permanent fix for the Skagit River Bridge were turned in by six selected contractors Monday after they worked furiously for two weeks to design and plan proposals. The bidding is the latest step in what has been a historically fast process to bring traffic back to a crucial section of Interstate 5 after the bridge collapsed into the river May 23. Mark Stayton reports. Fast-tracked   Also see: Even after fix, Skagit bridge will be 'functionally obsolete'

Canada will be vulnerable to economic disaster should the Northern Gateway pipeline be rejected, the proponent told a federal review panel Monday as the final phase of public hearings got underway. Richard Neufeld, the lawyer for Calgary-based Enbridge, said there are billions of dollars at stake in the pipeline that would link the Alberta oil sands with a tanker port on the coast of British Columbia, and the lucrative oil markets of Asia beyond.... The $6-billion project would allow land-locked Alberta to expand its customer base beyond the United States, where the industry argues it is forced to sell oil for up to $8 less per barrel because it has no competing buyers. Should the pipeline be rejected, the whole country will face the economic consequences, Neufeld said. Northern Gateway in Canadians' interest, Enbridge tells review board  

The economic benefits of expanding Washington's coal ports are being underestimated, a Western Washington University professor's report said. However, the study did not provide specific estimates on costs and economic benefits. Instead, the study analyzed other reports and presented general conclusions. The Washington Farm Bureau, which supports developing the coal ports, commissioned the study and report by Steven Globerman, professor of international business at Western Washington University. The Farm Bureau unveiled the report Monday. John Stang reports. Coal isn't getting enough respect, study says

Volunteers of the Vancouver Island chapter of the Surfrider Foundation collected 590 kilograms of marine debris last week as part of their annual remote beach cleanup event, Combing the Coast. They collected Styrofoam, plastic bottles, hard plastics and other junk from Rugged Point Provincial Park, on the west coast of the north Island. Items found by the group are typically sent to the landfill, but this time around about half was taken to Ellice Recycle. Pedro Arrais reports. Good Neighbours: Surfriders clear debris at remote beach

Robots are everywhere these days. They’re working in factories, and the focus of student competitions. They’re also teaching us about Nature, especially in the case of robotic fish It might seem a little Hollywood to talk about "robo-fish," and as an engineering professor, Kristi Morgansen is a little shy about that. The robotic fish she's invented are about the size of a salmon, and shaped like one, in a crude way. They’re made from metal and plastic screwed together – with the sophisticated stuff on the inside. Keith Seinfeld reports. Underwater robots evolve, and teach us about Nature  

Bill Nye the Science Guy ‘takes on those who would demand that the public schools teach alternative theories of evolution and the origins of the earth — most famously, in a video clip from the site BigThink.com that has been viewed some five million times. In it, he flatly tells adult viewers that “if you want to deny evolution and live in your world — in your world that’s completely inconsistent with everything we observe in the universe — that’s fine. But don’t make your kids do it, because we need them. We need scientifically literate voters and taxpayers for the future.”’ John Schwartz reports. Firebrand for Science, and Big Man on Campus   See also: Where's the science at KUOW? Why public radio wants to mix things up

Now, your tug weather--
 WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT TUE JUN 18 2013
TODAY
E WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING SE IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. SW SWELL 3 FT AT 9 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF
 SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
W WIND 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. SW SWELL 3 FT AT 10 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

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"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

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6/17 Coal, orcas, save Puget Sound, Duwamish, Clayoquot Sound, oil and pipes, Elwha, bluebirds, ocean woes

Photo by Paul K. Anderson

Climate change was a central theme of a debate that saw Metro Vancouver pass a resolution Friday opposing new coal shipments from the Fraser River estuary. At issue is a proposed new $15-million coal terminal at Fraser Surrey Docks under review by Port Metro Vancouver, which will handle electricity-generating coal from Wyoming destined for Asia. While the only issue Metro Vancouver has jurisdiction over at the proposed terminal is air quality, board directors noted greenhouse gas emissions from coal are also a critical consideration. Gordon Hoekstra reports. Carbon emissions a factor in Metro Vancouver opposition to coal port  And, in Olympia on Tuesday: Council will consider anti-coal resolution  

COAL is a new documentary exploring the question of whether Northwest coal ports should be built — digging into the potential environmental consequences and meeting people from all sides of the issue who have much at stake. COAL is the result of months of reporting by EarthFix on the Northwest’s coal-export debate. See it on KCTS 9, Wednesday, June 19, 7:30 p.m. COAL: The Documentary

If you like to watch: A pod of killer whales swam past Stanley Park and under the Lions Gate Bridge and into Vancouver Harbour on Friday, sparking a flurry of photos on Twitter and other social media. The Vancouver Aquarium says as many as eight whales were swimming and breaching in the waters this afternoon. Jen Derwojed, who works at the aquarium, said they were transient killer whales that were probably looking for food. Killer whales spotted near Vancouver's Stanley Park

Greenfleet Monitoring Expeditions sponsors a free screening of "Salmon Confidential" at Port Townsend's Rose Theater on Sunday, June 23, 11 AM. The film features Canadian biologist Alexandra Morton, who has been at the forefront of the salmon viruses issues associated with salmon farms worldwide - and the additional issues with the Canadian government suppressing the scientific findings.  

The Olympian editorializes: “Despite more than 25 years of effort at the federal, state and local level, the cleanup and recovery of Puget Sound remains an elusive goal. For every success story — think restoration of the Nisqually River estuary — there is more disturbing news. Just last week, the state Department of Ecology reported that the health of marine sediments, measured in part by the number and diversity of sediment-dwelling creatures, has declined over the past 10 years in central Puget Sound. Other, more iconic Puget Sound species, including orca whales and chinook salmon, also continue to absorb losses or fail to meet recovery goals. Just as the region starts coming to grips with stormwater controls and new development standards to reduce the volume of stormwater dumping into Puget Sound, new threats associated with climate change have reared their ugly heads. These include ocean acidification, which threatens a state shellfish industry that employs more than 3,200 people and contributes some $270 million a year to the economy. There are, however, some recent actions at the federal and soundwide levels that could pay dividends for Puget Sound in the years ahead...” Efforts to clean up, restore Puget Sound deserve support  And, from The Columbian's editorial page: "Puget Sound shows a couple of wildlife triumphs, but concerns persist" In Our View: Taking Care of a Treasure

The Environmental Protection Agency has released a cleanup plan for Seattle’s Duwamish River Superfund site. It will cost hundreds of millions of dollars but it could also mean jobs in the communities that have born the brunt of the pollution. Ashley Ahearn reports. Seattle’s Dirty River Offers Gift Of Green Jobs

The last time Dan Lewis and Bonny Glambeck teamed up on a big project, it shook the world. Now the environmental activists who, in 1993, helped organized one of the largest acts of civil disobedience in Canadian history – the mass protests against logging in Clayoquot Sound – are back with another project. On the 20th anniversary of an event that saw 10,000 people blocking logging roads, the couple are hoping to once again mobilize public opinion in defence of Clayoquot Sound. Mr. Lewis said the current concerns are about the imminent threat of mining, the ongoing impact of fish farms, the continued logging of old-growth forest and the possibility that offshore oil tankers could begin travelling along the west coast of Vancouver Island. Mark Hume reports.  Environmental activists unite to further protect Clayoquot Sound  

The proponent and opponents of the Northern Gateway pipeline will make their final pitches to a federal review panel starting Monday, at the last stage of public hearings before the panel issues its decision later this year. The company is slated to be the first to officially present their final argument at the hearings, but opponents made their case at a public rally Sunday in Terrace, B.C., a scenic northern city whose council passed a resolution last year opposing the project.  Federal panel to hear final pitch for, against Northern Gateway  

Finding tar balls linked to the BP oil spill isn't difficult on some Gulf Coast beaches, but the company and the government say it isn't common enough to keep sending out the crews that patrolled the sand for three years in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi. Tourist John Henson of Atlanta disagrees, particularly after going for a walk in the surf last week and coming back with dark, sticky stains on his feet. Henson said there were plenty of tar balls to remove from the stretch of beach where he spent a few days, regardless of what any company or government agency might say. Jay Reeves reports.  End of BP cleaning crews leaves questions on Gulf  

New habitat for juvenile fish is increasing dramatically in the Elwha River estuary and the shoreline of Freshwater Bay, a survey found last week. Sediment pouring out of the Elwha River after dam-removal work is causing a number of changes, said Anne Shaffer of the Coastal Watershed Institute, which organized the Friday field day.... The survey was part of the Nearshore Field Workshop, a day for members of the public to explore the changes in the estuary and the area around the Elwha River mouth, as well as in Freshwater Bay, where the river empties its water. Fish out of troubled waters: Field day held to examine habitat at Elwha River mouth

Seven young Western bluebirds in the Cowichan Valley were unceremoniously tipped upside down and given multi-coloured bands on their legs this week as the next step in an effort to reintroduce the birds to Vancouver Island. ....The birds’ movements, survival and reproduction will be monitored and recorded, said Kathryn Martell, Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team conservation specialist. The team is in the second year of a five-year project to reintroduce Western bluebirds and, so far, their success has surpassed expectations. Judith Lavoie reports. Bluebird recovery takes off in Cowichan Valley

The Whatcom County Council has heard the message again and again from the state: Your rural growth regulations don't comply with the law. The council seems to have its own response ready: It is ready for a fight.  Whatcom council ready to fight state over latest rural regulations

The ocean the Titanic sailed through just over 100 years ago was very different from the one we swim in today. Global warming is increasing ocean temperatures and harming marine food webs. Nitrogen run-off from fertilizers is causing coastal dead zones. A McGill-led international research team has now completed the first global study of changes that occurred in a crucial component of ocean chemistry, the nitrogen cycle, at the end of the last ice age. The results of their study confirm that oceans are good at balancing the nitrogen cycle on a global scale. But the data also shows that it is a slow process that may take many centuries, or even millennia, raising worries about the effects of the scale and speed of current changes in the ocean. Study of Oceans' Past Raises Worries About Their Future

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT MON JUN 17 2013
TODAY
LIGHT WIND...BECOMING W TO 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. SW SWELL 3 FT AT 15 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF
 SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT
NW WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING LIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. SW SWELL 3 FT AT 15 SECONDS. SHOWERS LIKELY...THEN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT.
--
"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

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6/14 Sea vents, divestment, Kinder Morgan pipe, oil train, Smith Island, Thornton Cr., fin whale, farm fish

'Black smoker' (Ocean Networks)

If you like to watch: Armchair scientists are in for a treat as live video of plumes of black smoke, billowing up through towering mineral chimneys in the deep reaches of the ocean off Vancouver Island, are streamed by the latest NEPTUNE expedition. The research vessel Thomas G Thompson, with scientists from the University of Victoria-led Ocean Networks Canada and other international organizations, is at the Endeavour Hot Vents, 250 kilometres off the coast of Vancouver Island. The vents, 2,200 metres below the surface of the ocean, exist in a strange volcanic landscape, where a wealth of specially adapted creatures — including colonies of giant tube worms — thrive in the hot water. Judith Lavoie reports. ‘Black smokers’ vent from the deep off coast of Vancouver Island

Listen up: Students on more than 300 campuses across the US are behind a growing movement to get schools to drop stocks in oil, gas, coal and tar sands from their investment portfolios. Among them are students at the University of Washington. Students are rallying at the University’s Board of Regents today (June 13) to draw attention to the issue. Martha Baskin reports.  Campus Fossil Fuel Divestment  

Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI), the largest U.S. pipeline operator by market value, shut the only line that carries Canadian crude to the West Coast after discovering a spill of light crude in a remote region of British Columbia. Workers found the 12-barrel spill from the Trans Mountain Pipeline yesterday while performing routine maintenance, Andy Galarnyk, a Calgary-based spokesman for Kinder, said by e-mail. The company shut the 300,000-barrel-a-day line, which carries both light and heavy oil, and is making repairs. Dan Murtaugh reports. Kinder Shuts Only Pipeline Carrying Canadian Crude to West Coast  

Last October, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, the biggest U.S. pipeline operator, announced plans to build a 740-mile pipeline from the oil fields of West Texas to a refining hub outside Los Angeles. Dubbed the Freedom Pipeline, the $2 billion project would deliver 277,000 barrels a day of cheap Texas crude to West Coast refineries that had long relied on expensive oil shipped from Alaska’s North Slope or even foreign markets. All Kinder Morgan needed was to get regulatory approval and long-term contracts with large California refiners, including Valero Energy (VLO) and Tesoro (TSO). In April, Kinder Morgan began negotiating agreements with refiners, who normally commit to buy predetermined amounts of oil for as long as 10 years. On May 31, however, Kinder Morgan announced it was canceling the project after Valero and Tesoro said they weren’t interested in buying the pipe’s oil on a long-term basis. They’d found a better way to get their hands on domestic crude: railroads. Matthew Philips and Asjylyn Loder report.  Amid U.S. Oil Boom, Railroads Are Beating Pipelines in Crude Transport  

Snohomish County’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Smith Island Restoration project is now available for public review. A joint effort proposed by Snohomish County and the city of Everett, the Smith Island Restoration Project is located in the Snohomish River Estuary between Union Slough and Interstate 5 and is a key component of Chinook salmon recovery strategies for the Puget Sound region. As part of the 2005 Snohomish River Basin Salmon Conservation Plan, the project will restore nearly 400 acres of land to estuary and tidal marshland conditions that are essential for Chinook salmon, which is listed as “threatened” under the federal Endangered Species Act.  County completes Smith Island environmental review  

Scientists with the city of Seattle are narrowing in on the source of polluted water that flows through the city’s largest watershed. With a new study, they’ve confirmed human fecal bacteria are likely entering Thornton Creek at multiple locations near Northgate and Lake City Way. Seattle Public Utilities has known for at least a decade that fecal coliform bacteria concentrations in Thorton Creek exceed the state water quality standard and pose a potential health risk. But they were looking for the source in 22 square miles of the watershed. Now, after a two year investigation with new testing methods, they’ve narrowed it down to about ten segments of the stream that cover six or eight city blocks. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. Human fecal bacteria confirmed in Seattle’s Thornton Creek   See also: Chris Dunagan blogs on “New method could reveal presence of human waste”

A 68-foot male fin whale washed ashore dead Thursday morning on the coast about four miles north of Ocean Shores. Cascadia Research Collective's John Calambokidis says the whale likely died after being struck by a ship. The whale had evidence of blunt force trauma. Calambokidis says fin whales are at higher risk of being hurt by ship strikes. He says the reason is under study but it may be that those species don't know how to react to ships, which are becoming faster and more numerous. Dead fin whale washes up on Ocean Shores beach

The human diet appears to have reached an important milestone, as worldwide fish farm production has surpassed beef production for the first time in the modern era. That's according to figures from the United Nations and U.S. Department of Agriculture. It's another sign of the fish farming boom, taking place across the globe, which has also seen more and more universities dedicate programs to aquaculture. Fish farming tops beef production in race to the plate

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT FRI JUN 14 2013
TODAY
W WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 7 SECONDS. CHANCE OF SHOWERS THIS MORNING.
TONIGHT
NW WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING W TO 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. NW SWELL 3 FT AT 7 SECONDS.
SAT
SE WIND 10 KT...BECOMING E TO 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 2 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
SAT NIGHT
W WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 9 SECONDS.
SUN
SW WIND TO 10 KT...BECOMING W 10 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 10 SECONDS.

--
"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

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6/13 Salmon disease, B'ham waterfront, BC coal, Burlington coal, Doug fir deaths, sea urchins, Belo sold

Photo: Ryan Morrissey/BirdNote

If you like to listen: "Some believe the song of the Wood Thrush to be the most beautiful bird song in North America. Others select the song of the Hermit Thrush. Still others name the singing of the Swainson’s Thrush. How do thrushes like this Veery create such fine music? The answer is that the birds have a double voice box, unique to them, called the syrinx..." BirdNote:  Voices and Vocabularies - Exquisite Thrush Songs

If you like to watch: Liem Bahneman captured the beauty of the northern lights with his camera twice in the past few weeks. Bahneman, of Bothell, a professional photographer and astronomy buff, set out about 10 p.m. last Thursday to the valley south of Snohomish. Bill Sheets reports. Lights, camera, join the action  

All samples collected and tested as part of the 2012 wild salmon disease surveillance initiative in B.C. have tested negative for infectious salmon anaemia (ISA). The samples were also tested for either infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN) or infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) and these tests were also negative. IHN, IPN and ISA are reportable diseases in Canada. These diseases are contagious and can cause disease and mortality in salmon. IHN is known to exist in certain species and populations of wild fin fish in B.C. IPN and ISA have not been confirmed in the province. B.C. wild salmon test negative for three fish diseases

Plans for bringing the city's 237-acre industrial waterfront back to life are ready for final review by City Council. The plans envision a waterfront where existing marine industries will continue to operate, but they also provide a blueprint for transforming a wide swath of industrial land that has been dormant since Georgia-Pacific Corp. shut down its pulp and paper operations. The pulp mill closed in 2001, and the tissue mill turned out its last rolls of toilet paper in 2007. John Stark reports. Bellingham waterfront plans face City Council this summer

Metro Vancouver directors will hold what is being billed as the closest thing to a public hearing Friday to hear from the ports and the public ahead of a vote on whether to oppose coal shipment expansion in the Fraser River estuary. At least six delegations have already signed up to speak at the 9 a.m. board meeting, which will include a motion by Metro’s environment and parks committee to send a “public statement” to Port Metro Vancouver to oppose coal shipments along the Fraser River estuary, other than at the existing Robert’s Bank terminal in Delta. Kelly Sinoski reports. Metro Vancouver board to hear more from public, port on increasing coal shipments

Merchants and publicans who settled the Skagit River town of Burlington more than a century ago loved their railroad. It brought patrons from “dry” Mount Vernon on the river’s south bank to the downtown saloons in Burlington where they dropped their money before catching the train back home....Burlington is no longer enthusiastic about its railroad. The tipplers of long ago have been replaced by heavy industrial goods; the passenger depot is long gone and the railroad is on the verge of a coal and oil binge. Floyd McKay reports in the second of two articles. Tale of Two Cities: Coal, a train wreck for Burlington?  

The mortality rate for young Douglas-fir trees throughout Western Washington is on the rise due to drought-like conditions late last summer and this spring, according to state Department of Natural Resources officials. DNR’s Forest Health Program has examined affected trees at several sites from Shelton, DuPont, and Auburn, south to Vancouver, and along the Columbia River Gorge. Douglas-firs that are between 5 and 15 years old appear to be the most commonly affected, but some larger trees are also showing symptoms including entirely red crowns, red tops, and red branches. Damage has been most severe in areas with rocky soils, such as glacial outwash around the Puget Sound. Water drains quickly in these soils, and trees depend on occasional rains during the summer to replenish their water supply. John Dodge reports. Western Washington drought-like conditions causing high mortality rate for young Douglas fir trees

In the race against climate change and ocean acidification, some sea urchins may still have a few tricks up their spiny sleeves, suggesting that adaptation will likely play a large role for the sea creatures as the carbon content of the ocean increases. The purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, has the ability to pass the trait for higher carbon dioxide tolerance to its offspring.  Rapid Adaptation Is Purple Sea Urchins' Weapon Against Ocean Acidification

Gannett said it reached a deal to buy Belo for about $1.5 billion in cash, significantly boosting its presence in television broadcasting. Belo operates KING 5, KONG and NWCN TV stations in the Puget Sound market. Under the agreement announced Thursday, Gannett will buy Belo, which is based in Dallas, for $13.75 per share. That represents a 28 percent premium over Belo's closing price on Wednesday. Gannett, one of the largest newspaper publishers in the U.S., also will assume $715 million in debt. Gannett to buy owner of KING 5, KONG TV stations for $1.5B  

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PDT THU JUN 13 2013
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY
W WIND TO 10 KT...RISING TO 10 TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS...BUILDING TO 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 3 FT AT 8 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
W WIND 15 TO 25 KT...EASING TO 5 TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT...SUBSIDING TO 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 3 FT AT 8 SECONDS
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"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.

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