12/23 Insecticide ban, chinook extinction, Elwha sediment

If you like to listen: Carol of the Birds - With Nancy Rumbel
To celebrate the season, Nancy Rumbel, who composed and played the BirdNote theme music, performs "Carol of the Birds." This version was arranged by Nancy herself, with the accompaniment of Pine Siskins, Black-capped Chickadees, a Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, and Mourning Dove. Nancy plays the ocarina, oboe, bell, and harmonium. You can visit her website at nancyrumbel.com. Happy Holidays from all of us at BirdNote!

Commissioners ban insecticide from Thurston County properties
Thurston County is the first county government in Washington state to ban the use of neonicotinoid insecticides on the property that it manages and owns. The chemical is highly toxic to honey bees and bumblebees, and is found in a variety of gardening products designed to keep insects away from plants. The Board of County Commissioner’s decision came as good news for beekeepers who believe the chemical has contributed to the loss of bee populations and the collapse of bee colonies. Lisa Pemberton reports. (Olympian)

Chinook salmon could be wiped out by 2100, new study claims
New climate-change research involving a University of British Columbia scientist predicts that one of the West Coast's most prized salmon stocks could be wiped out over the next 85 years. A study has concluded that there is a five per cent chance of a catastrophic loss of the chinook salmon by 2075, and a 98 per cent chance the population will suffer catastrophic losses by 2100, if climate change warms the water. An international research team looked at the ability by the chinook to adapt to warming water temperatures caused by climate change. (Canadian Press)

Storms bring massive amounts of Elwha River sediment downstream
The series of storms that drenched the North Olympic Peninsula earlier this month changed the course of the Elwha River, carried away entire sections of sediment islands and moved the river closer to its original channel in some places, said Andy Ritchie, Elwha restoration project hydrologist…. In a set of three storms that drenched the area from Dec. 9 through Dec. 11, about 1.5 million to 2 million cubic yards of sediment were removed from the former Lake Mills and Lake Aldwell lakebeds, and the river uprooted huge swaths of young trees, he said. Arwyn Rice reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST TUE DEC 23 2014
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT...BECOMING SW IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 8 FT AT 17 SECONDS. RAIN.
TONIGHT
W WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 9 FT AT 16 SECONDS...BUILDING TO 12 FT AT 15 SECONDS AFTER MIDNIGHT.
 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.

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