12/5 Quake fault, Rhapsody dead, Navy Growlers, WA wetlands, Everett sewer, Vancouver birds

(USGS/KPLU)

Study: Offshore Fault Where The 'Big One' Originates Eerily Quiet
…. The fault zone expected to generate the next big one lies underwater between 40 and 80 miles offshore of the Pacific Northwest coastline. Earthquake scientists have listening posts along the coast from Vancouver Island to Northern California. But those onshore seismometers have detected few signs of the grinding and slipping you would expect to see as one tectonic plate dives beneath another, with the exception of the junctions on the north and south ends of what is formally known as the Cascadia Subduction Zone…. The bottom line: Even with more sensitive instruments, it’s still eerily quiet out there. Which leads the researchers to conclude the dangerous Cascadia fault zone is stuck  — or in science-speak, it is fully “locked.” …The evidence pointing to the colliding tectonic plates being completely stuck has serious implications for earthquake risk on land in the Pacific Northwest. Tom Banse report. (NW Public Radio)

Endangered killer whale found dead in Strait of Georgia
A member of B.C.’s endangered southern resident killer whale population has been found dead of unknown causes in the Strait of Georgia. The 18-year-old female member of J pod died sometime in the last couple of days, according to Howard Garrett, co-founder of the Washington state-based Orca Network…. The young whale, known as Rhapsody, has never produced a calf, but Garrett said many orca-watchers believed she was in the later stages of pregnancy because of her large size when she was seen breaching this summer. Bethany Lindsay reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Hundreds turn out for Navy Growler EIS Scoping Meeting in Port Townsend Thursday
Hundreds of people from the North Olympic Peninsula came to Fort Worden in Port Townsend Thursday afternoon to hear the Navy explain their plans for expansion of the Growler air fleet. The Navy had subject matter experts with signage to help explain their plans, which in some cases did clarify issues. (more on that later). Additionally, the Navy provided scribes and the ability for people to get their comments logged to the official record of public comment. Opponents of the expansion were out in force, and had stations with question banks so people could ask knowledgeable questions. The opposition groups have a great deal of concern about noise pollution, jet pollution, the tie in of this expansion with the Electromagnetic warfare training that the Navy plans to use these planes to test over the west end of the Olympic National Park and Clallam County. (Olympic Peninsula Environmental News)

Ecology wants comments on state wetland plan
The state Department of Ecology is seeking public comment on a proposed statewide plan for the management of wetland areas. Comments will be accepted through Dec. 31. The plan was developed using a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant, Ecology said in a news release. It includes creating a wetland monitoring program and assessment strategy, providing support for local governments in need of wetland expertise, and streamlines the permitting process in an effort to better protect Washington’s wetland areas. (Skagit Valley Herald)

$320M fix prescribed for Everett’s aging sewers
The city has unveiled a 10-year plan for its aging flood-prone sewer system. The Comprehensive Sewer Plan, revealed Wednesday at a meeting of the City Council, will cost more than $320 million over the next decade, with sewer and stormwater rates nearly doubling in that time. Chris Winters reports. (Herald of Everett)

City of Vancouver hopes new bird strategy will take flight
The City of Vancouver has produced a draft “bird strategy” to give wing to a better environment for birds. It recommends a number of things people can do to improve habitat, reduce unnecessary deaths through cat predation and strikes to buildings, and generally enjoy the avian world. Jeff Lee reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Now, your weekend tug weather--
 WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST FRI DEC 5 2014
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING
TODAY
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 5 FT AT 13 SECONDS. RAIN.
TONIGHT
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. SW SWELL 5 FT AT 10 SECONDS. RAIN.
SAT
S WIND 20 TO 30 KT...BECOMING SW 10 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 3 TO 5 FT...SUBSIDING TO 1 TO 2 FT. SW SWELL 5
 FT AT 9 SECONDS. SHOWERS LIKELY...MAINLY IN THE MORNING.
SAT NIGHT
SW WIND TO 10 KT...BECOMING SE AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 12 SECONDS.
SUN
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 4 FT AT 9 SECONDS.
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