2/20 BC pipe, J51 & J50, deer cull, razor clamming, LIDs

Lunar New Year: Predictions for Year of the Sheep (or Ram, or Goat)
The Year of the Sheep has arrived. Or is it the ram? Or the goat? The Chinese character representing the animal of year could mean any of the above. Which leaves the animal of the year open to interpretation. Margaret Gallagher reports. (CBC)

Washington State can view spill-response plans for pipeline that B.C. cannot
Washington State has documents outlining emergency response plans for a Kinder Morgan pipeline – plans similar to those British Columbians have been told by Canada’s National Energy Board they’re not allowed to see due to security concerns. The B.C. government lost a battle with the National Energy Board in January to have greater access to Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline emergency response plan (ERP). Kinder Morgan had already provided B.C. with a version of the plan, but significant portions were blacked out…. A link to the Washington State ERP was available online recently at DeSmog Canada, but has since been deactivated by state officials. David Geselbracht reports. (Globe and Mail)

J51 and J50 Spotted Swimming With Their Moms
"It was an epic day on the water, what any whale watcher hopes for,” reports Naturalist Heather MacIntyre of Legacy Charters on San Juan Island. “We saw both of the newest Southern Resident orca calves. The wide range of behavior, from spunky J50 porpoising to J51 nursing, truly gives us hope.” Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) crews observed the the two newest members of Jpod in Trincomali Channel north of Active Pass in British Columbia on February 19. (San Juan Islander)

SPCA firm on opposition to Oak Bay deer cull
Following a confidential meeting with Oak Bay’s deer cull contractor on Wednesday, the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals remains against trapping and killing 25 deer. Dr. Sara Dubois, the B.C. SPCA’s chief scientific officer, met with Oak Bay and Capital Regional District staff to reiterate the animal welfare group’s concerns about the cull and ensure awareness of the SPCA’s responsibility to respond if complaints of animal distress are filed. Oak Bay was granted a permit by the provincial government in January to cull 25 deer. The contractor will use large net boxes reinforced with wood and shots from a bolt gun to the deer’s head. The method has been deemed humane by the provincial wildlife veterinarian. Katherine Dedyna and Amy Smart report. (Times Colonist)

If you like to watch: All in a good night’s work: searching for razor clams 
Photographer Erika Schultz captures recreational digging for razor clams on Grayland Beach in Grays Harbor County this week. (Seattle Times)

State wants greener surfaces in future
Skagit County and area cities are gearing up for an environmentally friendly change to development rules. Under certain types of state Department of Ecology-issued stormwater permits, low-impact development techniques will become more of a requirement for new development and less of an option in 2016, as long as cost is not a burden. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST FRI FEB 20 2015
TODAY
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 10 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF
 SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
NW WIND 10 TO 15 KT BECOMING E 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 5 FT AT 11 SECONDS.
SAT
E WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 4 FT AT 12 SECONDS.
SAT NIGHT
SE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 5 FT AT 13 SECONDS.
SUN
SE WIND 10 TO 20 KT BECOMING E 10 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 5 FT AT 16 SECONDS.
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