4/23 Green "goose egg," Earth Day action, B'more water wheel, Earth Day critters, crow war, cruise ships, Growlers

Baltimore Harbor water wheel (story below)

On Earth Day, Inslee Gives Lawmakers 'Goose Egg' On Environment
Washington Governor Jay Inslee used Earth Day to chastise state lawmakers for their environmental record. The Democrat spoke Wednesday on the lawn outside one of the Capitol press houses. He said the legislature has failed to send him measures on carbon pollution, oil train safety and toxic chemicals. “The score at the moment is legislators 103 days, environment zero because so far the legislators have an absolute goose egg when it comes to doing anything for the environment this year,” Inslee said. Austin Jenkins reports. (KUOW)

University of Victoria professor urges Earth Day action
As thousands of British Columbians celebrate Earth Day today, it raises the question: If so many people believe in environmental protection, why aren’t more of us taking action? Robert Gifford, a professor of psychology and environmental studies at the University of Victoria, has spent the past seven years studying the attitude-behaviour gap plaguing the environmental movement. Part of the problem is a belief that problems such as climate change are far-away events in either space or time, he said — but that can be changed. Amy Smart reports. (Times Colonist)

Baltimore: Water Wheel scoops 19 tons of Inner Harbor trash in one day
The Inner Harbor Water Wheel, the solar- and water-powered contraption that removes trash and debris from Baltimore's waterfront, collected a record 19 tons of waste on Monday, officials said. The Waterfront Partnership last spring launched the Water Wheel recognizable by a trash collecting device that resembles a steamboat paddle wheel. The device is turned by the Jones Falls River current as it scoops up trash and debris that is placed onto a conveyor belt and poured into a dumpster barge. The barge then hauls away the trash and another dumpster is put in its place. Solar panels provide additional power, officials said. Joe Burris reports. (Baltimore Sun)

Five Critters To Watch This Earth Day
Humpback whales have rebounded so successfully that federal wildlife managers say most should be removed from endangered species protection – with a caveat for whales off Washington state. That's a bit of good news for this Earth Day. Below we've  summarized the debate over the status of a few other threatened or endangered species in Washington state… Gray wolf, wolverine, Northern spotted owl, Canada lynx, Gil Aegerter reports. (KUOW)

Earth Day volunteers get to the root of the ivy problem  (Seattle Times) Port Townsend kindergartners get hands-on lesson with tree-planting activity for Earth Day  (Peninsula Daily News)

Neighbors at war over feeding of crows in Portage Bay
When one family began feeding crows in the Portage Bay neighborhood, and attracting them in large numbers, a nearly two-year neighborhood battle ensued. Erik Lacitis reports. (Seattle Times)

Victoria cruise ship season brings big bucks — and complaints
It's cruise ship season again in Victoria, and with 229 ships expected to visit, residents are raising fresh concerns about noise, traffic and dirty air. The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority says between now and November about 513,000 passengers are expected to stop by on their way from Alaska to Seattle. The longer the cruise ships stay, the more tourists may spend on the local economy, says Bruce Carter, with the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce…. However, residents who live near the cruise ship port argue that the tourism boost is accompanied by loud buses, pollution and congestion as tourists travel to and from city attractions. (CBC)

Navy War Games over Olympic National Park and Forest
.... The US Navy plans to permanently use and periodically close large swathes of the Olympic National Forest, along with airspace over it and the Olympic National Park as well as the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, for electromagnetic warfare testing and training. They are also ramping up their use of explosives and sonar and training activities in the waters surrounding the Olympic Peninsula. Their stated goal is to turn the western portion of Washington's Olympic Peninsula and surrounding waters into an Electromagnetic Warfare Range. The area encompasses a world heritage site and one of our national treasures: the Olympic National Park. Connie Gallant writes. (Daily Kos)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 303 AM PDT THU APR 23 2015
TODAY
S WIND 10 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 10 SECONDS. RAIN IN THE MORNING...THEN SHOWERS LIKELY IN THE
 AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT
W WIND 15 TO 20 KT...BECOMING SW 10 TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. W SWELL 8 FT AT 10 SECONDS.
 SHOWERS.
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