1/22 Whale quiet zones, rogue wave, L Wash salmon, methanol plant, Colstrip closing

(PHOTO: Laurie MacBride)

When Light Dances on Stone
Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "When conditions are just right, you can see a beautiful natural light show along parts of Valdes Island‘s eroded western shoreline. At those magical times, sunlight hits the wavelets and is reflected back up on varying angles, bouncing into the salt-eroded sandstone caverns that lie just overhead. The result is a constantly changing filigree of light, dancing along the walls and roof of each of the caves…."

“Acoustic Sanctuaries:” The Newest Way to Save the Whales
Underwater noise pollution is causing measurable harm to whales’ abilities to reproduce and navigate. A team of researchers proposes quiet zones as a solution. David Ferry reports. (Outside Magazine)

If you like to watch: Rogue wave washes up on Washington coast
A "rogue" wave inundated the coast near Pacific Beach in Washington this weekend — and it was all caught on camera.  Luckily no one was caught in the water at the time, but what exactly caused the "mini tsunami"? Called rogue, freak or killer waves, this phenomena has been a part of marine folklore for centuries. But rogue waves have only recently been accepted as an actual scientific event. Johanna Wagstaffe reports. (CBC)

The steady decline of salmon runs to Lake Washington | Part I
Salmon runs have steadily declined  in Lake Washington for nearly 40 years, a phenomenon which has not escaped researchers, ecologists and environmentalists. The Cedar River-Lake Washington watershed runs from Snoqualmie Pass all the way to Puget Sound in an expanding cone-shaped perimeter, with tributaries from Lynnwood to Renton pouring into Lake Washington. The Cedar River is the main tributary for the watershed, providing access to fertile spawning ground for Chinook salmon and other fish in south Lake Washington. Aaron Kunkler reports. (Kirkland Reporter)

Hundreds Of Tacoma Residents Show Up For Meeting About World's Biggest Methanol Plant
The city of Tacoma’s first public meeting about plans for the world’s largest methanol plant drew a much bigger crowd than expected.  One fire marshal estimated that a thousand people showed up. Some couldn’t get into the main room or an overflow room because those were already full. They all came to learn about and comment on the methanol plant that Northwest Innovation Works, a company backed by a Chinese state agency and a group of investors, wants to build at the Port of Tacoma. Ashley Gross reports. (KPLU)

Washington Lawmakers Take Up Partial Closure Of Montana Coal Plant
Washington state lawmakers are considering a bill that paves the way for a partial closure of the Colstrip coal-fired power plant in Montana. In the face of mounting environmental regulations, Puget Sound Energy wants to develop a plan to close two of Colstrip’s four coal units – a move that could reduce the amount of coal-produced electricity used by Washington consumers. The Washington utility is one of six owners of the overall plant, but co-owns units 1 and 2 with just one other company, Talen Energy. Cassandra Profita reports. (EarthFix)

Now, your weekend tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-  311 AM PST FRI JAN 22 2016  

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE  TONIGHT  

TODAY  SW WIND TO 10 KT...BECOMING 5 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.  WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 14 FT AT 17 SECONDS...SUBSIDING TO  12 FT AT 15 SECONDS IN THE AFTERNOON. RAIN IN THE MORNING...THEN  SHOWERS LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT  SE WIND 5 TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR  LESS. W SWELL 10 FT AT 13 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF RAIN.

SAT  E WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 8 FT  AT 12 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF RAIN.

SAT NIGHT  W WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 6 FT  AT 11 SECONDS.

SUN  LIGHT WIND...BECOMING SE 5 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND  WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 6 FT AT 11 SECONDS.
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