8/16 Nearshore value, hottest month, steelhead rivers, river temperatures

From This Is Your Century

If you like to watch: This Is Your Century
All of us need a bit of inspiration in these troubled times. Watch Eric Becker's video with words by Paul Hawken. (We Are Shouting)

Authorities Highlight Nearshore’s Importance In Puget Sound Recovery
Communities around Puget Sound have invested about $150 million over the past two decades to clean up the water and improve habitat for endangered salmon. Yet we continue to lose ground when it comes to a crucial part of that environment. King County watershed managers recently hosted a guided boat tour to spread the word about the importance of restoration work in recovering the so-called ‘nearshore.’  The nearshore environment is the place where the water meets the land. That intertidal area is hugely important for the biology of Puget Sound. Authorities say it’s a gathering place for 22 Chinook populations that swim in from every watershed around.  It forms the base of the food chain. Tiny forage fish that salmon eat lay their eggs in the sandy shallows of the beaches. But there’s a problem. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KPLU)

NASA: July was Earth's hottest in recorded history
Earth just broiled to its hottest month in recorded history, according to NASA. Even after the fading of a strong El Nino, which spikes global temperatures on top of man-made climate change, July burst global temperature records. NASA calculated that July 2016 was 1.51 degrees Fahrenheit (0.84 degrees Celsius) warmer than the 1950-1980 global average. That's clearly hotter than the previous hotter months, about 0.18 degrees warmer than the previous record of July 2011 and July 2015, which were so close they were said to be in a tie for the hottest month on record, said NASA chief climate scientist Gavin Schmidt. Seth Borenstein reports. (Associated Press)

Nisqually, Elwha rivers selected to aid wild steelhead recovery
The Nisqually and Elwha rivers were designated Monday as wild steelhead gene banks to help conserve wild steelhead populations. Both rivers will now be off-limits to releases of steelhead raised at state hatcheries, which can pose risks to native fish through interbreeding and competition for spawning areas. Winter steelhead fishing in the Nisqually will not be allowed if the wild steelhead run is not strong enough to allow it. Current rules on the Nisqually allow fishing for hatchery steelhead from July 1-Sept. 30. Jeffery Mayor reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Lawsuit Aims To Lower Columbia And Snake River Temperatures For Salmon
Conservation groups announced plans Monday to sue the Environmental Protection Agency.  They say the agency isn’t doing enough to protect salmon from high water temperatures on the Columbia and Snake rivers. Warm water can be deadly for salmon.  Just last year, 250,000 sockeye died on the Columbia because of high temperatures. The EPA started addressing the issue more than a decade ago, but that process stalled. Jes Burns reports. (OPB/EarthFix)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-  256 AM PDT TUE AUG 16 2016  

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON  THROUGH THIS EVENING  

TODAY  SW WIND TO 10 KT...BECOMING NW 15 TO 25 KT IN THE  AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS...BUILDING TO 2 TO 4 FT IN THE  AFTERNOON. W SWELL 5 FT AT 12 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG IN THE MORNING.
TONIGHT  W WIND 15 TO 25 KT...BECOMING SW 5 TO 15 KT AFTER  MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT...SUBSIDING TO 2 FT OR LESS AFTER  MIDNIGHT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 11 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG IN THE EVENING.

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