10/5 Orca kids, boat spills, San Juan land use, Schroeder wins Stopps Award, cable ferry

 J50 and J16 (Renee Beitzel, Puget Sound Express Whale Watching)

PNWWA reports Southern Resident calves still surviving
After more than 14,000 whale watch trips and numerous encounters this summer and early fall with the Southern Resident Community of orcas, Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) crews are reporting that the kids are alright – the "Class of 2015," as the fleet has dubbed eight killer whale calves born into the endangered population last year, appear to be healthy, active and thriving. (PWWA)

Owners of boat that leaked into Sinclair Inlet must pay almost $70K
The owners of a boat that spilled fuel last year in Sinclair Inlet have been hit with nearly $70,000 in damages and fines from the state Department of Ecology. The 69-foot Tango sank at its dock at the Port Orchard Railway Marina in early September 2015, releasing about 750 gallons of oil and diesel. The spill sent an oily sheen about a mile into the inlet. Ecology, the Coast Guard and local response crews spent days cleaning up the spill and hauling out the sunken boat. Tristan Baurick reports. (Kitsap Sun) See also: Owner fined for tug that sank off Bainbridge  A Kitsap County Superior Court judge Monday ordered the former owner of a 98-year-old tugboat that sank off Bainbridge Island to pay more than $44,000 in restitution. (Kitsap Sun)

U.S. Supreme Court says no to CSA
The U.S. Supreme Court denied a request from a local property rights group October 3, 2016. The Common Sense Alliance was seeking a hearing on its appeal of the San Juan County Critical Area regulations. The denial ends the long, arduous process of updating the county's Critical Area ordinance…. Common Sense Alliance is governed by Ed Kilduff, Alexandra Gavora, Shari Harrison, and Sam Buck. The group, which was involved at every stage of the update process, lost its appeals at all five levels - the Growth Board, the Superior Court, the Court of Appeals, the Washington Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court…. The issue was whether the legislative action of the county council, which was a science-based approach to regulations to protect wetlands and shorelines, was a “taking” of land without compensation. The Courts below said “no” and that decision was not changed on appeal. (San Juan Islander)

Schroeder wins Eleanor Stopps award
The Port Townsend Marine Science Center has awarded Dr. Pete Schroeder of the National Marine Mammal Foundation with the 12th annual Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership Award…. Throughout his 50-year career of studying marine mammals, Schroeder has applied his learning to improve the lives of these animals, through direct veterinary care, advocacy and education. He has worked as a veterinarian for the U.S. Navy, as the lead veterinarian for the 2003 rehabilitation of Springer the orca calf — the only successful capture, translocation and reintroduction of an orca calf ever achieved — and worked as a consultant and contributor to NOAA Fisheries' Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery Plan. He was nominated for the Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership Award by [Anne] Murphy and Chrissy McLean. (Port Townsend Leader)

First cable ferry in fleet performing well, BC Ferries says
Nearly a year into providing service, BC Ferries says it's pleased with the performance of its first cable ferry. The Baynes Sound Connector was installed on the Buckley Bay to Denman Island route last fall. It started taking cars and passengers in February…. The first months of operation did come with some hiccups. In May, the cable ferry was left dead in the water mid-run by a hydraulic failure. There was a second breakdown in July. Megan Thomas reports. (CBC)

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-  255 AM PDT WED OCT 5 2016  

TODAY  SE WIND 5 TO 15 KT IN THE MORNING...BECOMING LIGHT. WIND  WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 9 FT AT 12 SECONDS...SUBSIDING TO 7  FT AT 11 SECONDS. SHOWERS LIKELY IN THE MORNING...THEN A CHANCE  OF SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT  W WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING SW AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND  WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. W SWELL 6 FT AT 10 SECONDS.

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