7/3 WA budget, maple leaf, Ballard Locks, EPA, Tacoma fuel, sewers, ozone, plankton, Papahanaumokuuakea

Merlin [Barb Deihl]

Merlins
Neighborhood Merlin Liaison Barb Deihl writes: "Right now, at the end of June and into July, the young Merlins are getting bigger and bigger and almost ready to head out of their reused crow nests, mostly in 100-foot firs or pines.  Fledging has started for some of the broods…." (read more and check out the photos)

Inslee signs ‘a truly historic budget’ to stop government shutdown, put money into schools
Washington lawmakers pushed a new $43.7 billion budget through the Legislature in less than a day on Friday, working to avoid a partial shutdown of state government that was scheduled to occur at midnight. Gov. Jay Inslee signed the new two-year budget into law at 11:15 p.m., less than an hour before the deadline to avoid the closure of many state agencies and temporary layoffs of thousands of state employees. The Democratic governor said he was proud to sign “a truly historic budget” he praised for finally addressing a court order to fix how the state pays for schools. Melissa Santos and Walker Orenstein report. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Tree expert taps into the truth behind use of iconic maple leaf
The maple leaf is an iconic Canadian symbol, but according to one tree expert, the leaf that appears on the flag is not the same image printed on Canadian currency. David Tracey, author of the Vancouver Tree Book, took a walk with CBC's North by Northwest host, Sheryl MacKay, and explained the differences between the leaf on the flag and the one on Canada's five-dollar bill. (CBC) See also: Canada Day: Time-lapse captures 'largest living maple leaf'   Thousands of people have gathered at an intersection in the Canadian city of Winnipeg to create the country's "largest living maple leaf". (BBC)

Water's natural rhythms nourished our area's native culture. Then came the Ballard Locks.
A century ago, the construction of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks reworked the land and water of Seattle and its environs for development, displacing the indigenous cultures and the natural abundance of the landscape. Lynda Mapes reports. (Settle Times)

Counseled by Industry, Not Staff, E.P.A. Chief Is Off to a Blazing Start 
In the four months since he took office as the Environmental Protection Agency’s administrator, Scott Pruitt has moved to undo, delay or otherwise block more than 30 environmental rules, a regulatory rollback larger in scope than any other over so short a time in the agency’s 47-year history, according to experts in environmental law. Coral Davenport reports. (NY Times)

Regulations for fossil-fuel development in Tacoma needed now
We’re No. 2, Tacoma! But that’s not a good thing. Last month, the Sightline Institute — a nonprofit progressive think tank that largely concerns itself with environmental health and social justice — released a report ranking Pacific Northwest communities most threatened by coal, oil and natural-gas development. Matt Driscoll reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Crews finishing Carlsborg sewer project; residents can connect to system starting Wednesday
After more than a year under construction, the Carlsborg Sewer Project is wrapping up, Clallam County staff report. Matthew Nash reports. (Peninsula News Group) See also:  Plan for sewage treatment plant prompts Stanwood to update rules  Kari Bray reports. (Everett Herald)

Canadian scientists discover how forests reduce ozone pollution
Canadian scientists have discovered how forests reduce the amount of surface ozone pollution by up to half, creating a new way for much more accurate air quality forecasts worldwide. The shaded and relatively stagnant air of the forest ecosystem modifies the chemistry of air pollution, resulting in much less ozone formation than had been previously believed to take place, according to a study recently published in Nature Communications by scientists at the federal department of Environment and Climate Change Canada. Levon Sevunts reports. (Radio Canada International)

Why The Fishing Industry Wants More Say On Papahanaumokuakea
Federal officials are still reviewing whether changes should be made to more than two dozen national monuments that were established to preserve fragile ecosystems, culturally sensitive areas and historic sites throughout the Pacific Ocean and U.S. mainland — including Pahanaumokuakea in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. More than 442,000 comments have been submitted since the Interior Department asked for the public’s input in May following an executive order by President Donald Trump, whose administration is considering opening some protected places to mining, ranching, fishing and other commercial activities. The comments overwhelmingly support leaving the monuments alone. But not everyone feels each voice should carry the same weight — especially those supportive of Hawaii’s commercial fishing industry. Nathan Eagle reports. (Honolulu Civil Beat)

Photographer Ryo Minemizu finds the secret world of plankton
Japanese underwater photographer Ryo Minemizu has photographed the plentiful but often ignored residents of the ocean. (BBC)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  856 PM PDT Sun Jul 2 2017  
MON  W wind to 10 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W  swell 4 ft at 7 seconds.
MON NIGHT  W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 2 ft or less after  midnight. W swell 4 ft at 7 seconds.
TUE  Light wind becoming W to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 7 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato (@) salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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