11/15 BC pipe, human warning, Ryan Calkins wins, Oly park, Blaine park, monarch b'fly, giant marlin age

English holly [King County]

English Holly 
English holly, Ilex aquifolium, is a broadleaf evergreen tree or shrub that is grown as a landscape plant in the northwestern United States and Canada but is also commonly found escaping into forests in this region. English holly's native range is the British Isles to southern and central Europe. It is grown commercially in the Pacific Northwest and commonly used in decorations and floral arrangements as well as in landscapes. In King County, English holly is classified as a Weed of Concern and its control is recommended in natural areas that are being restored to native vegetation and in protected forest lands. The City of Kirkland includes English holly on its list of prohibited plants that are prohibited from being planted on private property. (King County)

Editor's note: There has been quite a bit of spirited commentary following recent blogs by Pete Haase and Kathy Fletcher about Puget Sound recovery posted on Salish Sea Communications. Check them out and, if you have something to say, join the conversation.

Kinder Morgan appeals to energy regulator over Trans Mountain pipeline expansion
Kinder Morgan has appealed again to the country's energy regulator, asking it to set up a process to resolve potential disagreements with provincial or municipal governments over its planned Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion project. The request was made Tuesday after the National Energy Board last week rejected a proposal to expedite an earlier appeal to obtain permits from the city of Burnaby in B.C.'s Lower Mainland. The company claims the lack of permits from the city adds expensive hurdles to the $7.4-billion construction project. The company also said it is also asking the NEB to set up a process to make an "expedited determination" for such cases in future. (Thomson Reuters)

Oregon State Professor Writes Updated 'Warning To Humanity'
In November of 1992, more than 1,500 scientists put their signatures on an extraordinary document titled “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity,” imploring global leaders to save the planet from environmental disaster. Now, 25 years later, more than 15,000 scientists have signed an updated version of that historic plea, saying “time is running out.” “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice,” published Monday in the international journal BioScience, charts the progress — or lack thereof — on the issues highlighted in the original document and renews the call for urgent action. Bennett Hall reports. (Associated Press)

Port of Seattle commissioner John Creighton voted out after 11 years despite big fundraising advantage
John Creighton, the longest-serving Port of Seattle commissioner, has lost his re-election bid despite a huge fundraising advantage, as King County voters opted instead for progressive challenger Ryan Calkins. The latest ballot drop Tuesday left Creighton with 47.4 percent of the vote, trailing by more than 23,000 votes — a bigger margin than the number of ballots left to be counted. The result was somewhat surprising: Creighton, a Port commissioner for 11 years, won in a landslide four years ago. Four years before that, he didn’t even draw an opponent. Mike Rosenberg reports. (Seattle Times)

Olympia has 13 acres of undeveloped waterfront to play with. Any suggestions?
Imagine walking from West Bay Park in Olympia to Percival Landing without ever leaving a waterfront trail. It could happen, but it is still a few years away. The city bought 17 acres on the west side of West Bay back in 2007 from the Port of Olympia and BNSF Railway. Now officials want to hear from the community on what should happen there next. So far, 4 acres across from Brawne Avenue Northwest has been developed into West Bay Park in partnership with local Rotary clubs. Thirteen acres south of the park stretching down to the Fifth Avenue Bridge remain closed. There will be a public meeting on the project from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW. There also will be an online survey posted Wednesday through Nov. 30 at olympiawa.gov/westbaypark. Abby Spegman reports. (Olympian)

Company that dumped acidic wastewater into Blaine’s sewer system pays for city park
An organic food producer that was fined thousands of dollars in November 2016 for disposing acidic wastewater into Blaine’s sewer treatment system will now help the city buy land to be used as a public park, and restore a streambank. Nature’s Path Foods, a Richmond B.C.-based company that produces organic granola, cookies and cereal, will spend approximately $29,800 on an environmental package that includes five projects to benefit the Cain Creek watershed. The environmental package settles Nature Path’s appeal of a 2016 Washington State Department of Ecology penalty for $22,000 and an order of compliance for the acidic wastewater that came from the company’s Blaine location, according to Ecology records. The settlement was reached in late October. Denver Pratt reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Decode monarch butterfly migration mysteries, and you could win $50,000
Monarch butterflies can mesmerize their audience. Just ask Eli Moreno, Tacoma entrepreneur and founder of startup co-working spaces Surge Tacoma and Union Club. Fifteen years ago, Moreno and his family were vacationing in Mexico. “We stopped by a monarch butterfly reserve where they spend winter, and we were just overwhelmed by the natural beauty,” Moreno said. “It was an incredible site, and we felt we were walking on sacred ground. We came back and decided as a family we personally wanted to help.” Moreno has been a board member with the Monarch Butterfly Fund for the past seven years. The fund has launched a contest that will award $50,000 to the winner of its international technology design challenge to find a tracking technology to aid in learning more about monarch butterfly migrations. Debbie Cockrell reports. (News Tribune of Tacoma)

The Odd Story Of How A NOAA Scientist Calculated A Giant Marlin's Age
For the first time, a scientist has been able to discern the age of a marlin by measuring radiocarbon levels stemming from nuclear bomb detonations in the mid-1950s. The 1,245-pound, 12-foot blue marlin caught in waters near Honolulu in 2009 was a peculiar find because most large marlins are caught around Kona, said Allen Andrews, a fisheries research biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries division. Courtney Teague reports. (Honolulu Civil Beat)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  300 AM PST Wed Nov 15 2017  
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT  
TODAY  E wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. SW swell 11 ft  at 10 seconds. Rain in the morning then showers likely and a chance  of tstms in the afternoon.
TONIGHT  SE wind 15 to 25 kt becoming S 5 to 15 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 2 ft or less. SW swell 9 ft at 10  seconds. Showers and a chance of tstms.

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