11/22 Rain, saving salmon and orcas, dye test, Tofino feed bags, necessity defense

PHOTO: Laurie MacBride

Their Time to Shine
Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "On the west coast of BC we don’t experience that amazing palette of fall colours that you’ll see back east. But we do have our own special brand of autumn hues: mostly, many variations on a theme of yellow. On this typically rainy day in November, I’m thankful for the gold and amber hues of the willows, steeplebush, Bigleaf maples, grasses and bracken around our pond. They’re all native species, planted here by Mother Nature and requiring virtually no tending. They spend most of the year quietly in the background – then, at this wet, windy and dark time of year they step forward and begin to shine, brightening up our back yard, and my spirits."

Expect record-high temps, 'copious rain' in Seattle area as we head toward Thanksgiving
A tropical blast of warm air is starting to be pumped into the Puget Sound region, bringing loads of rain and enough heat to snap records. Christine Clarridge reports. (Seattle Times) See also: Metro Vancouver weather: Yes, it’s another rainfall warning  “A long episode of rain, at times heavy, is expected,” reads Environment Canada’s foreboding and soggy warning, which calls for prolonged periods of rain over the next two or three days. Scott Brown reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Grants awarded for projects to save salmon, orcas
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation recently announced $888,265 in grants to be used in the coming year to restore habitat for chinook salmon — the preferred food of orca whales — and to conduct research on what it will take to help the dwindling populations of both species. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Bodies of water near Shelton set to undergo dye test
Oakland Bay and Hammersley Inlet, both near Shelton, will be turned red as part of a study to identify areas where pollution may make shellfish unsafe to eat, according to the state Department of Health. The red dye test is scheduled for Dec. 1-4. The dye will be added to treated wastewater from Shelton’s main treatment plant. The dye is not harmful to people, marine life or the environment, according to DOH. Federal and other state agencies, as well as the city of Shelton and Squaxin Island Tribe, also are involved in the dye test. Rolf Boone reports. (Olympian)

Fish farm takes blame for feed bags on Tofino-area beaches
A Port Alberni-based fish farm has taken responsibility for the thousands of plastic feed bags that are fouling beaches in Pacific Rim National Park. Omega Pacific Sea Farms said in a statement this morning that the bags spilled into the water after a series of storms battered the barge connected to its Jane Bay farm in Barkley Sound. Katie Derosa reports. (Times Colonist)

Why Pipeline Activists On Trial Say, 'We Had To Do It' 
Last year, five activists from the Pacific Northwest shut off pipelines bringing oil into the US from Canada. All five were arrested and charged with various felonies and misdemeanors. Now, a development in one of their trials could set a new precedent for cases in which climate change activists have been arrested for acts of civil disobedience…. The case in Minnesota is the only one in which the judge has allowed this novel defense that the defendants want to use. It’s called the “necessity defense.” The “necessity defense” means that the defendants admit that they did something illegal, but they say that illegal action was necessary in order to prevent an even greater harm. In this case, the greater harm would be climate change along with the rising seas, more unpredictable and extreme weather, and other things climate change is bringing. Eilis O'Neill reports. (KUOW/EarthFix)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  242 AM PST Wed Nov 22 2017  
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON  PST TODAY  
TODAY  SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell  10 ft at 12 seconds easing to 9 ft at 12 seconds in the afternoon.  Rain.
TONIGHT  S wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. SW swell  11 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.
THU  SW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 10 ft at 11 seconds. Rain in the  morning then showers in the afternoon.
THU NIGHT  SW wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 9 ft at 10 seconds.

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