9/4 Desolation Sound, J50, BC pipe, dams, shellfish harvest, glacial ice, hometown heat, women scientists, Tacoma aquarium, Point Wells condo

Desolation Sound [Andrew Strain]

Desolation Sound
Desolation Sound is a deep water sound at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, Canada. Flanked by Cortes Island and West Redonda Island, its spectacular fjords, mountains and wildlife make it a global boating and sea kayaking destination. The Government of British Columbia created Desolation Sound Provincial Marine Park in 1973, under the advocacy of MLA Don Lockstead and the NDP government, out of an area comprising 8,449 hectares (32.6 sq mi) and over 60 kilometres (37 mi) of shoreline. (Wikipedia) See also: Derelict floating house in waters of Desolation Sound raises jurisdictional concerns  (CBC)

Concerns grow for young orca's life as it struggles to swim with family in Salish Sea
Biologists are worried that a young orca, a member of a species facing extinction in the Salish Sea, is at a greater risk of dying after falling so far behind her family that it hadn’t been sighted for more than three days. A team of veterinarians that suspects the whale is suffering from malnutrition, an infection and internal worms, moved Monday to attempt giving it a second shot of antibiotics and dewormer, according to the National  Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  The female killer whale, known as J50, was barely keeping up with her family on Thursday, when Canadian biologists lost track of her. She was spotted with her mother on Monday morning. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Five things about the Trans Mountain pipeline ruling
The Federal Court of Appeal has quashed the approval of the $9.3-billion Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion. Here's what you need to know. Lori Culbert reports. (Vancouver Sun) See also: Vaughn Palmer: Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project presented with 'rescue plan' Far from issuing a death warrant for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, the Federal Court of appeal wrapped up a lengthy judgment this week with suggestions on how Ottawa could save the controversial project. (Vancouver Sun) And also: Natural Resources committee meeting today to talk about Trans Mountain pipeline decision  (Canadian Press)

As Puget Sound orcas dwindle, dam removal pressure grows
A governor-appointed task force considers whether removing six dams across Washington could help restore the salmon runs our whales rely on. John Stang reports. (Crosscut) See also: Focus on chinook salmon creates troubles for Southern Resident orca  Chris Dunagan writes. (Watching Our Water Ways)

Less boater pollution allows more shellfish harvesting near marinas
State health officials have reduced shellfish-closure areas around 20 marinas in Puget Sound, allowing more commercial shellfish harvesting while inching toward a goal of upgrading 10,800 acres of shellfish beds by 2020. In all, 661 acres of shellfish beds were removed from a long-standing “prohibited” classification that has been applied around marinas, based on assumptions about the dumping of sewage from boats confined to small areas. Chris Dunagan reports. (Watching Our Water Ways) See also: State lifts restrictions on commercial shellfish beds at 2 Thurston County marinas  Abby Spegman reports. (Olympian) And also: State approved harvest on 184 acres of shellfish beds near Kitsap marinas  Tad Sooter reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Study underscores continued loss of glacial ice, melt
As glaciers in the North Cascades and other areas of the Pacific Northwest continue to melt, the streams they typically replenish during the summer will get less water in August and September in coming decades. A study recently published in Water Resources Research, a journal of the American Geophysical Union, underscores this issue in the Skagit River watershed and other areas of the Cascade and Olympic mountains. The study found that with a decline in snowpack accumulation and summer melt from some glaciers, some areas in the region could see 80 percent lower summer streamflows by the end of the century, according to a news release. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

How Much Hotter Is Your Hometown Than When You Were Born?
As the world warms because of human-induced climate change, most of us can expect to see more days when temperatures hit 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) or higher. See how your hometown has changed so far and how much hotter it may get. (NY Times)

'People thought that she didn’t look like a scientist because she was female'
When Brandy Yanchyk realized that few of the women she knew were scientists, she decided to investigate.  What the filmmaker discovered is that while plenty of women enter careers in science, many leave because of roadblocks and challenges, as illustrated in Ms. Scientist, a documentary film directed and produced by Yanchyk.  Laura Sciarpelletti (CBC)

The stars are ready for their close-ups as Tacoma’s new aquarium opens
The sea creatures have learned to get along, the water is a balmy 77 degrees and all that’s missing from the new Pacific Seas Aquarium are the visitors. That will change Friday (Sept. 7) when Tacoma’s Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium opens the doors to its new $51.6 million project. It’s been four years of planning and building to bring to life the 35,000-square-foot aquarium, the largest capital project in the zoo’s 113-year history. Stacia Glenn reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Point Wells developer appeals denial of 3,000 condos
The company trying to build more than 3,000 condos along the Puget Sound waterfront is appealing the Snohomish County hearing examiner’s decision to deny the project. The County Council has scheduled an Oct. 3 hearing to consider the appeal from BSRE Point Wells. The company also is pressing the same arguments through a land-use petition in Snohomish County Superior Court. By number of housing units, Point Wells was the largest residential development under consideration in unincorporated Snohomish County. In June, hearing examiner Peter Camp declined to extend the deadline for completing the project’s permit application, which expired the next day. The project had been pending since 2011 and received three earlier extensions. Noah Haglund reports. (Everett Herald)

Fidalgo Bay Day, Sept. 15
The Skagit County Marine Resources Committee holds its free, annual Fidalgo Bay Day from 11 AM – 3 PM, at the Samish Indian Nation’s Fidalgo Bay Resort at 4701 Fidalgo Bay Road in Anacortes. Come celebrate our local estuaries and the beauty, history, and wonderful marine life. Enjoy a fabulous no-host traditional salmon BBQ lunch offered by members of the Samish Indian Nation. Taste complimentary samples of seafood chowder prepared by local restaurateurs and shellfish from Taylor Seafood. More info is at the Skagit MRC website.

Now, your tug weather--

West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  241 AM PDT Tue Sep 4 2018   

TODAY  Light wind becoming N to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds. 

TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming S after midnight. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds.

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