9/5 Big skate, J50, BC pipe consult, Earth Ministry, drowning squirrels, PS population, oyster open mic

Big skate [NOAA/Wikipedia]

Big skate Raja binoculata
Big skate range from the Bering Sea and southeast Alaska to central Baja, California. They occur in coastal bays, estuaries, and over the continental shelf, usually on sandy or muddy bottoms, but occasionally on low strands of kelp. They grow to 2.4 m (8 ft), but rarely over 1.8 m (6 ft), in length, and 91 kg (200 lbs) in weight. They live to 26 years. They are caught incidentally in the commercial fishery off the Washington coast with otter-trawls, longline, and jig handline gear and caught incidentally by recreational harvesters off the outer Washington coast and in Puget Sound. (WDFW)

Sickly killer whale J-50 treated with dose of antibiotics
Biologists have managed to administer what they believe is a full dose of antibiotics to an emaciated killer whale in the waters off British Columbia. Michael Millstein, who is with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Portland, Ore., says the female southern resident killer whale known as J-50 was spotted Monday and researchers were able to deliver a dart filled with the potentially lifesaving medication. (Canadian Press)

What's 'meaningful consultation?' Squamish Nation, Indigenous lawyer weigh in on Trans Mountain's future
If the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project is to proceed, meaningful consultation with First Nations will need to involve more Indigenous communities than just those who were involved in the court decision. And that likely means a substantial delay to the project, according to Merle Alexander, an Indigenous resource lawyer with Miller Titerle and a member of the Ts'msyan Nation from Kitasoo on B.C.'s North Coast. Clare Hennig reports. (CBC)

Faith groups hope to make carbon fee a moral and spiritual choice
Every week, Seattle First Baptist Church sends an online newsletter to hundreds of its parishioners. A recent edition included announcements of the kind one might expect: a get-to-know-your-pastor event; a book discussion; a school supplies drive. But in one key section, the church broke with the usual to endorse a highly anticipated state ballot initiative that would place a fee on carbon emissions. “God's creation and Earth's ecosystems are crying out for long-term solutions for a changing climate,” the announcement said. “Initiative 1631 is an excellent first step towards creating a healthy and homegrown energy future.” Seattle First Baptist isn’t alone. In fact, the church is part of a large ecosystem of faith communities pushing for this carbon fee policy and several other pieces of green legislation. Together, they make up the faith-based environmental advocacy organization known as Earth Ministry.  Hallie Golden reports. (Crosscut)

She didn’t think squirrels should be drowned. Here’s what wildlife officials say
A settlement has been reached in a Whatcom County animal control officer’s lawsuit that sought to stop people from drowning nuisance squirrels and to bar the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife from telling people they can drown the animals on residential property. Filed in June in Whatcom County Superior Court, Rebecca Crowley’s lawsuit said drowning squirrels is an “indisputably cruel method.” Crowley sued the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the state of Washington. Kie Relyea reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Population Growth is Third-Highest in Two Decades
The four-county central Puget Sound region gained 67,860 people during the last year as its total population reached 4.135 million. Since 2010, the region has gained more than 440,000 new residents, according to the Puget Sound Regional Council. The pace of population growth slowed compared to the previous two years when the region added more than 80,000 people annually, but still represents a robust rate of growth. It was third-highest increase in population in the past two decades. Lisa Brown reports. (GlobeSt.com)

The World Of An Oyster: Scientists Are Using Microphones To Spy On Reef Life
A North Carolina State University researcher is using underwater microphones to help better understand the extensive array of animals living in the state’s oyster reefs. In the 1600s, oysters reefs were so robust in U.S. waterways that they created a hazard for ships. But centuries of harvesting the delicious bivalve have decimated these reefs, which serve as breeding grounds for future oysters. That’s why nearly every U.S. state with a coastline has a program to rebuild oyster reefs. James Morrison reports. (NPR)

Now, your tug weather--

West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  208 AM PDT Wed Sep 5 2018   

TODAY  SE wind to 10 kt in the morning becoming light. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. SW swell 3 ft at 11 seconds. 

TONIGHT  W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. SW swell  3 ft at 9 seconds. Patchy fog after midnight.

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