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| Rockweed [Alchetron] |
Fucus distichus or rockweed is a species of brown alga in the family Fucaceae to be found in the intertidal zones of rocky seashores in the Northern Hemisphere, mostly in rock pools. In Great Britain, rockweed is found on northern coasts of Scotland and the north and west coasts of Ireland where it is found on rock faces and in rock pools in the upper littoral zone. It also occurs on the eastern coast of North America. and on the west coast from Alaska to California.... It has been found that this species grows more abundantly on sloped than on vertical rock faces. Its presence increases species richness as it forms canopies in the mid to high intertidal zone that provide protection, shelter and food for a variety of small invertebrates including many gastropods and crustaceans. (Alchetron)
Stop fishing salmon, orca lovers say. You’re missing the point, Skagit tribe says
.... At meeting after public meeting over the past six months, orca lovers and orca experts have urged bold action: Everything from removing dams to restricting or banning activities that can harm the whales. Crazy or not, those are fighting words to people whose ancestors gave up their land to be able to keep fishing. “Humans are the problem, and it’s not fishermen,” commercial fisherman and Makah tribal chair Nate Tyler said at a task force meeting in Anacortes. “This task force isn’t going to stop me. It’s not in a position to stop me.” “That’s always being touted—cease fishing,” said Doreen Maloney, general manager of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe in Sedro-Woolley, in the foothills of the North Cascades. “People [who] say that don't have any clue of how to manage fish.” John Ryan reports. (KUOW)
National organization invests in Skagit County project for orca recovery
The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation announced Wednesday $742,000 in grants for projects aimed at protecting and restoring the endangered Southern Resident orca population. Those grants, which include $144,000 for a project in Skagit County, will leverage $1.8 million toward orca recovery when combined with matches from project sponsors. Projects receiving grant funding include genetic research, habitat protection, salmon recovery and boater education. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)
Sea lions found shot near West Seattle
Nearly a half dozen California sea lions have washed ashore in the last six weeks near West Seattle, and at least two of them are confirmed to have been killed by gunshot wounds. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed they are investigating the deaths. One sea lion found Wednesday has suspicious wounds, but a necropsy has not yet been performed to find the cause of death. There are several others still under investigation as well. Alison Morrow reports. (KING) See also: Hundreds of noisy, smelly sea lions fill Cowichan Bay — to the delight of many Joel Ballard reports. (CBC)
You don’t have to wait for a special occasion to help southern resident orcas
Perhaps the humpback whale felt snubbed or assumed its invitation got lost in the mail. It was Orca Recovery Day, after all, not a Humpback Appreciation Lunch, but that didn’t stop a representative from the latter group of large mammals from making its presence felt. “I wouldn’t have even dreamed it could have worked out so well,” said Pierce Conservation District spokesman Allan Warren of the unexpected visit, which occurred last Saturday, just offshore as the dozens of people assembled at Tacoma Narrows Park sat down for lunch. They were gathered for the Pierce Conservation’s Orca Recovery Day event, one of 10 such events organized by conservation districts across the region. Matt Driscoll writes. (Tacoma News Tribune)
For 1st time in years, chinook salmon return to rehabbed Seattle creek to spawn
Finally, a bit of good salmon news this week, courtesy Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). For the first time in eight years, chinook salmon have returned to Thornton Creek, in northeast Seattle, to spawn. The creek was the subject of an $8 million rehabilitation project in 2014, where SPU crews replaced 1,000 feet of a narrow, deep streambed with a wider, engineered streambed. This keeps high-quality gravel in place for spawning salmon, according to a release by SPU.Natalie Guevara reports. (SeattlePI.Com)
Petition urges better technology to treat Puget Sound sewage
An environmental group is asking Washington state regulators to require municipalities to use the latest technology to treat sewage before it's released into Puget Sound. The petition filed Wednesday by Northwest Environmental Advocates urges the Department of Ecology to require an advanced level of wastewater treatment to better remove nutrient pollution and toxics, such as from personal care products. The group says such technology is being used in Spokane County and other cities nationwide and yet the state requires decades-old technology. The state requires plants to treat wastewater from toilets, sinks and other areas so it is clean enough to be released into waters. The group says updating standards to what's known as "tertiary treatment" would reduce toxic pollution and nutrient overloading. An Ecology spokeswoman says the agency is reviewing the request and will respond in the time allowed.(Associated Press)
Implementation Strategies will target Puget Sound ‘Vital Signs’
On the surface, Puget Sound seems like the picture of health. Its gorgeous blue waters and abundant wildlife draw tourists from around the world. And while the region's natural beauty is undeniable, it hides a disturbing truth. If Puget Sound were a patient, it would be pretty sick. That’s the general opinion of scientists and researchers who have been monitoring Puget Sound’s so-called Vital Signs — 25 indicators of ecosystem health ranging from water quality and shellfish harvests to Chinook salmon runs and human wellbeing. Creating these Vital Signs became an important step in Puget Sound recovery several years ago when they were established by the state as a way to gauge improvements or declines in the ecosystem. Scientists, like doctors, need some way to measure the health of the patient. But knowing how sick the patient is doesn’t necessarily solve the problem. You actually have to prescribe the correct treatment for a specific ailment and observe carefully to see if it is working. You adjust the treatment as needed. In a similar fashion, Puget Sound’s recovery docs are zeroing in on their patient’s problems. Implementation Strategies, a culmination of this process, are designed to target the Vital Signs in the most direct and coordinated way ever conducted for Puget Sound. If the treatment works, Puget Sound’s condition will improve. Chris Dunagan reports. (Salish Sea Currents)
Otter Fans Float Plan To Bring Sea Otters Back To Oregon Coast
It’s been more than a century since sea otters were hunted to near extinction along the U.S. West Coast. The cute animals were successfully reintroduced along the Washington, British Columbia and California coasts, but an attempt to bring them back to Oregon in the early 1970s failed. Now a new nonprofit has formed to try again. “For about 110 years now, there’s been a big hole in our environment,” said Peter Hatch, a Siletz tribal member living in Corvallis. “The sea otter has been is missing from the Oregon coast.”
Sponsor Hatch recently joined the board of a new nonprofit dedicated to bringing the sea otter back to Oregon waters. The group is named the Elakha Alliance — “elakha” is the Clatsop-Chinookan word for sea otter. Tom Banse reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)
Feds, B.C. expand protected habitat for 40 species at risk in B.C.'s Darkwoods
A conservation area in British Columbia's southeast mountains is being expanded by almost 8,000 hectares with the help of federal and provincial government contributions totalling $14.6 million. The Darkwoods Conservation Area, located along Kootenay Lake between Nelson and Creston, provides habitat for 40 species at risk, including grizzly bear, wolverine, mountain caribou and whitebark pine trees. Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna and B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman say the joint government investment reflects commitments to protect threatened species. (Canadian Press)
Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 232 AM PST Thu Nov 15 2018
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING
TODAY S wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 10 ft at 14 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the morning then rain likely in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SW wind 15 to 20 kt easing to 10 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 9 ft at 13 seconds. Rain in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.
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