1/30 Fur seal, fish flush, El Nino, stellhead fishery, Bellingham waste, Canadian resentment

Northern fur seal [Wikipedia]

Northern fur seal Callorhinus ursinus
The northern fur seal is an eared seal found along the north Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk. It is the largest member of the fur seal subfamily and the only living species in the genus Callorhinus. A single fossil species, Callorhinus gilmorei, is known from the Pliocene of Japan and western North America. (Wikipedia) See also: Northern fur seal pup rescued from waters near B.C.'s Hardwicke Island  Harrison Mooney reports. (Vancouver Sun)

'Fish flush' could be part of orca and salmon recovery
The state Department of Ecology is unveiling a proposal that would increase water spilled over Columbia and Snake river dams, to assist downstream migration of young salmon and ultimately help endangered killer whales. The expanded spring "fish flush" is part of Gov. Jay Inslee's bid to increase fish populations in order to boost survival of the critically endangered southern resident population of orcas off the Washington coast and in inland waters. Joel Connelly reports. (SeattlePI.Com)

So Far, El Niño Winter Brings Lessened Snowpack And Water Worries To Northwest
n the Northwest’s Cascades, there’s snow at high elevations, but it’s scored by vertical lines showing where rain has run downhill. This warm El Niño winter in the region is worrying water managers and farmers. Many Washington and Oregon reservoirs aren’t filling up like they should, and snowpack levels are below average in many areas. In Oregon, snowpack near Mt. Hood is 50 percent of normal. A little better at 70 percent of normal statewide. Some reservoirs in Eastern Oregon are at, or below 38 percent. In Washington, snowpack is around 79 percent of normal — which could be bad news for spring crops. Anna King reports. (KUOW)

Steelhead fishery set to open on Skagit, Sauk rivers
A catch-and-release steelhead fishery is set to open Friday on portions of the Skagit and Sauk rivers. The season marks the second opportunity for recreational fishermen to cast their lines for wild steelhead, which were protected from fishing from 2010 to 2017 due to concern about declining numbers of the fish. Wild steelhead have been listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act since 2007. The catch-and-release fishery was reopened for the first time since the closure in April 2018. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Bellingham wants to turn waste into something useful. Here’s how much that could cost.
Sewer rates will increase in the coming years to pay for an estimated $196 million project to replace the aging incinerators at the Post Point wastewater treatment plant with a proposed process that fits the city’s Climate Protection Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gasses. How much sewer bills will go up will be determined through a planned rate study. Construction could start in 2023 at the plant at 200 McKenzie Ave., and be completed in 2025. The City Council still must give final approval to the proposed project although it has been guiding it along the way. Members received a project update on Monday. Kie Relyea reports. (Bellingham Herald)

A sense of resentment’: Most Canadians feel disrespected by other provinces, poll shows
In B.C., 57 per cent feel they're respected, and that number is 53 per cent in Ontario. The most disrespected feeling province is Alberta, landing at 74 per cent. Tyler Dawson reports. (National Post)


Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  154 AM PST Wed Jan 30 2019   
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 6 ft  at 15 seconds. 
TONIGHT  Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. W swell 5 ft at  14 seconds.


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