2/6 Antler, more snow, imidacloprid, Sheida Sahandy, Seattle Port big deal, Liz Lovelett, Nooksack water, Clallam climate

[PHOTO: Laurie MacBride]

The Antler’s Fingerprint
Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "A couple of days after our oldest resident buck, QT, showed up missing his antlers, we found his right one beside our greenhouse. (We know it’s the right, because his left antler lacked the little pointed tine part way up from the base.) I thought it very considerate of him to drop the antler where we’d so easily find it. It’s the second time one of our bucks has done this: QT’s older brother Nibblet left one of his on our front lawn three years ago. Both occasions have given me a good chance to study and appreciate this simple yet complex headgear that is much more than just adornment...."


Weather alert: More snow in the forecast for B.C.’s South Coast
The hardest hit areas will be the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, and the Gulf Islands, according to a special weather statement posted Wednesday. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)    Seattle-area schools delay classes as ice lingers; officials warn ‘this is just round one’  The region could get another cold system with snow Friday and Saturday. Asia Fields reports. (Seattle Times)

Politics has science on the run -- and not just in the other Washington
Remember the too-crazy-to-be-true plan to spray pesticides on oyster beds out on the Washington coast? It’s back. And this time, it doesn’t want to answer any pesky scientific questions. New bipartisan bills in the state Legislature in Olympia not only order full speed ahead for the chemical spraying, by May of this year. They also would exempt the spraying from environmental review entirely. Danny Westneat reports. (Seattle Times)


News release: Puget Sound Partnership Executive Director stepping down
The Executive Director of the Puget Sound Partnership, Sheida Sahandy, has announced that she is resigning from the agency.... Director Sahandy’s last day at the Partnership will be Friday, May 3.  (Puget Sound Partnership)

Port finds a partner for major upgrade that would bring huge next-generation cargo ships to Terminal 5 
Port commissioners will soon vote on plans for a $500 million-plus upgrade that would allow Terminal 5 to handle a new class of megaships. Capable of carrying more than 18,000 containers, such vessels have disrupted global shipping and sharpened competition between terminals in Puget Sound and their Canadian rivals in Vancouver and Prince Rupert. Paul Roberts reports. (Seattle Times)

Lovelett appointed to replace Ranker
Anacortes City Councilwoman Liz Lovelett was appointed Tuesday to the state Senate, filling the seat vacated by former Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island. At a joint meeting of the governing boards of Skagit, Whatcom and San Juan counties, the members voted to support the two-term councilwoman to represent the 40th Legislative District.... ovelett was selected over former state Rep. Kristine Lytton and local labor leader Trevor Smith. The 40th District encompasses northwest Skagit County — including Anacortes — southwest Whatcom County and all of San Juan County. Brandon Stone reports (Skagit Valley Herald)


Ecology will take over planning for water use in the Nooksack River basin
State officials will take over planning for water use in the Nooksack River watershed after the Whatcom and Skagit county committees failed to agree on a solution, the Department of Ecology said Tuesday. Ecology said in a statement that a Nooksack River watershed plan was due Feb. 1, so, under state law, Ecology will develop that plan.“To accommodate rural growth and protect water needs for fish, the legislature adopted the streamflow restoration law last year. It requires local watershed planning groups to approve plans for offsetting future water consumption by new permit-exempt wells in their watersheds,” Ecology said in the email. Planning for water use is an offshoot of the state Supreme Court’s 2016 Hirst decision, which said Whatcom County had violated the Growth Management Act and wasn’t protecting its water resources when deciding whether to issue permits for wells that draw from groundwater in the Nooksack basin. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald)


20 Years Ago: The Grounded Freighter That Never Reached its Destination
Twenty years ago, on Feb. 4, 1999, the 639 foot freighter New Carissa ran aground near Coos Bay, Oregon. The ship was destined to load wood chips to carry to Japan, but nature had another plan. The unladen freighter, riding high in the water (and therefore a huge sail area) dragged anchor. Attempts to get the vessel underway and back to sea failed and the swells and high winds drove the ship ashore. Doug Helton writes. (NOAA)

Clallam County commissioners discuss process for climate change talks
The Clallam County commissioners are getting closer to engaging the county in a week-long conversation about climate change. Commissioners discussed how to approach “Clallam County Climate Change Week” during its Monday work session. Commissioner Mark Ozias said it makes sense that Climate Change Week should be held the week of Earth Day, which is April 22, but no dates have actually been set....It’s an issue the commissioners unanimously agreed in June needed more attention. Jesse Major reports. (Peninsula Daily News)




Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  209 AM PST Wed Feb 6 2019   
TODAY  E wind 15 to 20 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 15 seconds. 
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  6 ft at 14 seconds.



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