3/14 Pussy willow, Helen Engle, Cowichan water, BC pipe, Growlers, Blue Carbon, trash, orca love, climate, Salish Sea wonders

Pussy willow [Nature North]

Pussy willow
Pussy willow is the common name for Salix discolor, a member of the willow family, the Salicaceae. But, nearly all willows, as well as some other species in this plant family, have furry little "flower buds" - what people usually refer to as "pussy willows" - arranged along their branches and stems. Most people don't distinguish between "pussy willow", the plant and "pussy willow", the phenomenon of willow flowering in the spring. Johnny Caryopsis explains. (Nature North)

‘A mighty oak has fallen.’ Helen Engle, a giant of conservation, has died
Helen Engle, a woman who dedicated her life to preserving wild places, has died. Engle died Monday of renal failure at her University Place home. She was 93. “A mighty oak has fallen,” said daughter Gretchen Engle on Wednesday. “She spread her branches really far. She touched so many people.” Helen Engle was co-founder of many environmental organizations, including the Tahoma Audubon Society, People for Puget Sound and Citizens for a Healthy Bay. Craig Sailor reports. (News Tribune Tacoma)

Salish Sea Communications: Remembering Helen Engle
Read more memorials celebrating the life of activist Helen Engle who died on March 11 2019. Add your memories, too.

Low water levels in Cowichan River may put hatching salmon at risk, conservationists fear 
Low water levels in the Cowichan River are causing concern for salmon eggs due to hatch very soon. The snowpack in the region is not large enough to provide the water that the fledgling fish need to survive, says Parker Jefferson, co-chair of the Cowichan Stewardship Roundtable. A crisis for the river's salmon is now less than a month away, he says.... The weir on Cowichan Lake, which controls the outflow into the Cowichan River and is used to conserve water for the summer, should be under water during this time of year — but Jefferson says the weir's water storage level is only at 40 per cent.  Laura Sciarpelletti reports. (CBC)

Ottawa in a 'strong position' to finish Indigenous consultation on Trans Mountain in 90 days: Sohi
Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi said today Indigenous consultation efforts on the Trans Mountain expansion project are expected to wrap up within 90 days, paving the way for a new cabinet decision on the project by summer. Speaking to reporters after attending an energy summit in Houston, Sohi said the Crown consultation teams — the people carrying out the government's constitutional obligation to meet with Indigenous groups affected by the project before giving it a green light — are in a "strong position" to finish their work after months of meetings with First Nations and Métis groups in Alberta and B.C. Sohi said that, so far, the teams have met with over 100 different Indigenous communities. John Paul Tasker reports. (CBC) See also: Canada’s pipe dream would be a nightmare for Salish Sea and our orcas  Janet Anderson and Michael Riordan write: Why does the Canadian government want to push forward with this ill-considered project in the face of such overwhelming opposition and evidence? (Seattle Times Opinion)

Navy finalizes plan to add jets to NAS Whidbey
The Navy has made final its decision to bring 36 more EA-18G Growler jets to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The record of decision issued Wednesday comes on the heels of the Navy’s agreement to provide money for historic preservation on Whidbey Island in an effort to mitigate the additional flight operations that will come with new jets. The record of decision marks the final step in the yearslong process to prepare a required environmental impact statement, or EIS. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Public lands commissioner lauds Elliott Bay blue carbon project
Washington Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz came out to Elliott Bay on Monday to talk up the oysters growing in the shallows that are expected to provide natural filtration of pollutants in the Puget Sound. The Port of Seattle teamed up with the Puget Sound Restoration Fund and Washington Department of Resources to seed the bay with native Olympia oysters back in October as part of its Blue Carbon Pilot Project. Franz is charged with overseeing the management of 2.6 million acres of aquatic lands. The oyster bed will eventually cover just 25 acres, but the mollusks are expected to filter nearly 50 million gallons of water per day, trapping environmentally harmful pollutants inside them.... There are a number of oyster aquaculture projects in rural parts of the state, Franz said, but the Blue Carbon Pilot Project is unique due to its urban environment. The oysters in Elliott Bay will be catching contaminants from stormwater runoff, metals from the bottom of boats in Elliott Bay and drainage coming down from Magnolia. Brandon Macz reports. (Queen Anne/Magnolia News)

Where Will Your Plastic Trash Go Now That China Doesn't Want It?
Plastic garbage from Trader Joe’s and an AARP card are peeking out of hillocks of plastic trash piling up in Indonesia. It’s a sign of a new global quandary: What should wealthy countries do with their plastic waste now that China no longer is buying it?... Numerous Chinese millionaires were minted as recycling businesses started and blossomed – sure, they paid for the world’s plastic and paper trash but they made far more money from processing it and selling the resulting raw materials. But last year the Chinese government dropped a bombshell on the world recycling business: They cut back almost all imports of trash. And now a lot of that plastic gets shipped to other countries that don’t have the capacity to recycle it or dispose of it safely. Christopher Joyce reports. (NPR)

Protect What You Love Orca Events
Friends of the San Juans invites you to explore the plight of the Southern Resident orcas and engage the community in actions that can help their recovery. Featured speakers include Lovel Pratt, Friends of the San Juans’ Marine Protection Program Director, and Dr. Deborah Giles, Research Scientist for the University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology and Research Director for Wild Orca. Orcas Island – Thursday, March 14, 12 – 1:30 p.m., Orcas Senior Center, 62 Henry Rd.; Lopez Island – Tuesday, March 19, 12 – 1:30 p.m., Woodmen Hall, 4102 Fisherman Bay Rd.; San Juan Island – Wednesday, March 20, 12-1:30 p.m., San Juan Island Grange Hall, 152 First Street N.

Impacts of Global Warming in Whatcom County
The League of Women Voters invites you to hear David Roberts speak about the latest scientific data and the prognosis for our small part of the planet. Following David’s presentation, representatives from Bellingham’s and Whatcom County’s Climate Impact Committees will update us  on their action plans. Saturday, March 23, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St. 10 AM- 12PM.

Wonders of the Salish Sea
The Wonders of the Salish Sea is an environmental adult education program in Vancouver, BC designed to awaken a sense of wonder and foster a deep connection in the Salish Sea ecosystem, the place we call home. The Salish Sea is one of the largest inland seas in the world. Discover the wonders of this uniquely biodiverse, yet fragile, marine ecosystem with the guidance of local marine scientists, naturalists, and environmentalists. Kitsilano Community Centre, April 10 to May 8, $50 for 7 sessions, Ages: 17+ Register now for the spring 2019 session.




Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  228 AM PDT Thu Mar 14 2019   
TODAY  E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft  at 14 seconds building to 8 ft at 13 seconds in the afternoon.  Showers likely in the morning then a chance of showers in the  afternoon. 
TONIGHT  E wind to 10 kt becoming SE 5 to 15 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of  showers.



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