3/22 Surf scoter, breaching dams, Exxon Valdez, BC pipe, mining the Skagit, ship collision, Swartz Bay 2044

Surf scoter [Daniella Theoret/BirdNote]

Surfin with Scoters
Surf Scoters are perfectly at home in the element they’re named for. They swim smack in the middle of what surfers call the impact zone: Just where the waves break with greatest violence. Why risk the harshest waves when there’s calmer water close by? Because the churning action of crashing waves can expose the small clams and crabs that scoters eat. And how do Surf Scoters avoid getting mashed by the sea? When a towering wave is about to crash down, the scoter deftly dives and swims under the crest of the foaming breaker, then pops up on the other side. (BirdNote)

Breaching Snake River dams could save salmon and orcas, but destroy livelihoods 
Folks whose jobs depend on four federal dams in southeastern Washington say that pleas to breach the dams are forcing them to speak out in defense of their economy and their way of life. Ron Judd reports. (Seattle Times)

Three decades after Exxon Valdez oil disaster, Prince William watchdog group remains on alert
This Sunday, Alaska marks the 30th anniversary of an event that changed the state forever. On March 24th, 1989, 11 million gallons of crude oil spilled into Prince William Sound when the Exxon Valdez tanker ran aground. Three decades later, the Prince William Sound Regional Citizen’s Advisory Council has an important role in making sure a disaster of that magnitude doesn’t happen again. Joe Lally is director of programs for the organization. Lally is a former member of the Coast Guard and served as captain of the port for Prince William Sound. Wesley Early reports. (Alaska Public Media)

B.C. legislation targets Trans Mountain, say proponent and Alberta
Environmental legislation proposed by British Columbia is specifically targeting the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion and would significantly impact it, the project’s proponent and the Alberta government argued Thursday. The B.C. Court of Appeal is hearing a reference case that asks whether the government can amend its Environmental Management Act to create a permitting system for companies that increase the amount of heavy oil they’re transporting through the province. B.C. has argued the amendments are not intended to block the project, but rather to protect the environment from spills and require companies to pay for damages. However, a lawyer for Trans Mountain ULC said B.C.’s motive is to obstruct the expansion. Laura Kane reports. (Canadian Press)

Canadian company applies for permit for exploratory mining in headwaters of Skagit River 
A Canadian company has applied for an exploratory mining permit in the headwaters of the Skagit River, which flows from British Columbia and through northwest Washington state to Puget Sound. The company, Imperial Metals, has applied to drill for mineral deposits for as many as five years, according to a document describing the project, released Wednesday. Imperial Metals would extend a recently cut logging road, set up trenches and build settling ponds for the exploratory drilling work in an area believed to have gold and copper. The company is well known in Canada because of an environmental disaster at its Mount Polley mine, when a dam there failed and allowed billions of gallons of gold- and copper-mining waste to flood into local waterways. Evan Bush reports. (Seattle Times)

TSB finds 'significant' damage on freighter struck in Vancouver Harbour collision
A spokesman from the Transportation Safety Board has provided CBC with updated information on a freighter collision in Vancouver Harbour. Marine Investigation manager Mohan Raman says the M.V. Pan Acacia suffered "significant" damage in the form of a two-metre long gash and cracked weld seam midship on the starboard side, as well as indentations along the same side, when it was struck by the M.V. Caravos Harmony just after midnight on March 17. Raman said the Pan Acacia is a single hulled freighter, not double hulled as was previously reported. Karin Larsen reports. (CBC)

Swartz Bay in 2044: Here's what the busy terminal's future has in store
BC Ferries has offered a glimpse into the future of how one of its busiest terminals — Swartz Bay in Sidney — will look in 25 years. It released its new long-term plan Tuesday, which was created from feedback from more than 1,000 people. The ferry terminal saw more than 7.5 million passengers in 2018. Mark Wilson, BC Ferries' vice-president of strategy and community engagement says there will be a large focus on accommodating increased walk-on passenger traffic. Joel Ballard reports. (CBC)


Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  421 AM PDT Fri Mar 22 2019   
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 16 seconds. Rain  likely in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  S wind 10 to 20 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less after midnight. W  swell 10 ft at 16 seconds building to 12 ft at 15 seconds after  midnight. Rain likely in the evening then a chance of showers  after midnight. 
SAT  E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 11 ft at  15 seconds. A slight chance of showers. 
SAT NIGHT  NW wind to 10 kt becoming S after midnight. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. W swell 10 ft at 15 seconds. 
SUN  S wind to 10 kt becoming E in the afternoon. Wind waves  1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 13 seconds.



--
"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato (@) salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter. 

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told