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| Indian plum [Lainey Piland] |
Indian plum, known as osoberry, is native to the Pacific coast and ranges of North America, from British Columbia, Canada to Santa Barbara County, California. it is among the first plants to leaf out and flowers early in the spring. It reaches a height of 1.5–5 m and has lance-shaped leaves 5–12 cm long. The fruits of osoberry are edible and resemble small plums which are dark blue when ripe. Indigenous peoples of the Americas include osoberry in their diets, make tea of the bark, and chew its twigs to use as a mild anesthetic and aphrodisiac. (Wikipedia)
First crude oil shipment of the year bound for China has left Vancouver
The first B.C. shipment of Alberta crude oil to China in 2019 is on its way. The large tanker Erik Spirit left Burnaby’s Westridge Terminal (the end point of the Trans Mountain pipeline) on April 4, after a two-day loading, and is expected to arrive in Qingdao, China, on April 23.... According to records kept by David Huntley — a professor emeritus in physics at Simon Fraser University who monitors tanker traffic at Westridge — the Erik Spirit was the fourth tanker to load crude oil at Westridge so far this year, and the first to go to China.... That number is significant given the twinning of the Trans Mountain pipeline could get the go ahead as early as next month. The National Energy Board’s recommended approval of the project — which would increase oil flow from 300,000 barrels a day to 890,000 barrels a day — was based on 2016 statements from Trans Mountain that it loaded on average five tankers a month at the terminal. If approved by the federal government, which also owns Trans Mountain, that number could go up to 34 tankers a month. David Carrigg reports. (Vancouver Sun)
Greater Victoria's sewage treatment system could be at least $10M over budget
Construction of Victoria's long-awaited sewage treatment system is on time, but may not be on budget. The team behind the $765 million project is forecasting it could cost at least $10 million more than expected. In a report to the board overseeing construction, the project team says a hot construction market on Vancouver Island has pushed up the price of materials and labour. Megan Thomas reports. (CBD)
RDN director conflicted after $10.7M Bowser project cancelled
Regional District of Nanaimo Electoral Area H (Deep Bay, Bowser and Qualicum Bay) director Stuart McLean had mixed feelings about the cancellation of the $10.7-million Bowser Village Sewer Project. McLean is pleased the area prevented an environmental dilemma but he was also unhappy about losing the $7.6-million joint Federal and Provincial Clean Water and Wastewater Fund grant that was awarded to the project.... The plan was to build a collection system, wastewater treatment and effluent disposal for the Bowser Village Centre to support future growth in the Bowser Village area. It was to service 99 parcels. There was opposition to the project but mainly on the plan to discharge treated wastewater into the Salish Sea and Baynes Sound. Two groups — the Stop Ocean Sewage Bowser and Area H Residents Association — led the fight against the marine outfall option of the proposed sewage services. Michael Briones reports. (Parksville Qualicum Beach News)
‘Our relatives under the water.’ Lummi release salmon to ailing orcas
Lummi tribal members released one live chinook salmon into the Salish Sea on Wednesday as a spiritual offering to J17, an orca matriarch who has been ailing. Caroline Chamberlain Gomez reports. (KUOW)
Monsanto liable for French farmer’s ill health
US biotech giant Monsanto is legally responsible for the ill health of a farmer who ingested its weedkiller product, a French court has ruled. A French appeals court ruled in favour of 55-year-old Paul Francois, who has fought a decade-long legal battle against the firm. He fell ill after inhaling vapour from Lasso, a now banned herbicide, in 2004. Mr Francois blames Monsanto, accusing it of not giving sufficient safety warnings. (BBC)
Semiahmoo First Nation charges non-band residents $50K for water
Naomi Mitchell has lived on Semiahmoo First Nation land for decades, but if the 79-year-old doesn't come up with at least $50,000 by mid-June, she'll be kicked out. The Indigenous community is in the midst of installing a clean water system that would lift its longstanding boil water advisory. The project is being done in partnership with the City of Surrey, the provincial Transportation Ministry and the federal government. The clean water system will potentially serve about 100 people who live in the community. But for the more than 30 residents who aren't band members, including Mitchell, connecting to the new line will cost them tens of thousands of dollars. Those who don't pay will be forced to leave. Jon Hernandez reports. (CBC)
State eyes options for Fort Worden’s shore
The state Parks and Recreation Commission is inviting the public to provide input on a project aimed at improving the marine area at Fort Worden. The project aims to replace the existing boat launch area with one that is more ecologically compatible with the shoreline and its natural processes and to also consider alternatives to either rehabilitate, remove, or remove and replace the pier. Because the Port Townsend Marine Science Center is located on the pier, a new location will be considered in the mix of options, according to State Parks. Jesse Major reports. (Peninsula Daily News)
B.C. farmers ripping out raspberries as industry faces high costs, cheap competition
B.C. raspberry production was at its peak in late 1980s and early 1990s, when around 42 million pounds per year were picked. Last year, production dropped to less than 17 million pounds. Peter Thind used to have 140 acres of raspberries on his Abbotsford, B.C., farm. But he's now scaled back to 20 acres, ripping out the crop to plant blueberries instead. "It's not profitable anymore," he says. "Raspberry wasn't paying us to pay the mortgage." Growers say high costs of labour, land and supplies have made it difficult for local farmers to compete with cheaper imports of the berry from countries like Mexico, Chile and Serbia. Tina Lovgreen reports. (CBC)
Ecology opens comment on Nooksack water use
The state Department of Ecology has opened the first comment period on a streamflow rule change that will accommodate rural growth and protect water supply needs for fish in the Nooksack River watershed. The comment period is part of the rulemaking process on streamflow restoration efforts. The watershed includes most of western Whatcom County and a small portion of Skagit County. Under the 2018 state streamflow law SB 6091 — considered legislators’ “fix” of the Hirst state Supreme Court ruling of October 2016 — a Nooksack watershed plan was due by Feb. 1, 2019. However, despite the diligent work of local planning groups, the plan for the Nooksack watershed was not completed in time, and the state took over the effort. Now Ecology is asking for feedback on the preliminary drafts of the rule amendment language and the document supporting the rule. (Lynden Tribune)
Skagit County reopens Marblemount mine permits for comment
Skagit County reissued Thursday its Notice of Development Application for the rock mine proposed in the Marblemount area. The new notice reopens public comment on various permits for the proposed project until 4:30 p.m. May 13. Kiewit Infrastructure Co. and Cunningham Crushing propose mining 3.8 million cubic yards of rock from a 79-acre portion of a rock hill southwest of Marblemount. The proposal has been met with opposition from many who live in the vicinity and are worried about their safety and the environment should the mine be approved. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)
Falcon Helps Endangered Rockfish
Delicious to eat, the rockfish in Washington’s Puget Sound were being fished to levels that threatened extinction. Now scientists at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are undertaking an important conservation study into the threatened rockfish species using a Saab Seaeye Falcon underwater robotic vehicle. Senior Marine Fish Research Scientist, Dr. Dayv Lowry, explains that managing the conservation and recovery of rockfish populations in Washington’s Puget Sound, depends on the accurate monitoring of rockfish populations, depleted through overfishing and ecological degradation.... Until deployment of the Falcon, population studies were imprecise as trawl surveys were better suited to sampling mud than the rockfish’s rocky habitat, and many rockfish occur too deep for scuba divers. Michelle Howard writes. (Marine Technology News)
Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 256 AM PDT Fri Apr 12 2019
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 9 ft at 12 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SW to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 9 ft at 13 seconds. Rain likely after midnight.
SAT S wind 15 to 25 kt becoming SW in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 10 ft at 15 seconds. Rain.
SAT NIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 11 ft at 15 seconds.
SUN W wind 15 to 20 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 11 ft at 13 seconds.
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"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.
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