6/12 Turban snail, sea stars, warming, Colstrip, climate 'crisis,' fish farm fish, Grand Coulee, Navy poop, wild Salish Sea, wave energy, plastics ban

Black tegula [Bob McDougall/iNaturalist]

Black turban snail Tegula funebralis
The black turban snail or black tegula, is a species of medium-sized marine sea snail in the family Tegulidae. This eastern Pacific Ocean species was previously known as Chlorostoma funebralis.... Individuals can live anywhere from 7 to 30 years... Black turban snails are found along the Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia to Baja California, where they are one of the most abundant snail species.... Archaeological evidence shows that humans have utilized black turban snails for over 12,000 years. (Wikipedia)

Sea star wasting disease: 'The more we study it, the less we understand'
Volunteers in Campbell River are studying the ongoing problem of sea star wasting disease and what caused its resurgence in recent years. Campbell River Discovery Passage Aquarium manager Ricky Belanger and 11 volunteers embarked on their first sea star count this week at Willow Point in Campbell River. The volunteers spent two hours and surveyed 135 sea stars.... Sea star wasting disease has been plaguing B.C. sea stars since 2013, but this year their conditions have improved. (CBC)

Planet is entering ‘new climate regime’ with ‘extraordinary’ heat waves intensified by global warming, study says
New Delhi and San Francisco set new June heat milestones Monday as a study concluded last summer's widespread heat records "would not have occurred without human-induced climate change." (Washington Post)

Pair of Puget Sound Energy coal plants set to close
Two Puget Sound Energy coal plants will close in December because of financial challenges. The two coal producing units are co-owned by PSE and Talen Energy and are part of the larger Colstrip, Montana power plant. Puget Sound Energy, Washington's biggest electrical utility, gets an estimated 38 percent of its power from Colstrip's plants. That comes from four coal facilities, the oldest two of which are now set to close. Paige Browning reports. (KUOW)

Is climate change actually a 'climate crisis'? Some think so
... The British newspaper the Guardian triggered a discussion recently after it announced changes to the way it describes climate change in its reporting. The nearly 200-year-old publication updated its style guide, and now refers to what's happening to our planet as a "crisis." "'Climate change' is no longer considered to accurately reflect the seriousness of the situation; use climate emergency, crisis or breakdown instead," reads the updated guide. Bryan Labby reports. (CBC)  See also: Telemundo Pledges to Cover 'Climate Emergency'  John Eggerton reports. (Broadcasting & Cable)

Conservationists raise alarm over wild fish found on B.C. salmon farms
A conservation charity said it’s concerned by what it calls a “growing trend” of wild fish killed by the salmon farming industry on British Columbia’s coast. Stan Proboszcz, science advisor with Watershed Watch Salmon Society, said nine times as many wild fish were reported inside open-net pen farms in 2017 compared with 2011.... The society crunched the number of “incidental catches” self-reported by industry to government during harvests, fish transfers and farm relocations. Amy Smart reports. (Canadian Press)

Report: Fish Passage Above Grand Coulee Can Be Done
It’s been nearly 80 years since salmon and steelhead made it past Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams in Washington’s Upper Columbia Basin. It’s long been a goal for tribes to see the fish return to the blocked waters where they once spawned. A team of researchers presented their findings on Tuesday to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. In short, they said, salmon can survive in the upper reaches of the Columbia Basin, and fish passage needs to happen at the two dams. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

Suquamish Tribe to sue Navy over alleged raw sewage spills
The Suquamish Tribe plans to sue the U.S. Navy for releasing raw sewage into the Puget Sound. The tribe announced its intent file a lawsuit Tuesday, accusing the Navy of violating the Clean Water Act for what it calls 11 significant discharges of untreated raw sewage in treaty-protected fishing and harvesting areas. Chris Daniels reports. (KING)

If you like to watch: Video series features science and adventure in the Salish Sea
A new video series follows local scientists into the water, capturing the adventure behind the research. “Salish Sea Wild” is entering its second season and we interviewed the series host and producers. Among our burning questions: What’s it like to have a Steller sea lion chew on your head? Jeff Rice writes. (Puget Sound Institute)

Oregon Wave Energy Testing Project Moves Forward
A renewable energy project planned off the coast of Newport is taking a step forward. Oregon State University has submitted a final license application for a wave energy testing facility with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. If built, it would be the largest of its kind in the United States. Oregon’s potential to use the motion of the waves to generate electricity is very high. But nationally, the development of wave energy has lagged behind other green energy sources. Jes Burns reports. (OPB)

'It's going to be tough': Businesses welcome plastic ban despite challenges
The Trudeau government's announcement that it would ban single-use plastics by 2021 has some small business owners stepping up to the challenge despite some concerns about how it might affect their operations. A full list of banned items isn't set in stone, but could include items like cotton swabs, drink stirrers, plates and balloon sticks. Fast-food containers and cups made of expanded polystyrene, which is similar to white Styrofoam, could also be banned. (CBC) Meanwhile: Oregon Senators Shoot Down Ban On Foam Food Containers, Approve Bag Regulations  Dirk VanderHart reports. (OPB) However: Tofino and Ucluelet become 1st B.C. municipalities to ban plastic straws, single-use bags  Laura Sciarpelletti reports. (CBC)

State looks to replace Fort Worden pier, boat launch
The state Parks and Recreation Commission plans to submit a $10.4 million option to address environmental issues at Fort Worden State Park that include the pier, boat launch and the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. The preliminary preferred alternative, which was presented to about 100 people Monday night at Fort Worden, will go to the state Office of Financial Management by June 30 for consideration before the state Legislature in future biennial capital budgets. The plan incorporates a newly designed pedestrian pier, a relocated Marine Science Center on the upland side of Harbor Defense Way plus a new single-lane elevated boat launch. Brian McLean reports. (Peninsula Daily News)



Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  254 AM PDT Wed Jun 12 2019  TODAY  E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft  at 12 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.



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