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| Gorse |
This weedy species is viciously spiny... [and] is fairly flammable, creating a potential fire hazard in the drier areas where it is most abundant. 'Gorse' probably comes from the Anglo-Saxon gorst meaning 'a waste,' because this plant has a penchant for rough places.... Pea-family plants such as gorse often thrive on nutrient-poor sites because they can fix nitrogen (remove it from the air). This tendency is recognized in a short verse about this Scottish plant: Bagpipe planty,/Plenty on scanty. (Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast)
Endangered orcas have been missing for 8 weeks. This is unprecedented, researchers say
It all comes back to salmon. It’s been nearly three weeks since anyone has caught sight of a southern resident killer whale and nearly 8 weeks since the endangered orcas were spotted in their core habitat: around the San Juan Islands and southern Vancouver Island. Despite their name, the southern residents often roam widely — as far as California’s Monterey Bay and southeast Alaska. Yet orca researchers say it’s unprecedented for the whales to be gone so long from the inland waters of the Salish Sea, their main habitat this time of year. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)
Orca Sing’s twentieth
For two decades, people have gathered at Lime Kiln to listen to music, take in a sunset and look for orcas as they swim by as part of the annual Orca Sing.... This year’s Orca Sing occured on June 22, and it featured music from the Seattle City Cantabile Choir, led by Fred West, and performances by musicians and activists from the Vashon Hydrophone Project Orca Annie and Odin. The free event was sponsored by Lime Kiln Point State Park, Friends of Lime Kiln Society, City Cantabile Choir, Friends of the San Juans, Orca Network, Vashon Hydrophone Project, Orca Action Month and The Whale Museum. Heather Spaulding reports. (San Juan Journal)
'Dangerous and reckless': speedboat races through pod of orcas near Stanley Park
A video posted on Facebook of a boat speeding through a pod of killer whales near Vancouver's Stanley Park has sparked shock and outrage. The video, shot on Saturday, shows a few vessels sitting still on the water near Prospect Point, apparently watching the pod of orcas, when a small powerboat cuts through at high speed right over top of the killer whales. By law, boaters are supposed to give orcas a 400-metre berth and cut their engines so they don't disturb or cause them any harm. (CBC)
DFO ‘exploring all options’ to help salmon impacted by Fraser River rock slide
Fisheries and Oceans Canada says all options are on the table to help salmon migrate past a “significant” rock slide in the Fraser River in central B.C. The slide came down Tuesday, the DFO confirmed, creating a waterfall and harsh rapids that have made reaching a key spawning location upsteam close to impossible for the chinook salmon that call the river home. The blockage will also likely impact the dozens of local First Nations that rely on the salmon for food. Sean Boynton reports. (Global News)
'Regional climate modeling' provides clearer picture of climate change impacts in PNW
KNKX weather expert Cliff Mass has been working with a group of atmospheric researchers at the University of Washington hoping to get a better idea of the impact climate change will have on the Pacific Northwest. The group has been conducting "regional climate modeling.".... The models are showing there will be warming, but how much will depend on your location. Mass says the coastal areas won't see as much of an increase as the east side of the state. He also found that precipitation is expected to increase over the year, but the summer is expected to be more dry. And there will be a major issue with the state's snowpack. Ariel Van Cleave reports. (KNKX)
B.C. First Nation has change of heart, now opposes Trans Mountain pipeline project
A First Nation that was once in full support of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project is now standing in opposition, at least until it feels confident the project won't destroy one of their ancient villages. Shane James was "full in" with the project when it was owned by Kinder Morgan. The 37-year-old Shxwowhamel First Nation council member even bought heavy equipment and signed multiple agreements with contractors to prepare for the construction of the pipeline. "We wanted to have our eyes, ears and feet on the ground to be a part of the project, either doing or monitoring the work, to ensure that our traditional territory was taken care of," James said. Angela Sterritt reports. (CBC)
Western Canada: Charges recommended five years after Mount Polley tailings pond failed
The failure of the tailings pond at the Mount Polley copper and gold mine in 2014 sent a deluge of waste and mine water into central B.C. waterways, scarring the otherwise picturesque environment around Quesnel Lake. It stands as the worst mine-waste disaster in Canadian history. Almost five years on, no charges have ever been laid. That may change, as ...a joint task force sent its recommendations to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada in early April. Now, the Crown will have until Aug. 4 – the fifth anniversary of the disaster – to decide whether to lay the charges.Wendy Cox reports. (Globe and Mail)
A fond farewell to the ferry M.V. Hyak, which sails into its last Northwest sunset on Saturday
Dear good, old reliable Hyak, with your torn-but-comfy seats, your workhorse engines, your spacious double-decker design: You will be missed. When you sailed into Elliott Bay more than a half-century ago on the Fourth of July, they shot fireworks into the air and hailed your glory. Now you’re being retired, a few years shy of your 60-year life expectancy, and soon you will be sold as a nonrunning boat to the highest bidder. When you head out for the last time on the 9:05 p.m. Saturday Seattle-to-Bremerton trip, it’s fitting you’ll be pointed west as you sail both literally and figuratively into the sunset. Christine Clarridge reports. (Seattle Times) See also: With Washington ferry system in need of new boats, fare bump likely Heidi Groover reports. (Seattle Times)
Sewage Overflow 10 Times Higher Than Previous Estimates
The Washington Department of Ecology says the amount of sewage overflow that forced a Seattle beach to close is 10 times more than original estimates. KCPQ-TV reports officials said earlier this week that 16,000 gallons had spilled into Puget Sound at Golden Gardens Park. Officials said Friday that additional samples now show about 165,000 gallons of sewage overflow. Seattle Public Utilities says the overflow was caused by a blockage of tree roots and materials such as wipes in the sewer system north of the park. (Associated Press) See also: Sunset Beach closed to swimmers due to high E. coli levels (Vancouver Sun)
Young ‘ocean heroes’ taught to collaborate at environmental boot camp
As a boat carrying trash arrived at Deltaport on Saturday, 300 school-aged “ocean heroes” from around the world huddled at UBC to create campaigns to combat ocean plastic pollution. Students from 33 different countries took part in sessions led by environmental groups teaching them how to pitch ideas, create campaigns and interact with media. The timing of the conference, which took place as a load of trash that has been rotting in the Philippines for more than five years returned to Canadian soil, was not lost on organizer Dune Ives. But the executive director of Lonely Whale, a non-profit that works to save oceans, said she was inspired by the optimism and energy of the students attending the second-annual boot camp. Glenda Luymes reports. (Vancouver Sun)
Rare juvenile sixgill shark sighting off Vancouver is good news for population
A rare encounter with several juvenile bluntnose sixgill sharks in waters off Vancouver implies the population may be larger than previously thought, says a marine biologist. Chris Harvey-Clark of Dalhousie University was part of a team of researchers who used a small submarine to explore the waters about a kilometre off the coast and about 100 metres below the surface. He said they were surprised to see three juvenile sixgills, in part because the population was thought to have been reduced significantly by an experimental fishery that operated in the 1990s. Laura Kane reports. (Canadian Press)
Now, your tug weather--West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 1044 PM PDT Sun Jun 30 2019
MON W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming NW 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. SW swell 2 ft at 20 seconds.
MON NIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 2 ft or less after midnight. SW swell 3 ft at 22 seconds. A chance of showers after midnight.
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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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