7/5 King crab, green Inslee, quakes, BC LNG, SRKW, electric ships, Fraser blockage, moved goats, buying habitats, BC 'habitats'

Puget Sound King Crab [OR Coast Aquarium]

Puget Sound King Crab: Armored to the Gills
Built like a tank. That’s the most common phrase used by divers and naturalists to describe the Puget Sound king crab (Lopholithodes mandtii), one of the largest and most distinctive crab species occurring on the West Coast. Puget Sound king crabs are found in subtidal areas to depths of 450 feet. As its name suggests, this crab is found in Puget Sound, but its range extends all the way from southern Alaska to central California. While quite large—an adult’s carapace can be 10 inches across—this species is not to be confused with the commercially harvested king crab of Alaska, which belongs to a different genus. (Oregon Coast Aquarium)

Inslee’s environmental record gets a challenge in court 
Nina Bell said she knew that many considered Gov. Jay Inslee a dedicated environmentalist, so it was a surprise when he and his administration denied a request earlier this year to place regulations on nutrient pollutants that municipal wastewater plants discharge into Puget Sound. “I thought he would be more pro-active, but I think it’s actually unusual when a governor wants to take a strong position on something that is environmental,” said Bell, who is executive director of the nonprofit group, Northwest Environmental Advocates. “On climate change, that’s his signature issue and it’s tremendously important, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a million other things that need to be taken care of,” Bell added, listing the water quality of Puget Sound as among the top priorities. James Drew reports. (News Tribune of Tacoma)

6.2 magnitude earthquake felt on northern Vancouver Island
A 6.2 magnitude earthquake was recorded off the coast of northern Vancouver Island on Wednesday night. The quake struck about 204 kilometres west of Bella Bella, B.C., around 9:30 p.m. PT, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.(CBC) See also: 6.4-magnitude earthquake strikes Southern California  The earthquake epicenter was near Ridgecrest, Calif., more than 150 miles northeast of Los Angeles.(Washington Post)

Woodfibre LNG project near Squamish receives permit to build
A liquefied natural gas project near Squamish, B.C., is one step closer to becoming a reality. The B.C. Oil and Gas Commission approved a facilities permit allowing Woodfibre LNG to build and operate a facility, as long as the Vancouver-based company complies with certain conditions.  "It's an important milestone for our project because this will now allow us to move to construction, which we plan to do later this year," said David Keane, president of Woodfibre LNG. Clare Hennig reports. (CBC)

Where are the southern resident orcas? Researchers see longest absence ever from summer waters
Summer is here. But southern resident killer whales conspicuously are not. In an unprecedented absence, the endangered orcas have not been here at all this summer, except for one visit by J pod, in a brief lap around San Juan Island one day in early May. They immediately left, and no one’s seen any of the members of J, K or L pod since. The whales’ prolonged snub of what has long been their core summer habitat in the inland waters of the Salish Sea between the U.S. and Canada has scientists scrambling, with research scheduled but their star subjects nowhere in sight. Yet whale watch tour operators are having one of their best years ever. Sightings of transient orcas — or Bigg’s killer whales — have reached unprecedented numbers, humpbacks are enjoying a spectacular comeback and gray whales, seals and sea lions also are keeping the tourists coming. Lynda Makes reports. (Lynda Mapes)

Electricity and water do mix: How electric ships are clearing the air on the B.C. coast
The river is running strong and currents are swirling as the 150-metre-long Seaspan Reliant slides gently into place against its steel loading ramp on the shores of B.C.'s silty Fraser River. The crew hustles to tie up the ship, and then begins offloading dozens of transport trucks that have been brought over from Vancouver Island. “They seem to be more focused on the economic situation. While it looks like many vessels working the B.C. coast, below decks, the ship is very different. The Reliant is a hybrid, partly powered by electricity, the seagoing equivalent of a Toyota Prius. Greg Rasmussen reports. (CBC)

Migrating salmon blocked by Fraser River landslide could be trucked out: DFO
Salmon blocked from migrating upstream to spawning grounds could be trapped and trucked around an obstruction following a rock slide in the Fraser River, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) said Wednesday. The slide happened in a remote area near Big Bar, northwest of Kamloops, around June 21 or 22. DFO spokeswoman Bonnie Antcliffe said it's difficult to estimate how many fish are being impeded by the slide. (Canadian Press)

Officials moved nearly 100 mountain goats from the Olympics last summer. How are they doing now? 
Blindfolded, sedated mountain goats will soar over the Olympic Peninsula once again. Beginning next week, a helicopter crew will capture mountain goats in Olympic National Park and the adjacent national forest. Captured animals will be taken across Puget Sound by refrigerator truck and released in the North Cascades mountain range.... More than 100 goats were captured last summer and moved. Between 65 and 70 animals survived the winter, estimated Rich Harris, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist leading the agency’s work to translocate goats. Five of 10 relocated kid goats survived, he said. Evan Bush reports. (Seattle Times)

State grants will buy habitat for endangered species in Thurston County
Several land acquisition projects in Thurston County got a boost this week in the form of state grants. The Washington state Recreation and Conservation Funding Board awarded more than $126 million to cities, counties, state and federal agencies and other groups for outdoor recreation facilities and conservation efforts. Thurston County projects received a combined total of $12.3 million. The largest single grant was $3 million to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to buy 900 acres west of Tenino that is home to endangered Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies, Mazama pocket gophers and Puget blue butterflies. Abby Spegman reports. (Olympian) See also: Peninsula receiving $8.9 million in state recreation, conservation grants  Paul Gottlieb reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

A deepsea ‘oasis’ is slated to become Canada’s biggest protected area
An area four times the size of Vancouver Island is home to smoking vents, volcanic islands just under the water and a staggering abundance of life. Jimmy Thomson reports. (The Nrwhal)d


Now, your weekend tug weather--West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  835 PM PDT Thu Jul 4 2019   
FRI  W wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 3 ft at 16 seconds. A slight chance  of rain in the morning. 
FRI NIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 3 ft at 15 seconds. A slight  chance of rain after midnight. 
SAT  SW wind to 10 kt becoming N in the afternoon. Wind waves  1 ft or less. SW swell 3 ft at 15 seconds. 
SAT NIGHT  W wind to 10 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. SW swell 3 ft at 16 seconds. 
SUN  Light wind becoming W 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 3 ft at 15 seconds.



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