12/4 Dwarf mistletoe, climate change, State of the Sound, Maia Bellon, tribal leadership, Andrerson Cr spill, harvesting seaweed, whale sanctuary, wild turkeys

Western dwarf mistletoe [USDA]

Western dwarf mistletoe Arceuthobium campylopodum
Parasite on a wide range of conifers in our region, most commonly on western hemlock; common but often overlooked because it usually occurs high up in the host tree. Mistletoe causes 'witch's broom,' a disorganized growth of the tree. Mistletoe infestations can cause significant reductions in the growth of conifer hosts. The species name campylopodum means 'bent, curved' (campylobacter) 'foot, stalk' (podium), presumably in reference to the flower stalks. (Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast)

Climate Change Is Accelerating: ‘Things Are Getting Worse’
More devastating fires in California. Persistent drought in the Southwest. Record flooding in Europe and Africa. A heat wave, of all things, in Greenland. Climate change and its effects are accelerating, with climate related disasters piling up, season after season. “Things are getting worse,” said Petteri Taalas, Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization, which on Tuesday issued its annual state of the global climate report, concluding a decade of what it called exceptional global heat. “It’s more urgent than ever to proceed with mitigation.” Henry Fountain reports. (NY Times)

2019 State of the Sound
"The Report is clear that Puget Sound remains in grave trouble...Sufficient funding for the priorities described in the Action Agenda for Puget Sound remains the biggest barrier to recovery. However, the Report’s Call to Action outlines many activities that governments and a range of other partners can do now, without additional funding...The Vital Sign indicators show that progress has been reported for 10 of the 52 indicators; however, only 4 indicators are currently meeting their 2020 targets. (Partnership news release, 12/3/19)

Ecology director resigning
Washington Ecology Director Maia Bellon will resign at the end of the year, she announced Monday. Bellon, 50, is one of Gov. Jay Inslee’s longest serving cabinet members, appointed in February 2013 to manage the agency of more than 1,600 employees who enforce the state’s environmental regulations and monitor pollution. (Spokesman Review)

Tribes lead the way to revive regional salmon runs
We are all salmon people, and we know what we need to do. Such was the message of this year’s Billy Frank Jr. Pacific Salmon Summit, a day-long gathering focused on achieving consensus for immediate and bold action to restore the Pacific region’s diminishing salmon runs. The summit, hosted by Squaxin Island Tribe on November 5 in Shelton, Wash., was a follow-up to last year’s inaugural convening of a broad coalition of groups working toward a consensus to accelerate salmon recovery in the region.  Despite a 20-year, billion dollar effort to restore salmon runs in Washington State, most salmon remain in decline. Puget Sound Chinook salmon are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act; the 22 remaining populations are dangerously below federal recovery goals, according to the Puget Sound Partnership. Unsurprisingly, the consensus among summit attendees is the status-quo approach of the past two decades isn’t working. George Thomas Jr. writes. (UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs)

Feds: Bellingham farm’s waste flowed into creek, killed fish
A Bellingham farmer has agreed to pay $6,750 to settle a federal complaint that he discharged animal waste into a restored creek, killing about 300 fish — including threatened steelhead. NOAA Fisheries said Tuesday that Harold Carbee discharged waste into Anderson Creek during a period of at least 12 hours in May 2018. A local resident noticed the discharge and called authorities. A NOAA spokesman says the discharge happened because of equipment failure and heavy rains. About $9 million has been spent in restoration funding for Anderson Creek, for two new bridge crossings that improve passage for threatened Puget Sound steelhead. The creek flows into the Nooksack River, a drinking water source for the city of Lynden. The investigation found at least 300 dead fish, including 89 threatened steelhead smolts, coho salmon and other species. (Associated Press)

Could seaweed be Washington's next cash crop?
With Washington's natural kelp beds declining, some scientists think seaweed aquaculture could fill an ecological niche and serve an emergent market. But the barriers to entry remain high. Hannah Weinberge reports. (Crosscut)

Captive orcas could retire in Northwest, but some worry about harm to endangered whales 
....a new nonprofit group is making the case that no cetaceans should be held captive and forced to perform for food. It’s called The Whale Sanctuary Project. It would be a $15 million facility where roughly a half dozen captive orcas could safely retire. The group’s extensive roster includes dozens of scientists and trainers — some who once worked in the captive industry. They want to put their first facility in the Pacific Northwest. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Too much turkey: Wild birds invade B.C. neighbourhood, make 'a fine mess'
A group of rogue turkeys that has taken up residence in a Vancouver Island subdivision better smarten up before they end up on the Christmas dinner table. Residents in Mill Bay, B.C., north of Victoria, have spotted almost a dozen of the birds hanging out in the neighbourhood, roosting on cars and riling up local dogs. They appeared without explanation and residents say they are causing a bit of chaos in the community. Marie Adam has lived in the area for 45 years and was surprised to find about nine members of the fowl gang in her yard recently. (CBC)


Now, your tug weather--West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  218 AM PST Wed Dec 4 2019   
TODAY  SW wind to 10 kt becoming E in the afternoon. Wind waves  1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain in the  morning then a slight chance of rain in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 13 seconds. A  slight chance of rain after midnight.



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