3/5 Heather, TMX, Skagit salmon, kids climate, Trump's 'secret science' rule, Mussel Watch, Stephanie Buffum

Common heather

Common heather Calluna vulgaris
Common heather (ling or simply heather) is the sole species in the genus Calluna in the flowering plant family Ericaceae. It is a low-growing perennial shrub growing to 7.9 to 19.7 inches tall, or rarely to 39 inches and taller, and is found widely in Europe and Asia Minor on acidic soils in open sunny situations and in moderate shade. (Wikipedia)

Supreme Court of Canada will not hear B.C. groups' challenges against Trans Mountain pipeline expansion
The Supreme Court of Canada has declined to hear five B.C.-based challenges against the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. The groups fighting the project had argued a previous judicial review of the pipeline's second federal approval was unfairly denied by a single judge from the Federal Court of Appeal. B.C. Nature, the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations and a number of youth applied to the country's top court for leave to appeal that dismissal. (CBC)

Fishery forecasts dismal for Skagit River
As federal, state and tribal fisheries managers prepare to negotiate fishing seasons for 2020-21, the outlook on the number of fish returning is not good...For the Skagit River, coho, chum and sockeye salmon are forecast to return at less than 75% of the 10-year average. Chinook salmon are forecast to return at numbers between 75% and 125% of the 10-year average. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (SKagit Valley Herald)

Young Climate Plaintiffs Seek Second Chance in Federal Court
The 21 young plaintiffs who lost their ambitious climate lawsuit against the federal government are seeking another shot to make their case in court, a move that could push the dispute toward risky legal territory. The kids and young adults in Juliana v. United States on Monday asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to rehear the case en banc, before 11 active judges on the court. A smaller panel of three judges ruled against the plaintiffs in January. Ellen Gilmer reports. (Bloomberg)

EPA revamp of 'secret science' rule will keep limiting research, scientists say
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) walked back a component of one its most controversial proposals Thursday, weakening an effort that would have restricted the agency from considering scientific studies that don’t make their underlying data public. But the tweaks are not garnering support from the scientific community, as it expands the 2018 proposal in other ways. Rebecca Beitsch reports. (The Hill)

Mussels fetched from Kitsap waters give insight into contamination
At a lab in Olympia, mussels from Kitsap County waters are being broken apart, blended like a smoothie, and sent for testing to determine what toxins and contaminants lurk. Mussel Watch is a program run by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife throughout Puget Sound that tests the tissue of mussels for contaminants in the water. The data is used to look at trends and to find areas where the contamination needs to be addressed. Results from the last cycle — in 2017 — showed that Puget Sound has particles from fuel and laundry detergent, and 100% of sites tested showed a presence of antibiotics used for livestock. All sites also tested positive for antidepressant medication, said Mariko Langness, WDFW fish and wildlife biologist. Jessie Darland reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Leadership change at Friends of the San Juans
After 19 years as Executive Director of Friends of the San Juans, Stephanie Buffum submitted her letter of resignation and retired as of March 1, 2020. (Orcas Issues)


Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  238 AM PST Thu Mar 5 2020   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING   
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 25 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Wind  waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 8 ft at 13 seconds building to 10 ft at  12 seconds in the afternoon. A chance of rain in the morning then  rain in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  SW wind to 10 kt becoming W after midnight. Wind waves  1 ft or less. W swell 12 ft at 13 seconds. Rain in the evening  then a slight chance of rain after midnight.



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