6/23 Bear grass, WA water quality, Fraser salt marsh, Arctic warming, fish fleet virus

Bear grass [Barbara Mumblo/USFS]

Bear grass Xerophyllum tenax
The species grows from near sea level to over 2,000 meters (6,600 feet) in open coniferous woods, dry ridges, rocky slopes and clearings. It ranges over a wide geographic area in western North America [and] is a common occurrence in the Olympic, Cascade, northern Sierra Nevada, and Rocky Mountains. Native Americans have long used bear grass for a variety of purposes. Leaves were used for basket weaving, leaf fibers for clothing and the rhizomes roasted for food. Eastern prairie tribes boiled the roots for a hair tonic and the treatment for sprains. Russ Holmes writes. (US Forest Service)

Washington’s water quality standards back in court after EPA rollback
A coalition of environmental groups, commercial fishermen and the Makah Tribe are suing the federal Environmental Protection Agency over its decision to roll back water quality regulations in Washington state. At issue are human health standards that the EPA itself forced the state to adopt just a few years ago. Washington updated its water quality standards in 2016 to bring the state in line with the Clean Water Act. But, after litigation from environmental groups, the EPA forced the state to adopt stricter standards, to ensure that people who consume large amounts of fish are protected. Now, the EPA has retracted those rules.  Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

How a salt marsh could be a secret weapon against sea level rise in B.C.’s Fraser delta
An often-underrated ecosystem supports millions of migratory birds, provides critical habitat for young salmon, absorbs carbon and plays an essential role in flood prevention. An ambitious project aims to draw on the power of the salt marsh, gradually raising its level to create a ‘living dike' Stephanie Wood reports. (The Narwhal)

Arctic Circle sees 'highest-ever' recorded temperatures
Temperatures in the Arctic Circle are likely to have hit an all-time record on Saturday, reaching a scorching 38C (100F) in Verkhoyansk, a Siberian town. The record still needs to be verified, but it appears to have been 18C higher than the average maximum daily temperature in June. Hot summer weather is not uncommon in the Arctic Circle, but recent months have seen abnormally high temperatures. The Arctic is believed to be warming twice as fast as the global average. (BBC)

Coronavirus is making it difficult for Whatcom’s commercial fishing fleet this season
The commercial fishing industry is facing an uncertain summer as Whatcom County’s economy reopens from the global new coronavirus pandemic. A new report from the Regional Economic Partnership at the Port of Bellingham indicates the local fishing fleet is dealing with a host of hurdles this summer, particularly for fishing boat captains who want to go to Alaska. Crew safety is proving to be particularly tough to figure out, as shown by the three American Seafoods fishing boats that had more than 100 crew members test positive for the virus after docking at Bellingham Cold Storage in late May and early June. Dave Gallagher reports. (Bellingham Herald)



Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  250 AM PDT Tue Jun 23 2020   
TODAY  W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft. W swell  4 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of rain in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  NW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming W to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of  rain.




--
"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.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter. 

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told