6/9 Cottonwood, oil spill response, Sunshine Coast logging, gray whale deaths, Canadian conservation, orca culture, border rules, Trump's pollution, Trump's hunt, BC ferries masks

Black cottonwood

Black Cottonwood Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa
Black Cottonwood is also known as Balsam Poplar. Balsamifera means balsam (aromatic resin)-bearing.   Trichocarpa means with hairy fruits, referring to its fluffy seeds. The cottony seeds are often seen drifting in a summer breeze, giving the tree its common name of Cottonwood. Cottonwood pollen is a major allergen. Seeds ripen late May to July.  Seeds may be dispersed by wind or water. Natives used Black Cottonwood for many medicinal purposes. They used the gum of the burls on cuts and wounds.  Bruised leaves were also placed on cuts as an antiseptic.  An infusion of the bark was used for sore throats.  Young shoots were used to make sweat lodges. (Native Plants PNW)

New oil spill response base in Friday Harbor will address present — and growing — threat
A new response base to be built on San Juan Island will amp up the Islands Oil Spill Association's capability to help prevent oil spills when small-spill threats arise. Genevieve Iverson reports. (Salish Current)

B.C. opens Sunshine Coast forest — home to some of Canada’s oldest trees — to logging
Local conservation group asks province to cancel cutblocks containing ancient yellow cedars and unofficial bear sanctuary. Judith Lavoie reports. (The Narwhal)

Necropsies Unveil More about Mass Gray Whale Deaths
Hundreds of gray whales in the eastern Pacific Ocean have died since last year, and scientists are beginning to understand why. Larry Pynn reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Canada’s conservation efforts must prioritize areas resilient to climate change, researchers say
New studies show factoring climate change impacts into planning for protected areas can help achieve emission-reduction and biodiversity targets — a move one scientist calls ‘hitting the conservation science jackpot.’ Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

Killer Whales’ Cultural Bottleneck
A new paper suggests killer whales’ cultures may be driving down their genetic diversity—but not all researchers agree. Claudia Geib reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Relief, frustration as restrictions on U.S.-Canada border crossings ease but quarantine period remains
Canadians separated from family members in the U.S. because of restrictions around the border will soon have some respite, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that exemptions will be provided to immediate families members. The Canada Border Services Agency said the exemption will kick in at midnight on Monday, and applies to foreign nationals who are immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents and who do not have COVID-19 or are showing any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, "or who do not have reason to believe they have COVID-19." Anyone who enters the country will have to self-quarantine for 14 days and could face serious penalties for not following the rules. Michelle Ghoussoub reports. (CBC)

As EPA Steps Back, States Face Wave Of Requests For Environmental Leniency
Some of the country’s most polluting industries have flooded state regulators with requests to ease environmental regulations, according to an NPR review of hundreds of state environmental records. Companies across the country say the pandemic is interfering with their ability to comply with laws that protect the public from pollution. Rebecca Hersher reports. (NPR)

Trump administration makes it easier for hunters to kill bear cubs and wolf pups in Alaska
Hunters will soon be allowed to venture into national parks in Alaska and engage in practices that conservation groups say are reprehensible: baiting hibernating bears from their dens with doughnuts to kill them and using artificial light such as headlamps to scurry into wolf dens to slaughter mothers and their pups. Darryl Fears reports. (Washington Post)

Passengers on BC Ferries must travel with a face mask starting June 15
BC Ferries said passengers will be required to travel with a face mask on most routes starting June 15. In a statement, BC Ferries said passengers must wear the face mask while on board if a physical distance of two metres between passengers cannot be maintained. (CBC)



Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  301 AM PDT Tue Jun 9 2020   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON   
TODAY  E wind 15 to 25 kt becoming SE 5 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 2 ft or less in the  afternoon. SW swell 5 ft at 7 seconds building to 7 ft at  8 seconds in the afternoon. Rain. 
TONIGHT  SW wind to 10 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. SW swell 6 ft at 9 seconds. Rain in the  evening then a chance of rain after midnight.




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