10/22 'Fly amanita,' BC seal cull, Site C dam, BC LNG, 2020 election climate, Nooksack water, NOAA website, PFAS comments

Fly amanita [Amy Nelson]

Fly amanita Amanita muscaria
Most abundant in late autumn in conifer forests or mixed woods or on their edges. This is the mushroom often pictured in European fairy tales. It is called the "fly amanita" because it was thought a decoction made from it killed fins. It is definitely dangerous but fortunately easy to recognize. (The New Savory Wild Mushroom)

What Would a British Columbia Seal and Sea Lion Cull Actually Entail?
Cast an eye upon Canada’s Pacific coast and it shouldn’t take long to spot its most ubiquitous marine mammal, the harbor seal. At least 100,000 are thought to occupy the coves and nearshore waters along British Columbia’s coast. You may view seals with wonder, as evidence of a productive marine ecosystem on the doorstep of civilization. Or, just as easily, as a ravenous predator gobbling up the same fish populations sought by humans...University of British Columbia (UBC) professor emeritus of oceans and fisheries Carl Walters is pushing for the slaughter of 50,000 harbor seals and 25,000 Steller sea lions—half their populations on the BC coast. Another 3,000 seals per year would be killed on an ongoing basis to keep the animals in check. Larry Pynn reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Top B.C. government officials knew Site C dam was in serious trouble over a year ago: FOI docs
Two top B.C. civil servants, including the senior bureaucrat who prepares Site C dam documents for cabinet, knew in May 2019 that the project faced serious geotechnical problems due to its “weak foundation,” according to documents obtained by The Narwhal. Energy ministry assistant deputy minister Les MacLaren and deputy finance minister Lori Wanamaker also knew the following month that the over-budget project had almost exhausted its $858 million contingency fund, a likely sign of another cost overrun, according to the documents, which were released under B.C.’s freedom of information act. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

LNG in BC Is a ‘Losing’ Bet, Report Finds
A respected U.S. energy group has criticized a rosy Conference Board of Canada report championing more liquefied natural gas development in British Columbia as “a lobbying effort for government subsidies, support and flexibility.” The scathing critique by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis characterized the Conference Board report as “misleading,” short on facts and unrealistic. Andrew Nikiforuk reports. (The Tree)

There's A Lot At Stake For The Climate In The 2020 Election
Despite the cascade of other crises this year, climate change has emerged as a key election issue. Two-thirds of Americans want the government to do more about it, and the same share of Biden supporters say it's very important to their vote. While not many Trump supporters overall agree, there's more concern among younger Republicans. The stakes are high as more Americans experience record heat, wildfires, hurricanes and flooding, and the two candidates could not be further apart. Joe Biden calls climate change an existential threat to our health, economy, and national security. President Trump continues to question climate science. Jeff Brady, Nathan Rott and Jennifer Ludden report. (NPR)

Ericksen blasts Nooksack basin adjudication
State Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, is calling on the state Department of Ecology to abandon plans for an enormous court review of water rights in the Nooksack River basin, saying it would launch “a years-long litigation nightmare” for thousands of Whatcom County property owners and threaten the area’s agricultural economy... Ericksen says he will oppose any effort during the 2021 legislative session to allocate money for Nooksack adjudication. (Lynden Tribune/paywall) Also see: Whose water is it in Whatcom County?  Eric Hurst writes. (Salish Current/Community Voices)

NOAA: Assessing Our Marine Ecosystems
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has launched a real-time website that provides data on major marine ecosystem indicators, capturing the status and trends of seven U.S. ecosystem regions, as well as an overall national status. It also directs users to more detailed sources of NOAA data and information. (NOAA)

Ecology seeking comments on action plan to address PFAS contaminants
The Washington state Department of Ecology is seeking public comment on its plan to address a class of highly persistent chemicals that don’t break down in the environment. The Department of Ecology is in the process of drafting a Chemical Action Plan (CAP) that finds a way to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Individuals who are interested offering input have until Dec. 7 to submit comment.  Andrew Hammond reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  236 AM PDT Thu Oct 22 2020   
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  5 ft at 8 seconds. 
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  4 ft at 9 seconds. Rain likely after midnight.

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