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| Puffin [Tristan Ferne/BirdNote] |
How Does a Puffin Fill Its Beak?
Puffins fly under water into schools of slender fish, filling their large beaks. Fish are wedged into the gape, the stretchy skin at the beak hinge, but the bill edges still line up neatly. The dangling fish won’t slide out because the puffin’s tongue and roof of the mouth are heavily lined with backward-angled spines. When its beak is full, the adult flies back to its nest and feeds it all to a single chick. Bob Sundstrom writes. (BirdNote)
B.C. NDP will form decisive majority government, CBC News projects
The NDP will form a historic majority government in British Columbia for the first time in more than 20 years, CBC News projects, as voters opted to stay the course in a tumultuous year and send Leader John Horgan back to the legislature as the only consecutive two-term premier in his party's history...It will be the first NDP majority since 1996. Rhianna Schmunk reports. (CBC) See also: B.C. election: what Horgan’s NDP majority government means for climate and the environment Arik Ligeti reports. (The Narwhal)
Controversy flares up over proposed policy revisions for state salmon hatcheries
A state policy revision that could boost salmon production at fish hatcheries in Washington state has raised red flags among scientists and environmental groups worried about potential damage to wild salmon runs.
The proposed hatchery policy, under review by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, could derail a 20-year effort to implement critical hatchery reforms, opponents argue. Major concerns revolve around threats to the future of wild salmon populations — including declines in genetic diversity and increasing competition from large numbers of hatchery fish. At the same time, a variety of sport and commercial fishing groups have thrown their support to increased hatchery production, saying that policies to protect wild salmon have reduced fishing opportunities while doing little to save wild salmon. Christopher Dunagan writes. (Puget Sound Institute)
Millions have been spent on orca recovery: Is it working?
Restoring destroyed salmon habitat is the key to regaining Southern Resident killer whale numbers. Julia-Grace Sanders reports. (Everett Herald)
Crews vacuum 'murder hornets' out of nest in Washington state
Heavily protected crews in Washington state worked Saturday to destroy the first nest of so-called murder hornets discovered in the United States...The nest found near the Canadian border in Blaine is about the size of a basketball and contained an estimated 100 to 200 hornets, according to scientists who announced the find Friday...The tree will be cut down to extract newborn hornets and learn if any queens have left the hive already, scientists said. Officials suspect more nests may be in the area and will keep searching. A news briefing was planned Monday on the status of the nest. (Associated Press)
Combining bugs and chemistry in Soos Creek stormwater study
Many creeks and waterbodies in Puget Sound may look pristine, but most face serious threats from stormwater pollution. A new study at Soos Creek shows how mud-dwelling bugs, traditional chemistry and digital "heatmaps" can be used to track stormwater impacts and identify the most polluted areas. Scientists and planners hope that this may one day lower the price tag on costly stormwater fixes. Eric Wagner reports. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine)
State details Padilla Bay bacteria issue
The state Department of Ecology released Thursday a draft report ecology.wa.gov/Water-Shorelines/Water-quality/Water-improvement/Total-Maximum-Daily-Load-process/Directory-of-improvement-projects/Padilla-Bay-FC-TMDL. that details the problem of fecal coliform bacteria in sloughs that flow into Padilla Bay and that lists possible solutions. The document is open for public comment until noon Nov. 22, and online public meetings are set for 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)
10,000 trees per year across the Gulf Islands
A popular tree-planting, carbon-busting program run by Conservancy Hornby Island has so far planted 4,000 trees on private lands on the island, and if enough interest is expressed on Gabriola, the program will find its way here, too. A team of volunteers, including Grant Scott, conservancy chair and Islands Trust trustee for Hornby Island, began their Gulf Islands reforestation plan last year. In addition to the Douglas fir seedlings planted on Hornby, another 3,000 will be planted on Galiano Island this month. Rachelle Stein-Wotten reports. (Gabriola Sounder)
Olympia oysters continue to thrive in Fidalgo Bay
Lab-grown baby oysters, shipments of empty shells and muddy boots: Those are some of the ingredients that have made restoring the Olympia oyster successful in Fidalgo Bay. Since the estimated number of the oysters climbed into the millions in 2015, the population has remained strong. There are now an estimated three million of them in Fidalgo Bay waters. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)
Indecision postpones Colstrip sale public discussion
Montana regulators will postpone hearing from the public about a key Colstrip Power Plant sale until it’s clear the deal can pass muster in Washington state. Public Service Commissioners said a fog of uncertainty in Washington state led to the postponement of the Oct. 29 listening session concerning the future ownership of the Colstrip Power Plant. Seattle-based Puget Sound Energy is attempting to sell its 25% share of Colstrip Unit 4 to two other owners, NorthWestern Energy and Talen Energy...But the future of the sale is in doubt in Washington, where Puget needs approval from the Utility and Transportation Commission. In Washington, UTC staff and the state’s consumer advocate have recommended against the agreement, arguing that it’s bad for Puget’s customers. Several other groups, including Washington state legislators, say it would be better for Puget to retain ownership and work the shut down the power plant. Tom Lutey reports. (Billings Gazette)
Oil Industry Turns to Mergers and Acquisitions to Survive
The once mighty oil and gas industry is flailing, desperately trying to survive a pandemic that has sharply reduced demand for its products. Most companies have cut back drilling, laid off workers and written off assets. Now some are seeking out merger and acquisition targets to reduce costs. ConocoPhillips announced on Monday that it was acquiring Concho Resources for $9.7 billion, the biggest deal in the industry since oil prices collapsed in March. Clifford Krauss reports. (NY Times)
Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-
246 AM PDT Mon Oct 26 2020
TODAY
Light wind becoming W to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind
waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 14 seconds.
TONIGHT
SW wind to 10 kt becoming SE after midnight. Wind
waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 13 seconds.
"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.
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