11/30 Song sparrow, Cherry Pt, local news, Pt Wells, Gold R, BC logging, Everett sea rise, young orcas, whale watching, Salmon People, bird kill, Trump's dereg, Electron Dam, Pebble Mine

Song sparrow [Gregg Thompson]

 
Song sparrow Melospiza melodia
Washington's song sparrows are large, dark, heavily streaked, chunky birds. They are solitary and highly territorial during the breeding season, but are found in loose flocks during migration and winter. They forage mostly on the ground, sometimes scratching the soil. They will come to bird feeders with adequate cover close by. These birds sing almost all year, and respond to 'pishing.' Typical of the family, song sparrows eat insects and seeds, with a greater proportion of seeds in the fall and winter, and a greater proportion of insects in the spring and summer. (BirdWeb/Seattle Audubon)

Unlikely partners' compromise will halt new fossil-fuel development at Cherry Point
An effort to steer future development at Whatcom County’s primary industrial center away from fossil fuels while providing regulatory certainty is inching closer to completion with the help of an unlikely partnership between environment and industry interests. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Salish Current)

Erosion in local news threatens democracy
Bill Dietrich writes: "My old newspaper boss isn’t shy about warning that local dailies here in Northwest Washington are turning into ghosts — ghost newspapers, existing in name but no longer having the staff or the commitment to cover local and regional news. That’s not the fault of Whatcom and Skagit’s hard-working, underpaid journalists. It’s a national crisis that’s been accelerating at warp speed since 1990, when newspaper revenue began to crater because the internet eliminated want ads and much of print retail advertising. Frank Blethen, the 75-year-old publisher of The Seattle Times, is trying to address the erosion in local news that he fears threatens democracy..."  (Salish Current/Community Voices)

Point Wells plan should abide stricter rules, critics say
Opponents of a nearly decade-old plan to build a high-rise condo community on Puget Sound urged Snohomish County officials this week to hold the proposal to more stringent standards for construction near landslide hazard zones. Residents near the Point Wells development site, situated between the water and a steep hillside near Woodway, on Tuesday called on the county hearing examiner to require that the developer abide existing regulations for geologically hazardous areas. Rachel Riley reports. (Everett Herald)

‘A lost run’: logging and climate change decimate steelhead in B.C. river
When zero fish showed up for a winter count in the Gold River on Vancouver Island, their absence hinted at a much larger story of how and why this species is disappearing throughout the province. Stephanie Wood reports. (The Narwhal)
 
Conservationists demand fast action from B.C.'s new forestry minister on protection for old-growth trees Stark photos released this week by a conservation group pushing hard for the province to protect what remains of B.C.'s largest and oldest trees is just one point of pressure the province's new forestry minister is facing as she comes into the job.  Chad Pawson reports  (CBC)

How the Port of Everett is preparing for a rising sea level
[T]he Port of Everett is adapting to climate change: The pilings that secure the new stretch of dock are taller than those at the older west end. The additional two feet will allow the dock to float higher as global warming causes sea levels to rise. If that isn’t enough leeway to accommodate future king tides, extensions can be welded to the pointy-topped columns, said Erik Gerking, director of environmental programs for the port. While visible, the pilings at the state’s largest public marina are not his top climate change concern. “The biggest issue that we will have involves bulkheads and shoreline – having those high enough,” he said. Julie Titone reports. (Everett Herald)

Young orca calves take part in fall excursions into South Puget Sound with their mothers
The two orca calves born to J pod in September are still alive and doing well, according to Mark Malleson of the Center for Whale Research, who spotted J pod on Monday near the Canadian city of Victoria. Chris Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute) See also: J-pod orcas swim close to shore near Maury Island  (KING)

Where the whales are: Discovering marine mammals from shore along the Pacific Coast
Erin Williams writes: "Only 100 yards from a nature center and down a sandy trail to the Pacific, I spotted a telltale heart-shaped spout — a misty exhalation of a California gray whale on her northern migration — rising from the ocean. Sunlight glinting off the animal’s back was a sparkling sign that some of the best whale watching can occur from a surprising place: land. This February visit to Dana Point Preserve near San Diego was my fourth stop along the Whale Trail, a collection of coastal sites stretching 1,500 miles from Southern California to British Columbia..." (Washington Post)

Salmon People: A tribe's decades-long fight to take down the Lower Snake River dams and restore a way of life
...The Nez Perce are at the center of a decades-long battle to remove this dam, and three others on the Lower Snake River. In many tribal members’ lifetimes, dams have transformed the Columbia and Snake from wild rivers to a hydropower behemoth and shipping channel — despite fishing rights reserved by their ancestors guaranteed in the treaty of 1855. The tribe does not agree with a recently completed assessment by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies that essentially cemented the status quo on the dams. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Trump officials move to relax rules on killing birds
The Trump administration published an environmental analysis Friday finding that its proposal not to hold companies responsible for killing birds 'incidentally" would not cause undue harm, clearly the way for it to finalize the rollback before the president's term ends on Jan. 20. The administration, which is racing to lock in a series of regulatory changes before President-elect Joe Biden takes office, can now publish a final rule modifying the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s interpretation of the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Juliet Eilperin and Sarah Kaplan report. (?Washington Post)

E.P.A.’s Final Deregulatory Rush Runs Into Open Staff Resistance
President Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency was rushing to complete one of its last regulatory priorities, aiming to obstruct the creation of air- and water-pollution controls far into the future, when a senior career scientist moved to hobble it. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times)

U.S. Justice Department sues over Puyallup River pollution
The Justice Department has filed a civil suit against the owners of the Electron Hydroelectric Project for violating the Clean Water Act by polluting the Puyallup River. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Army Corps says no to massive gold mine proposed near Bristol Bay in Alaska
The Trump administration on Wednesday denied a key permit for a massive gold and copper mine in Alaska, striking a devastating blow to a project opposed by an unlikely coalition that includes the president’s son and other prominent Republicans, as well as conservationists, commercial fishermen and Alaska Natives. Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis report. (Washington Post)

Now, your tug weather--West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  614 AM PST Mon Nov 30 2020   
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING   
TODAY  W wind 30 to 40 kt easing to 20 to 30 kt in the  afternoon. Combined seas 13 to 15 ft with a dominant period of  16 seconds building to 16 to 17 ft with a dominant period of  15 seconds in the afternoon. Rain likely in the morning then a  chance of rain in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  NW wind 10 to 20 kt becoming N to 10 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less after  midnight. W swell 14 ft at 13 seconds subsiding to 12 ft at  14 seconds after midnight.

--
"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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11/27 Salish Sea News Week in Review: Bill Nye, kid orcas, bird kill, Electron Dam, Pebble Mine, Kalama methanol, Cooke Aqua, feeding orcas, BC indigenous CG, Skagit dams, Navy training

Salish Sea News Week in Review November 27 2020

Bill Nye (Nov. 27, 1955)

Happy Birthday, Science Guy!
Bill Nye the Science Guy is best known as the host of the PBS and syndicated children's science show Bill Nye the Science Guy (1993–1998), the Netflix show Bill Nye Saves the World (2017–2018), and for his many subsequent appearances in popular media as a science educator.

Young orca calves take part in fall excursions into South Puget Sound with their mothers
The two orca calves born to J pod in September are still alive and doing well, according to Mark Malleson of the Center for Whale Research, who spotted J pod on Monday near the Canadian city of Victoria.

Trump officials move to relax rules on killing birds
The Trump administration published an environmental analysis Friday finding that its proposal not to hold companies responsible for killing birds 'incidentally" would not cause undue harm, clearly the way for it to finalize the rollback before the president's term ends on Jan. 20.

U.S. Justice Department sues over Puyallup River pollution
The Justice Department has filed a civil suit against the owners of the Electron Hydroelectric Project for violating the Clean Water Act by polluting the Puyallup River.

Army Corps says no to massive gold mine proposed near Bristol Bay in Alaska
The Trump administration on Wednesday denied a key permit for a massive gold and copper mine in Alaska, striking a devastating blow to a project opposed by an unlikely coalition that includes the president’s son and other prominent Republicans, as well as conservationists, commercial fishermen and Alaska Natives.

Congress Seeks Answers on Alaskan Mine Project
House investigators are seeking records from the developers of the Pebble Mine project and the Army Corps of Engineers, to determine whether the company misrepresented its plans.

US judge voids permits for Columbia River methanol plant
A judge on Monday voided permits needed for a massive methanol plant on the Columbia River in Southwest Washington, agreeing with conservation groups that the project needs a more thorough environmental review.

Steelhead farm proposal appealed to state Supreme Court
Environmental groups are taking their fight against Cooke Aquaculture’s proposal to transition from farming Atlantic salmon to steelhead to the state Supreme Court.

Regional proposal would reduce fisheries to help orcas
Plans for managing coastal chinook salmon fisheries that take into account endangered Southern Resident orca whales are taking shape.

Canada's 1st Indigenous coast guard auxiliary has launched in B.C.
Now, more than four years since it was announced, the Indigenous Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary has fully launched in B.C. — already having completed a number of missions.

Fish passage studies sought in Skagit River dam relicensing
The series of concrete dams strung across the upper Skagit River predate construction of the North Cascades Highway and the establishing of North Cascades National Park.

Navy training proposal met with concern
The State Parks Commission is in the midst of discussions about whether public lands, including Deception Pass State Park, are appropriate place for the military to train.

These news clips are a selection of weekday clips collected in Salish Sea News and Weather which 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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11/25 Noble fir, kids climate, BC enviro poll, rubber runoff, orca to Oklahoma, IJC

Noble fir

 

Noble fir Abies procera
The noble fir, also called red fir and Christmastree, is a western North American fir, native to the Cascade Range and Coast Range mountains of extreme northwest California and western Oregon and Washington. It is a high-altitude tree, typically occurring at 300–1,500 m (980–4,920 ft) altitude, only rarely reaching the tree line. (Wikipedia)

Young people taking climate change lawsuit to Federal Court of Appeal
A group of 15 young people will try again to have the courts force Ottawa to develop a climate recovery plan after it was denied by the Federal Court. The youths have filed an appeal of the court's October decision that their claims don't have a reasonable cause of action or prospect of success so the case cannot proceed to trial. They had argued the federal government's inadequate action on climate change is violating their charter rights to life, liberty and security of the person. (Canadian Press)

‘The federal government absolutely needs to do more’: poll finds 41% of British Columbians want Ottawa to step up action on environment
Survey shows three in five respondents are personally concerned about water pollution, toxic waste and climate change. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

When Rubber Hits the Road—and Washes Away
A stealthy source of pollution leaves the highway in astonishing amounts and heads to sea, toxic chemicals and all. Laura Trethewey reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Connecting orcas to Oklahoma: Project introduces inlanders to Salish Sea's endangered species
A town in Oklahoma has a special connection to the Southern Resident orcas that swim in the waters of western Washington. The town of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, may be more than 2,000 miles from where the Southern Resident orcas call home, but because of the vision of an Oklahoma philanthropist, those in her state will learn about whales — including Tahlequah, a member of the orcas' J Pod — through the Oklahoma Killer Whale Project. Jessie Darland reports. (Kitsap Sun)

The watershed watchers: in conversation with the International Joint Commission
Canada and the U.S. are bound together by waterways that transcend political borders. But what happens when industrial development changes those waters in ways that could last hundreds of years? Carol Linnit reports. (The Narwhal)

Now, your US Thanksgiving long weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  249 AM PST Wed Nov 25 2020   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT   
TODAY  S wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 17 ft  at 16 seconds. A chance of showers. TONIGHT  SE wind to 10 kt becoming S after midnight. Wind waves  1 ft or less. W swell 14 ft at 15 seconds subsiding to 12 ft at  14 seconds after midnight. 
THU  S wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 10 ft at 14 seconds subsiding to 8 ft  at 13 seconds in the afternoon. A slight chance of rain. 
THU NIGHT  SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming S 15 to 25 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 6 ft at 13 seconds  building to 8 ft at 17 seconds after midnight. 
FRI  S wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 11 ft at  14 seconds. 
FRI NIGHT  S wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SW 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 10 ft at 14 seconds. 
SAT  NW wind to 10 kt becoming E. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W  swell 11 ft.  SUN  E wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE to 10 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or  less. W swell 7 ft.

--
"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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11/24 Whiting, Padilla Bay poop, Kalama methanol, fish farm appeal, oil spill, Quiet Sound, whale watching, native history, BC Ferries mask

Pacific whiting [NOAA]

Pacific whiting Mercluccius productus
Pacific whiting, or hake, is a ray-finned fish species found off the West Coast of the United States and Canada. They are a semi-pelagic schooling species of groundfish. There are three stocks of Pacific whiting: a migratory coastal stock, ranging from southern Baja California to Queen Charlotte Sound; a central-south Puget Sound stock; and a Strait of Georgia stock. While the latter stocks have declined significantly, the coastal stock remains large and healthy and is the most abundant commercial fish stock on the Pacific Coast. Pacific whiting are night-time predators that move up the water column to feed and then migrate back down during the day. (NOAA

New report details action plan for fixing Padilla Bay fecal coliform sources, urges participation
Finding and fixing remaining sources of dangerous fecal coliform pollution coming into Padilla Bay is like “herding cats," some say. A report due to be submitted soon by the state Department of Ecology to the Environmental Protection Agency lists sources and strategies for cleanup. The caveat: full implementation requires the participation of many different groups. Alex Meacham reports. (Salish Current)

US judge voids permits for Columbia River methanol plant
A judge on Monday voided permits needed for a massive methanol plant on the Columbia River in Southwest Washington, agreeing with conservation groups that the project needs a more thorough environmental review. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had granted the permits for the construction of an export facility that is part of a $2 billion NW Innovation Works plant proposed in Kalama. The plant would take natural gas from Canada and convert it into methanol, which would be shipped to China to make olefins — compounds used in everything from fabrics and contact lenses to iPhones and medical equipment. Gene Johnson reports. (Associated Press)

Steelhead farm proposal appealed to state Supreme Court
Environmental groups are taking their fight against Cooke Aquaculture’s proposal to transition from farming Atlantic salmon to steelhead to the state Supreme Court. The groups appealed Monday a Nov. 6 decision by King County Superior Court Judge Johanna Bender that upheld a permit issued by the state Department of Fish & Wildlife to allow such farms in area waters. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Collision between barge and fishing boat in Vancouver Island harbour leads to diesel spill 
The Canadian Coast Guard says it has completed its cleanup of a diesel spill caused by a collision between two vessels in the harbour at Parksville, B.C. According to the Coast Guard, a barge carrying a fuel truck struck a fishing boat in the French Creek Harbour on Monday at around 11:50 a.m. The collision caused the tank of the fuel truck to rupture, leaking diesel into the harbour. Although initial estimates suggested that 300-500 litres had been spilled, the Coast Guard said Monday evening that the final estimate is 188 litres. (CBC)

Quiet Sound underwater noise reduction program could soon slow ships, protect orcas
Underwater noise from ship traffic is one of the major threats to Puget Sound’s endangered Southern Resident orcas. It can interfere with the whales’ ability to communicate, navigate by echolocation and find the increasingly scarce salmon they prefer. A recommendation from the orca recovery task force convened by Gov. Jay Inslee in 2018-19 is to reduce noise and disturbance from large vessels. Work is underway to develop a program called "Quiet Sound," which will alert ships to the presence of whales so they can re-route or slow down. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

To help save orcas, pause whale watching
Suspending commercial whale-watching boats can help southern resident killer whales avoid extinction. Opinion by Donna Sandstrom and Tim Ragen (Crosscut) And, if you like to watch: Sentinels of Silence? Whale Watching, Noise, and the Orca   Ecosong (10/22/20) And, to have a say: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Public Hearing on Commercial Whale Watching, Dec. 4, 11:15 a.m. via Zoom

Why learning real Native history is important to the PNW and beyond
Washington schools are changing how they teach Indigenous histories. Here's what the people who've already been through school can learn from these efforts. Manola Secaira reports. (Crosscut)

B.C. Ferries mask image will be replaced after everyone has a laugh
Mark Collins, president and chief executive of B.C. Ferries, said Friday that it’s a stock image that the company paid for the right to use. “We didn’t see it at first,” he said. “But I do recognize that once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” Carla Wilson reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  242 AM PST Tue Nov 24 2020   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON   
TODAY  S wind 15 to 25 kt becoming SW 20 to 30 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 8 ft at 12 seconds. A  chance of rain in the morning then rain in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  SW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  12 ft at 19 seconds building to 15 ft at 18 seconds after  midnight. Rain likely and a slight chance of tstms.

--
"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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11/23 Cinnamon teal, orca recovery, BC indigenous CG, Skagit dams, dying cedars, logging, green Biden, Navy training, dungeness season, Pebble Mine, sage grouse, BC fishers, feeding orcas

Cinnamon teal [Audubon]

 
Cinnamon teal Spatula cyanoptera
Unique among our northern dabbling ducks, this teal also has nesting populations in South America. A close relative of Blue-winged Teal (and sometimes hybridizing with it), the Cinnamon Teal has a slightly larger bill, better developed for straining food items out of the water. In some ways this species seems intermediate between Blue-winged Teal and Northern Shoveler. (Audubon Field Guide)

Regional proposal would reduce fisheries to help orcas
Plans for managing coastal chinook salmon fisheries that take into account endangered Southern Resident orca whales are taking shape. The Pacific Fishery Management Council, which manages coastal fisheries along Washington, Oregon and California, approved rules Monday to ensure salmon are available for the imperiled whales to eat. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Canada's 1st Indigenous coast guard auxiliary has launched in B.C.
First Nations along B.C.'s West Coast have a long history of responding to emergencies in the Pacific. Now, more than four years since it was announced, the Indigenous Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary has fully launched in B.C. — already having completed a number of missions. The auxiliary consists of 50 volunteer members from five first nations along B.C.'s coast — the Ahousat, the Heiltsuk, the Gitxaala, the Nisgaa and the Kitasoo.(CBC)

Fish passage studies sought in Skagit River dam relicensing
The series of concrete dams strung across the upper Skagit River predate construction of the North Cascades Highway and the establishing of North Cascades National Park.  Their construction — starting in 1917 with Gorge, then Diablo and finally Ross — also predates the listing of Puget Sound chinook salmon and steelhead trout as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1999 and 2007. Whether the dams harm those threatened fish is getting ample attention as Seattle City Light, which operates the three-dam Skagit River Hydroelectric Project, seeks a new license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Parksville, B.C., looks at ways to manage dying Western red cedars
In Parksville, B.C., over half of the Western red cedars in the existing canopy are dying. Now the city's parks department is looking for more resources to manage what's left.  Over the last few decades, the Western red cedar, British Columbia's provincial tree, has struggled with drier climate conditions brought on by climate change, says Guy Martin, the parks and facilities manager for the city of Parksville. (CBC)

‘Put away your power saws’: First Nations leaders, conservationists have a new plan to protect old-growth
Ancient forest advocates are weary of political promises that have so far been unable to slow the pace of clearcut logging in B.C. Here’s how visionaries think the province should move forward to protect beloved trees and critical habitat while making good on commitments to uphold Indigenous rights. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

What Biden's agenda on the environment could mean for the Pacific Northwest
From reintroduction of the grizzly bear to its wild North Cascades redoubt to attacking climate change, a wide range of environmental policies could see a new direction in the Pacific Northwest under a Biden administration. For starters, government and nonprofit policy leaders say they are looking forward to a return to science as a basis for environmental policymaking. Perhaps nowhere is this more true than on climate warming. Lynda Mapes and Hal Bernton report. (Seattle Times)

Navy training proposal met with concern
The State Parks Commission is in the midst of discussions about whether public lands, including Deception Pass State Park, are appropriate place for the military to train. Two Navy officials spoke with the seven-member commission Thursday, answering questions about the Navy's proposal to train on public lands and acknowledging the need to address the public's concerns. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Commercial Dungeness crab season delayed
The Dec. 1 commercial Dungeness crab season has been delayed until at least Dec. 16 for the entire Oregon coast because testing shows crabs are too low in meat yield. (Associated Press)

Congress Seeks Answers on Alaskan Mine Project
House investigators are seeking records from the developers of the Pebble Mine project and the Army Corps of Engineers, to determine whether the company misrepresented its plans. Henry Fountain reports. (NY Times)

Sage grouse meets lame duck: New rules loosen restrictions on grazing, mining and drilling 
The Trump administration announced plans Friday to lessen protections for sage grouse in Oregon and six other Western states. The announcement is in line with the administration’s long-stated goal to clear the way for drilling, mining and grazing on public land. The latter of those three has historically gained the most attention in Oregon. Bradley Parks reports. (OPB)

B.C. government gives okay to trap endangered fishers for fur as scientists warn of impending extinctions
Unlike six other provinces, B.C. has no endangered species legislation, which allows species at risk to be killed outside of protected areas. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

Can we and should we feed the orcas?
Lynne Barre, NOAA’s recovery coordinator for the southern resident killer whales, said feeding salmon or other fish to orcas can be detremental for their survival. Steve Bunin reports. (KING)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  234 AM PST Mon Nov 23 2020   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON   
TODAY  W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 8 ft  at 13 seconds building to 10 ft at 13 seconds in the afternoon. A  chance of rain. 
TONIGHT  S wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE 15 to 25 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft after  midnight. W swell 10 ft at 13 seconds subsiding to 8 ft at  12 seconds after midnight. 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.

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11/20 Pochard, BC COVID, LNG COVID, Trump's green rollbacks, Bezon climate, sewage overflows, overfishing

 

Common pochard [Ann Nightingale]

Lucky duck bird watchers spot one that expert says never before seen in B.C.
Vancouver Island birders are flocking to a Victoria park for what may be their only chance to see a lone duck never before seen in this neck of the woods. It's called a common pochard and according to B.C. bird expert Ann Nightingale, there are no historical recorded sightings of the duck in British Columbia and it's also possible this is the first wild one to be spotted in the entire country. A large duck, with a red head, silver back and a swooping black bill with blue markings, the male bird, according to Nightingale, is native to Europe and Asia and usually migrates south of those two continents for the winter. (CBC)

B.C. brings in sweeping new measures to control COVID-19, including mandatory masks
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has announced wide-ranging new rules for controlling the spread of COVID-19, including mandatory masks in indoor public and retail spaces and restricting social gatherings to household members only for everyone across B.C. Bethany Lindsay reports. (CBC)

COVID-19 outbreak declared at LNG Canada worksite in Kitimat, as 14 test positive
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the province's industrial COVID-19 safety plans are working, despite an outbreak of cases at a liquefied natural gas worksite in Kitimat, B.C where 14 workers at the LNG Canada Project have tested positive for the virus. Andrew Kurjata reports. (CBC)

Trump pushes new environmental rollbacks on way out the door
Down to its final weeks, the Trump administration is working to push through dozens of environmental rollbacks that could weaken century-old protections for migratory birds, expand Arctic drilling and hamstring future regulation of public health threats. The pending changes, which benefit oil and gas and other industries, deepen the challenges for President-elect Joe Biden, who made restoring and advancing protections for the environment, climate and public health a core piece of his campaign. Matthew Brown and Ellen Knickmeyer report. (Associated Press)

Jeff Bezos launches his own climate action push as U.S. policy faces potential gridlock
Bezos haters gonna hate. It goes with the territory when you’re the world’s richest person in a time of Digital Gilded Age inequality. But this week, through his Bezos Earth Fund, he also became the biggest private supporter of climate action. The $10 billion fund gave out its first round of grants, $791 million to 16 environmental organizations. The grants will finance research and implementation of efforts to reduce carbon emissions that are generating human-caused climate change, as well as adding green jobs and restoring wildlife. Jon Talton writes. (Seattle Times)

Recent rains causes stormwater, sewage to overflow into Seattle-area waters
All the recent heavy rain has put Seattle's stormwater and sewage overflows to the test. And they're working as designed -- spilling off into Puget Sound and local lakes...At least seven combined sewer overflows have dumped this week into Elliot Bay, the Montlake Cut, and the Duwamish Waterway...This polluted water is a mix of about 90% rainfall and 10% untreated sewage. It's harmful to marine life, as it contains human waste, motor oil, and other debris from roads. Paige Browning reports. (KUOW)

Overfishing in Puget Sound Took a Toll Only Being Paid Now
Puget Sound was once the center of commercial fishing in the Pacific Northwest. It ranked alongside timber before the turn of the last century only to then suffer from overfishing and environmental degradation. Steve Dunkelberger writes. (South Sunnd Talk)

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  256 AM PST Fri Nov 20 2020   
TODAY  SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft  at 14 seconds. Rain likely in the morning then a chance of rain  in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  S wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of  rain in the evening. 
SAT  E wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 11 seconds. SAT NIGHT  SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell  5 ft at 10 seconds. 
SUN  SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming S in the afternoon. Wind waves  2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 14 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.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

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11/19 Anemone, no anchor, BC COVID, Skagit restoration, Trump's logging, rogue orcas, plastic kills

Christmas anemone [Mary Jo Adams]

 

Christmas anemone Urticina crassicornis
This is a relatively large anemone. Its open crown of tentacles may be 10 inches across. The stalk may be solid red, cream, or brown or it may be blotched olive green and red. The tentacles are thick and blunt with bands of color. Watch for it low in the intertidal in protected areas such as under rock ledges. This anemone is a nonselective predator and may live for 80 years. It was formerly named Tealia crassicornis. (Mary Jo Adams/Sound Water Stewards)

Cowichan Tribes against anchorage
Cowichan Tribes has joined the fight to prohibit freighters from anchoring in coastal waters along the Salish Sea. Cowichan Tribes Chief William Seymour said the southern Gulf Islands are the heart of Cowichan Tribes’ marine territory where members harvest food and resources daily to sustain themselves. Robert Barrron reports. (Cowichan Valley Citizen)

B.C. posts another shocking day with 10 deaths and 762 new cases. David Carrig reports.  (Vancouver Sun)

Fish & Wildlife seeks input on Island Unit restoration project
The state Department of Fish & Wildlife is seeking public input on a potential restoration project at the Skagit Wildlife Area Island Unit. The unit — accessible only by boat — covers about 268 acres on two islands in a tidally influenced reach of the South Fork Skagit River. Comments on the draft alternatives of the project will be taken through Dec. 16 at wdfw.wa.gov. Fish & Wildlife will also hold an online open house from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 2. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

New Trump administration rules could allow more logging and roadbuilding in the nation’s forests
The U.S. Forest Service finalized a rule that bypassed the environmental review process for a plan to allow logging and roadbuilding in 2,800 acres of wilderness. Darryl Fears and Juliet Eilperin reports. (Washington Post)

Have rogue orcas really been attacking boats in the Atlantic
In the past six months there have been at least 40 reported incidents involving orcas off the coasts of Spain and Portugal. Victoria Gill reports. (BBC)

These Items in Your Home Are Harming America’s Sea Animals
A new report examines how plastic waste affects marine wildlife. Catrin Einhorn reports. (NY Times) See also: Tabulating the Victims of Plastic Pollution  Hundreds of sea turtles and marine mammals have been choked, snared, and hooked by plastic debris. Alastair Bland reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  756 AM PST Thu Nov 19 2020   
TODAY  SW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming S 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 5 ft at 9 seconds. A  chance of rain in the morning then rain in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  S wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 6 ft  at 9 seconds. Rain likely in the evening then a chance of rain  after midnight.

--
"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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11/18 Amphissa, Burnaby salmon, Puget Sound kelp, dam removal, Bezos Earth Fund, global warming, WA climate champs, Trump's ANWR, RIP Lootas, border

Wrinkled amphissa [Dave Cowles]

 
Wrinkled amphissa Amphissa columbiana
Ranges from Kodiak Island, Alaska to San Pedro, California.  Common in the Puget Sound area and the outer Northwest coast. Found on rocky to muddy beaches and subtidally on many substrates. This species is mainly a scavenger on dead flesh and dead algae, which it uses its long siphon to find. It turns and flees rapidly when it encounters the seastars Pisaster ochraceus or Leptasterias hexactis.  If several tube feet have attached to the shell, the snail dislodges the tube feet with its proboscis.  When moving, a single muscular wave moves along the snail's foot from front to back.  They climb well, and often rear up on the back of the foot to feel for new substrate. (Walla Walla University)

Burnaby streams see 'pretty decent' salmon run after years of rehabilitation
At nearly 70 years of age, Mark Angelo is still filled with delight when he sees salmon swimming up the streams in Burnaby, B.C., where he lives. "It's very, very special, and we're very lucky to live in a city where we can see things like that," said Angelo, chair and founder of World Rivers Day. The creeks suffered major damage and pollution throughout the history of urban development in the region, but salmon have been returning in recent years, along with all of the life that depends on them. Rafferty Baker reports. (CBC)

Puget Sound kelp need your help; kelp beds disappearing throughout area
An effort is underway with federal, state, and local government agencies, nonprofits, and tribes to save the Puget Sound’s kelp. The stakeholders include, among others, the Northwest Straits Commission, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, the Puget Sound Restoration Fund, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, and Marine Agronomics. The Kelp Plan seeks to track and monitor the recession of kelp, raise awareness of the problem, create kelp protection areas, restore kelp beds, and encourage people to do their part to stop the trend. Nichole Jennings writes. (My Northwest)

Plan revived for dam removal on Klamath River in Oregon, California
After months of uncertainty, plans are once again moving forward to remove four dams on the Klamath River in Southern Oregon and Northern California. The governors of both states announced a new deal Tuesday with dam owner PacifiCorp and the Karuk and Yurok tribes. It revives plans for the largest river restoration in U.S. history, which had been floundering since a problematic federal regulatory decision last summer. Jes Burns reports. (OPB) See also: The rebirth of a historic river  For over a century, one of the most important salmon runs in the United States has had to contend with historic dams – and now four of them are set to be taken down. Alexander Matthews reports. (BBC)

Bezos Earth Fund gives nearly $800 million to climate groups in first round of grants
In its first round of grants, the $10 billion Bezos Earth Fund will award $791 million to 16 environmental organizations largely focused on researching and implementing ways to reduce carbon emissions, build green jobs and restore wildlife. The funding round announced Monday was remarkably large for an organization that does not have a website and has not published a list of staff, named a director or released instructions on how to apply for grants. Five big-name environmental nonprofits — the Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund, World Resources Institute and World Wildlife Fund — each received $100 million. Those grants will fund projects that track and mitigate the effects of climate change, including by protecting and restoring mangroves, developing satellite fleets to monitor carbon dioxide and methane emissions and electrifying U.S. school buses. Katherine Khashimova Long reports. (Seattle Times)

Global Warming by the Numbers, Because This Week Is Too Much
Sometimes the human trauma of the climate crisis is too painful to recite, and this is one of those times: the busiest hurricane season ever recorded is continuing on into the late fall, with consequences so horrifying one can hardly stand to look. Bill McKibbon writes. (The New Yorker)

Advocates say election outcome means more ‘climate champions’ headed to Olympia
Climate action advocates say they’re hopeful they’ll see more success in Olympia, when lawmakers return to session. “In the Legislature, there was no net gain — no change for the partisan split of either the House or the Senate,” said Vlad Gutman-Britten, the Washington Director of Climate Solutions...But Gutman-Britten says this election provided a net gain of what he calls "climate champions" headed to Olympia. These are lawmakers they feel they can count on to join them in pushing the state for reforms to advance their agenda. He counted at least two of them, including Sen.-elect T’wina Nobles, representing South Tacoma and Pierce County. Bellamy Paithorp reports. (KNKX)

Trump Plan to Sell Arctic Oil Leases Will Face Challenges
Even if in its waning days the Trump administration succeeds in selling oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, the leases may never be issued, legal and other experts said Tuesday. The leases would face strong and likely insurmountable headwinds from two directions: the incoming Biden administration and the courts, they said. Henry Fountain and John Schwartz report. (NY Times)

Seattle Aquarium's oldest sea otter, Lootas, dies at 23
The Seattle Aquarium’s oldest sea otter, Lootas, died Sunday at age 23. She was the oldest living sea otter in a North American aquarium or zoo. Lootas came to the aquarium in 1997 after her mother was killed in a boating accident in Alaska. Aquarium staff raised her by hand but didn’t know if she’d be able to be part of the breeding program, said Traci Belting, a curator of birds and mammals for the aquarium. At that point, human-raised otters hadn’t successfully given birth to pups that had lived to adulthood. Taylor Blatchford reports. (Seattle Times)

U.S.-Canada border closure likely to be 'with us for a while'
The most recent extension of the U.S.-Canada border closure expires...November 21, but no one expects the restrictions to be lifted then. First implemented in March, the closure of the land and sea border to nonessential crossings have been extended monthly by mutual agreement between Ottawa and the Trump administration. In an interview with public radio on Tuesday, Canadian ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman declined to speculate when the border might reopen, but it won't be soon. Tom Banse reports. (NW News Network)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  250 AM PST Wed Nov 18 2020   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT   
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SW in the afternoon. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 10 ft at 11 seconds. Rain in the  morning then a chance of rain in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 10 to 20 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. SW swell 7 ft at 10 seconds. Rain  likely in the evening then a slight chance of rain after  midnight.

--
"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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11/17 Auklet, BC LNG, BC COVID, Trump's ANWR, West Ballenas Is, rising tide, Hwy 20, goat cull

Rhinoceros auklet [Tokumi/Creative Commons]

 
Rhinoceros auklet Cerorhinca monocerata
Rhinoceros auklets are actually not members of the taxonomic group of birds known as auklets—rather, they are closely related to puffins. They’re found on the open sea and coastlines of the northern Pacific Ocean, from Baja California to the Aleutian Islands in North America and in small areas of Japan, North Korea and Russia. Rhinoceros auklets are mostly pelagic, which means they live on the open ocean and return to shore only for breeding. During breeding season, they nest in colonies, digging shallow burrows into the soil or finding naturally occurring cavities along rocky shorelines. (Seattle Aquarium)

$18-billion LNG project projected to meet mid-decade start despite COVID-19 delays
The $18-billion project will liquefy natural gas from northeast B.C. in a plant at Kitimat in northwest B.C., where it will be loaded onto ships and transported to Asian markets. It is the only project that moved ahead to the construction phase among several that had been proposed in B.C. to tap into growing demand for energy in Asia and diversify from reliance on export to the U.S. The major players backing the project include Shell, Malaysian state-owned Petronas, state-owned PetroChina, Mitsubishi in Japan and South Korea’s KOGAS. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun)

COVID-19 claims 9 more lives, as B.C. announces record 1,959 new cases over the weekend
B.C. has confirmed another 1,959 cases of COVID-19 over the last three days and nine more deaths from the disease as the number of patients in hospital continues to reach record highs...The numbers reported Monday represent the largest weekend total for new cases to date. The vast majority continue to be in the Lower Mainland, with 1,361 or 69 per cent of the new cases in the Fraser Health region, and 455 or 23 per cent in Vancouver Coastal Health. People who live in those regions are currently subject to strict public health orders that include a prohibition on socializing with anyone outside of their household. Bethany Lindsay reports. (CBC)

Trump officials rush to auction off rights to Arctic National Wildlife Refuge before Biden can block it
The Trump administration on Monday called for oil companies to pick spots where they'd like to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, launching a leasing process it aims to finish just before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. Juliet Eilperin reports. (Washington Post)

BC Parks Foundation successfully raises $1.7M for purchase of West Ballenas Island
The BC Parks Foundation has officially raised enough money to purchase West Ballenas Island. Foundation CEO Andrew Day said they reached their goal of $1.7 million through community support. Located just east of Parksville in the Salish Sea, West Ballenas Island is home to rare plants, threatened species and various marine life. South Ballenas Island remains Crown land held by the Government of Canada. Mandy Moraes reports. (Parksville Qualicum Beach News)

The Rising Tide Underfoot
Changing sea levels are pushing groundwater into new and problematic places. Grace Mitchell Tada reports. (Hakai Magazine)

North Cascades Highway closes for season
Heavy snowfall has closed Highway 20 through the North Cascades for the season. The announcement was made Monday morning by the state Department of Transportation. The westside closure is at milepost 134 (Ross Dam Trailhead) and the eastside closure is at milepost 171 (Silver Star Gate), according to a news release. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Goats culled from park
Demanding terrain, hazardous air conditions from wildfire smoke and torrential rain, snow and wind impacted Olympic National Park’s ground-based mountain goat lethal-removal program. A total of 31 mountain goats were killed by 99 well-qualified volunteers organized in groups of three to six people during three rounds of operations conducted Sept. 9-19, Sept. 22-Oct. 2 and Oct. 5-16, according to the park. Ten mountain goats were removed in the first round, 18 were culled in the second round and three were removed in the final round. Michael Carman reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  254 AM PST Tue Nov 17 2020   
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON   
TODAY  E wind 25 to 35 kt becoming S 20 to 30 kt in the  afternoon. Combined seas 11 to 12 ft with a dominant period of  11 seconds building to 17 to 18 ft with a dominant period of  13 seconds in the afternoon. Rain in the morning then a chance of  rain in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  SW wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SE after midnight. Wind  waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 12 ft at 11 seconds. Rain likely in the  evening then rain after midnight.

--
"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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11/16 Cauliflower 'shroom, native history, Čibu·d, salmon boycott, carbon offsets, 'Making Waves,' haida Gwaii logging

 

Cauliflower mushroom [Wikipedia]

 Cauliflower mushroom Sparassis crisps
Found in the fall in confider forests, base often attached to the root of a tree. Edible, cut the mushroom off at the ground level, do not pull it up, Cauliflower mushrooms will fruit for several years from the same base if the base ls left in the ground. In the past the western cauliflower mushroom was called Sparissis radical.

Native history is WA history, and tribes are helping schools teach it
At Lacey’s River Ridge High School, Nisqually leaders and school faculty are giving students a chance to understand history through a Native lens. Manola Secaira reports. (Crosscut)

For a Better Way to Catch Seafood, Look to the Čibu·d h
In 2011, when then-16-year-old Larry Buzzell took part in a summer internship with Makah Fisheries Management, he knew he wanted to spend his time learning the history of his tribe’s traditional halibut hook—a millennia-old technology that has scarcely been used for a century. The first step, he decided, was to figure out how to make one. Little did he know this summer project would spark a decade of research into the ancient fishing hook—and potentially reveal a long-overlooked key to reducing by-catch in the halibut fishery. Brandon Wei reports. (Hakai Magazine)

National Salmon Boycott uses tribal art to send message to the UW
On Oct. 12, Indigenous People’s Day, a group of around 30 demonstrators came to campus to make a statement. This group was not invited by the university and, as of now, has yet to be publicly acknowledged by the school for their actions. Activists, students, families, and members of the Coast Salish tribes came together to paint an impromptu art display in the space between the Suzzalo and Allen Libraries. It depicted a massive red salmon in tribal art style, with the words “Honor Indigenous Knowledge, #block corporate salmon” written around it in bold white text. Banners also appeared at the Chief Seattle statue and over the University Bridge that same day with the same hashtag. Luke Schaefer reports. (The Daily)

The environmental policy the oilpatch wants from Ottawa ASAP
Shell Canada will plant more than 800,000 trees in the interior of British Columbia next year, a project that the company hopes will create valuable carbon offsets in the future. Shell is one of the companies pushing the federal government to create a national greenhouse gas offset program, which Ottawa announced last year with no specific timeline for when it might start. Carbon offsets allow companies and individuals to invest in environmental projects in order to balance out their own greenhouse gas emissions. Kyle Bakx reports. (CBC)

New online magazine focuses on the stories behind Puget Sound recovery efforts
“Making Waves,” https://makingwaves.psp.wa.gov/ a new online magazine from the Puget Sound Partnership, promises to bring us the stories behind the many efforts to protect and restore the Puget Sound ecosystem. Chris Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

B.C. just cut back logging limits on Haida Gwaii. But is it enough to protect these ancient, carbon-rich forests?
B.C.’s chief forester has cut back logging limits on Haida Gwaii, protecting goshawk nesting habitat and cedar for Indigenous cultural use, but critics are calling for a moratorium on harvesting some of the world’s most carbon-rich forests. The archipelago of more than 150 islands off B.C.’s northwest coast is home to ancient cedar, spruce and hemlock forests and many plants and animals not found anywhere else. Its incredible biodiversity has earned it the moniker “the Galapagos of the North.” Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

The mushroom gold rush returns to B.C. forests
With autumn in full swing and some in B.C. already settling into a cosy season indoors, others are heading to the hills and forests to reap the bounty of wild mushrooms that came in a little later than usual this fall. Matt Robinson reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  249 AM PST Mon Nov 16 2020   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING 
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM PST THIS MORNING THROUGH  LATE TONIGHT   
TODAY  SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming E 25 to 35 kt in the  afternoon. Combined seas 9 to 10 ft with a dominant period of  12 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then rain in the  afternoon. 
TONIGHT  E wind 25 to 35 kt easing to 15 to 25 kt after  midnight. Combined seas 8 to 9 ft with a dominant period of  11 seconds. Rain in the evening.

--
"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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11/13 Juniper, La Nina, bC fish farms, Clallam mining, glyphosate protest, Dave Quall, remote MPZ, exploded whale, border voting

Common juniper [Native Plants PNW]

 
Common Juniper Juniperus communis
Common Juniper lives up to its name, being the only circumpolar conifer of the northern hemisphere. It grows from near sea level in lowland bogs, in dry, open woods and on rocky slopes to subalpine ridges and alpine tundras. In the old world the berries are known for their use as the flavoring for gin. North American native used all parts of this plant for various medicinal purposes, They used the fragrant branches for rituals and in sweat lodges. The dried berries were used as beads to make necklaces and to decorate dresses by California tribes. (Dana Kelley Bressette/Native Plants PNW)

Chances for a La Niña winter in Pacific Northwest a 'sure bet,' meteorologists say
Meteorologists say they've watched the La Niña strengthen through the month of October and say it has about a 95% chance of driving our weather this winter. (KING)

B.C.'s open-net salmon farms on the way out, but replacement systems may differ by region
The federal government's plan to phase out open-net salmon farms on the B.C. coast could result in different rules for different areas of the province. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans says it is exploring the use of an "area-based management approach" to aquaculture that would take into account the cumulative impact of groups of fish farms in a certain area. (CBC)

County adopts mining laws, updates code for compliance
Clallam County has adopted new mining regulations as required by state law. The three commissioners have approved unanimously three ordinances related to mineral resources, saying they sought a balance between the need for sand and gravel mining and the need to protect the environment from its impacts...The ordinances affect nearly 300,000 acres of mineral resource lands in the county. Rob Ollikainen reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Protesters in Prince George, B.C., demand ban on controversial glyphosate herbicide
Approximately four dozen protesters — including local representatives of the B.C. Liberal and Green parties — rallied outside the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations office in Prince George, B.C., Thursday, demanding the provincial government ban the use of controversial herbicide glyphosate. The use of the chemical to kill trees considered non-harvestable by forestry companies has come under increased scrutiny as new research indicates it is having a negative impact on wildlife, and the ability to stave off forest fires. Andrew Kurjata and Tom Popyk report. (CBC)

Former state legislator Quall dies
Dave Quall, who carved out a long and sterling career as an educator, legislator and coach, died Thursday. He was 84. Quall, of Mount Vernon, served in the state House of Representatives for 18 years, where for years he chaired the Education Committee and — known for a dapper yellow jacket he’d wear when spring arrived — was dubbed “Mr. GQ” by then-Gov. Gary Locke. Quall was especially noted for his fierce dedication to education, with a 2010 House resolution noting his role in the creation of the Northwest Career and Technical Academy in Mount Vernon and the Marine Technology Center in Anacortes. Trevor Pyle reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

‘Most remote island’ creates massive marine protection zone
Tristan da Cunha, an island with 245 permanent residents, has created a marine protection zone to safeguard wildlife in an area of the South Atlantic three times the size of the United Kingdom. The government of the British overseas territory, which calls itself the most remote inhabited island on earth, said Friday that fishing and other “extractive activities” will be banned from an area of 627,247 square kilometers (242,181 square miles). Danica Kirka reports. (Associated Press)

Fifty years ago, Oregon exploded a whale in a burst that ‘blasted blubber beyond all believable bounds
On a clear November day in 1970 in Florence, Ore., state highway engineers lit 20 cases of dynamite to blow apart a 45-foot sperm whale carcass that had washed up on the beach and festered for three days. Unfortunately, the explosion did not go as planned. The engineers intended for the eight-ton carcass to be thrown into the ocean in pieces. Instead, chunks of flesh flew toward the beachside town and fell from the sky, crushing a car a quarter-mile away and raining down on a crowd who had gathered to watch the pyrotechnics. Katie Shepherd reports.(Washington Post)

The Canada-U.S. borderlands: How our closest neighbours voted
Port Angeles and Port Clinton are a match made in America. Port Angeles, in the Pacific Northwest, overlooks the Salish Sea. Thousands of miles away, Port Clinton is tucked into a corner of Lake Erie. Much of the country divides them, but they’re so much the same. Port Angeles holds an annual salmon derby. Port Clinton is the walleye capital of the world. Port Angeles named one of its main drags after a wartime president, Abraham Lincoln. Port Clinton gave the honour to another, James Madison. They both watch ferries leave their docks, whisking passengers north in the direction of Canada. And they have an uncanny knack for voting for the winning candidate in presidential elections. Port Clinton is the seat of Ohio’s Ottawa County, which had picked 13 in a row going back to Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The county stuck with Trump, same as so many bellwethers scattered across the land, ending its streak. The new title holder for Nation’s Best Bellwether is Washington’s Clallam County, where Port Angeles is the county seat and voters were last wrong in 1976, when they joined the rest of the state in voting for Gerald Ford over Jimmy Carter. Nick Taylor-Vaisey writes. (Maclean's)

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  402 AM PST Fri Nov 13 2020   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING   
TODAY  SW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming W 25 to 30 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft building to 3 to 5 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 7 ft at 9 seconds building to 9 ft at  15 seconds in the afternoon. Rain in the morning then a chance of  showers and a slight chance of tstms in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  W wind 20 to 30 kt easing to 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 13 ft at 10 seconds. A  slight chance of tstms in the evening. A chance of showers. 
SAT  SW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft building to 2 to 4 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 12 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of showers in  the morning then rain likely in the afternoon. 
SAT NIGHT  SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming S to 10 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 9 ft at 14 seconds. SUN  SW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 8 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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11/12 Shrew, big storm, green crabs, Port Angeles harbor, David Legates, Fed Reserve climate

Trowbridge's shrew [Coke & Som Smith]

Trowbridge's shrew Sorex trowbridgii
Trowbridge's shrew is found in southern British Columbia and in Washington, Oregon, and California. Trowbridge's shrew was first described in the scientific literature in 1857 by Spencer Fullerton Baird, in a report of surveys and explorations conducted to find a suitable route for a railroad from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean. The species name "trowbridgii" is a patronym to honor William Petit Trowbridge. Baird's initial record describes four specimens made available to him. The first two were provided by Trowbridge. (Wikipedia)

Major storm headed for Pacific Northwest
A major storm carrying high winds, drenching rain and heavy snow is headed for the Pacific Northwest, according to weather experts.The storm due to arrive at the end of the week will be the strongest seen in months, meteorologists with AccuWeather said Wednesday. (Associated Press)

Scientists wrap up trapping season, catching 253 invasive green crab
Washington scientists finished the first full season of European green crab trapping, leaving mid-October after trapping 253 of the invasive crab in Drayton Harbor...Drayton Harbor was labeled a hotspot for the invasive crab in fall 2019 after trapping worried scientists about the crab’s effect on the ecosystem with the Dungeness crab, oyster and clam populations. Grace McCarthy reports. (The Northern Light)

Port Angeles OKs pact for harbor cleanup
City officials have reached a legal milestone in an eight-year effort to clean up the western Port Angeles Harbor. The next step is an action plan for the cleanup itself. The City Council voted 6-0 last week to approve an amended participation agreement with other potentially liable parties, or PLPs, and an amended agreed order with the state Department of Ecology that obligates the city and its partners to prepare a draft cleanup action plan for contaminated sediments in the western harbor and lagoon near the foot of Ediz Hook. Rob Ollikainen reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Trump administration official who questions global warming will run key climate program
David Legates, a meteorologist who claims that excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is good for plants and that global warming is harmless, has been tapped to run the federal agency that oversees a major scientific report on how climate change is affecting the United States. Legates, a controversial figure who joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in September, will move to a new slot as head of the U.S. Global Change Research Program as early as Thursday, according to two people familiar with the move who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly. Andrew Freedman, Jason Samenow and Brady Dennis report. (Washington Post)

In first for Fed, U.S. central bank says climate poses stability risks
The U.S. Federal Reserve for the first time called out climate change among risks enumerated in its biannual financial stability report, and warned about the potential for abrupt changes in asset values in response to a warming planet. “Acute hazards, such as storms, floods, or wildfires, may cause investors to update their perceptions of the value of real or financial assets suddenly,” Fed Governor Lael Brainard said in comments attached to the report, released Monday. (Reuters)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  412 AM PST Thu Nov 12 2020   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON 
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH  SATURDAY MORNING   
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 4 ft  at 10 seconds. Rain likely in the morning then rain in the  afternoon. 
TONIGHT  SW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. SW swell  6 ft at 8 seconds. 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

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