11/10 Salamander, Biden's environment, Navy exercises, toxic algae, Pt Wells plan

 

Western red-backed salamander [Gary Nafis]

 Western Red-backed Salamander Plethodon vehiculum
A small, terrestrial salamander. Found Vancouver Island and adjacent areas of mainland British Columbia, Canada, south through Washington, west of the Cascade Mountains crest, and in the Coast Ranges of Oregon. An inhabitant of moist, coniferous forests. Populations are frequently found associated with talus slopes but also on forest floors where there are plenty of cover objects such as logs, bark, or rocks. (AmphibiaWeb)

9 Things the Biden Administration Could Do Quickly on the Environment
1. Rejoin the Paris Agreement; 2. Convene global leaders; 3. Reverse energy rollbacks; 4. Make climate part of coronavirus relief; 5. Sign executive orders to cut emissions; 6. Create new financial regulations; 7. Revise rules on fossil fuel production; 8. Prioritize environmental justice; 9. Restore wildlife areas. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times)

Navy Receives Approval for Exercises that Could Increase Harm to Washington Orcas
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has approved a request from the U.S. Navy to continue military exercises in Puget Sound and coastal Washington waters that could potentially harm the endangered Southern Resident orca population. The approval of the Navy's proposal will increase the potential "take" of Southern Resident orcas -- "take" means the attempted or actual harassment, hunting, capturing or killing of any marine mammal. Currently, the Navy is authorized to take up to two Southern Resident orcas per year, but the new rule will allow it to take up to 51 orcas per year until 2027. Abbie Shull reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

Toxins from harmful algal bloom shut down razor clamming on Washington beaches
A potentially record-setting season for razor clam digging in Washington has come to a screeching halt. Warm water off the coast has helped toxic algae thrive, rendering the clams unsafe to eat. Some species of algae that razor clams feed on produce domoic acid. It’s a neurotoxin that at high levels can cause brain damage in humans and other vertebrates. Tests in mid-October showed the levels of this toxin had reached unsafe levels. The clams are unaffected, but they concentrate it in their flesh. Bellamy Pailthorp reports.
(KNKX)

Point Wells plan still not up to code, county tells examine
A plan to build about 3,000 condos on a Puget Sound industrial site still falls far short of legal requirements, Snohomish County officials insisted last week as the proposal’s backers sought to defend a revised version of the years-old pitch. If constructed as developer BSRE Point Wells now envisions, parts of the high-rise community would be too tall and too close to landslide hazard areas and single-family homes surrounding the site, south of Edmonds near Woodway, county planning supervisor Ryan Countryman argued during a hearing that started on Wednesday. Rachel Riley reports. (Everett Herald)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  329 AM PST Tue Nov 10 2020   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING   
TODAY  W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 9 ft  at 12 seconds. A chance of showers. A slight chance of tstms in  the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  N wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE after midnight. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 12 seconds.

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