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.

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