12/11 GBH, sea stars, Skagit dams, Electron dam, WA bag ban, BC indigenous CG, Van Is old growth

Great Blue Heron [Alan Fritzverg]

 
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Widespread and familiar (though often called "crane"), the largest heron in North America. Often seen standing silently along inland rivers or lakeshores, or flying high overhead, with slow wingbeats, its head hunched back onto its shoulders. Highly adaptable, it thrives around all kinds of waters from subtropical mangrove swamps to desert rivers to the coastline of southern Alaska. With its variable diet it is able to spend the winter farther north than most herons, even in areas where most waters freeze. (Audubon)

Sunflower sea stars declared critically endangered on West Coast
One of the largest sea star species in the world has been listed as critically endangered on Thursday after a global study shows the species population has been decimated by a marine epidemic. The sunflower sea star, once abundant in marine waters from Alaska to Baja California in Mexico, is on the brink of extinction along the West Coast waters in the United States after a marine wildlife epidemic event referred to as the sea star wasting syndrome began in 2013...Oregon State University, along with The Nature Conservancy and dozens of conservation groups, led a groundbreaking study that found 90.6% of the species population has been wiped out and estimated as many as 5.75 billion animals died from the disease since the die-off began. This has led the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to list the sunflower sea star (Pycnopodia helianthoides) as critically endangered. Monica Samayoa reports. (OPB) See also: Sunflower Stars Now Critically Endangered  Though sunflower star numbers have plummeted, scientists are holding out hope for these once-common denizens of the Pacific. (Hakai Institute)

Seattle City Light agrees to fish passage studies for dam relicensing
In response to requests from tribal, federal, state and local representatives, Seattle City Light will conduct some fish passage studies as part of the relicensing process for its Skagit River Hydroelectric Project. The city utility filed an updated proposed study plan this week with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and Seattle City Light Skagit License Manager Andrew Bearlin discussed the new document and next steps Wednesday with the Skagit Watershed Council. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier backs takedown of Electron Dam on Puyallup River
U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, D-8th Congressional District, has added her voice to the chorus calling for removal of the Electron Hydroelectric Project on the Puyallup River, saying the dam’s cost to salmon is not worth it. The dam, owned by Electron Hyrdo LLC, a division of Tollhouse Energy LLC of Bellingham, is more than 100 years old. It provides no irrigation, flood control or energy benefits and is a known killer of protected fish, including chinook salmon and bull trout. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Statewide plastic-bag ban faces likely delay due to COVID-19, supply-chain issues
A statewide ban on single-use plastic bags is supposed to take effect on Jan. 1. But proponents are asking for a six-month delay. In a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee, they cite supply-chain issues and health concerns related to COVID-19. Seven groups who supported the law have signed on to the request. Restaurants say that going ahead with the ban would be an additional burden, when they're figuring out how to remain in business doing mostly take-out orders. And grocery stores say they’ve had trouble getting enough of the thicker plastic and paper bags they would need under the new law. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

How Canada’s first Indigenous coast guard program is already saving lives
The Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary is translating First Nations’ intimate knowledge of B.C.'s sometimes wild and unpredictable west coast into improved marine emergency response. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

In photos: see old-growth go from stand to stump on B.C.’s Vancouver Island
Between April and November, a grove of ancient trees was felled in the Caycuse watershed on Ditidaht Territory, pointing to the breakneck pace of clearcut logging across the province. Carol Linnitt reports. (The Narwhal)

Pine Siskin
Rick from the Skagit writes in response to yesterday's critter profile of pine siskin: "Pine siskins are, shall we say, naive?  So many times I've been watching mixed flocks at the feeder when a sharp-shinned hawk or other danger appears.  All the other birds take off, leaving the pine siskins looking around, saying, where'd everybody go? Once I was sitting in the kitchen of my old house, half-listening my then-espoused prattle on about something trivial and staring out the window.  This is what I saw, in the course of about 4 seconds: Pine siskin takes off from hawthorne tree; Sharpie swoops down and grabs it in mid-air; Three crows swoop down on sharpie and its prize; Sharpie drops siskin in street; Crow lands and swallows pine siskin whole. Bang, bang, bang.  Couldn't believe what I was seeing, and wanted an instant replay."

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  252 AM PST Fri Dec 11 2020   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PST THIS MORNING   
TODAY  SW wind to 10 kt becoming N in the afternoon. Wind waves  1 ft. W swell 9 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain. 
TONIGHT  E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 8 ft  at 11 seconds. 
SAT  E wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SE 15 to 25 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft building to 3 to 5 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 5 ft at 10 seconds. 
SAT NIGHT  E wind 20 to 30 kt. Wind waves 6 to 8 ft. W swell  5 ft at 11 seconds. 
SUN  E wind 15 to 25 kt becoming SE to 10 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 3 to 5 ft subsiding to 1 to 2 ft in the afternoon. SW  swell 9 ft at 14 seconds building to 13 ft at 14 seconds in the  afternoon.

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"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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