Salish Sea News and Weather: February 2021

Friday, February 26, 2021

2/26 Retriever, BC spotted owls, Seattle sewage, shellfish farm permits, rare cardinal, newsroom union

Golden retriever [PetMD]

Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a medium-large gun dog that was bred to retrieve shot waterfowl, such as ducks and upland game birds, during hunting and shooting parties. The name "retriever" refers to the breed's ability to retrieve shot game undamaged due to their soft mouth. (Wikipedia)

‘This is something to celebrate’: B.C. defers logging in home of Canada’s last three wild spotted owls
In the absence of endangered species legislation in B.C., the provincial and federal governments have announced a new ‘nature agreement’ that includes pilot projects to protect at-risk species. It starts with logging deferrals in habitat where the existence of a pair of breeding spotted owls, thought extinct in Canada, was made public in 2020. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

Executive Constantine requests $65 million and signs emergency declaration to protect West Point Treatment Plant from power disruptions
King County Executive Dow Constantine transmitted legislation to the King County Council and signed an emergency declaration to provide West Point Treatment Plant with more reliable power in response to increasing power disruptions to the 1.45 million-square-foot facility. (King County News Release)

Scramble to re-issue permits for area shellfish farms underway following lawsuit
Shellfish farms in the state and the agencies that issue them operating permits are scrambling to complete farm-by-farm paperwork following litigation over whether a former permitting system ensured adequate protections for the marine environment...State Department of Ecology spokesperson Curt Hart said the agency has received 446 applications for shellfish farm permits and has issued public notices for decisions on about 150 of them under Clean Water Act requirements. A public notice was issued this week for one of 16 applications for shellfish growers in Skagit County. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Taylor Shellfish, Swinomish in midst of legal battle over shellfish permit
A legal battle is being waged over a national permit’s use for shellfish farming operations in Washington and whether it adequately considers the environmental impacts of those farms. Three cases brought against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for issuing Nationwide Permit 48 are now bound together in the U.S. District Court of Western Washington in Seattle...The Coalition to Protect Puget Sound Habitat, the Center for Food Safety and the Swinomish each filed lawsuits against the Army Corps over the five-year permit, which was originally issued in 2007 and re-issued in 2012 and 2017. Taylor Shellfish Farms, which has operations in Samish Bay and other areas throughout Puget Sound, has sided with the Army Corps against vacating the permit, which would impact workers and come at an economic cost to the region. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Rare bird: 'Half-male, half-female' cardinal snapped in Pennsylvania
A bird that appears to be half-female and half-male has been photographed in Pennsylvania by a birder who rushed out with his camera when he heard a friend had spotted the northern cardinal. Though not unheard of, mixed sex birds are rare. Male cardinals are bright red but females are pale brown, suggesting this specimen may be a mix of the two sexes. Retired ornithologist Jamie Hill, 69, told the BBC it was a "once-in-a-lifetime, one-in-a-million encounter". Georgina Rannard reports. (BBC)

McClatchy agrees to recognize union for journalists in four Washington state newsrooms
Journalists at four McClatchy-owned news organizations in Washington plan to form a union, and management agreed Thursday to recognize that effort. Eligible journalists at The News Tribune, The Olympian, The Bellingham Herald and the Tri-City Herald have organized as the Washington State NewsGuild. The announcement comes one day after a National Labor Relations Board ruling that the four news organizations could organize as one guild. McClatchy had argued in January at a labor hearing that it was more appropriate for the employees to organize as four separate unions. (Bellingham Herald)

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 255 AM PST Fri Feb 26 2021
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING
TODAY W wind 25 to 35 kt. Combined seas 19 to 20 ft with a dominant period of 15 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 25 to 35 kt easing to 15 to 25 kt after midnight. Combined seas 17 to 19 ft with a dominant period of 13 seconds subsiding to 15 to 16 ft with a dominant period of 12 seconds.
SAT W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 12 ft at 12 seconds subsiding to 10 ft at 12 seconds in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT SW wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 12 seconds.
SUN SW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 12 seconds.

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Thursday, February 25, 2021

2/25 Marigold, Skeena sockeye, WA bag ban, Mukilteo research station, GBHs, OR kelp, 'dark vessels'

Marigold [Kurt Steuber/WikiMedia]

Mexican marigold Tagetes erecta
The Mexican marigold or Aztec marigold is a species of the genus Tagetes native to Mexico. In Mexico, this plant is found in the wild in the states of México, Michoacán, Puebla, and Veracruz. The Aztecs gathered the wild plant as well as cultivating it for medicinal, ceremonial and decorative purposes. It is widely cultivated commercially with many cultivars in use as ornamental plants and for the cut-flower trade. (Wikipedia)

Unique Skeena sockeye populations at risk of dying out, threatening biodiversity: study
There’s an urgent need to increase the biodiversity of sockeye salmon stocks in the Skeena watershed if they are to adapt to challenges like climate change, according to a study published today in the Journal of Applied Ecology. The Skeena River, Canada’s second-largest salmon-producing watershed, enters the Pacific just south of Prince Rupert. Its tributaries include major salmon-bearing watersheds like the Bulkley, Babine and Kispiox, which support commercial, Indigenous and sport fisheries. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Narwhal/The Tyee)

Washington’s plastic bag ban on hold during COVID-19
On March 9, 2020, 33 state senators voted to pass Senate Bill 5323, making Washington the ninth state to ban single-use plastic bags. Two days later, the World Health Organization classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. Along with in-person gatherings, the statewide plastic bag ban became an early victim of the pandemic. The new law, which was scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2021, isn’t dead, supporters say, but enforcement has been indefinitely postponed. Hannah Kreig reports. (Crosscut)

Oh, crab! NOAA’s Mukilteo waterfront fish lab won’t be rebuilt
Plans were scrapped when bids came in too high for a new Mukilteo Research Station to replace the weathered two-story hovel where scientists studied climate change effects, ocean acidification and impacts on fish health. “We sought contractor bids to rebuild the facility on-site. Unfortunately, the bids greatly exceeded the funds available for the project,” Michael Milstein, a spokesperson for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said Wednesday. He would not give any bid figures. The future of the 1.1-acre federal property on Front Street is uncertain. It could possibly end up in private hands and become condos or a parking lot. Andrea Brown reports. (Everett Herald)

Pacific Great Blue Herons return to Stanley Park for 21st year
THE Pacific Great Blue Herons are nesting again in Stanley Park for the 21st consecutive year! They began returning February 18 to a colony located at the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation office on Beach Avenue. It’s one of North America’s largest urban heron colonies. (VoiceOnLine)

Can Oregon stem the loss of complex kelp ecosystems?
...Scientists suspect that if there’s less kelp, potentially there could be fewer shrimp, which could mean fewer gray whales will come here to find them. And these days there’s less kelp. In some places along the Pacific Coast, a lot less. One study shows more than 90% of a kelp forest in Northern California was depleted in 2014. Kate Kaye reports. (Jefferson Public Radio)

Canada launching $7M project to track international 'dark vessels' at sea
A new Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) project is setting its sights on the people who sail the high seas, illegally cast their nets and pull fish from the ocean near places like Ecuador's Galapagos Islands. The plan is to use satellites to detect and track so-called 'dark vessels' — ships that have switched off their location transmitters to evade authorities. Rafferty Baker reports. C
(CBC)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 258 AM PST Thu Feb 25 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON TODAY W wind 20 to 30 kt rising to 25 to 35 kt in the afternoon. Combined seas 9 to 10 ft with a dominant period of 8 seconds building to 14 to 15 ft with a dominant period of 11 seconds in the afternoon. A chance of showers.
TONIGHT W wind 25 to 35 kt. Combined seas 17 to 19 ft with a dominant period of 14 seconds. A chance of showers.

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

2/24 Goldfinch, BC fish farms, Lk Erie mine, woodstove ban, groundfish research, OR coast, Colstrip repairs

American goldfinch[WikiMedia]

American goldfinch Spinus tristis
The American goldfinch is a small North American bird in the finch family. It is migratory, ranging from mid-Alberta to North Carolina during the breeding season, and from just south of the Canada–United States border to Mexico during the winter. The only finch in its subfamily to undergo a complete molt, the American goldfinch displays sexual dichromatism: the male is a vibrant yellow in the summer and an olive color during the winter, while the female is a dull yellow-brown shade which brightens only slightly during the summer. The male displays brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate. (Wikipedia)

B.C. salmon farmers ask Ottawa for more time before closing fish farms
A report commissioned by the B.C. Salmon Farmers Association says millions of juvenile salmon and eggs will be destroyed because of a federal decision to phase out fish farms in British Columbia's Discovery Islands. The report by economics firm RIAS Inc. says more than 10.7 million young salmon and eggs will be destroyed over the course of the 18-month phase-out. The industry association says in a news release that salmon farmers operate in five-year cycles and were expecting to transfer the young fish to farms that are fallowing when they reach maturity. Amy Smart reports. (Canadian Press)

Lake Erie gravel mine expansion sent back to hearing examiner
The Skagit County Board of Commissioners agreed Tuesday that questions raised by residents west of the Lake Erie Pit regarding groundwater flow and landslide risks require further study. The three-member board voted unanimously to remand a special use permit for expanding the Fidalgo Island gravel mine back to the Skagit County hearing examiner for a closer look at potential geological hazards. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Industry fighting back against B.C. woodstove bans
The industry association for woodstove producers is fighting back against local government attempts to curb use of woodstoves as a heating source. The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association of Canada (HPBAC) recently launched a publicity campaign to “overturn the ban” in Vancouver Island’s Comox Valley area, including a website devoted to the issue. Mike Chouinard reports. (Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News)

Logging change in Puget Sound: Researchers use UW vessel logbooks to reconstruct historical groundfish populations
Researchers from the University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, UW Puget Sound Institute, NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have discovered an unconventional way to help fill in these gaps in data: using old vessel logbooks. The crews of the University of Washington’s then School of Fisheries’ research vessels R/V Oncorhynchus (1947 to 1955) and R/V Commando (1955 to 1980), both of which were skippered by Tom Oswold, took notes on all of the fish tows conducted under their watch. With funding from Washington Sea Grant, the researchers combed through more than 1,000 of these logbook entries to analyze the information regarding the groundfish species caught in each tow, including when and where the fish were caught. Then, the researchers analyzed historical logbook data from 1948 to 1977 and contemporary monitoring data to reveal longer-term trends in the local groundfish populations. The research was published in Marine Ecology Progress Series last month. Samantha Larson reports. (UW News)

How Reagan’s oil push led to the Oregon way of coastal habitat protection
They call it the Oregon Way. When environmentalists and crabbers hashed out a proposal for a new conservation area on the northern Oregon Coast, it led to a rare moment of agreement in a partisan world...And it all goes back to the Reagan era. Kate Kay reports. (Jefferson Public Radio)

Lawmakers take up fight over Colstrip repairs
A fight over repairs at Colstrip Power Plant spilled into the Montana Legislature on Tuesday, where lawmakers propose empowering the state attorney general to mandate owners pay for maintenance if not doing so means damaging the coal-fired generator. The proposal comes as owners quarrel over increasing maintenance costs. State Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick, a Great Falls Republican, accused the Colstrip owners from Washington and Oregon of avoiding repairs to run Colstrip into the ground. Fitzpatrick’s Senate Bill 266 makes such behavior a deceptive practice and empowers the state attorney general to force power plant businesses to make necessary repairs. Tom Lutey reports. (Billings Gazette)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 406 AM PST Wed Feb 24 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON
GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 9 ft at 13 seconds.
TONIGHT S wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 20 to 30 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 3 to 5 ft after midnight. W swell 8 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then rain after midnight.

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

2/23 Goldfish, BC sockeye, shellfish bed cleanup, OR sea stars, spotted owl, best beaches, Nisqually quake, wool dogs

Goldfish [Souravgg8/WikiMedia]

Goldfish Carassius auratus
The goldfish is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It is commonly kept as a pet in indoor aquariums, and is one of the most popular aquarium fish. Native to East Asia, the goldfish is a relatively small member of the carp family (which also includes the Prussian carp and the crucian carp). It was first selectively bred for color in ancient China more than 1,000 years ago, and several distinct breeds have since been developed. Goldfish breeds vary greatly in size, body shape, fin configuration, and coloration (various combinations of white, yellow, orange, red, brown, and black are known). (Wikipedia)

New research suggests 70% decline in diversity of B.C. sockeye salmon stock in past century
Scales from sockeye salmon harvested more than a century ago show the fish returning to the country's second largest watershed for salmon are 70 per cent less diverse than they were in 1913, according to a new study from Simon Fraser University's Michael Price. Price, a PhD candidate in biological sciences, first undertook genetic testing two years ago of sockeye scales that have been collected since 1912 — before the introduction of motorized fishing boats on the river — to track how the abundance of sockeye salmon in the Skeena River had changed over time. He found declines of around 70 per cent. Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

Winding down Puget Sound’s 2020 targets, as approved shellfish acreage keeps going up
In 2020, state health authorities upgraded six shellfish-growing areas in various parts of Puget Sound. Now, thanks to improved water quality, the harvest of clams and oysters can take place on these 309 acres for the first time in years, adding to an ongoing gain in harvestable acreage. While efforts to upgrade shellfish growing areas will continue into the future, these new results for 2020 represent the last time that state shellfish managers will be working toward a specific acreage goal set for the year 2020. Now, with 2020 in the rearview mirror, we can expect to see an accounting of the gains and losses during the 10-year effort to achieve 2020 “targets” — not only for shellfish but also for other Vital Signs indicators. Look for the next State of the Sound report to be issued this fall by the Puget Sound Partnership. Chris Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

Saving Oregon’s rocky coast: Checking in on the sea stars
...Research data seems to indicate that the last area long the entire North American Pacific Coast to be struck by sea star wasting disease was the region of Curry County where Cape Blanco lies. Experts are still trying to figure it all out, says Larry Basch, a research associate at the University of Oregon’s Institute of Marine Biology. “We’re far from being able to say definitively why this area seemed to act like a refuge from the disease for so long,” he says. But the data show we didn’t see any sign of sea star wasting for a very long time after the entire rest of the coast was reporting it.” Kate Kaye reports. (Jefferson Public Radio)

Biden administration will reconsider northern spotted owl forest protection rollbacks
The U.S. Interior Department is delaying and reviewing the Trump administration’s last-minute roll-back of federal protections for the imperiled northern spotted owl, which called for slashing protections from millions of acres of Northwest forests. On Jan. 15, just days before leaving office, the Trump administration published a final rule revising Endangered Species Act protections for the northern spotted owl. The rule lifted critical-habitat protections for the bird from 3.4 million acres in Oregon, Washington and California. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s had proposed a far more modest revision, seeking to remove critical habitat status from a little over 200,000 acres in 15 counties in Oregon. Monica Samayoa reports. (OPB)

Washington’s Best Beaches in Winter
Washington beaches have always conjured their own off-kilter magic: tidepools and driftwood, not sand dunes and sunburn. Which means that in winter our stretches of shore don’t lose their essential appeal, even if we do need to add an extra jacket or two. Allison Williams reports (SeattleMet)

Remembering the 6.8 Nisqually earthquake that shook Washington 20 years ago
On Feb. 28, 2001, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook western Washington causing billions of dollars in damage. (KING)

The Dogs That Grew Wool and the People Who Love Them
Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest bred little, fluffy white dogs that provided for them, both materially and spiritually. Virginia Morell writes. (Hakai Magazine)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 236 AM PST Tue Feb 23 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY W wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 12 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning. A slight chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT NW wind 15 to 25 kt becoming N 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 2 ft or less. W swell 13 ft at 13 seconds subsiding to 11 ft at 13 seconds after midnight.

Monday, February 22, 2021

2/22 Goldeneye, BC herring, Cascade Loop, BC fish farms, Ostrich Bay Cr, Gaslink pipe, Snake dams, CG ship, border closure, BC COVID rules

Barrow's goldeneye [Blair Dudeck]

Barrow's goldeneye Bucephala islandica
Barrow's goldeneye is a medium-sized sea duck of the genus Bucephala, the goldeneyes. This bird was named after Sir John Barrow. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek boukephalos, "bullheaded", from bous, "bull " and kephale, "head", a reference to the bulbous head shape of the bufflehead. (Wikipedia)

Quota for B.C.'s lone remaining herring roe fishery too high, says scientist
Quota rates for the Pacific herring fishery will remain largely unchanged this year, according to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, including another year of a 20 per cent harvest in the critical Strait of Georgia zone, B.C.'s only remaining commercial herring roe fishery. But a senior research scientist with the David Suzuki Foundation says government fishery managers should have taken a more conservative approach and cut the Strait of Georgia quota to 10 per cent. Karin Larsen reports. (CBC)

Cascade Loop gets National Scenic Byway designation
The varied landscape of the region, from the jagged peaks of the North Cascades to the pebbled beaches of Fidalgo Island, is often cited as a reason Skagit County residents love living here. The Cascade Loop, of which Highway 20 through Skagit County is a part, is now federally recognized for that beauty. On Jan. 19, the Cascade Loop was one of 34 National Scenic Byways designations approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald0

Federal plans to close fish farms stir emotions on Vancouver Island
As a commercial fisherman and salmon farmer, James Walkus says he sees the merits of both industries and he’s convinced the two can coexist. The 81-year-old Indigenous leader and entrepreneur from Port Hardy said wild salmon has provided him with a way of life for decades, but he supports the expansion of aquaculture and opposes the federal government’s decision to phase out almost 20 salmon farms on northern Vancouver Island within 18 months. Dirk Meissner reports. (Canadian Press)

Ostrich Bay Creek culvert replacement will bring traffic delays to Kitsap Way this summer
The city of Bremerton will tap into a state public works board loan to replace three culverts along Ostrich Bay Creek in the next year, starting with an aging culvert underneath Kitsap Way this summer. Ostrich Bay Creek, the city’s most polluted stream, flows from Harlow Drive underneath Kitsap Way into Ostrich Bay by Madrona Point. The culvert that carries the creek under Kitsap Way near the southbound Highway 3 exit ramp was built in 1927 and is undersized, city stormwater project manager Gunnar Fridriksson said. Christian Vosler reports. (Kitsap Sun)

A pipeline runs through it: Coastal GasLink is crossing hundreds of waterways in northern B.C.
A major B.C. pipeline will cross about 625 streams, creeks, rivers and lakes, many of them fish bearing, during construction of one of the largest private sector projects in Canadian history, according to the company building it. The $6.6-billion pipeline is designed to carry natural gas, obtained by hydraulic fracturing — also known as fracking — in northeastern B.C., to a $40-billion LNG terminal on the province's North Coast for export to Asia. Coastal GasLink says its environmental experts have devoted 43,000 hours to lessening the impact on fish and aquatic habitat along the route. Betsy Trumpener reports.(CBC)

Snake River dams proposal draws accolades, criticism
It’s a “pinch me, this is real” moment, said Amy Grondin. July through September, the Port Townsend resident fishes for salmon in the waters off Washington and Alaska. This time of year, she’s an activist for restoration of fish populations, which she said are critical to the North Olympic Peninsula’s economy. Those populations are suffering, Grondin said, as are fishermen. So when she heard Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho announce a proposal to breach all four Lower Snake River dams — infamous for blocking salmon passage — she saw a ray of hope. Diane Urbani de la Paz reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Cost of Coast Guard ship nears $1B as questions mount over federal shipbuilding plan
The federal government has quietly revealed that it plans to pay nearly $1 billion to build a new ocean research vessel for the Canadian Coast Guard whose original cost was supposed to be one-tenth that amount. The new cost estimate for the offshore oceanographic science vessel represents the latest blow to Ottawa's multibillion-dollar plan to build new ships for the Royal Canadian Navy and Coast Guard, first revealed more than a decade ago and beset by problems ever since. Lee Berthiaume reports. (Canadian Press)

Border closure reaches a year — U.S., Canada extend non-essential travel ban to March 21 (Bellingham Herald)

British Columbians worst in Canada at following COVID-19 rules all the time, new poll suggests
New poll results show a significant number of Canadians are planning to bend COVID-19 rules over spring break and that when it comes to breaking those rules year-round, British Columbians are one of the worst offenders. According to an Insights West survey of about 1,600 Canadians conducted online in early February, only 48 per cent of people claim to be following COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines all the time. In B.C., that number drops to 34 per cent — which is 14 to 22 points lower than other provinces. (CBC)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 225 AM PST Mon Feb 22 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING
TODAY W wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W swell 15 ft at 14 seconds subsiding to 13 ft at 14 seconds in the afternoon. Rain likely in the morning then a chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 13 ft at 14 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then rain likely after midnight.

Friday, February 19, 2021

2/19 White sea cuke, Skagit R dams, BC salmon monitoring, PUGET SOS, TM pipe negotiations

White sea cucumber [Mary Jo Adams]

White sea cucumber Eupentacta quinquesemita
The white sea cucumber grows to a length of about 4 inches, has spiny looking tube feet, and true to its name, it is white or cream colored. The 8 large and 2 small tentacles are actually specialized tube feet and are used for food collection. Watch for it in the middle to low intertidal zones in rock crevices, amongst mussel clumps, and on floats. It lives subtidally in water up to 180 feet deep. Several species of sea stars prey on this little sea cucumber. (Mary Jo Adams/Sound Water Stewards)

Seattle’s Skagit River dams hurt salmon, orcas and Native American culture, agencies say
Citizens of Seattle enjoy some of the most affordable electricity in the country, but the city-owned utility that generates that power is accused of harnessing cost-effective electricity on the backs of Puget Sound salmon, killer whales and the way of life for Native American tribes in the Skagit Valley, a KING 5 investigation found. (KING)

Decades of cuts to salmon monitoring leave B.C. scientists uncertain of fish populations
Less than 10 per cent of spawning habitat on B.C.’s central and north coast is being monitored by creekwalkers, the people who count salmon one by one. Critics say this leaves a critical gap in knowledge that could further imperil the species. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Legislation to Bolster Puget Sound Restoration Introduced
U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), the Co-Chairs of the Puget Sound Recovery Caucus, introduced the Promoting United Government Efforts to Save Our Sound (PUGET SOS) Act of 2021. The PUGET SOS Act would enhance the federal government’s role and investment in the Puget Sound, the nation’s largest estuary by volume and the heart of Washington state’s identity and economic engine. (Mason WebTV)

Federal talks progressing with Indigenous groups toward eventual Trans Mountain pipeline sale
Federal Department of Finance officials are taking the next step to prepare for a potential sale of the Trans Mountain pipeline to Indigenous groups, including bringing in consultants to advance talks and provide financial analysis of the project. The process began almost two years ago when then-finance minister Bill Morneau announced the federal government was launching consultations with Indigenous communities about a possible equity stake in the oil export pipeline. After preliminary discussions, the Department of Finance concluded that a form of revenue-sharing or a purchase of an equity stake in the pipeline would be Indigenous communities' "preferred" options for participating in the project, depending on the details. kyle Bakx reports. (CBC)

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 219 AM PST Fri Feb 19 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY SW wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W swell 10 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SW to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less after midnight. W swell 10 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then a slight chance of rain after midnight.
SAT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 9 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT SW wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 9 ft at 11 seconds.
SUN SW wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 10 ft at 11 seconds.

Thursday, February 18, 2021

2/18 Pygmy poacher, L125, Snake R chinook, Site C secrecy, OSU wave energy, Biden's enviro justice, go fish, Pt Wells again, big battery

Pygmy poacher [Mark Lloyd]

Pygmy poacher Odontopyxis trispinosa
The pygmy poacher is a species of poacher that is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean along the North American coast from southern Alaska to northern Mexico. This species occurs at depths of from 9 to 373 metres (30 to 1,224 ft). This species grows to a length of 9.5 centimetres (3.7 in) total length. Common but inconspicuous. (Wikipedia)

New orca baby born to southern resident L pod
A new baby has been born to the L pod family of southern resident killer whales, scientists reported. Ken Balcomb, founding director of the Center for Whale Research, confirmed the birth Wednesday. The mother is L86, and the sex of the baby, L125, is not yet known. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Warming seas could wipe out Snake River chinook by 2060, scientists predict
Snake River spring-summer chinook could be nearly extinct by 2060 and interventions are “desperately needed” to boost survival in every stage of their lives, scientists warn. The findings, published Thursday in the journal Communications Biology, modeled survival of eight populations of wild Snake River Basin spring-summer chinook during the ocean phase of their life, under various climate-warming scenarios. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Site C: Experts urge government to lift secrecy around $10-billion mega dam
Key details about the future of Site C, the province’s largest public infrastructure project and one that grows more contentious by the day, remain hidden from the public according to experts speaking at a town hall Thursday night organized by the B.C. Green party. Harry Swain, former chair of the Joint Review Panel on Site C and Roland Willson, chief of the West Moberly First Nation, say the NDP government must lift the secrecy around the mega-dam as its $10.7-billion price tag keeps ballooning. Katie DeRosa reports. (Vancouver Sun)

OSU-led wave energy project moves a step closer to construction
The federal government this week approved a lease for a wave energy test site off the Oregon Coast. An Oregon State University-led project called PacWave has worked for years to build an offshore facility to test wave energy devices. The lease from the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management moves the project one step closer to construction, which could begin as early as this summer. Bradley W. Parks reports. (OPB)

How Biden's Environmental Justice Order Might Work
For decades, government officials have too often ignored front-line communities when it comes to pollution protection and public amenities. President Biden has given three top White House officials until May 27 to figure out how to fix that. In a climate-focused executive order issued Jan. 27, Biden set a high bar for Cecilia Martinez, incoming White House Council on Environmental Quality senior director for environmental justice; Neera Tanden, Office of Management and Budget director nominee; and Gina McCarthy, White House domestic climate adviser. They were given 120 days to formulate recommendations to meet a "goal that 40% of overall benefits flow to disadvantaged communities" from "certain federal investments" in areas such as clean energy and energy efficiency, public transit, and affordable and sustainable housing. Jean Chemnick reports. (E&E News)

Gone fishin'. Western states catch lots more angling and hunting license sales during pandemic
Fishing and hunting license sales jumped in 2020 across the Pacific Northwest as more people flocked to outdoor activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Total license purchases rose even though part of last spring was crimped by stay-home orders and in some states by the suspension of non-resident permits. Tom Banse reports. (NW News Network)

Point Wells developer makes another appeal to County Council
A developer is once again arguing that the Snohomish County Hearing Examiner erred when he rejected a high-rise condominium project that for years has been a source of controversy. Late Friday afternoon, developer BSRE Point Wells asked the County Council to reverse the recent decision, saying the planning department recommended against the proposal without giving the project team “any meaningful chance to respond to any questions or concerns noted by the County.” Rachel Riley reports. (Everett Herald)

Take a trip to see waterbirds at some of the hidden gem locations across Washington on Feb. 20 when the Washington Fish & Wildlife Department, Washington Audubon, Ducks Unlimited, and the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service team up to take participants to virtual stops at several world-class birding locations. Zoom at approximately 9:55 a.m. on Feb. 20.

Seaspan Ferries to trial massive energy storage battery
Seaspan Ferries Corp. will start using state-of-the-art battery power for West Coast cargo vessels as part of a multimillion-dollar collaboration aimed at reducing emissions. The initiative, announced February 17, is part of three new projects with a total value of $12 million from Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (COS), a cross-sectoral collaboration focused on accelerating marine innovation, and its Accelerated Ocean Solutions Program stream. Jeremy Hainsworth reports. (Glacier Media)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 225 AM PST Thu Feb 18 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 15 to 25 kt becoming E 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 5 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.
TONIGHT SW wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 9 ft at 12 seconds becoming SW 7 ft at 10 seconds after midnight. Rain in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

2/17 Ancient murrelet, bird feeders, Biden's Canada, bag bans, Andrea Reid, WA fires, BC derelict boats, Anacores cleanup, sea lion songs

Ancient murrelet [Audubon]

Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus
Elegantly marked, a diving bird of the northern Pacific Coast. More agile in flight than most auks, able to take off directly from water, flocks often banking and turning in unison. Breeding behavior unusual for a seabird: Males "sing" at night from tree branches and other high perches at nesting colonies; the species regularly raises two young (most auks raise only one); it raises its young at sea, leading them away from the nest within a few days after they hatch. The name "Ancient" results from gray back, with fancied resemblance to a shawl draped across an old person's shoulders. (Audubon Field Guides)

State officials to bird lovers: Take feeders and birdbaths down to stop salmonellosis outbreak
Washington wildlife officials are urging people to take down their bird feeders, even at this coldest time of year. That’s because of an outbreak of salmonella that is infecting songbirds, especially finches and particularly pine siskins. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Biden has hit the ground running on climate and environmental justice. How will Canada respond?
Renewed U.S. focus on emissions reductions, clean energy and environmental racism offers a prime opportunity for Canada that experts say Ottawa can’t afford to ignore. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

B.C. approves single-use plastics bans in four more municipalities
The B.C. government has approved single-use plastics bans in four more communities. Surrey, Nanaimo, Rossland and Esquimalt are the latest municipalities to implement bans based on their particular needs. (Canadian Press)

The Indigenous Scientist Charting the Future of Fisheries, One Salmon at a Time
Andrea Reid has launched the Centre for Indigenous Fisheries at UBC. Marc Fawcett-Atkinson reports. (National Observer)

Bill aims to fight wildfire before 'Evergreen state turns charcoal black'
A bill that would fund new firefighters, perform planned burns and help safeguard homes from wildfires simply can no longer be delayed, the state commissioner of public lands says. Hilary Franz acknowledges that state lawmakers are already grappling with a pandemic and subsequent economic fallout. But the dangers posed by raging, out-of-control fires, whose threat hasn't been addressed in previous years, is too great. Josh Farley reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Feds fund removal of more derelict boats from waters off Vancouver Island
.... It’s been a steady clip of work for Salish Sea Industrial Services and its barge crews, divers and sub-contractors, who have removed more than 100 dead boats over the past three years from the waters around Greater Victoria and the Gulf Islands. A fresh round of funding from the federal government’s Ocean Protection Plan is allowing the company to reclaim another 24 abandoned, beached and sunken vessels. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Summary of environmental cleanups in Anacortes
Several sites in Anacortes are targeted for cleanup and/or monitoring by the state Department of Ecology as part of the Puget Sound Initiative, authorized in 2005 by the Legislature and then-Gov. Christine Gregoire to improve the health of Washington’s inland marine waters and shoreline habitat. Richard Walker reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

If you like to watch: Singing for their supper
California sea lions serenade the area outside the waterway leading to the Hiram Chittenden Locks on Tuesday. They could be craving succulent winter steelhead returning to Puget Sound. All of these sea lions are males; their mates are staying with their young in the Channel Islands off California. Greg Gilbert reports. (Seattle Times)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 240 AM PST Wed Feb 17 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING
TODAY NW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming E in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 11 ft at 12 seconds subsiding to 9 ft at 12 seconds in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft after midnight. W swell 7 ft at 12 seconds. A slight chance of rain after midnight.

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

2/16 Orange sea cuke, Simpson's plan, gray whales, whale songs, shrub-steppe, Winterwatch, SeaDoc leader

Orange sea cucumber [iNaturalist]

Orange sea cucumber Cucumaria minimata
The orange sea cucumber can be found edged between or under rocks or other shelter with its tentacles exposed and extended. It lives from the low intertidal to 225 m deep and is most abundant an common in areas with currents. Its range extends from the Aleutian Islands. to northern Mexico. The orange sea cucumber is a suspension feeder, extending its oral tentacles to catch plankton and detritus. It is preyed on by the leather sea star. (Biodiversity of the Central Coast)

Simpson's Historic Plan Includes Key Water Quality Tools
A $33 billion infrastructure plan for the Northwest developed by Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, continues to shake up the region. While the potential removal of four dams on the lower Snake River has garnered attention, other parts of the proposal are equally important for the Northwest's future. Justin Hayes, executive director of the Idaho Conservation League, said the plan includes the creation of voluntary watershed partnerships to bring together agriculture interests, communities and conservationists. "There'd be $3 billion dollars to spend across the region to help address the widespread problem of agricultural pollution getting into rivers and causing water quality problems," Hayes noted. Eric Tegethoff reports. (Public News Service)

Gray whales learn daring feeding strategy in Puget Sound: Digging for ghost shrimp at high tide
Every spring, a small group of about a dozen gray whales pauses along an epic migration from calving lagoons in Baja California to their feeding grounds in the Artic. They travel more than 170 miles off their coastal migration route, to stop off in northern Puget Sound. There, they linger from about March through May. Now scientists think they know why the Sounders, as this beloved group of regulars is known, likes to visit — and hang around. New research confirms these whales have figured out a brilliant feeding strategy. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Need to look below the sea floor? Oregon researchers say, ‘try whale song
Earthquake scientists studying a fault off Oregon’s coast have figured out a new way to map the layers of sediment and rock under the ocean floor. They did it using whale song inadvertently recorded by their instruments. Yes Burns reports. (OPB)

If you like to watch: State video highlights underappreciated, embattled Washington shrub-steppe
Driving by at 60 mph, it looks like little more than a dry blur. Washington’s eastern desert. But if you stop and look, there is a smorgasbord of life between the Cascades and Spokane: wildflowers, golden eagles, mule deer, burrowing owls, too many grasses to count and, of course, shrubs. All told, more than 200 species of birds, 30 species of mammals and numerous species of reptiles, amphibians and insects live in and depend on Washington’s shrub-steppe habitat. “When you put yourself down at the level of that landscape, you are going to see a forest, it’s just going to be a different type of forest,” Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife research scientist Michael Schroeder said in a video released by the agency this week. The 12-minute video highlights the beauty and complexity of Washington’s shrub-steppe habitat, a landscape often overlooked for the dramatic peaks and deep valleys of the Cascades. Eli Francovich reports. (Spokesman-Review)

If you like to watch: Winterwatch
Winter brings with it a whole host of magical wildlife! So we’ve compiled some of our seasonal highlights into a Winter Watchlist, to provide you with some inspiration on your daily walk. There’s something for everyone to look out for, listen to, or even smell! Whether you’re an absolute beginner or a seasoned naturalist, from the first snowdrops of the year, to drumming woodpeckers and the glue crust fungus playing tricks with sticks up above our heads. What’s on your Winter Watchlist? (BBC)

SeaDoc Society welcomes new regional director
The SeaDoc Society has hired Leigh Ann Gilmer to fill its regional director position. She began on Feb. 1 and has hit the ground running. (SeaDoc Society)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 240 AM PST Tue Feb 16 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING
TODAY NW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming W 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 14 ft at 14 seconds. A slight chance of showers in the morning.
TONIGHT NW wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 13 ft at 13 seconds.

Monday, February 15, 2021

2/15 Greenling, nutrients, mining ban, SEAL training, tire dump, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement, humpback, birders, BC anchorage, shooting wolves

White-spotted greenling [Rosie Child]

White-spotted greenling Haxagammos stellar
The white-spotted greenling can be found along shallow, sandy shorelines as well as around rocky outcrops and pilings, especially among eelgrass and other seaweed. It is more common at a depth less than 15 m, but has been recorded to 275 m. Its range extends along both coasts of the North Pacific, from northern Alaska to Oregon and from Siberia to Japan. The male white-spotted greenling will fearlessly guard its bright turquoise or mauve eggs in winter. (Biodiversity of the Central Coast)

New Sewage-Treatment Permit Would Be a Step to Curbing Nitrogen in Puget Sound
In an effort to stem the flow of excess nitrogen into Puget Sound, Washington Department of Ecology has proposed a new type of permit for some 60 sewage-treatment plants operating throughout the region. The flexible permit, called the Puget Sound Nutrient General Permit, aims to hold nitrogen releases close to or below their current levels at most of the treatment plants while offering plant operators options for how to meet those goals. It’s a temporary solution, because the long-term goal is to make significant cuts in the total amount of nitrogen going into Puget Sound. Chris Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

Judge overturns Trump’s lifting of mining ban in US West
A federal judge on Thursday overturned a Trump administration action that allowed mining and other development on 10 million acres (4 million hectares) in parts of six western states that are considered important for the survival of a struggling bird species. U.S. District Judge Lynn Winmill said the decision under Trump to cancel a prior effort to ban mining failed to fully consider how the move would affect greater sage grouse, a wide-ranging, chicken-sized bird that has seen a dramatic population drop in recent decades. Matthew Brown reports. (AP)

Washington State Parks Commission Changes Plan On Navy Usage For SEAL Training
Changes to a plan that would allow covert Navy training at certain Washington State Parks are further angering some park goers. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Illegal deep-woods tire dump near Vernon creates cleanup headache for local conservationists
Retired forester Rudi van Zwaaij has seen his share of backwoods dumping during a 38-year career. But hiking south of Vernon, B.C., in the spring of 2019, the sight of one gully left him speechless. "Not in this scale," van Zwaaij told CBC news. "You can look upstream and downstream and as far as you can see it's full of tires." Tom Popyk reports. (CBC)

Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group reflects on 30 years of salmon recovery
Even before home isolation, masks and social distancing became part of everyday life last year, a lot had changed in the past 30 years in how salmon recovery is done in the Skagit River watershed and beyond. The Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group, one of several regional nonprofits in the state tasked with salmon habitat restoration, has seen that evolution firsthand. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit valley Herald)

One Great Shot: Hungry, Hungry Humpback
A photographer captures the frenzy as tiny fish scramble to escape a feeding whale. Brian Asmussen reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Twitter Is Turning Birds Into Celebrities and Birders Against One Another
A Twitter account helped spread the word about rare birds in New York City, but publicizing their locations exposed a rift among birders...On one side are people eager to broadcast these flying visitors on social media, which they say allows birders to catch a glimpse of species they might otherwise never see. On the other are birders who believe that indiscriminately publicizing the locations of sensitive birds attracts hordes of gawkers, who can disturb the animals, and violates the serendipitous aspect of birding. Daniel E. Slotnik reports. (NY Times)

Findings from investigation into cargo ship collision worries Southern Gulf Islands residents
Findings from an investigation into how two bulk carrier vessels collided in the waters of the Southern Gulf Islands highlight the dangers of having cargo vessels anchor in the area, say local groups. (CBC)

B.C. enviro group challenges legality of shooting wolves from aircraft
The provincial government is making changes to the Wildlife Act that appear to be an attempt to circumvent legal arguments against B.C.’s wolf cull, says the lawyer representing an environmental group that lodged a lawsuit against the province’s cull. The cull involves hunting wolves from helicopters, which the province says is done by wildlife officers or “contractors who are highly skilled and trained in dealing with wildlife.” Roxanne Egan-Elliot reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 404 AM PST Mon Feb 15 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 9 ft at 16 seconds. Rain in the morning then rain likely in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt becoming NW 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 11 ft at 15 seconds building to 13 ft at 14 seconds after midnight. A chance of showers.

Friday, February 12, 2021

2/12 Northern harrier, Boldt ruling, Rayonier cleanup, Seattle schools energy, salmon eyes

Juvenile Northern Harrier
[hand-colored drawning by Tony Angell]

Tailored to the task
Tony Angell writes: "Throughout the fall and winter, the northern harrier is regular presence along the outer fields, sloughs and dikes bordering the Salish Sea. While the adults and a juvenile bird (pictured here) are attired in different plumages, they all share the distinctive stark white rump patch, sleek elongated body, and the habits of flying continuously just over the marshes. From aloft they plunge to reach deep into the thick grassy cover with their exceptionally long feet and toes to seize prey, most often meadow voles. Following these birds in the field, one soon discovers these medium-sized hawks to be acrobatic in flight as they make startling turns and twists from their flight line It's not unusual here to find harriers in company with the very diurnal short-eared owls also wintering within the same locations. The two species chase competitors like ravens and rough-legged hawks from the territory they hold in common. Find some public access to the open tidal marshes near you and discover this spectacle."

Federal Judge George Boldt issues historic ruling affirming Native American treaty fishing rights on February 12, 1974
On February 12, 1974, Federal Judge George Boldt (1903-1984) issues an historic ruling reaffirming the rights of Washington's Indian tribes to fish in accustomed places. The "Boldt Decision" allocates 50 percent of the annual catch to treaty tribes, which enrages other fishermen. At the same time Judge Boldt denies landless tribes -- among them the Samish, Snoqualmie, Steilacoom, and Duwamish -- federal recognition and treaty rights. Western Washington tribes had been assured the right to fish at "usual and accustomed grounds and stations" by Federal treaties signed in 1854 and 1855, but during the next 50 years Euro-American immigrants -- armed with larger boats, modern technology, and the regulatory muscle of the state -- gradually displaced them. The campaign to reassert Native American fishing rights began in 1964 with "fish-ins" on the Puyallup River led by Robert Satiacum (1929-1991) and Billy Frank Jr. (1931-2014), who defied Washington state attempts to regulate their fishing. (History Link)

Rayonier site cleanup plan upgraded
The Rayonier pulp mill property, zoned for multiple uses, will be cleaned of pollutants to an unrestricted-use standard with contaminants capped but remaining on the property, according to the Department of Ecology. However, cleanup of the 75-acre parcel east of downtown, owned by Rayonier Advanced Materials, could take an estimated seven to 10 years, 50 participants learned Tuesday evening during a two-hour Ecology virtual public meeting. And that timeline won’t likely start until 2023, an Ecology department head said Thursday. Paul Gottlieb reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Seattle Public Schools commits to weaning off fossil fuels over next 20 years
Nearly two years after scores of its students missed class to demand action on climate change, Washington state’s largest school district now has a 2040 deadline to run on 100% clean and renewable energy. The commitment, approved unanimously by the Seattle School Board this week, would eventually mean an end to the district’s reliance on fossil fuels to heat buildings, prepare meals and transport students. Getting there would require the district to invest in electric school buses and heating methods that use electricity instead of natural gas. District officials estimate the transition will cost more than $1 billion, with some cost-saving benefits down the road. Dahlia Bazzaz reports. (Seattle Times)

Seeing The World Through Salmon Eyes
The saying goes, “The eyes are the window to the soul.” But for fish, the eyes are the window to the stomach. As one California biologist recently learned, the eyes of Chinook salmon are like a tiny diet journal of everything it ate. But to read that journal, you have to peel back the layers of the eye, like it’s the world’s tiniest onion. (Science Friday)

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 259 AM PST Fri Feb 12 2021
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY E wind 25 to 35 kt. Combined seas 5 to 7 ft with a dominant period of 9 seconds. A slight chance of snow in the afternoon.
TONIGHT E wind 25 to 35 kt. Combined seas 6 to 8 ft with a dominant period of 11 seconds. A chance of snow in the evening then snow after midnight.
SAT E wind 25 to 35 kt easing to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Combined seas 5 to 8 ft with a dominant period of 9 seconds. A chance of snow in the morning then a chance of rain in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT E wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 8 ft at 17 seconds building to 10 ft at 17 seconds after midnight.
SUN SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming E 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W swell 10 ft at 16 seconds.

Thursday, February 11, 2021

2/11 Pickleweed, cold and snow, Shell refinery penalty, youth climate, abandoned boats

Pickleweed [Mary Jo Adams]

Pickleweed Salicornia virginica
This species can be found in salt marshes and beaches with low wave energy along the Pacific Coast of the United States and British Columbia, on the American East Coast, and also in Western Europe. It is a common and easily recognized perennial with fleshy stems, leaves reduced to scales, and tiny yellow flowers that bloom in July and August. This plant belongs to the goosefoot family. Other common names for it include saltwort, sea asparagus, and American glasswort. A similar but less common species, Salicornia maritima tends to take on a bright red hue in the fall. (Mary Jo Adams/Sound Water Stewards)

Wind chill could make it feel like –25 C outside on South Coast as Arctic air grips B.C. (CBC) Snow is coming to Seattle area: Here's updated weather forecast (Seattle Times)

Shell pays $191,000 fine for 2015 refinery incident
Shell Oil Products U.S. has paid a $191,000 fine for the release of pollutants from its Shell Puget Sound Refinery in Skagit County nearly six years ago. The fine comes through a legal settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to resolve violations of the federal Clean Air Act. During refinery maintenance on Feb. 20, 2015, several operating procedures were violated, resulting in the release of about 700 pounds of pollutants including hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl sulfide, mercaptans, pyrophoric iron and benzene over a period of about 3 1/2 hours. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley herald)

Washington state Appeals court: What to do about climate change a ‘political question,’ not for the judiciary to decide
The state Court of Appeals has rejected claims of 13 young plaintiffs that they have a constitutional right to a stable climate system “that sustains human life and liberty.” They asked the court to affirm that right, and called for an enforceable Washington plan to reduce carbon emissions. But the Washington Appeals Court ruled that the “Youth’s claims present a political question to be determined by the people and their elected representatives, not the judiciary.” Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times)

Abandoned boats in waterways are a ‘regional challenge,’ says King County Sheriff’s Office
People are abandoning their poorly cared-for boats in the Puget Sound and nearby lakes — and getting them out is difficult and expensive, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office. Cameron Sheppard reports. (Bellevue Reporters)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 251 AM PST Thu Feb 11 2021
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING
TODAY E wind 25 to 35 kt. Combined seas 4 to 6 ft with a dominant period of 14 seconds. A chance of snow in the afternoon.
TONIGHT E wind 25 to 35 kt. Combined seas 4 to 6 ft with a dominant period of 12 seconds. A slight chance of snow.

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

2/10 Sixgill shark, BC old growth, climate catch-up, anchored freighters, pit mine appeal, Thetis Cove, foot ferries

Sixgill shark [Seattle Aquarium]

Bluntnose sixgill shark Hexanchus griseus
Bluntnose sixgill sharks are members of the cowshark family. Most sharks have five gill slits, but the aptly named sixgills have six. At a mature length of about 14 feet, they are one of the top ten largest predatory sharks of the world – and they not only live in Puget Sound, they can often be found swimming directly below the Seattle Aquarium’s pier. (Seattle Aquarium)

B.C.’s old-growth forest nearly eliminated, new province-wide mapping reveals
As old-growth logging continues unabated in most unprotected areas of B.C., one conservation organization decided to spend a year creating a detailed map that shows the province’s original forests have all but disappeared under pressure from industrialization. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

We’re way behind in meeting Paris climate goals, but local research shows how to catch up
One of the first actions by President Biden after his inauguration was bringing the U.S. back into the Paris climate agreement. A new study from a researcher at the University of Washington shows people how much more we will have to do, to meet the goals in that accord. (Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Vancouver Island First Nations leaders want freighter anchorages lifted in the Salish Sea
A number of south Island First Nations have made a joint request aimed at ending the current practice of freighter anchorages in the southern Salish Sea. Cowichan Tribes Chief William Seymour, Lyackson First Nation Chief Richard Thomas, Penelakut Tribe Chief Joan Brown and Halalt First Nation Chief James Thomas, together with Cowichan-Malahat-Langford MP Alistair MacGregor are calling for immediate consultation, while pointing out several concerns. (Vancouver Island Free Daily)

Appeals hearing held for Lake Erie Pit gravel mine expansion
The Skagit County Board of Commissioners heard Tuesday from a dozen residents who live near Lake Erie Pit, a gravel mine in operation for decades and seeking to expand from 17.7 acres to 53.5 acres. Those residents reiterated concerns about unstable bluffs between the gravel mine and homes built along Sunset Lane and other roads that face Burrows Bay. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Province buys Thetis Cove property in bid to advance reconciliation with First Nations
The province has bought Thetis Cove for $13 million to support reconciliation with the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations. The 3.4-hectare undeveloped private property is next to the E & N rail corridor and adjacent to the Esquimalt reserve. Louise Dickson reports. (Times Colonist)

More Puget Sound-area foot ferries could cut travel times, new study says
A commuter traveling between Renton and the University of Washington could save nearly a half-hour in travel time by boarding a passenger-only ferry on Lake Washington instead of taking a bus, a new study of possible foot-ferry routes says. Michelle Baruchman reports. (Seattle Times)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 242 AM PST Wed Feb 10 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING
TODAY E wind 15 to 25 kt becoming 20 to 30 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft building to 3 to 5 ft in the afternoon. W swell 3 ft at 16 seconds.
TONIGHT E wind 20 to 30 kt rising to 25 to 35 kt after midnight. Combined seas 5 to 7 ft with a dominant period of 15 seconds.