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.

--
"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

Follow on Twitter. 

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told