2/2 Song sparrow, Pt Wells condos, farming pollution, orcas, natural gas ban, Fidalgo gravel mine, emboldened greens, Biden's climate

Song sparrow [Ryan Schain/All About Birds]

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
A rich, russet-and-gray bird with bold streaks down its white chest, the Song Sparrow is one of the most familiar North American sparrows. Don’t let the bewildering variety of regional differences this bird shows across North America deter you: it’s one of the first species you should suspect if you see a streaky sparrow in an open, shrubby, or wet area. If it perches on a low shrub, leans back, and sings a stuttering, clattering song, so much the better. (All About Birds)

Hearing examiner denies Point Wells high-rise condo proposal
A plan to build a high-rise condo development at Point Wells has once again been rejected by the Snohomish County hearing examiner, who ruled on Friday that the decade-old proposal still fails to meet legal requirements. Hearing Examiner Peter Camp gave county planning officials permission to deny the proposal “because of substantial conflicts with county code,” including buildings that would be too tall and too close to landslide hazard areas. Instead of redesigning earlier plans to comply with the code, developer BSRE Point Wells sought exceptions to the rules it would break by building some 3,000 condos on an industrial site between Puget Sound and a steep hillside near Woodway. Yet the developer failed to prove there were special circumstances that qualified the plan for those exceptions, Camp decided. Rachel Riley reports. (Everett Herald)

Settlement agreement tackles water pollution caused by farming practices
As part of a legal settlement, state officials have agreed to develop “best management practices” for agricultural operations, while encouraging Washington farmers to take actions to improve water quality in streams and bays. The agreement, which includes provisions for stream buffers, was approved by the Washington Department of Ecology and the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Signed by a judge, the agreement effectively ends a four-year lawsuit brought by Northwest Environmental Advocates, which accused the agencies of violating the federal Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. Chris Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

Killer Whales: 'Transient' Orcas Are Thriving
Killer whales that feast on seals and hunt in small packs are thriving while their widely beloved siblings are dying out. Katherine Gammon reports. (The Atlantic)

Seattle City Council passes measure to end most natural gas use in commercial buildings and some apartments
The Seattle City Council on Monday unanimously approved changes to energy codes that will further clamp down on natural gas use in new commercial and apartment buildings taller than three stories. The ordinance bans natural gas for space heating in new construction of these buildings, or for use in replacement heating systems in older buildings. It also would prohibit the use of natural gas to heat water in new hotels and large apartment buildings, and take other steps to improve energy conservation that include a greater use of more efficient electric heating and cooling systems. Hal Bernton and David Gutman report. (Seattle Times)

Opponents appeal gravel mine expansion near Anacortes
A gravel mine expansion near Lake Erie south of Anacortes has been appealed to the Skagit County Board of Commissioners. Representatives of the nonprofit Evergreen Islands will argue on Feb. 9 that Skagit County Hearing Examiner Wick Dufford was wrong to approve a permit for the expansion. Skagit County Planning and Development staff will defend their work that led to Dufford’s decision. (Associated Press)

Environmental groups are emboldened - and going after Democrats
A network of environmental groups pushed President Biden to nominate Rep. Debra Haaland, who, if confirmed, would be the first Native American to run a Cabinet level agency.  Evan Halper and Anna Phillips reports. (LA Times)

A New Day for the Climate
It remains to be seen whether Joe Biden’s sweeping climate directives can make a meaningful difference, but a critical threshold has been crossed. Elizabeth Kolbert reports. (The New Yorker)

Now, your tug weather--West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  258 AM PST Tue Feb 2 2021
TODAY  SW wind to 10 kt becoming S 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of  showers. A slight chance of tstms in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  SE wind 15 to 25 kt becoming E 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 5 ft at 12 seconds.  Showers likely and a slight chance of tstms in the evening then a  chance of showers after midnight.

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