4/28 Bitter cherry, baby sea stars, oil cleanup, drought, Jordan Cove LNG, BC caribou, native bees

Bitter Cherry [Native Plants PNW]

 

Bitter Cherry Prunus emarginata
As the common name suggests, the fruits of Bitter Cherry are very bitter.  The fruit is inedible to people. Bitter Cherry is found from southern British Columbia to southern California along the coast through the Cascades and Sierra Nevadas; east to the Rocky Mountains of Idaho and Montana, and in isolated communities in Wyoming, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. (Native Plants PNW)

Thousands of baby sea stars born at UW lab are sign of hope for endangered species
Just a few days shy of the first day of spring, scientists at Friday Harbor Laboratories on San Juan Island had reason to celebrate. Dozens of juvenile sea stars, no bigger than a poppy seed, had successfully metamorphosed from floating larvae to mini star — the important first step toward becoming an adult. Between now and then, these sunflower sea stars, the largest sea star species in the world, will grow up to 24 arms and a colorful body the size of a serving platter.  Michelle Ma and Kiyomi Taguchi report. (UW News)


Specialty crew from Florida joins cleanup effort at site of Nootka Sound shipwreck oil leak
A specialty team from Florida has joined the efforts to clean up and contain an oil leak from a shipwreck in B.C.'s Nootka Sound, off the coast of Vancouver Island.  The MV Schiedyk sank near Bligh Island in 1968 and has sat there ever since. When it went down, it had 35 tonnes of fuel on board.  The leak, discovered late last year, has released up to 11 litres of oil into the water each day, according to Paul Barrett, federal unified commander for the Bligh Island shipwreck response with the Canadian Coast Guard. Courtney Dickson reports. (CBC)

Drought conditions arise, may spell trouble for summer
Despite a healthy amount of snowfall in the North Cascades over the winter and some recent rain, west Skagit County and surrounding areas slid last week into the “abnormally dry” drought category. The “abnormally dry” category is the least severe of five U.S. Drought Monitor categories. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Jordan Cove on ‘pause,’ pipeline company tells court
The development of the Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas terminal [Coos Bay OR] is on pause, those behind the project told a court last week. The companies planning the export terminal and the 229-mile pipeline leading to it have been tight-lipped about the project’s future in light of recent procedural challenges, but said in a court document Thursday that development is on hold. Zack Demars reports. (The World)

New research shows continued habitat loss will drive caribou to extinction in B.C.
The endangered woodland caribou of Western Canada will be lost forever if direct action isn't taken soon, according to a new study funded in part by B.C., Alberta, and the federal government.  The study shows that caribou have lost twice as much habitat as they've gained over the past 12 years. Research shows that logging, road building, forest fires and climate change are the main factors driving the increased rate of habitat loss. (CBC)

New survey offers a glimmer of hope for declining native bee populations
The tribulations of the honeybee are well-known, even if the origins of the mysterious colony collapse disorder that wiped out hives a few years ago are not easily explained. Then came our awareness of the afflictions of the bumblebee. Of more than 40 species of this beloved creature in North America, half are said to be in decline. One of the most vexing developments is the near disappearance of the once ubiquitous rusty-patched bumblebee over the past 25 years. Adrian Higgins reports. (Washington Post)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  236 AM PDT Wed Apr 28 2021   
TODAY  E wind to 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Wind waves  1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain in the  afternoon. 
TONIGHT  NW wind to 10 kt becoming SE after midnight. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain  in the evening.

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