Salish Sea News and Weather: June 2021

Monday, June 28, 2021

6/28 Ghost shrimp, heat wave, BC utilities, tree cutting, pronunciation, methane rule, Mark Doumit, ecocide

Ghost shrimp [Dave Cowles]

Ghost Shrimp Neotrypaea californiensis
The bay ghost shrimp and its less common close cousin the giant ghost shrimp N. gigas and the blue mud shrimp Upogebia pugettensis are collectively called burrowing shrimp because of their remarkable adaptations to living in the relative safety of the seafloor. They can burrow arm’s length into the substrate, rivaling the great geoduck for digging deep. Unlike the geoduck, these busy burrowers are constantly moving mud, water and themselves, creating a very active environment that aerates the substrate, enhances nitrogen fixation and provides habitat for other organisms. (Washington Sea Grant)

Salish Sea News and Weather will returning to regular postings after the July Fourth weekend. It's dangerously and inconveniently hot but remember that we made it through a year and a half of a pandemic so we can make it through a few more days of heat. We learned public health lessons from the pandemic; we'll learn from this heat wave, too. Stay safe. Mike Sato.

Heat Warning Extended; Record PNW Temperatures Should Peak Monday
The heat dome shattered records across the region over the weekend, but Monday's temperatures are likely to break them all over again. Lucas Combos reports. (Patch) B.C. heat wave shatters Canadian record for highest temperature ever recorded A B.C. heat wave is shattering temperature records and meteorologists expect the weather to get even hotter over the next couple of days. Lytton, B.C., broke the record Sunday afternoon for the hottest temperature ever recorded in Canada with a measurement of 46.6 C, according to Environment Canada. Maryse Zeidler reports. (CBC)

BC’s Utilities Commission Blocks Climate Goals, Say Enviro Groups
Advocacy groups are encouraging the British Columbia government to overhaul the commission that regulates BC Hydro and other utilities so that it can better support a transition to cleaner energy and other provincial goals. With processes coming early next year that will determine energy policy for years into the future, widening the B.C. Utilities Commission’s mandate needs to happen soon, the seven groups say. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

To cut or not to cut, it could be a pricey issue in Edmonds
City leaders are closer to rolling out updated regulations that aim to better preserve tree canopy in the city. “What we’re experiencing right now is a lot of tree loss,” said Susan Paine, Edmonds City Council president. “The past practice was to take every blade of grass off of that lot so they can have maximum space.” Paine said the council is moving through phases of updates to the regulations, beginning with those for developers. Last week, city council approved an ordinance amending the tree regulations for developers, including incentives for those who retain 50% or more of the original trees on the property and a cap of $2 per square foot for fee-in-lieu payments. Isabella Breda reports. (Everett Herald)

Learn how to pronounce these Indigenous phrases
Hear from six people in B.C. who are helping to revitalize their Indigenous languages. (CBC)

Congress votes to restore regulations on climate-warming methane emissions
Both houses of Congress have taken a step toward more vigorously regulating climate-warming methane leaks from the oil and gas industry, a move supporters say is key to achieving President Biden’s ambitious climate goals. On Friday, House lawmakers voted to reverse a Trump rollback by passing resolutions under the Congressional Review Act, which gives them the ability to undo agency rules passed in the last months of the previous administration. The Senate approved the measure in April. Jeff Brady reports. (NPR)

Mark Doumit
Mark Doumit, former 19th legislative district state representative and senator and executive director of the Washington Forest Protection Association, died on June 21 at the age of 59 following a sudden heart attack. (Legacy.com)

How 165 Words Could Make Mass Environmental Destruction An International Crime
Mass environmental destruction, known as ecocide, would become an international crime similar to genocide and war crimes under a proposed new legal definition. The definition's unveiling last week by a panel of 12 lawyers from around the world marks a big first step in the global campaign's efforts to prevent future environmental disasters like the deforestation of the Amazon or actions that contribute to climate change...The draft defines ecocide as "unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts." Josie Fischels reports. (NPR)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 321 AM PDT Mon Jun 28 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE TONIGHT TODAY E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 11 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds.

"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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Friday, June 25, 2021

6/25 Spider-Man, 'dome of heat,' hot salmon, BC spending, Sea-Tac air, week in review

Spider-Man is a super hero who acquired spider-related abilities after a bite from a radioactive spider; these include clinging to surfaces, superhuman strength and agility, and detecting danger with his "spider-sense." He then builds wrist-mounted "web-shooter" devices that shoot artificial spider-webbing of his own design. (Wikipedia)

Extreme ‘dome of heat’ to descend on Metro Vancouver this weekend
‘It’s unprecedented,’ says meteorologist Armel Castellan. ‘It’s never happened this early in the season. Temperatures could be breaking all-time highs in south coast locations in June’ Kevin Griffin reports. (Vancouver Sun) Excessive Heat Warning Begins Friday Across Puget Sound Forecasters say an incoming heat wave is poised to push temperatures up into the triple digits this weekend. Lucas Combos reports. (Patch)

Hot salmon: Heat wave brings concern for Northwest water temps as memory of 2015 die-off looms
As the mercury climbs this weekend, water temperatures are also expected to increase. Warmer waters can spell bad news for salmon, especially if the temperatures stay warm for long periods of time. For salmon, temps above 68 degrees Fahrenheit can be dangerously warm. The fish will often take refuge in cooler areas, like tributaries. Courtney Flatt reports. (KNKX)

BC Spends More Subsidizing Fossil Fuels Than on Fighting Climate Change: Report
Over the past year, the BC NDP have given away $1.3 billion in fossil fuel subsidies, which is more than the $1.1 billion it pledged to fight climate change, according to a new analysis by Stand.earth. The report looks at B.C.’s “runaway” fossil fuel subsidies, which have been on the rise since the new government took over in 2018. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

Activists push back against rising air pollution from Sea-Tac Airport
Sea-Tac Airport is currently reporting more takeoffs and landings than at any time since early March 2020. That was in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when travel of all kinds took a nose dive. The airport has also been planning to boost the number of flights it handles well beyond pre-pandemic levels, a prospect that alarms activists in neighboring communities. They say the air they breathe has already polluted, their health. And they say they are already harmed by incessant overhead noise, and the global climate unraveling. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 6/25/21: Catfish Friday, saving old-growth, fireworks, BC graded, missing SRKW, Site C dam, Electron Dam, hot weather, Roberts Bank, BC LNG, Big Bar slide, hot salmon

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 314 AM PDT Fri Jun 25 2021
TODAY Light wind becoming N to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 12 seconds.
SAT E wind to 10 kt becoming SW in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 11 seconds.
SAT NIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 11 seconds.
SUN Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.

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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.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter.

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told

Thursday, June 24, 2021

6/24 Spider crab, heat wave, Roberts Bank, container ships, BC green crab, BC LNG, Big Bar salmon, golden-crowned kinglets, heronry, saving swans, Canadian bees

Spider crab

Spider crab Pugettia producta
Called spider crabs (also northern kelp crab) due to their long legs and small body although they have ten legs unlike spiders that only have eight legs. Coloring depends primarily on the type of food they’ve been eating and they are primarily nocturnal vegetarians (herbivores) whose favorite food is, no surprise, kelp! Thus if eating green-colored kelp they tend to be green. If eating red-colored kelp they tend to be red. Typically found in rocky intertidal areas, kelp beds and around structure such as pier pilings. In the fall the adults move to deeper water where they congregate, feed, and mate. Found to a depth of 240 feet. (Pier Fishing in California)

The Record Temperatures Enveloping The West Are Not Your Average Heat Wave
It might be tempting to shrug at the scorching weather across large swaths of the West. This just in: It gets hot in the summer. But this record-setting heat wave's remarkable power, size and unusually early appearance is giving meteorologists and climate experts yet more cause for concern about the routinization of extreme weather in an era of climate change. These sprawling, persistent high-pressure zones popularly called "heat domes" are relatively common in later summer months. This current system is different. Eric Westervelt reports. (NPR)

More info for the feds coming on Delta port expansion
The citizens’ group Against Port Expansion (APE) continues its push for the federal government to turn down the Port of Vancouver’s proposed Terminal 2 (T2) project at Roberts Bank. In a recent newsletter, APE stated it wanted to dispel several port-generated “myths” including the port’s assertion the proposed man-made island for the terminal would not impact the sensitive ecosystem because it would be built in deeper water, away from shores and habitats. APE said the reality, in fact, is that it will impact the ecosystem by altering tidal flows, water temperatures and salinity fluctuations, reducing the polyunsaturated fatty acids and Omega 3 in biofilm. APE also noted Environment Canada scientists stated the project’s impacts on biofilm, which is a critical food source for millions of shorebirds, “are anticipated to be high in magnitude, permanent, irreversible, and continuous”. Sandor Gyarmati repots. (Delta Optimist)

Record container traffic rumbles Whidbey Island locals as ships wait days to unload at crowded ports
They moved here for the quiet of this fjord on Puget Sound, usually so serene people sleep with their windows open, the better to hear the sounds of puffing whales. But today their homes shake with the pulsating thrum of generators, the air carries the stink of exhaust and the night sky is riven with lights, all from massive container ships, anchored just offshore. As many as four ships at a time have been moored and chugging around the clock here. One reason is yet another ripple effect from the pandemic, in the increased consumer spending on merchandise that is stressing ports across the West Coast. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Invasive European Green Crab found in Ladysmith harbour
Glenn Irivine spends a lot of time out in the Ladysmith harbour, so he’s used to seeing invasive species. But Irvine was shocked when he found a European Green Crab in the northern end of Ladysmith’s harbour. Irivine’s wife Stephanie posted the find to Facebook telling people to be on the lookout for the crabs. The Irvines reported the find to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, which Stephanie says set off a flurry of phone calls with the DFO. Cole Schisler reports. (Vancouver Island Free Daily)

BC Looks like an LNG Loser: Report
Once touted as an economic powerhouse, the liquified natural gas industry is on the rocks, according to a worldwide survey of LNG terminals from the Global Energy Monitor, a non-profit research group responding to climate change. LNG terminals are among the largest capital projects attempted in modern industry, costing up to $30 billion per project. Gas is extracted from underground deposits, piped to LNG plants where it is compressed by cooling to liquid form, loaded onto ships and transported to other markets. Zoe Yunkers reports. (The Tyee)

Work at Big Bar slide site means Fraser River salmon should have better chance this year
On the two-year anniversary of the discovery of the massive Big Bar landslide on the Fraser River, officials say they are seeing some success in remediating the devastation caused to the river's native salmon. Most notably, the widening of the man-made "nature-like fishway" to give salmon a swimmable route past the slide is expected to increase the number of fish that make it to their spawning grounds. Karin Larsen reports. (CBC)

Golden-crowned kinglets in Puget Sound have seen a steep decline since 1968
The number of golden-crowned kinglets in the Puget Sound watershed has declined by more than 91% over a 50-year period since 1968, according to data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey. The data was reported by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, which tracks the information for the Puget Sound Partnership’s terrestrial bird indicator. The indicator was established to monitor the health of Puget Sound’s species and food webs. The findings come amid widespread bird declines across North America. Overall, bird numbers across the Continent dropped by almost 30% over the last half-century, a loss of more than three billion birds that biologists in the journal Science called “staggering.” Jeff Rice reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

Skagit Land Trust looking to add to March Point heronry
In the years since a local couple donated a forested 3.5 acres on March Point to the Skagit Land Trust in 1994 to protect a great blue heron nesting site, the trust's protective reach in the area has grown to 12.2 acres and the number of nests to more than 700. The land trust now has an opportunity to add another 3.5 acres to the home of the large, primarily fish-eating birds. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

‘The Swans of Rotterdam’ video wins award
The three-minute video, ‘The Swans of Rotterdam’ by director Vincent Kruijt, was awarded first place during the virtual International Oil Spill Conference 2021.

Certain Canadian bee populations may not be declining at all, says SFU study
Some bee species in North America and Europe might not be dying out at all, a new study from Simon Fraser University claims. The research used a simulated data model to find how often bumblebees showed up in sites throughout the two continents in the period from 2000 to 2015. It found that, while there was an approximately five per cent overall reduction in the North American bee population during that time, some bee species stayed stable and some even increased. The new research is in contrast to years of studies that show consistent population declines across all species of bees due to the effects of climate change, pesticides, and other human activities. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 249 AM PDT Thu Jun 24 2021
TODAY NW wind to 10 kt rising to 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 8 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 8 seconds.

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

6/23 Spider plant, Electron Dam, Bute Inlet slide, old-growth protest, TM tree cut, humpback siblings, Site C dam, border opening

Spider plant [WikiCommons]

Spider plant Chlorophytum comosum
Spider plant is native to tropical and southern Africa, but has become naturalized in other parts of the world, including western Australia. It is easy to grow as a houseplant; variegated forms are the most popular. Propagating commonly occurs through potting the plantlets, informally referred to as 'spiderettes,' or 'pups,' directly into potting soil attached to the main plant or cutting the running stems and then potting it. Spider plants are easy to grow, being able to thrive in a wide range of conditions. (Wikipedia)

Federal court: Puyallup River dam needs permits under Endangered Species Act before it can restart
In another blow to the operators of the Electron Dam on the Puyallup River, a judge in federal District Court has barred its parent company from diverting any water to generate power until it gets permits under the Endangered Species Act. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Scientists, First Nation team up to probe massive B.C. landslide — and its impact on salmon
When the side of a B.C. mountain gave way on Nov. 28, 2020, crashing into a glacier fed lake and creating a 100-metre high tsunami, no one was around to see the destruction or hear the sound of rocks and trees tearing through the valley below. But scientists say the force, which was picked up by seismographs across North America, was the equivalent of a 4.9-magnitude earthquake. Briar Stewart reports. (CBC)

RCMP arrest 11 people at blockades against old-growth logging on Vancouver Island
271 people have been charged, with at least 10 arrested more than once. (Canadian Press)

Trans Mountain tree cutting can resume as stop-work order on pipeline route lifts
A federal regulator has lifted a stop-work order on tree cutting and grass mowing along the route of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project through Alberta and B.C. The Canada Energy Regulator says in a statement Trans Mountain has submitted a plan to correct deficiencies in the oversight of its contractors that could pose threats to nesting birds. (Canadian Press)

Rare whale siblings gathering in Salish Sea has researchers excited
Every year, hundreds of humpback whales return to the Salish Sea to feed in the abundant waters. A rare sighting this month saw three humpback siblings feeding in the same area near Port Angeles, an unusual occurrence since the species is known to separate from family early in their lives. Unlike orcas, which maintain close family bonds, humpbacks leave their mothers before they’re a year old and don’t remain close to their siblings – or so researchers thought. Megan Atkins-Baker reports. (Vancouver Island Free Daily)

Site C dam, oilsands pushing Canada’s largest national park closer to endangered list
Despite repeated calls for action from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, Canada has failed to adequately protect Wood Buffalo National Park, home to the world’s largest inland delta, from the impacts of industrial development. Judith Lavoie reports. (The Narwhal)

Pressure builds to lift travel restrictions on U.S.-Canada border
As restrictions on nonessential travel across the U.S.-Canada land border enter their 16th month this week, pressure is rising on both sides for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Joe Biden to crack it open — even a little — or to provide something, anything, about what a reopening plan might look like. Amanda Colleta reports. (Washington Post)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 234 AM PDT Wed Jun 23 2021
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

6/22 Spider lily, temperatures, missing SRKWs, Bc graded, polluting fireworks, Puget Sound humans, indigenous languages, gulls

Spider lily [Snifferdogx/WikiCommons]

Spider lily Nerine
Nerine is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. They are bulbous perennials, some evergreen, associated with rocky and arid habitats. They bear spherical umbels of lily-like flowers in shades from white through pink to crimson. In the case of deciduous species, the flowers may appear on naked stems before the leaves develop. (Wikipedia)

100-degree temperatures ‘not out of the question’ in parts of region this weekend
After touching 90-degrees on Monday, parts of the Puget Sound region will likely see temperatures in the mid to high 90s this weekend, with a chance of reaching triple-digits. Stephanie Klein reports. (My Northwest) See also: Records fall as heat wave bakes B.C. — and it's only going to get hotter, forecasters say Temperatures expected to be up to 10 C higher than normal across much of the province. (CBC)

Endangered orcas missing from their home waters for 10 weeks
Southern resident killer whales haven’t been seen in their home waters for more than two months now. Researchers think the endangered orcas have gone elsewhere in search of a decent meal. Southern resident killer whales are — or were — often found in the inland sea shared by Washington state and British Columbia. May and June used to be prime time for watching the fish-chomping predators in the San Juan Islands and other areas of the inland waters known as the Salish Sea. But in recent years, the southern residents have stayed away. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

B.C. gets a C grade in protecting land and oceans: report
B.C. may be doing some things right when it comes to protecting the environment, but not enough to receive top marks, says a new environmental report card. The province has been given a C grade for protecting land and water by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, in a report released today... B.C. received an average mark, with the report acknowledging successes such as the establishment of Dene K’eh Kusan, which covers 40,000 square-kilometres of intact forests home to caribou and bighorn sheep in the Kaska Dena territory in Northern B.C. However, it also noted the province’s failures such as its poor record of protecting old-growth forests and slow pace to secure more conservation land. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Your Fourth of July celebrations are likely polluting local air and water. Here’s how
As you enjoy watching fireworks this Fourth of July, consider the toll they’re taking on the environment, including nearby air quality, bodies of water and wildlife. Fireworks symbolize patriotism and celebration around the world, but at a basic level, they are explosives colored with heavy metals and other chemicals. Blue fireworks, for example, get their hue from copper salts, while red ones contain strontium salts. When a firework explodes, it releases smoke and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen — some of the primary gases responsible for climate change. The heavy metals in fireworks do not disappear once the show is over. They can find their way into local air, water, and soil. Ysabelle Kempe reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Puget Sound Partnership takes closer look at human well-being and environmental justice
Amid the struggle to save salmon and orcas and restore the Puget Sound ecosystem comes a renewed effort to consider not only how humans affect the environment but how the environment affects the lives of humans. The Puget Sound Partnership, which is overseeing the recovery of Puget Sound, has been developing a series of strategies to acknowledge and enhance the cultural, economic and psychological values that can come from a healthy natural environment. These new strategies, along with related actions, are to be incorporated into the 2022-26 Puget Sound Action Agenda, scheduled for adoption next year. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

Revitalizing Vancouver Island’s Indigenous languages
Many Indigenous people are in a race against time to keep the languages of their ancestors alive. In some communities in British Columbia, only a few fluent speakers remain. In some cases, those people are "silent speakers" — elders who have knowledge of the language but have not actually spoken it since they were punished for using it as children in residential schools. Now younger generations are taking up the cause. Kathryn Marlow reports. (CBC)

The Gull Next Door
Your obnoxious neighbor or just a misunderstood, displaced seabird? Sarah Keartes reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 241 AM PDT Tue Jun 22 2021
TODAY W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 5 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.

Monday, June 21, 2021

6/21 House spider, hot days, orca sightings, border travel, old growth, BC mining, Barnaby Reach restoration, Coast Salish peoples

Giant House Spider
[Ryan Hodnett/WikiCommons]

Giant House Spider Eratigena atrica
The giant house spider is commonly found in and around Washington homes west of the Cascade Mountains. Its range also includes parts of coastal Canada and Oregon. Giant house spiders prefer dark areas for web-building and are ideally adapted to life indoors. They are often found in garages or basements, as well as outdoors in firewood or in gaps between bricks or stones. They build sheets of webbing with a funnel-like hole in the center, where the spider sits waiting for prey. The giant house spider is not an extremely active climber and indoors is usually found on the floor or trapped in sinks or bathtubs where it has ventured in search of water. (WSU Pestsense)

Hottest day of 2021 (so far)
Monday is the first full day of summer and it will sure feel like it! Highs warmer than yesterday’s 81 at SeaTac by 5-6 degrees. Tim Joyce predicts. (Q13) Vancouver Weather: Hot town, summer in the city Environment Canada has issued a heat wave alert for Metro Vancouver and temperatures are expected to be five to 10 degrees above the seasonal average. Scott Brown reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Salish Sea is having ‘one of the best seasons on record’ for orca whale sightings
A group of orca whales visited Fidalgo Bay on Friday off the shore of Anacortes. Representatives of the Pacific Whale Watch Association said it’s uncommon for the whales — of the mammal-eating transient, or Biggs’, orca species — to be seen so close to Anacortes. But it’s not unheard of, particularly as the population continues to grow, unlike that of the fish-eating and endangered southern resident orcas of the region. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Canada to announce easing of some travel restrictions after passing vaccination threshold
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says the federal government will soon announce the loosening of some border measures, including changes around quarantine hotels and quarantine periods, for fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents. (Christian Paas-Lang reports. (CBC)

More than 100 celebrities, prominent Canadians ask B.C. premier to preserve remaining old-growth forest
More than 100 prominent Canadians — and a few international celebrities — have signed an open letter to British Columbia Premier John Horgan demanding he preserve the province's remaining old-growth forests. Rockers Bryan Adams, Neil Young and activist Greta Thunberg a few who signed the call to protect old-growth. Yvette Brend reports. (CBC)

Remember that big tree on the truck? Experts say it probably wasn't big enough to save under B.C. rules massive spruce trunk photographed being transported down a Vancouver Island highway last month might not have been big enough to warrant saving under B.C.'s new protections for big trees. The image of the giant section of spruce on a truck sparked international outrage, causing the Ministry of Forests to clarify that the tree had been cut down months before new regulations came into force. But experts say it only underlines the shortcomings of protection for giant, old trees. Yvette Brend reports. (CBC)

Audit of B.C.’s tailings pond regulations casts shadow on government’s ‘world class’ mining claims
B.C. positions itself as a world leader in responsible mining, but an internal review of the province’s tailings management regime, designed to avoid another Mount Polley-style disaster, sheds a disconcerting light on the work yet to be done. Judith Lavoie reports. (The Narwhal)

After at least 10 years of planning, Barnaby Reach restoration set to begin
After several years of additional studies and design work, the organizations that want to restore fish habitat in the Barnaby Reach near Rockport are ready for the work to begin. In early July, a crew will begin to remove old fish hatchery infrastructure to restore fish passage to Barnaby Slough, a horseshoe-shaped side channel of the Skagit River. The area has long been identified as important spawning and rearing habitat for salmon. Jacqueline Allison reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Coast Salish people persevered in the Puget Sound region despite settlers who took their land and forced them into unfair treaties
An edited excerpt from David B. Williams’ new book, “Homewaters: A Human and Natural History of Puget Sound,” published by University of Washington Press.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 242 AM PDT Mon Jun 21 2021
TODAY Light wind becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 8 seconds.

Friday, June 18, 2021

6/18 Evergreen huckleberry, shellfish killer, green crabs, McCormick Cr, old growth protesters, white raven, bad crabber, week in review

Evergreen huckleberry [Native Plants PNW]

Evergreen Huckleberry Vaccinium ovatum (Say)
Evergreen Huckleberry is also called California Huckleberry, Evergreen Blueberry or Box Blueberry. Ovatum refers to its oval-shaped leaves. Evergreen Huckleberry is found on the west side of the Cascade Mountains from British Columbia to California. Along the coast of California, it is common to the redwoods but sporadic further south. (Native Plants PNW)

Researchers identify shellfish-killing phytoplankton behind massive summer die-offs in Puget Sound
In July of 2018 and 2019, large numbers of oysters, cockles and clams died on beaches all around Puget Sound. No one knew why. It was a particularly bad couple of years, but summer mortality events with mass die-offs of shellfish happen regularly. They’ve been recorded by researchers in western Washington as far back as the 1930s. The source has remained a mystery. Now, scientists have pinpointed the cause: two species of toxic algae that don’t threaten people much — but can wreak havoc on the ecosystem. Beginning to figure out what’s killing so many shellfish is a breakthrough for growers and communities who live near the beaches. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Live invasive crabs that are big eaters found in this Whatcom harbor for the first time
More traps will be set for invasive European green crabs after four were found in Squalicum Harbor in June, the Port of Bellingham said. The findings marked the first time that live green crabs have been discovered in the harbor in Bellingham, according to Mike Hogan, spokesman for the Port of Bellingham. Kie Relyea reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Culvert Crackdown
Northeast of Bellingham, Washington, in quiet, open farmlands, a private road crosses over McCormick Creek, a small tributary of Squalicum Creek, surrounded by forest. Project manager Darrell Gray at the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) looks out at the tranquil scene from the bridge, admiring a job well done. Underneath his feet lie the fruits of his labor: a newly freed stream, now devoid of an impassable barrier beneath the bridge. Danny Graves reports. (The Planet)

Six more old-growth logging protesters arrested on Vancouver Island
Mounties say 244 protesters have been arrested since enforcement of the court injunction began. Mike Raptis reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Rare blue-eyed, white raven fights for survival in Vancouver Island wildlife recovery centre
A rare juvenile white raven with blue eyes found on the ground near Errington, B.C., about three weeks ago is now being treated in a local wildlife recovery centre. The starved young raven couldn't fly and needed antibiotics for infected wounds on its feet, according to caregivers. Yvette Brend reports. (CBC)

Meet the delicious purple sea creature destroying Pacific kelp forests
Hundreds of millions of brainless purple sea creatures are attacking the delicate ecosystem of the West Coast. Purple sea urchin population is up 10,000% in recent years, and they pose a serious risk to kelp forests. They’re also delicious. Francisca Benitez reports. (OPB)

B.C. man fined $7,500, slapped with 5-year ban, for illegal crabbing
A B.C. man has been fined $7,500 and slapped with a five-year fishing ban after officials found 89 crabs in his boat at White Rock's Elgin Park Marina in 2018. The possession limit for recreational crabbers is four. Laird Goddyn was found guilty of Fisheries Act violations in provincial court in Surrey last month and barred from holding tidal and non-tidal fishing licences. Karin Larsen reports. (CBC)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 6/18/21: Go Fish Day, AK roadless rule, Belfair mines, BC old growth, white-tailed ptarmigan, plankton, public lands drilling, Frognal, Juneteenth, shellfish killer

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 248 AM PDT Fri Jun 18 2021
TODAY W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 3 ft at 7 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. SW swell 2 ft at 12 seconds building to W 4 ft at 6 seconds after midnight.
SAT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.
SAT NIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming NW to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 8 seconds.
SUN Light wind becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves less than 1 ft becoming 2 ft or less in the afternoon. W swell 5 ft at 8 seconds.

Thursday, June 17, 2021

6/17 Stink bug, Fairy Cr, Frognal Estates, giant hornet, Juneteenth, Cedar R asphalt, canoe journey, Vashon shellfish

Green stink bug [Russell F. Mizzel, III]

Green Stink Bug Chinavia hilaris
The green stink bug occurs in most of eastern North America, from Quebec and New England west through southern Canada and the northern U.S. to the Pacific Coast, and southwest from Florida though California. This is the most commonly encountered stink bug species in North America. (U of Florida)

The view from Ridge Camp
Activists trying to save old-growth forest on Vancouver Island say the recent temporary moratorium on logging at Fairy Creek is not enough to force them from the treetops, where they're waging a war against an industry they say will irrevocably damage a rare ecosystem. Kieran Oudshoorn reports. (CBC)

Site prep underway at contested development near Mukilteo
Construction preparation has begun again at a controversial development site south of Mukilteo. And this time, it’s under the direction of a new developer. Lennar Northwest paid $24 million for the roughly 22 acres known as Frognal Estates, just north of Picnic Point Elementary School. The land has already been approved for 112 homes and cleared of trees, despite objections from neighbors, who have long argued the subdivision would create landslide risks on the steep and environmentally sensitive terrain. Lennar is a national homebuilder with corporate headquarters in Florida and several local subdivisions, including Spring Ridge in Bothell and Glacier View in Snohomish. Rachel Riley reports. (Everett Herald)

Asian giant hornet carcass found in Snohomish County
Scientists have confirmed an Asian giant hornet has been found in Snohomish County, about 50 miles farther south than the invasive insect has been spotted before in North America. A Marysville resident saw the male hornet, dead and desiccated, on his lawn and reported it to state agriculture officials on June 4. “There really isn’t enough information to even speculate how it got there or how long it had been there,” said Sven Spichiger with the Washington State Department of Agriculture. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Biden to sign bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday
The United States will soon have a new federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery. The House voted 415-14 on Wednesday to make Juneteenth, or June 19th, the 12th federal holiday, and President Joe Biden is scheduled to sign the bill into law on Thursday. Kevin Freking reports. (Associated Press)

Proposed asphalt plant near Cedar River sparks controversy as King County weighs permit
King County will soon decide whether to approve the permit for an asphalt plant in renton on 25 acres next to the Cedar River. David Gutman reports. (Seattle Times)

‘It’s time to bring them back’: Washington tribes’ canoe journey calls attention to loss of salmon, legacy of residential schools
Spokane and Colville tribal members began a six-day, 60-mile canoe journey from Fort Spokane to Kettle Falls to celebrate the salmon and confront the injustices of the colonial past. Ted McDermott reports. (Spokesman-Review)

Additional Vashon beaches declared pollution free and safe for shellfish harvesting
The water along the Vashon-Maury Island shoreline is getting cleaner. State officials reopened last week 116 acres of shellfish beds to harvesting along the east shoreline of Vashon and Maury islands. Tribal and non-tribal commercial harvesters can now collect shellfish from these areas and sell to restaurants, and the public can use these areas for swimming, boating, fishing and shellfishing and beachcombing with less concern for bacterial pollution. The four areas are Dolphin Point, Glen Acres, Klahanie, and Summerhurst. (Public Health Insider)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 229 AM PDT Thu Jun 17 2021
TODAY W wind to 10 kt rising to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. NW swell 3 ft at 7 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. NW swell 4 ft at 9 seconds becoming W 2 ft at 8 seconds after midnight.

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

6/16 Green crab, plankton, public lands drilling, maps, zero-emission jobs, smoke forecasts

Green crab [SeaDoc Society]

European Green Crab Carcinus maenas
The European green crab is a small shore crab whose native distribution is in the northeast Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea, ranging along coasts from northern Africa to Norway and Iceland. The crab is an effective predator, adept at opening bivalve shells, and has been blamed for harming the soft shell clam industry on the U.S. East Coast. It preys on numerous other organisms, making these crabs potential competitors for the food sources of native fish and bird species. (WA Sea Grant)

Tiny specks bring big hope that ocean is improving after the devastating ‘Blob’
...Plankton — from the Greek word meaning drifter — are the base of the marine food chain. And for the first time since a devastating marine heat wave that peaked through 2014 and 2015, researchers see in the abundance, condition and diversity of plankton recently sampled off the West Coast signs of a change for the better in ocean conditions. While it’s early days for data that is still being analyzed, Jennifer Fisher, a plankton ecologist with Oregon State University, reported seeing an abundance of plankton associated with cold water upwelling, and good fat levels and size in zooplankton, the tiny animals that feed the food web. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Federal Judge Says Biden Cannot Pause New Leases for Drilling on Public Lands
A federal judge in Louisiana has blocked the Biden administration’s suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters, in the first major legal roadblock for President Biden’s quest to cut fossil fuel pollution and conserve public lands. Judge Terry A. Doughty of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana granted a preliminary injunction Tuesday against the administration, saying that the power to pause offshore oil and gas leases “lies solely with Congress” because it was the legislative branch that originally made federal lands and waters available for leasing. Coral Davenport reports. (NY Times)

New interactive map shares Indigenous arts, language and culture throughout B.C.
Familiarizing yourself with the Indigenous culture in B.C. just became a little easier, thanks to a new map created by the First Peoples' Cultural Council. The online, interactive map divides the province up into Indigenous territories, including some areas where there is overlap, with sections featuring language, art and culture. Courtney Dickson reports. (CBC) And: The Skagit Watershed Council has just released a story map about the Skagit River watershed. It explores how our watershed is unique and how people can celebrate and protect this special place for generations to come. Please check it out and share it with your friends and neighbors!" (Holli Want/Skagit Watershed Council)

Ten Jobs for Getting to Work on a Zero Emissions Future
...The Tyee asked a dozen experts the question: what are some top jobs we can expect in a net-zero emissions economy in B.C. and by extension Cascadia?... Here are some key jobs for a net-zero carbon emissions future economy that may be around the corner. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

This new five-day smoke forecast could help protect Washingtonians' health
Washington state officials are predicting another bad wildfire season in the Northwest. The state experienced the second-driest spring since 1895. In eastern Washington, that has primed forests and grasslands for wildfires. With those fires comes a lot of smoke. This year, there's a new tool to help you get prepared, a five-day smoke forecast. Kim Malcolm and Andy Hurst report. (KUOW)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 250 AM PDT Wed Jun 16 2021
TODAY Light wind becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves less than 1 ft becoming 2 ft or less in the afternoon. W swell 3 ft at 7 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 5 seconds.

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

6/15 Green rope, Vancouver parking, Belfair gravel mine, salmon-friendly dams, summer smoke, Fairy Cr, logging old growth, white-tailed ptarmigan, bullfrog, Sara Mall Johani

Green rope [Mary Jo Adams]

Green rope Acrosiphonia sp.
The strands of several species of this green seaweed form entangled mats that resemble frayed rope. The individual strands have hooked lateral branches which hold the twisted mats together. Acrosiphonia is found attached to rocks or epiphytic on other algae in the mid to low intertidal zone, and can reach lengths over 25 cm (10 inches) long. (Jan Holmes/Sound Water Watchers)

Gas-powered sports cars, SUVs face higher street parking fees under Vancouver's anti-pollution proposal
Vancouver residents who buy gas-powered vehicles after 2023 will face street parking fees of up to $1,000 a year if the city goes forward with its Climate Emergency Parking Program. The City of Vancouver announced Monday it's now seeking public feedback on the plan until July 5. Vancouver is looking at putting two parking initiatives in place by 2022 that could cost drivers more money depending on their vehicles. If approved, the changes are expected to generate around $60 million between 2022 and 2025 that would be used for climate emergency initiatives in the city. (CBC)

Federal judge upholds decision to deny permits to expanded Belfair gravel mine
A federal judge has upheld a decision by the Mason County Hearing Examiner to overturn a surface mining permit for a 66.5-acre gravel mine in Belfair. U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Zilly ruled on June 7 that a Mason County Hearing Examiner was correct in upholding a decision by Mason County to rescind a surface-mining permit for Grump Ventures LLC for the mine being planned on a hillside above Hood Canal, about 4.5 miles from Belfair on North Shore Road. The case made its way to federal court after Russell Scott, owner of Grump Ventures LLC, appealed the decision filed by the Mason County Hearing Examiner in Thurston County Superior Court but claimed his constitutional right of due process was harmed in the permit's denial, moving the case to federal court. Jesse Darland reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Puget Sound Energy shows how salmon can prosper in a river blocked by hydroelectric dams
Stakeholders say Seattle City Light could learn from another utility, Puget Sound Energy, on how to better admit impacts for their dams and find solutions. Susannah Frame reports. (KING)

Another smoky summer could be on Washington's horizon
Record-breaking rainfall drenched Seattle and Olympia on Sunday. Even with the wet weather and snowpack in the Cascades about 40% deeper than normal for this time of year, western Washington could be in for a smoky summer from forest fires. Much of eastern Washington and most of the western United States are experiencing severe droughts, priming forests and grasslands there for wildfires. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

A future in Fairy Creek ‘that is fair, just and equitable’
The Pacheedaht, Ditidaht and Huu-ay-aht First Nations' notice last week to defer old-growth logging in their territories was the latest development in a conflict that has sparked nationwide attention Josie Kao writes. (The Narwhal)

Coastal logging needs old-growth for at least next decade, forester says
Forestry companies on the coast are dependent on old-growth logging for at least the next decade because second-growth trees aren’t yet big enough to be harvested, says the co-author of an old-growth strategic review. Registered professional forester Garry Merkel said forest companies told him and co-author Al Gorley while working on the review that they all have long-term plans to phase out dependency on old-growth in roughly 10 to 20 years. Roxanne Egan-Elliott reports. (Times Colonist)

Federal effort would list Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan as threatened species
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is proposing new protections for the Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan. If approved, the Endangered Species Act would list the birds as threatened. White-tailed ptarmigans spend their entire lifecycle on alpine mountaintops, above the tree line of the Cascades. They’re the smallest bird in the grouse family. They have feathered talons that function like snowshoes and plumage that adapts to the season. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

What sounds like a cow bellowing ‘jug-o-rum’? A critter that threatens Whatcom natives
A good-sized female American bullfrog plopped on a large dinner plate will fill that plate. She and others of her kind are hefty eaters — with a taste for smaller native frogs, waterfowl hatchlings such as mallard and wood ducks, and anything else they can fit into their big mouths...The big bullfrogs, Lithobates catesbeiana, aren’t native to the Pacific Northwest, and they are here in Whatcom County...The hope is to find the bullfrogs before they overwhelm areas of Whatcom County. Kie Relyea reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Author connects story with Wild Olympic Salmon
For Sara Mall Johani, this spring brings fresh gifts. The 75-year-old sculptor has just published a book that’s been years in the making, a paperback that spans decades inside its 28 pages: “Mine, Your, Nobody’s: My story of Wild Olympic Salmon.” A photo of a sculpture bares its teeth on the front cover: “Grandmother Salmon Digs a Redd in the River of Time” was created by Johani’s late husband, artist and poet Tom Jay. Diane Urbani de la Paz reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 240 AM PDT Tue Jun 15 2021
TODAY Light wind becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves becoming 2 ft or less in the afternoon. W swell 4 ft at 8 seconds. A chance of showers in the morning then showers likely and a slight chance of tstms in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 7 seconds. A slight chance of tstms in the evening. A chance of showers.

Monday, June 14, 2021

6/14 Greenling, Kalama methanol, AK roadless rule, Canada cruise industry, Big Beef Creek

Kelp greenling [Steve Lonhart/NOAA]

Kelp Greenling Hexagrammos decagrammus
Kelp greenling range from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska to La Jolla, California. They are rare in southern California, but common northward. They are found in rocky inshore areas and are common in kelp beds and on sand bottoms at depths up to 46 m (150 ft). Kelp greenling can grow up to 53 cm (21 in) in length, and 2.1 kg (4.6 lbs) in weight. Maximum age is 18 years old (Northern SE Alaska) and 25 years old (Oregon). (WDFW)

Company drops plan for $2.3B methanol plant in southwest Washington
A company backed by the Chinese government on Friday ended its seven-year effort to build one of the world’s largest methanol plants along the Columbia River in southwestern Washington, following a series of regulatory setbacks and a long debate over its environmental footprint. Northwest Innovation Works proposed a $2.3 billion project to take fracked natural gas from Canada and convert it into methanol, which it would then ship to China to make ingredients for plastics used in everything from iPhones to clothing to medical devices. The state Department of Ecology denied a key permit for the project in January, saying it would create too much pollution and have negative effects on the shoreline. On Friday, the company notified the Port of Kalama it was terminating its lease, saying the regulatory environment had become “unclear and unpredictable.” Gene Johnson reports. (Associated Press)

Biden officials move to reinstate Alaska roadless rule, overturning Trump policy
The Biden administration said Friday that it would “repeal or replace” a rule allowing roads and other types of development in more than half of Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, reviving 20-year-old protections President Donald Trump had stripped three months before leaving office. The move was outlined in the administration’s new regulatory agenda. The notice from the White House said the change was consistent with President Joe Biden’s Jan. 27 executive order “Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis.” The Agriculture Department expects to publish the proposed rule in August, the notice said. Julie Eilplerin reports. (Washington Post)

Canada's $4.2 billion cruise industry risks being permanently decimated by proposed U.S. law
Canada’s multi-billion dollar cruise ship industry could end up being one of the most permanent economic casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic if the U.S. follows through with a suite of new laws intended to help vessels bypass Canadian ports. This week, U.S. Senator Mike Lee introduced a bill that, among other things, would repeal a 135-year-old requirement for cruise ships to make a Canadian stopover enroute to Alaska. Tristin Hopper reports. (National Post) B.C. premier says changes to U.S. cruise ship rules remain temporary Brenna Owen reports. (Canadian Press)

Seabeck's Big Beef Creek drawing 'eagle paparazzi,' but has it become too crowded?
"Twelve o'clock!" a photographer quietly yells. A bald eagle glides silently above, heading straight for the row of tubular lenses that in unison take their aim. A stream of clicking shutters fills the air, reminiscent of the start of a presidential news conference. It's low tide at the mouth of Big Beef Creek in June, where about 50 photographers line the beach at what many believe is the premier eagle-watching spot in the United States...The sheer numbers are starting to alarm residents, who worry someone will be hit by a car while walking on the narrow causeway near the beach, or that the increased numbers of photographers and birders will harm the wildlife. The photographers say that they police themselves, knowing full well the actions of one could spark a backlash against all. Josh Farley reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 250 AM PDT Mon Jun 14 2021
TODAY NW wind to 10 kt rising to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. SW swell 3 ft at 8 seconds. A chance of showers.
TONIGHT NW wind 5 to 15 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 3 ft at 8 seconds. A chance of showers in the evening then a slight chance of showers after midnight.

Friday, June 11, 2021

6/11 Rockfish, Vancouver zero-emissions, Squamish old growth, forest protection, western drought, BPA removal, Coast Salish place names

Brown rockfish [Steve Lonhart]

Brown rockfish Sebastes auriculatus
Brown rockfish range from Prince William Sound, Alaska, to southern Baja California. They were once abundant in central and southern Puget Sound. They range in depth from shallow inshore waters to 135 m (444 ft). They are most commonly distributed above 120 m (396 ft). Brown rockfish can be found a few meters off the bottom and are common on both low and high relief areas, and occasionally within eelgrass or other vegetation. In Puget Sound, the apparent hybridization of quillback, copper and brown rockfish make species identification especially difficult. Brown rockfish can grow up to 56 cm (22 in) in length. Maximum age is at least 34 years old. (WDFW)

Vancouver Council Votes Against Delay for Climate Emergency Plan
City bylaw will require new homes built after Jan. 1 to use zero-emissions heat and hot water systems, effectively banning natural gas hookups. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

Squamish Nation calls for old-growth logging moratorium in its territory
The Squamish Nation says it has notified the B.C. government that it intends to defer old-growth logging in its territory while it develops long-term sustainability plans, following a similar request from three Vancouver Island First Nations this week. The nation says 44 per cent of old-growth forests in its 6,900-square-kilometre territory are protected while the rest remain at risk, and it does not consent to continued logging in old-growth forests that belong to the Squamish people. Brenna Owen report. (Canadian Press) See also: Arrests continue at site of old-growth logging protests on Vancouver Island (CBC)

BC Is Moving Too Slowly to Protect Northern Old Growth, Says Whistleblower
B.C.’s Forest Practices Board says it’s satisfied with the government’s response to an investigation into concerns about forestry practices in the Prince George timber supply area. But Judy Thomas, the retired provincial stewardship forester who filed the complaint that led to the investigation, says the response sidesteps the urgent need to address old-growth protection. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

Maps Show the Severe Drought Gripping California and the West
An intense drought is gripping the American West. Extreme conditions are more widespread than at any point in at least 20 years, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the government’s official drought-tracking service. And the hottest months of summer are still to come. Nadja Popovich reports. (NY Times)

Voluntary removal of BPA from food cans leaves state regulators with a key decision
As Washington state regulators contemplate a ban on the chemical BPA from food and drink cans, a manufacturers organization insists that BPA has already been removed voluntarily from nearly all food cans. Washington Department of Ecology is engaged in Phase 3 of the Safer Products for Washington program, which is evaluating five groups of chemicals known to cause health effects. Agency toxicologists are studying whether safer alternatives are practical and should be required as a matter of state law. Chris Dunagan writes. (Puget Sound Institute)

Coast Salish Place Names of the San Juan Islands
An ongoing project of a present day look at historic Coast Salish locations throughout the San Juan Islands and Strait of Georgia. Many maps add our indigenous names as an afterthought. The goal of the map below is to flip the narrative to prioritize our relationship and history with this territory that have been here since time immemorial over the contemporary names that have been normalized only relatively recently by today’s broader society. This map helps to breathe life and acknowledgement into our place names as each person interacts with the audio links and locations. (Samish Indian Nation)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 6/11/21: Skagit dams, bird names, Pebble Mine, CO2, border opening, salmon catch, Electron dam, owning TM pipe, Keystone XL, Fairy Cr old growth, wetland protection, gas hookups, drought map, place names

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 256 AM PDT Fri Jun 11 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. SW swell 6 ft at 8 seconds. Rain.
TONIGHT E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 6 ft at 10 seconds. Rain likely in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.
SAT SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. SW swell 4 ft at 9 seconds. Rain in the morning then rain likely in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. W swell 5 ft at 10 seconds.
SUN SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming E to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.

Thursday, June 10, 2021

6/10 Beach pea, Keystone XL, Fairy Cr old growth, gray whales, Nootka Sound shipwreck, Biden's wetlands, oceans 5

Beach pea [Mary Jo Adams]

Beach pea Lathyrus japonicus
The beach pea, a member of the legume or pea family, can be found among drift logs and other sandy areas of the backshore along the American West Coast from Alaska to California. It is also present along the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Coast of the U.S., and in Chile, and Japan. In the Pacific Northwest it is a native species and flowers from May until September. Other common names for this species are sea pea and sand pea. (Mary Jo Adams/Sound Water Stewards)

Keystone XL pipeline developer pulls plug on controversial project
The firm behind the Keystone XL pipeline officially scrapped the project on Wednesday, months after President Biden revoked a cross-border permit for the controversial pipeline and more than a decade after political wrangling over its fate began. The pipeline, which would have stretched from Alberta’s boreal forests to the refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast, became the center of a broader controversy over climate change, pipeline safety, eminent domain and jobs. Those same concerns have spawned similar battles to stop pipelines in states including Montana, Minnesota and Virginia, part of an effort to keep fossil fuels in the ground. Brady Dennis Steven Mufson report. (Washington Post)

B.C. agrees to defer old-growth logging for 2 years in Fairy Creek and central Walbran areas
British Columbia has approved the request of three First Nations that want old-growth logging deferred for two years in part of their territories, including at the site of ongoing protests and arrests. Premier John Horgan said Wednesday the province has taken a transformative step in forestry and respecting the nations' land-management rights is part of its commitment to align policies with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The move is also in keeping with the government's adoption last September of recommendations of an independent panel, starting with the deferral of nearly 200,000 hectares of old-growth forests. Camille Bains reports. (Canadian Press)

A Group Of Gray Whales Survives Die-Off With An Annual Detour To Puget Sound
..Every spring, gray whales migrate up the West Coast, on an epic 6,000-mile trip from their breeding grounds in Mexico to the Alaskan Arctic, where they feed. After decades of conservation, the species came back from the brink of extinction caused by commercial hunting. Scientists are now monitoring what they call an unusual mortality event that's been reducing their population again. But, a small group is surviving the die-off by taking an annual detour into Puget Sound. Researches call this group the Sounders. Normally, gray whales wait till they get to the Arctic to eat. They feed on tiny crustaceans, all summer long. But for about 30 years now, researchers have observed this small group in North Puget Sound every spring, feeding on ghost shrimp that burrow beneath the sand. The Sounders are made up of a core group of about 12 known individuals. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Feds sign $5.7M deal to pump out Nootka Sound shipwreck
The federal government has signed an emergency contract worth $5.7 million to pump bunker oil and mixed fuels from a sunken wreck in Nootka Sound. The 483-foot MV Schiedyk cargo ship went down on Jan. 3, 1968 after striking a submerged ledge off Bligh Island, and rests about 350 feet below the surface. It has been leaking fuel and fouling areas of the Zuciarte Channel since last fall. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Biden pushes protection for more streams and wetlands, targeting a major Trump rollback
The Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers said in a joint statement they had determined that the Trump administration’s rollback is “leading to significant environmental degradation.” The change could have broad implications for farming, real estate development and other activities, the latest salvo in a decades-long battle. Dino Grandoni reports. (Washington Post)

How many oceans are there on Earth? National Geographic now says five.
For the first time in the more than 100 years that the National Geographic Society has mapped the world’s oceans, it will recognize five of them. The organization announced this week that it will recognize the Southern Ocean, a body of water that encircles Antarctica, as the world’s fifth. Paulina Firozi reports. (Washington Post)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 310 AM PDT Thu Jun 10 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 8 seconds. A slight chance of rain.
TONIGHT NW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. N swell 2 ft at 7 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.