Salish Sea News and Weather: July 2021

Friday, July 30, 2021

7/30 Saw-whet owl, Lummi totem pole, Cherry Pt, Hood Canal steelhead, AK sockeye, plastic reycling, minke whales, BC mining, week in review

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Northern Saw-whet Owl
[Gregg Thompson/BirdWeb]

Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus
Named for the resemblance of one of their calls to the sound of saw teeth being sharpened, Northern Saw-whet Owls are small, chestnut-brown owls with prominent white markings on the folded wings and brown-and-white striped chests and bellies. They have no ear-tufts. Their eyes are yellow, and their white eyebrows connect in a 'Y' over their beaks. Throats are white. Fledglings are solid brown above with light buffy bellies and a well-defined white triangle on their foreheads. (BirdWeb)

Lummi Nation totem pole arrives in D.C. after journey to sacred lands across U.S.
A 25-foot totem pole, intricately hand-carved and painted by Native Americans, arrived in the nation’s capital Wednesday afternoon after a two-week cross-country journey from Washington state, as part of a campaign to protect sacred tribal lands. Dana Hedgpeth reports. (Washington Post)

Years in the making, amendments ban new fossil-fuel industries, new shipping terminals at Cherry Point
No new oil, natural gas or coal-based industries will be allowed at Cherry Point west of Ferndale under Whatcom County’s latest — and groundbreaking — Comprehensive Plan amendments, following a unanimous vote by the county council. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Salish Current)

if you like to watch: Hood Canal native steelhead
Live feed from a steelhead rearing pond at a conservation hatchery on Hood Canal. These steelhead (or rainbow trout, the freshwater variant of the same species) are part of an innovative conservation program that Long Live the Kings manages to support the recovery of Hood Canal’s native steelhead. Hatched from wild-spawned eggs, they are being raised here to help give natural populations a boost. When they are mature, they are released to spawn in the rivers and migrate to sea.

As sockeye runs struggle elsewhere in North America, a record run in Alaska’s Bristol Bay
Amid a fierce June storm that whipped up 8-foot waves, Robin Samuelsen told his four young crew members to let out the gillnets behind his 32-foot boat in the Nushagak district of Bristol Bay...In the weeks that followed, storms often returned to make fishing miserable, and at times dangerous. Through it all, the salmon kept surging back from their ocean feeding grounds in what — by this week — developed into a record return of more than 65.5 million sockeye to the Bristol Bay region. Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times)

Steveston recycling plant aims to transform plastic ocean debris into useful products
A new plastic-processing plant that opened Wednesday in Steveston aims to turn plastic found in B.C.'s oceans into useful products...The new specialized recycling facility, operated by the Ocean Legacy Foundation, transforms the material into pellets that can be used to create new plastic products. Brittany Roffel reports. (CBC)

Solitary minke whales lurk in the waters of Puget Sound
A resident population of minke whales is catching the attention of scientists who want to learn if the elusive mammals are found here year-round. While small compared to their cousin the blue whale, minkes are still among the largest creatures in the Salish Sea. Eric Wagner reports. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine)

How a fight against a Vancouver Island rock quarry became a battle to modernize B.C.’s mining laws
Residents of the Highlands, just outside Victoria, were told that according to the Mines Act the climate impacts of a hotly contested aggregate mine were irrelevant to the project’s approval — catalyzing a campaign for new mining rules that is now being brought to Canada’s Supreme Court. Braela Kwan reports. (The Narwhal)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 7/30/21: Friendship Friday, BC rainforest, Biden's enviro justice, Big Bar, heat-stressed salmon, PCB suit, J-Pod, Cherry Pt, Lummi totem pole

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 255 AM PDT Fri Jul 30 2021
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 1 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 1 ft at 9 seconds building to 3 ft at 10 seconds after midnight.
SAT 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 3 ft at 10 seconds becoming SW 2 ft at 12 seconds in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 2 ft or less after midnight. W swell 2 ft at 11 seconds.
SUN W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 2 ft at 9 seconds.

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Thursday, July 29, 2021

7/29 Pygmy owl, J-pod, AK quake, PCB suit, heated salmon, island water, wildfire smoke, BC logging, Fairy Cr protest

Northern Pygmy-Owl [Gregg Thompson/BirdWeb]

Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma
The Northern Pygmy-Owl is a small, long-tailed owl, with yellow eyes and feet. It has only small and inconspicuous ear-tufts, which are seldom seen in the field. Its plumage is reddish-brown spotted with white. Like all members of its genus, it has false eye-spots, black outlined in white, on the back of its neck. Its belly is white, with dark streaks. It usually perches in a diagonal rather than upright position. (BirdWeb) Tony Angell suggests that "the Northern pygmy...is not a reddish-brown (the ferruginous pygmy owl is but is from the western border states and into Mexico), but rather a coffee or dark brown with cream and beige colored spotting."

J-Pod returns to Salish Sea after 'unprecedented' 108-day absence
J-Pod is back in town. The group of endangered southern resident killer whales was spotted Tuesday near Sooke travelling eastbound on inland waters toward Victoria, according to Dustin De Gagne, supervisor of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Whale Protection Unit. No official count was available, but it’s believed all 24 members of the pod are together, J-Pod hasn’t been seen in the Salish Sea since April 10, an “unprecedented” stretch of 108 days. Darren Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

No tsunami threat to B.C. after powerful earthquake shakes Alaska
A powerful earthquake that struck just off Alaska's southern coast caused prolonged shaking and prompted tsunami warnings that sent people scrambling for shelters. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake measured magnitude 8.2 and hit 91 kilometres east southeast of Perryville, Alaska, at about 8:15 p.m. PT Wednesday. It struck about 46 kilometres below the surface of the ocean, according to USGS. (Associated Press)

Monsanto Hit With $185M Verdict Over Teachers’ PCB-Related Brain Damage
A Washington state court jury sacked Bayer AG’s Monsanto unit with a $185 million verdict on Tuesday in a lawsuit filed by teachers exposed to toxic chemicals in a dilapidated school, including an award of punitive damages resulting from the application of Missouri law. Tuesday’s verdict ends a long-running trial that began in early June over claims by three teachers who allege they suffered neurological injuries due to exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs...PCB’s are long-lasting chemicals used in a variety of industrial products, and the teachers claim their exposure occurred via PCBs in fluorescent lighting from the 1960’s and building caulk in the Sky Valley Education Center in Monroe, Washington. David Seigel reports. (Courtroom View Network)

Underwater video shows heat-stressed salmon, but it could have been worse
June’s heat wave led to some unhealthy hot water for salmon. But, fish managers said it hasn’t been as devastating for salmon runs as the warm water temperatures were in 2015. Underwater video from a Columbia River tributary in south-central Washington shows sockeye salmon infected with fungus caused by heat stress. They’re hiding out in the cooler waters of the Little White Salmon River, far from their spawning grounds. Courtney Flatt reports. (OPB)

Have enough water? San Juan prepares to find out, with USGS study
Lopez Island aquifers logged some of the highest recharge rates in the county when water supply was last studied. A new study next year will provide important data for managing supply as well as planning for the future as the population continues to grow. Heather Spaulding reports. (Salish Current) Water supply on Guemes: an island paradise faces challenges More people and rising sea levels mean continuously increasing freshwater challenges on Guemes Island, compelling action on the part of individuals — and possibly government — to ensure enough water supply to meet demand. Elisa Claassen reports. (Salish Current) Is there enough water to go around an island? Welcome to Water Watchers, a deep dive into the precious resource of fresh water on Lummi Island. This is a series of articles and resources to help us all appreciate and manage our access to safe drinking water. (Welcome to Lummi Island)

Wildfire Smoke in the San Juans
Apart from a major earthquake on the Cascadia Fault, wildfire is arguably the greatest threat to property and lives in the San Juan Islands. Fortunately, fires of serious magnitude have been limited in our islands, and with an increasing focus on wise fire-prevention practices there is reason to hope this will continue to be the case. But wildfires elsewhere in the United States, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, have increased substantially in recent decades. This increase has been most dramatic in the last five years, creating trends of larger areas burned, greater fire-season length and higher sustained wildfire-related smoke and air-pollutant impacts. Dr. Arthur Winer writes. (Orcas Currents)

Increased logging endangers southeastern B.C.'s rainforests, study says
Increased logging activities have endangered B.C. 's Interior rainforests and, if left unchecked, may lead to their ecological collapse in a decade, warns a new international study. In an article published last week in the journal Land, conservation scientists from Prince George, B.C., as well as Oregon and Australia say industrial logging has eliminated 2.7 million hectares of forest in the province's Interior wet belt bio-region over the past 50 years — including more than 500,000 hectares of the inland temperate rainforest, the wettest portion of the region. Winston Szeto reports. (CBC)

Fairy Creek protesters defend felling small trees in order to impede police
A protest group is defending the actions of its members who cut down some small trees to impede police enforcing a court injunction against blockades that have been set up to prevent old-growth logging on southern Vancouver Island. The group, dubbed the Rainforest Flying Squad, responded in a statement on Monday, saying its members cut the small, second-growth trees in order to slow police progress in reaching other protesters who were chained to structures. They say Pacheedaht First Nation elder Bill Jones, who supports the protest group, does not disapprove of their felling of small trees to protect old growth. A statement from Jones released by the group says it's common practice in logging to cut down young trees growing at the side of roadways and that's not a threat to ecology. (Canadian Press)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 254 AM PDT Thu Jul 29 2021
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 1 ft at 13 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. S swell 1 ft at 13 seconds building to 3 ft at 12 seconds after midnight.

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

7/28 Snowy owl, Big Bar, Skagit dams, OR clean energy, kelp forests, heat produce, invasive species, border guard strike

Snowy Owl [Joseph V. Higbee/BirdWeb]

Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus
Snowy Owls are large owls with yellow eyes and no ear-tufts. Adult males can be nearly pure white, but most have some brown mottling in their feathers. Adult females are generally larger and darker than males; immatures have considerably more brown mottling. In all plumages, Snowy Owls have solid white faces. Like most owls, Snowy Owls have feathered legs and feet, but the feathers on the Snowy Owl's legs and feet are especially dense. Snowy Owls are well camouflaged for their Arctic breeding grounds, but in winter, when they are seen in Washington, their mostly white bodies show up well against most backgrounds. (BirdWeb) Tony Angell adds that "the Snowy Owl is heavily feathered to the tips of its talons, like the great grey owl, [which provides] important insulation against the cold of its Arctic winter habitat."

Wildfires, floods and rock slides force pause on permanent fishway project at Big Bar landslide site
Efforts to create a permanent safe passage for fish at the Big Bar landslide site are being delayed as a number of incidents have made work challenging and in some cases, dangerous for crews. Originally, the federal government estimated a $176 million permanent fishway would be completed by May 2022, but now, officials say that timeline is "no longer possible" and further costs are unknown. Courtney Dickson reports. (CBC)

Seattle’s River of the Damned
How dams on the Skagit River impact the survival of salmon and the whales that eat them. Lester Black writes. (High Country News/Hakai Magazine)

Oregon governor signs ambitious clean energy bill
Oregon’s clean energy bill, which sets one of the most ambitious timelines in the country for moving to 100% clean electricity sources, was signed by Gov. Kate Brown on Tuesday. The legislation lays out a timetable for the state’s two major power companies — Portland General Electric and Pacific Power — to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity sold to Oregon consumers. Additionally, it bans the expansion or new construction of power plants that burn fossil fuels and allocates $50 million in grants for community-based energy projects, among other measures. Sara Kline report. (Associated Press)

Exploring Puget Sound's Kelp Forests
Take a trip to explore the forests down below the Salish Sea. (Puget Sound Restoration Fund)

Fresh produce, shellfish prices will rise as NW farmers hope for drought, heat wave help
The Pacific Northwest’s farmers have been hit with a brutal one-two punch this summer — in late June, a record-breaking heat wave torched the region, followed by a statewide drought emergency. Berry farmers were particularly devastated by the heat wave, but the event left its fingerprints on the dairy, hops, shellfish, tree fruits, grain, wine grapes, poultry, beef and potato industries as well. Ysabelle Kempe reports. (Bellingham Herald) No crabs, no scallops: Seafood is vanishing from menus in U.S. For restaurants across the U.S., the reopening from COVID lockdown has been anything but easy. Kate Krader and Adam Jackson report. (Bloomberg)

Most Invasive Marine Species Swim Under the Radar
Half of all invasive species in the ocean have only been studied once, and we only know about the potential impacts of one out of every 10. María Paula Rubiano A. reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Canadian border guards vote to strike days ahead of reopening to U.S. tourists
Canadian border guards and customs officials voted on Tuesday to go on strike just days before fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents will be allowed into Canada, unions representing the workers said, a move that could potentially cause disruptions and hurt businesses emerging out of the pandemic-driven economic downturn. A strike would slow down commercial traffic at the land border, the unions said, as well as impact international mail and collection of duties and taxes. But a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said 90% of the front-line border services officers have been identified as “essential” so will continue to work in the event of a strike. Moira Warburton reports. (Reuters)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 259 AM PDT Wed Jul 28 2021
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 2 ft at 9 seconds. Patchy fog in the morning.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 2 ft at 10 seconds.

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

7/27 Great horned owl, Cherry Pt, world warming, Dickerson Cr, fish guts, refinery fine, BC ferries, bad fisherman

Great Horned Owl [Lee Barnes/BirdWeb]

Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
Great Horned Owls are large, powerful owls with prominent ear-tufts, prominent facial disks, and bold yellow eyes. Their plumage is a mix of mottled brown with white-and-black barring, with some white at the throat. There is much variation in the darkness and shade of these colors across their range.(BirdWeb)

Whatcom council to vote on permanent ban of new fossil fuel industries at Cherry Point
It could become a model for refinery communities around the country when it votes on Tuesday night. That’s what some advocates are saying about Whatcom County as its council gets ready to decide the fate of industrial land at Cherry Point, north of Bellingham. Bellamy Paithorp reports. (KNKX)

The Heat, Floods and Fire We Don’t Hear Enough About
From India to Turkey, it’s not just “crazy weather.” It’s the world at 1.2 degrees of global warming, explain climate scientists. Laura Millan Lombrana reports. (Bloomberg)

A new stream bed is being built on Dickerson Creek. Here's how it will help salmon.
From his log cabin off Northlake Way, Bernie Fleming has a front-row seat for the rebirth of a salmon stream. Earthmovers on Fleming's property are building a new, meandering route for Dickerson Creek, a waterway important to fish migration but plugged up by concrete and other debris for decades. Fleming and his wife, Elaine, have watched as fish runs have nearly ground to a halt in recent years. Josh Farley reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Anglers and researchers delve into fish guts to save salmon
Micah Quindazzi has spent a good chunk of his science career elbows deep in pungent fish guts. Squeezing out stomachs and poking through intestines seems like distasteful and ignoble work, but it’s part of a wider collaborative effort by researchers and recreational fishermen to save endangered salmon and divine changes to the marine food web as climate change advances. Rochelle Baker reports. (National Observer)

A refinery spewed black smoke into this NW community. Now this oil giant will pay
The Northwest Clean Air Agency slapped Shell with a $60,000 penalty Monday, July 26, after its Puget Sound Refinery in Anacortes spewed odorous black smoke into the air in August and September. Ysabella Kempe reports. (Bellingham Herald)

B.C. Ferries hopes for whale-free weekend to handle expected crush of traffic
B.C. Ferries is hoping for a little cooperation from the Salish Sea’s whale population as it prepares for the busiest weekend of the season. With reservations already booking up for the August long weekend, B.C. Ferries is hoping to avoid any repeat of the sailing cancellation it had to make due to orcas frolicking in Fulford Harbour on the weekend. Andrew Duffey reports. (Times Colonist)

Province wants cash, house from banned commercial fisherman for alleged illegal fishing
The B.C. government is asking to seize a Gabriola Island home and more than $1.3 million in cash from a commercial fisherman who is banned from fishing until 2038. In a petition filed on June 28 in B.C. Supreme Court, the B.C. Civil Forfeiture Office says the cash and the home are proceeds of illegal fishing and money laundering. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 235 AM PDT Tue Jul 27 2021
TODAY SW wind to 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 9 seconds. Areas of fog in the morning.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 10 seconds.

Monday, July 26, 2021

7/26 Barred owl, Biden's enviro justice, BC rainforest, BC drought, ecocide, WA bag ban, BC ferries fee, Fairy Cr protest, Japanese beetle, Green Team

Barred Owls [Gene Helfman]

Barred Owl
Reader Gene Helfman last week wrote: "Since we don't have to worry about Barred Owls displacing Spotted Owls around here, we're happy to announce that our local BO couple has fledged three owlets. They're hanging around in our woods. "Captured" two of them the other evening."

White House lays out environmental justice guidance
Two big themes of the first six months of the Joe Biden administration have been racial equity — the focus of one of the first executive orders the president signed — and environmental infrastructure, a big part of the infrastructure bill working its way through Congress. On Wednesday, those themes came together. The White House released 13 pages of instructions to federal agencies on how to make sure that disadvantaged communities get at least 40% of the benefits from spending on energy and the environment. Andy Uhler reports. (Marketplace)

B.C.’s rare inland rainforest at risk of collapse, international scientists warn in new study
The province’s unique inland temperate rainforest is home to endangered species and cedar trees more than 1,000 years old — but its old-growth ecosystems could be destroyed in less than a decade if logging continues at its current pace. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

People asked to cut water use as drought dries up southern B.C. rivers
People in southern B.C. are being asked to limit their water consumption as drought conditions threaten aquatic wildlife and agriculture. Sarah Grochowski reports. (Vancouver Sun)

International lawyers define the crime ecocide
Canadian International human rights lawyer Lisa Oldring, who has spent most of her career working for the United Nations but now works independently on cases of climate justice, advises Stop Ecocide Canada, which is advocating to have the term recognized in international law. 'It is the most serious category of environmental crimes. We are not talking about 'did you recycle?' or how much red meat you eat,' says Oldring. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Small business owners question viability of Washington's plastic bag ban
A new law banning single-use plastic bags in Washington starting this fall has some business owners concerned about costs after a year of economic hardships. Lionel Donovan reports. (KING)

BC Ferries Ups the Pressure to Pay $17 Reservation Fee
With more space allocated for drivers who reserve, travellers face more waits unless they pay up. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

RCMP accuse protesters of cutting 18 healthy trees to block road access
The RCMP is accusing Fairy Creek anti-logging protesters of cutting down 18 healthy trees and placing them across the road to block access for forestry company Teal-Jones. Louise Dickson reports. (Times Colonist)

Efforts to knock down invasive Japanese beetle in Vancouver appear to be working
Eradication efforts to keep a voracious plant-eating invasive insect from establishing itself in British Columbia appear to be working. Japanese beetles were discovered in downtown Vancouver in 2017 and immediately recognized as an invasive species that, if allowed to proliferate in the province, could devastate plants and commercial crops. Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

This new Whatcom initiative hopes to give students help to take action on climate change
The Green Team Network is a long time coming, said Priscilla Brotherton..., the Sustainable Schools program manager at environmental nonprofit RE Sources... The Green Team Network is a grant-funded initiative the organization is launching at the beginning of this upcoming school year. The program seeks to support Whatcom County’s elementary and middle schools in forming green teams, or groups of students advocating to make their schools and communities more sustainable Ysabelle Kempe reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 257 AM PDT Mon Jul 26 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 2 ft at 12 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 1 ft at 12 seconds.

Friday, July 23, 2021

7/23 Sweet William, more lace, Skagit dams, levee setback, coast salmon fishery, noise pollution, deer deaths, border carbon tax, Dabob Bay reserve, Schoolhouse Cr, Protection Is birdman

Sweet William [Gardenia]

Sweet William Dianthus barbatus
The sweet William is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to southern Europe and parts of Asia. It has become a popular ornamental garden plant. The exact origin of its English common name is unknown but first appears in 1596 in botanist John Gerard's garden catalogue. The flowers are edible and may have medicinal properties. Sweet William attracts bees, birds, and butterflies. (Wikipedia)

Queen Anne's Lace
Yesterday's note about Queen Anne's Lace brought forth several amplifications, one of which noted: "Queen Anne’s-lace is a Class C weed in Washington State. Its presence in an area makes it impossible to grow reliably pure carrot seed, which was formerly an industry in western Washington and is now confined to the Columbia Basin. Typically, when crossed, the resulting carrot seed produces whitish roots with strong taste rather than orange/sweet cultivated carrot taste. 'Class C Weeds:Noxious weeds that are typically widespread in WA or are of special interest to the state’s agricultural industry. The Class C status allows county weed boards to require control if locally desired, or theymay choose to provide education or technical consultation.' For example, in Jefferson County, Queen Anne’s-lace became widespread after one single gardener on Marrowstone Island started growing it around 1981. It was spread by mowers along highway corridors and its proximity to cultivated carrots put an end to carrot seed production within two years." The similar but smaller poison hemlock is a Class B weed in the state.

Feds approve 32 studies in dam relicensing process
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which oversees the licensing of hydroelectric dams, issued last week a study plan determination for the relicensing of Seattle City Light’s three-dam Skagit River Hydroelectric Project. Of 33 studies proposed by Seattle City Light and eight studies proposed by stakeholders, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is requiring 32 from Seattle City Light’s list. The agency approved 20 study plans as written, and is requiring modifications on 12. The studies FERC rejected include Seattle City Light’s plan to analyze the genetics of fish in the reservoirs behind the dams, and proposals from stakeholders to expand fish, habitat and mitigation land studies — as well as the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe’s request to consider the removal of Gorge Dam. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Levee setback aims to provide flood protection, protect salmon
A 1960s-era levee on the Dungeness River is in the process of being replaced.Representatives with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is constructing a 5,000-foot long Rivers Edge setback levee on the tribe’s property west of Towne Road to increase flooding protection for landowners and nearby properties and to restore salmon habitat. Michael Dashiell reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Canada’s sweeping closures of Pacific coast salmon fisheries leave workers reeling
Commercial fishers are paying the price for 'collective failure' to minimize impacts to wild salmon populations, says watchdog. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Noise Pollution Affects Practically Everything, Even Seagrass
Seagrass may not have ears, but that doesn’t stop noise pollution from causing serious damage to the plant’s other structures. Ashley Braun reports. (Hakai Magazine)

State investigating deaths of deer in Anacortes
A disease the state Department of Fish and Wildlife determined in early June was killing deer on the San Juan Islands is now believed to be affecting deer in Anacortes. Robert Waddell, district wildlife biologist for Skagit and Whatcom counties, said as of Tuesday six dead deer were reported in the neighborhood near Cap Sante Park. They included four fawns, a young doe and an adult buck. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Europe Is Planning a Border Carbon Tax. Is Canada Next?
Such tariffs on imports ensure polluting producers aren’t just pushed overseas. Ultimately, a global approach is needed. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

Hearing set on DNR land transfer
The state Department of Natural Resources plans a public hearing in Quilcene this coming Monday to discuss a proposed Inter-Trust Exchange. The exchange would allow for the future transfer of up to 826 acres of State Forest Land Trust forestland near Quilcene into the DNR-managed Dabob Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA), DNR said in a press release. It would be for equal-valued parcels of Common School Trust forestland in the same area. All parcels involved in the transaction would remain in state ownership. Leah Leach reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

This island creek once had a strong salmon run. Locals are trying to make it so again
A long degraded salmon stream is close to being restored after over a decade of hard work by some Pierce County residents. Puget Sound’s Anderson Island is home to Schoolhouse Creek, which formerly had coho salmon and has seen their return in recent years. More formal restoration efforts at Schoolhouse Creek have been going on since the late 2000s as park district commissioners continue to work on the project’s final legs. Schoolhouse Creek flows into Oro Bay and has historically been home to salmon runs and breeding grounds, according to a historical overview of the creek submitted alongside a February 2020 Washington House of Representatives transportation budget request. Abby Miller reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Birdman of Protection Island
At dusk on an early summer evening, Protection Island is silhouetted in a deep, red sunset. A gentle breeze carries the murmurs of nesting gulls clustered along the shore and bluffs. Drifting in a boat off the southeast shore, Jim Hayward studies the scene through binoculars. “Any time now,” he says. Twenty minutes after the sunset, the serenity is broken by a few bird calls, then by a hundred, then thousands. “Here they go,” he announces. Ross Anderson writes. (Rainshadow Journal)

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 245 AM PDT Fri Jul 23 2021
TODAY Variable wind to 10 kt becoming N 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 1 ft at 6 seconds. A slight chance of showers.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 1 ft at 6 seconds.
SAT 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 3 ft at 7 seconds.
SAT NIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 5 ft at 9 seconds.
SUN Light wind becoming W to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 8 seconds.

Thursday, July 22, 2021

7/22 Queen Anne's Lace 'dead zones,' Fairy Cr reporting, native plants, woolly dog, oyster recall, derelict boats, wild salmon menu, rodenticide ban, Caroline Gibson

Queen Anne's Lace [Gardening Know How]

Queen Anne's Lace Daucus carota
The Queen Anne’s lace plant, also known as wild carrot, is a wildflower herb found in many parts of the United States, yet it was originally from Europe. Queen Anne’s lace can reach heights of about 1 to 4 feet (30-120 cm.) high. This plant has attractive, fern-like foliage and tall, hairy stems that hold a flattened cluster of tiny white flowers, with a single dark-colored floret just off its center. You can find these biennials in bloom during their second year from spring on into fall. (Gardening Know How)

Low oxygen levels off Northwest coast raise fears of marine ‘dead zones’
Low oxygen levels measured off the coast of Oregon and Washington are raising fears of large “dead zones” that could wipe out crabs and bottom-dwelling fish within. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, announced Wednesday that researchers have detected unseasonably low oxygen levels in a large area off the Pacific coast. Bradley W. Parks reports. (OPB)

Judge rules in favour of journalists' access to Fairy Creek blockade
The Canadian Association of Journalists, along with a coalition of news organizations and press freedom groups, has won a court case that will require the RCMP to grant media full access to the Fairy Creek blockades. The judge ruled that such access must be granted unless there is a genuine operational or safety reason to restrict it. (CBC) 4 things we learned from the court case challenging the RCMP’s treatment of journalists at Fairy Creek logging blockades Mike De Souza report. (The Narwhal)

Indigenous Plants Forum raises awareness of native botanical treasures
A Lopez Island-based nonprofit says the protection of critical habitat for native plants can also preserve a wealth of traditional knowledge. The group is working with private landowners to raise awareness of culturally important plants hidden in the bogs and underbrush of Puget Sound's natural areas. Sarah DeWeerdt writes. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine)

What ever happened to the Salish woolly dog? Learn more about this extinct breed with virtual history lessons
Senaqwila Wyss wants people to know what really happened to the furry companions of her people. Wyss, who hails from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), is the Indigenous cultural programmer at the Museum of North Vancouver and starting July 21, she will be holding virtual knowledge-sharing sessions on alternating Wednesdays that will look at the history and extinction of the Salish woolly dog. (CBC)

Samish Bay oyster recall issued, harvest closed due to bacteria-related illness
An illness caused by eating bad oysters is reaching record case numbers following the heat wave that baked the region, including its beaches. The illness, caused by the marine bacteria vibrio parahaemolyticus, led to the closure of commercial oyster harvesting in Samish Bay on July 16 and, as of Tuesday, a recall of any oysters harvested from the bay since June 29. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Another cost of COVID: WA state saw sharp increase in derelict boats in 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic caused some people to neglect their boats, one state official says. The state’s Derelict Vessel Removal Program saw an uptick of derelict vessels mid-2020, said Troy Wood, program manager of the state’s Derelict Vessel Removal Program. That was around the same time Washington state had its stay-home order. Angelica Relente reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

A stronger electricity grid is crucial to cutting carbon. Does that make it green?
Three viewpoints: A proposal to lay cables beneath the Columbia River is met with skepticism from an Indigenous activist and the river’s advocates. Peter Fairley reports. Investigate West)

Some B.C. restaurants remove wild salmon from menu in response to declining stocks
The Naramata Inn in the Okanagan has temporarily removed wild salmon from its summer menu, a decision chef Ned Bell said he made in an effort to allow salmon populations to recover. "It is a species that needs all the love we can give it." Bell, who is a former Ocean Wise executive chef, said that it's a temporary measure and he looks forward to bringing salmon back on his menu and supporting community fisheries again. The Vancouver-based Ocean Wise Conservation Association rates the sustainability of seafood so that consumers can avoid eating species that are over-fished or in decline. Michelle Gomez reports. (CBC)

B.C. bans rat-killing rodenticides for 18 months over wildlife concerns
B.C. is banning the use of rat-killing rodenticides over concerns the poison is inadvertently killing owls, among other wildlife. The ban will last 18 months and follows a series of prohibitions at the municipal level in B.C., including in North Vancouver. The provincial order took effect Wednesday, prohibiting second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARS) specifically, which the province said is particularly strong and risks the secondary poisoning of animals who consume poisoned rodents. (CBC)

Caroline F. Gibson February 6, 1964 - July 11, 2021
Caroline passed away at home with her partner Walt and her sister Mary Jane by her side in Port Townsend on July 11, 2021 following a lengthy battle with cancer. (Port Townsend Leader)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 244 AM PDT Thu Jul 22 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. SW swell 2 ft at 15 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 13 seconds.

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

7/21 Rose weevil, J-pod absence, whale sanctuaries, protected watersheds, border agents

Rose Curculio [BugGuide]

Rose Curculio Merhynchites bicolor
Rose Curculio is a single generation Weevil that feeds on buds and petals of roses. The species name “bicolor” refers to the bright red elytra and thorax with the black head with a long snout. Wild roses are the main host for these native Weevils. They are attracted to pink and yellow roses with hips in the garden. Their feeding resembles that of earwigs, holes in buds and sometimes young shoots. Eggs are laid in bites made by the female and the larvae over winter in the rose hips, pupate, with the adults emerging the following spring to mate and begin a new cycle (WSU)

100 Days Without Js: J-Pod Absent from Core Summer Habitat for 100 Days and Counting
J-Pod was last seen in the San Juan Islands on April 10th. K-Pod made a brief visit to the Salish Sea on July 1 before heading back west to the outer coast; other than that, K-Pod and L-Pod have not been documented in inland waters since late February. While members of all three pods have been spotted at Swiftsure Bank off the western end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca in July, none of them have taken their typical summer route to follow Chinook salmon migrating towards the Fraser River. Monika Weiland writes. (Orca Behavior Institute)

The Hard Sell of Whale Sanctuaries
As aquariums end captive-whale programs, advocates seek to build ocean-based retirement homes for the animals—but finding the right host community is a feat. Matthew Halliday reports. (Hakai Magazine)

B.C. gets economic bang for bucks it spends on protecting watersheds
For the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, stream-bank stabilization work in the Chilako River watershed west of Prince George is about improving the future prospects for salmon. But it is also a project with economic side benefits... Watershed-conservation groups view this effort, which offered training in habitat restoration and jobs to 11 Lhedli T’enneh members and non-Indigenous Prince George residents, as a small ripple in what they estimate to be a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. Derrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Border reopening plan facing roadblock as thousands of border officials consider strike action
The federal government's plan to reopen the border to fully vaccinated U.S. citizens next month could be complicated by the threat of strike action. This week, more than 8,500 Canada Border Services Agency officers — who have been without a contract since June 2018 — are voting on whether they're willing to walk out. If more than half vote yes, they could be in a strike position by early August — just as the country prepares to again welcome fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Catharine Tunney reports. (CBC)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 302 AM PDT Wed Jul 21 2021
TODAY W 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 1 ft at 11 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 1 ft at 10 seconds.

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

7/20 Black-eyed susan, border, spotted owl, tire pollution, Lower Elwha restoration, murder hornets, forest protected, derelict boats, glacial flour, BC LNG, Discovery Bay

Black-eye Susan [Lee Page]

Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
This cheerful, widespread wildflower is considered an annual to a short-lived perennial across its range. Bright-yellow, 2-3 in. wide, daisy-like flowers with dark centers are its claim-to-fame. They occur singly atop 1-2 ft. stems. The stems and scattered, oval leaves are covered with bristly hairs. Coarse, rough-stemmed plant with daisy-like flower heads made up of showy golden-yellow ray flowers, with disk flowers forming a brown central cone. (Wildflower)

Canada Announces US Border Reopening
Fully vaccinated residents of the United States will be allowed to cross the 49th Parallel and visit Canada beginning August 9 at 12:01, the Canadian government announced on Monday. Visitors from “the States” will not be required to undergo a quarantine. Children too young to be vaccinated will be allowed across the border but are advised to stick with their parents and avoid large gatherings...Travelers to the Great White North will have to meet conditions. They must have received two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna,or AstiaZeneca-Oxford vaccines, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, at least 14 days before arrival. They must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arrival. Air travelers must show they have been tested within 72 hours of boarding a Canada-bound flight. Canada-bound travelers must submit vaccination information using the ArriveCAN app. They are then emailed a receipt to show at the border, along with proof of vaccination. Joel Connelly reports. (Post Alley)

With rollback of Trump proposal, new Biden plan cuts just 2% of spotted owl protections
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to withdraw the previous administration’s rule that slashed millions of acres of critical habitat protections for the northern spotted owl. The proposed new rule would reduce the protected habitat area in Oregon by 200,000 acres — leaving far more land protected for the threatened owl than called for by the Trump administration. This comes after the Biden administration’s U.S Interior Department delayed and reviewed the Trump administration’s Jan. 15 rollback of 3.4 million acres of designated critical habitat protections for the imperiled species in Washington, Oregon and California. Monica Samayoa reports. (OPB)

Salmon-killing tires get congressional hearing
A study that pinpointed a chemical from car tires as the cause of salmon die-offs in West Coast creeks has prompted a congressional hearing. The toxic effects of tire dust and skid marks on coho salmon were the subject of a U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee hearing Thursday. Washington State University researcher Jenifer McIntyre said 6PPD-quinone, a chemical recently discovered in used tires, has been washing off roadways and killing coho salmon. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Lower Elwha restoration project in progress
The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe is conducting a beach restoration project at the former Olympic Rowing Club site on Ediz Hook through mid-August. The tribe’s restoration crew will remove existing piers and shoreline armoring such as concrete, creosote beams, riprap and metal, said Tiffany Royal, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission spokesperson. The area will be restored with logs and clean beach sand. A former building pad and parking area will be removed and prepped to be planted with native dune grass in 2022. (Peninsula Daily News)

Citizen scientists enlist in fight against WA's murder hornets
Thousands of volunteers are looking for the invasive, bee-killing insect, leaving officials optimistic about keeping the hornets at bay. Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

Great Peninsula Conservancy receives grant for North Kitsap Divide Block Forest
The North Kitsap Divide Block Forest won’t be developed if Great Peninsula Conservancy has anything to say about it — and a recent $2,935,000 state conservation grant will help. According to Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC), the 490 acres of habitat known as The Divide is one of the last remaining large blocks of private timberland in North Kitsap, part of the massive Kitsap Forest and Bay Project to preserve a historic forest south of Port Gamble. Jesse Darland reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Abandoned boats washed up at Howarth Park slated for removal
Two beached boats at Howarth Park in Everett have overstayed their welcome, authorities say. The Everett Police Department is working with state agencies and the county’s Marine Resources Committee to remove the pair that washed up earlier this month. Joseph Thompson reports. (Everett Herald)

Commencement Bay clouded by 'glacial flour' after historic heat wave
The waters of Commencement Bay off the shores of Tacoma continue to be clouded by what is called “glacial flour” after extreme temperatures led to an increase in snowmelt in recent weeks. Glacial flour is fine sediment produced by the grinding of glaciers on rock as they move across the ground. When glaciers melt, this powdery sediment often ends up reaching rivers and streams, clouding the water and making it appear milky. (KING)

B.C. First Nation and partners propose new $10B LNG megaproject
A First Nation in British Columbia is proposing a new liquified natural gas (LNG) export facility to be built on the community's treaty land and is making an environmental pledge to reach net-zero emissions within three years of commencing operations. The Nisga'a Nation, whose territory is north of Prince Rupert near the Alaska border, is partnering with a group of Western Canadian natural gas producers called Rockies LNG Partners and a Texas-based energy company called Western LNG. The project is called Ksi Lisims LNG and would include a pipeline to transport natural gas from the northeast corner of the province to the coast. The facility itself is estimated to cost $10 billion. Kyle BaKx reports. (CBC)

Biotoxins in shellfish lead to closure at Discovery Bay
Discovery Bay is closed to shellfish harvesting due to high levels of marine biotoxins discovered in the water. Shellfish samples taken from Discovery Bay were found to contain elevated levels of the marine biotoxin that causes diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, resulting in the state Department of Health closing the beaches around the bay for all shellfish harvesting, Jefferson County Environmental Health said in a press release. Zach Jablonski reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 233 AM PDT Tue Jul 20 2021
TODAY SW wind to 10 kt becoming W 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. W swell 2 ft at 7 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 2 ft at 6 seconds.

Monday, July 19, 2021

7/19 Ringed doris, PFAS, plastics, fish passage, Capitol Lake, vibriosis, drought, hawkpocolypse,looper moths, Jerry Franklin, Suzanne Simard, fish meth, Maui water

Ringed Doris [Reef Life Survey]

Ringed Doris Discodoris Sandiegensis
Oval shape. Body is creamy white to gray, with various-size, dark brown, round spots or circles in back. Covered with tiny, stiff hair-like projections. Antennae are comblike. Fees on encrusting sponges, especially Haliciona. Up to 3 inches. (Marine Life of Puget Sound, the San Juans, and the Strait of Georgia)

Seattle study of breast milk from 50 women finds chemical used in food wrappers, firefighting foam
In August 2019, Vera Harrington put a quarter cup of her breast milk into the refrigerator. She gave this milk not to her daughter, Flora, but a team of researchers investigating a pervasive class of chemicals that have found their way into humans all over the world. These chemicals are called Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — or PFAS — and have been used over the decades in products ranging from firefighting foams to cosmetics, nonstick pans, rain gear, stain-protected sofas, some types of fast food wrappers and even dental floss. Harrington, who lives in an Eastlake town house in Seattle, was one of 50 Puget Sound area first-time mothers who participated in the study. This past April, she got the results, which documented nine types of PFAS in her breast milk. Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times)

Cleanup crews tackle gargantuan task of cleaning B.C. beaches inundated with plastic
...In what was once a stretch of pristine Vancouver Island sand, a large piece of styrofoam had been pummeled into pieces by West Coast storms. Ben Boulton reached down and picked up a chunk of the foam, which is technically known as polystyrene plastic, widely used for insulation and packaging and apparently employed in this case for buoyancy beneath a large wooden dock...Boulton is part of a project funded under a $7 million B.C. government coastal cleanup program. It's the most ambitious attempt yet to tackle the problem — the goal is to collect debris along 1,200 kilometres of coastline. Greg Rasmussen reports. (CBC)

Fish passage projects to start on Highway 20 in east Skagit County
The latest work to improve fish passage under state roadways in Skagit County is set to begin Monday in the Concrete area. The state Department of Transportation this summer will replace two, 2-foot diameter culverts under Highway 20 — one on Lorenzan Creek in Concrete and the other on Fish Creek in Grassmere. Transportation spokesperson R.B. McKeon said the cost of the projects is a combined $3.6 million. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

10 questions answered about the draft environmental report for Capitol Lake
At the end of June, the state Department of Enterprise Services released a key document: the draft environmental report for Capitol Lake and the adjacent areas from the end of Tumwater Falls on the Deschutes River to West Bay in Budd Inlet. The lake’s north basin, a not-so-shimmering body of water flanked by Heritage and Marathon parks, was created decades ago by a small dam on Fifth Avenue that separates it from Budd Inlet. It’s the poor quality of the lake water that has long been the focus and concern of the community, finally resulting in the draft environmental impact statement released at the end of June by DES. Rolf Boone reports. (Olympian)

Vibriosis infections on rise, state officials say
An outbreak of vibriosis in Washington has already surpassed the highest number of cases ever recorded by the state for the month of July, the state Department of Health said in a press release. Health officials say 52 cases of vibriosis have been reported in July, KING-5 reported. They blame the record-breaking high temperatures that killed millions, if not billions, of sea creatures during the Pacific Northwest heat wave. The infections are associated with eating raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters, that are contaminated with Vibrio. (Associated Press)

West Coast drought puts fish and forests in dire straits
Vancouver Island fish and forests are in greater peril than ever as the B.C. government issues widespread drought warnings after a record-breaking heat wave and an explosion of wildfires across the province. Drought is impacting much of southern British Columbia and the central Interior due to very low rainfall, exacerbated by the recent extreme heat wave, according to the province. Water scarcity and low stream flows are affecting Vancouver Island, the entire Thompson-Nicola region, the Cariboo, Shuswap, and the Okanagan. Rochelle Baker reports (National Observer)

‘Hawkpocalypse’: Baby birds of prey have leaped from their nests to escape West’s extreme heat
Around the West, young birds of prey have been jumping out of their nests before they can fly to escape historic heat, landing helpless on the ground and in some cases sustaining injuries so serious they are euthanized. With more scorching temperatures coming for the northwestern United States and Canada starting this weekend, experts worry extreme weather fueled by climate change is set to take a growing toll on wildlife. Hannah Knowles reports. (Washington Post)

Infestation of looper moths stresses North Shore trees for third year in a row
An infestation of hungry moths has returned to Metro Vancouver for the third straight year, threatening to defoliate coniferous trees already stressed from drought conditions. The Western hemlock looper moth is native to B.C. and sees outbreaks every 11 to 15 years on the South Coast due to environmental conditions, with outbreaks lasting one to four years...Robyn Worcester, a natural resource management specialist with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks, says the recent heat wave could have stressed native trees more than usual...ecology of our forests," she said. "We don't want to be spraying that in our watersheds, anyway, or our parks. So there are no plans for that at this point." Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC)

Meet the eminent scientist, now 84, who vowed as a boy to protect Washington’s old-growth forests
Perhaps it was destiny that one of the world’s premier authorities on old-growth forest ecosystems would be Jerry Franklin, whose middle name is Forest. Franklin was among the first to discover the unique ecological value of old-growth trees, and forest ecosystems. He also was among a team of scientists whose work led to the protection of millions of acres of old growth on federal land in Washington, Oregon and Northern California with implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan in 1994. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Finding the Mother Tree: ecologist Suzanne Simard offers solutions to B.C.’s forest woes
From eating dirt as a child to discovering the mycorrhizal network below the forest floor, Simard has spent her entire career trying to find answers about how forests work; now, armed with those answers, she’s calling for change. Matt Simmons report. (The Narwhal)

Fish can get hooked on meth, a troubling sign of how the drug can pollute water
Methamphetamine use is on the rise worldwide. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, approximately 27 million people use meth and similar drugs each year. But meth use doesn’t just take a toll on people — it can harm animals, too. A study in the Journal of Experimental Biology tracks meth’s unintended toll on fish. When researchers exposed brown trout to methamphetamine in their aquatic habitat, they showed signs of addiction and withdrawal. Erin Blakemore reports. (Washington Post)

Maui County Loses Again In Federal Court Over Pollution Discharges
A federal judge ruled Thursday that Maui County can no longer discharge treated sewage into the ocean without a permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, potentially putting an end to a decade old standoff over the reach of the Clean Water Act. Nick Grube reports. (Honolulu Civil Beat)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 201 AM PDT Mon Jul 19 2021
TODAY Light wind becoming W 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 10 to 20 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 1 to 2 ft after midnight. W swell 2 ft at 7 seconds.

Friday, July 16, 2021

7/16 Smokey Bear, border opening, ecosystem health, NW summer, BC methane, Kimberly-Clark cleanup, cruise ships, ship crash, grizzly, coyotes, oil cleanup, opah, week in review

Smokey Bear

Smokey Bear
Smokey Bear is an American campaign and advertising icon of the U.S. Forest Service. In the Wildfire Prevention Campaign, which is the longest-running public service announcement campaign in United States history, the Ad Council, the United States Forest Service (USFS), and the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), in partnership with creative agency FCB, employ Smokey Bear to educate the public about the dangers of unplanned human-caused wildfires. A campaign began in 1944 featuring Smokey and the slogan "Smokey Says – Care Will Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires". His slogan changed to "Remember... Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires" in 1947 and was associated with Smokey Bear for more than five decades. In April 2001, the message was officially updated to "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires" in response to a massive outbreak of wildfires in natural areas other than forests (such as grasslands), and to clarify that Smokey was promoting the prevention of unplanned outdoor fires, not prescribed burns. (Wikipedia)

Fully vaccinated Americans may enter Canada as of mid-August
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday Canada could start allowing fully vaccinated Americans into Canada as of mid-August for non-essential travel and should be in a position to welcome fully vaccinated travelers from all countries by early September. Rob Giles reports. (Associated Press)

How healthy is the Salish Sea? Canada-U.S. study tracks ecosystem decline
A joint Canada-U.S. report on the health of the Salish Sea has found either an overwhelming decline or stable trend in nine out of 10 environmental indicators tracked by researchers. The only positive? Shellfish. Stefan Labbe reports. (Coast Reporter)

Hot NW summer: More high temps and low precipitation ahead
Crews are trying to contain wildfires that have already burned tens of thousands of acres throughout the Northwest. The already dire situation is being made worse by gusting winds, a lack of rain, and above-average heat. The coming months aren't likely to be much better. Angela King and Katie Campbell report. (KUOW)

B.C. oil and gas sites releasing up to 2.2 times more methane emissions than federal estimates: study
New research, supported in part by the BC Oil and Gas Commission, confirms what watchdog groups have been arguing for years — that some of the province’s most significant greenhouse gas emissions aren’t being properly counted and accounted for, with potentially serious consequences for Canada’s stated climate targets. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Legacy of pollution makes Everett port project ‘challenging’
Though dump trucks hauled away some 14,000 loads of polluted material last year, much remains below the surface where the Kimberly-Clark pulp and paper mill once stood along the waterfront. Metals, PCBs and other chemical remnants of milling still taint sand and silt, highly vulnerable to seismic shifts. Pilings that once supported mill buildings are buried alongside debris of brick and concrete. Sawdust and other wood wastes fill underground pockets up to 40 feet deep that will compress under heavy weight. The vestiges of the plant’s century-long life make for conditions geotechnical consultants have deemed “challenging.” Rachel Riley reports. (Everett Herald)

Cruise ships to be allowed to visit Canadian ports in November
Cruise ships will be allowed back in Canadian waters on Nov. 1, the federal transport minister announced Thursday. Minister Omar Alghabra said cruise companies will be required to "fully comply with public health requirements" in order to sail through Canada's waters and dock at its ports. Federal officials had originally extended the cruise ship ban until the end of February. Speaking from Victoria on Thursday, Alghabra said the government felt it was possible to shorten the restriction period since the country has made progress with vaccinations and reducing COVID-19 case counts. (CBC)

Ship crash in Vancouver harbour blamed on 'systematic failure,' communications 'breakdowns'
A federal investigation into two bulk carrier ships that crashed in Vancouver's Inner Harbour two years ago has blamed the collision on "breakdowns in situational awareness and communications." The Transportation Safety Board released its report into the incident on Thursday. The March 17, 2019, crash saw the ship Caravos Harmony — a 229-metre bulk carrier loaded with 70,000 tonnes of corn — crash into another bulk carrier more than double its weight, the 292-metre, 170,000-tonne bulk carrier Pan Acacia. David P. Ball reports. (CBC)

1st female grizzly in 40 years collared in Washington state
Wildlife biologists have captured a female grizzly bear in Washington state for the first time in 40 years, fitting it with a radio collar so they can track its movements, officials said Thursday. The grizzly, along with her three cubs, were released to help biologists learn more about the endangered animals, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists captured the bear about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the Washington-Idaho state line on U.S. Forest Service land. Nicholas K. Geranios reports. (Associated Press)

Vancouver Park Board says 4 coyotes euthanized after more than 30 attacks in Stanley Park
Conservation officers tracked and euthanized four coyotes in Stanley Park Wednesday night after months of unprovoked attacks on visitors, according to the Vancouver Park Board... [O]fficers are continuing to patrol the popular downtown park and that the trail network west of the causeway is closed for people's protection until further notice. (CBC)

Oil cleanup complete at historic shipwreck off Vancouver Island
The Canadian government says the removal of oil from a shipwreck off Vancouver Island is complete after oil was spotted leaking from the wreck in December. On Monday, Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan said roughly 60 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and diesel had been removed from the MV Schiedyk, which sunk off Bligh Island in 1968...The U.S.-based Resolve Marine Group was contracted to help remove the fuel in the spring. Much of the oil was coming from the ship's four fuel tanks after the vessel had sunk to a depth of roughly 122 metres. Adam Chan reports. (CTV)

Tropical fish rare to Oregon Coast found on beach
A fish rarely found on the Oregon Coast washed up on Sunset Beach north of Seaside, The Seaside Aquarium said. A 3.5-foot, 100-pound opah was reported to the aquarium Wednesday morning, according to the aquarium’s Facebook page. Sunset Beach is located between Seaside and Warrenton on the northern coast. Aquarium officials said on social media that after seeing photos of the fish staff responded and recovered it. (Associated Press)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 7/16/21: Snake day, marbled murrelet, Meadowdale Beach, Nooksack water, tree fungus, ecosystem health, B'bay cleanup, shellfish loss, WA drought, Tongass NF, 2030 flooding, ship crash, NW summer, border opening

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 248 AM PDT Fri Jul 16 2021
TODAY SW wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 8 seconds. Chance of showers.
TONIGHT NW wind to 10 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 8 seconds. A slight chance of showers.
SAT Light wind becoming NW to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds. A slight chance of showers.
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 10 seconds.
SUN 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.