7/9 Pacific Madrone, Salmon Orca Summit, Puget Sound shellfish, Gulf Is water, bad algae, news week in review

Pacific Madrone [Louis-M. Landry]

Pacific Madrone Arbutus menziesii
Pacific madrone is native to the west coast. It occurs from southwestern British Columbia, where it is restricted to water-shedding sites on southeastern Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and adjacent coastal mainland, southward through Washington, Oregon, and California in the coastal mountains and west slopes of the Sierra Nevada. The southern limit of Pacific madrone is on Mount Palomar in San Diego County, California.  In British Columbia, Pacific madrone grows with lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta). The open woodlands of the San Juan Islands are characterized by Douglas-fir and Pacific madrone in a fescue matrix.  (US Forest Service)

Historic summit of tribes across Pacific Northwest presses dam removal on Inslee, Biden, Congress
In a historic gathering of more than 15 Indian nations, tribal leaders from around the Northwest called for immediate action to save endangered orcas and the salmon they depend on. The call for salmon and orca recovery was joined by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, who each stated dam removal on the Lower Snake River, a tributary of the Columbia, must remain on the table and a comprehensive solution quickly reached to save salmon and orcas from extinction. Their statements were delivered at the Salmon Orca Summit here, co-hosted by the Nez Perce Tribe and Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, representing more than 50 Indian nations. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times) See also: Tribes call for action on salmon, dams Rep. Mike Simpson was the only member of the Northwest congressional delegation to attend the first day of the Salmon and Orca Summit [in Shelton WA], where all involved expressed the need for urgent action to save the two species intertwined in the culture and natural history of the Pacific Northwest. The Republican from Idaho has largely been alone since he introduced his $33 billion salmon and dams concept back in February but has won the support of tribes throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Eric Barker reports. (Lewiston Tribune)

Extreme heat cooks shellfish alive on Puget Sound beaches
A record-shattering heat wave June 26-28 coincided with some of the year's lowest tides on Puget Sound. The combination was lethal for millions of mussels, clams, oysters, sand dollars, barnacles, sea stars, moon snails, and other tideland creatures exposed to three afternoons of intense heat. A shellfish farmer on Little Skookum Inlet in south Puget Sound reported the muddy sand on his beach reaching 135 degrees. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Gulf Islands under some of the worst water shortages ever, authorities say
After this summer's unprecedented heat wave across B.C., authorities in the Gulf Islands say the season's drought is one of the worst they've experienced in recent memory....For years, freshwater shortages have plagued the Gulf Islands because of the warming climate, and they're of particular concern during dry spells because most of the islands' water supply comes from rainfall. Adam van der Zwan reports. (CBC)

California nixing algae that crowds out food for sea animals
For the first time, scientists say they have seen a species of bright green algae growing in the waters off California — and they are hoping it’s the last. The invasive algae can overtake the environment and displace critical food sources for ocean animals on the Southern California coast. Amy Taxin reports. (Associated Press)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 7/9/21: Pink salmon, pipeline support, L25, feed lot rules, WA burn ban, shellfish deaths, climate change heat, salmon summit, Gulf Is water

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  301 AM PDT Fri Jul 9 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 11 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 9 seconds. 
SAT  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. W  swell 2 ft at 8 seconds. 
SAT NIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 2 ft at 7 seconds. 
SUN  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.  NW swell 3 ft at 7 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.

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