8/19 Rattlesnake plantain, chlorpyrifos, Willow, skinny orcas, jet noise, hydrogen ship, Puget pilots, Chuck Sams, Fairy Cr protest, BC climate, indigenous ecosystem management, fish passage

Rattlesnake plantain

Rattlesnake plantain Goodyera oblongifolia
Goodyera oblongifolia is a species of orchid known by the common names western rattlesnake plantain and giant rattlesnake plantain. The common name stems from the leaves, which have marks resembling snakeskin; the plant is also said to have been used to treat snakebites. (Wikipedia)

EPA bans pesticide chlorpyrifos for use on food crops
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday announced it will stop the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on all edible crops. A federal appeals court ruled in April that the agency had to either ban chlorpyrifos — which has been linked to neurological damage, particularly in children and farmworkers — or prove that it was safe. The EPA determined that it had no “reasonable certainty” that the pesticide would cause no harm to human health. Bradley W. Parks reports. (OPB)

Court Blocks a Vast Alaskan Drilling Project, Citing Climate Dangers
The multibillion-dollar ConocoPhillips plan, known as Willow, was approved under the Trump administration and then legally supported by the Biden administration. Coral Davenport reports. (NY Times)

Skinny orcas are up to 3 times more likely to die than healthy whales, new research shows
Skinny southern resident killer whales are two to three times more likely to die in the next year than whales in a healthy condition, new research shows. In a paper titled, “Survival of the Fattest,” scientists used drone images taken between 2008 and 2019 of the J, K and L pods of endangered southern resident killer whales to explore the link between food and survival. They found a clear connection: poor body condition in living whales is a good predictor of dead ones. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Groups vow to continue fighting Navy over jet noise
More than two years after lawsuits were filed over Naval Air Station Whidbey Island's growing EA-18G Growler fleet and increasing practice flights, the issue of whether the Navy adequately assessed the environmental and public health impacts of such growth remains tied up in court.  The two lawsuits filed July 9, 2019 by the state of Washington and the nonprofit Citizens for the Ebey's Reserve, were combined in October of that year. Thousands of pages in briefings, declarations and motions have been filed since. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

This ‘monumental’ step toward more sustainable shipping taken in Bellingham 
Bellingham Bay was home to a noteworthy moment in the effort to reduce planet-warming emissions from ships and boats this week. The first hydrogen fuel cell-powered vessel in the U.S. was officially launched on Thursday, Aug. 12, and will soon begin trips in California’s Bay Area, according to a news release from Bellingham-based shipbuilder All American Marine and investment company SWITCH Maritime. Ysabelle Kempe reports. (Bellingham Herald)

These Puget Sound pilots don't fly
Safely navigating narrow Puget Sound passages is tricky business, especially for cargo boats. Port pilots and scientists make these journeys possible. Paige Browning, Jennie Cecil Moore and Kristin Leong report/ (KU)W)

Biden to nominate Umatilla tribal leader Chuck Sams to direct National Park Service
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Oregon tribal leader Charles “Chuck” Sams III to direct the National Park Service. Sams is the former director of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation as well as a current member of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. He is the first Native American to be nominated for the National Park Service director post. Cassandra Profita reports. (OPB)

Fairy Creek: RCMP arrest 49 at blockade protesting old-growth logging
RCMP arrested another 49 people as officers continued to enforce a B.C. Supreme Court injunction order in the Fairy Creek watershed area on Wednesday. Police say protesters continued to use locking or tripod-like devices and deep trenches to block access to the area. In a release, the Mounties say officers were also met with a large group of demonstrators who refused to leave the area, resulting in their arrests. (Canadian Press)

Suzuki, Atwood, Ondaatje, Lewis Call for Emergency Leaders Debate on Climate
David Johnston, head of the Leaders Debate Commission, has been asked to hold a special Climate Emergency Leadership Debate as part of the 2021 federal election. “Canadians need a chance to assess whether those who seek national leadership understand the severity of the crisis, and what their plan is to combat it,” an Aug. 16 letter sent to Johnston said. The letter was signed by four distinguished members of the Order of Canada Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Stephen Lewis and David Suzuki. Michael Harris reports. (The Tyee)

The Americas’ First Ecosystem Managers
When it comes to sea otters, modern conservation goals are overlooking the firm hand Indigenous people wielded through time. Jessa Gamble reports.(Hakai Magazine)

Could a new fish passage system help Snake River salmon?
Whooshh Innovations said its fish passage system could transport salmon quickly over the Snake River dams – and generate $60 million over 10 years by diverting water from fish ladders to hydropower turbines. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

How Indigenous cultural burning practices benefit biodiversity
Indigenous Peoples comprise only five per cent of the world’s population but protect approximately 85 per cent of the world’s biodiversity through stewardship of Indigenous-managed lands, including the purposeful use of fire.  Sara Wickham, Andrew Trant, Emma Davis and Kira Hoffman report. (The Narwhal/The Conversation Canada)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  248 AM PDT Thu Aug 19 2021   
TODAY  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 8 ft at 9 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SE to 10 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft subsiding to 1 to 2 ft after  midnight. W swell 8 ft at 9 seconds.

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