9/22 Insidious gomphidius, L47 death, steelhead net pen, white-nose syndrome, Carbon Recovery Project, septic repair loans, Vancouver conservatives, Columbia Gorge daisy, Dakota pipe, border closure

Insidious Gomphidius [Christian Ferrer/WikiCommons]

 

Insidious Gomphidius Gomphidius oregonensis
Insidious Gomphidius is a mushroom found only in western North America, most commonly on the Pacific Coast. Gomphidius oregonensis was first described in 1897 by botanist Charles Horton Peck. The genus name is derived from the Greek gomphos, meaning "nail" and relates to the shape of the mushroom. Oregonensis simply pertains to the area in which the species was first observed.

Southern resident grandmother orca 'missing and likely dead'
The Center for Whale Research has declared an orca in one of the Puget Sound’s endangered southern resident killer whale pods “missing and likely dead.” Mother and grandmother L47, or Marina as she was also known, was missing from the center’s 2021 census, according to a Monday news release, and she hasn’t been spotted since Feb. 27. The 47-year-old orca “did not appear to be in particularly poor condition” in that sighting, but she was missing from surveys this summer conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in the western Strait of Juan de Fuca. (Associated Press)

Swinomish tribal members say steelhead net pens violate fishing rights, add their voice to state Supreme Court case
...The Swinomish Tribe has joined as a friend of the court in a lawsuit to block permits that allow steelhead farming in a commercial net pen just offshore near Hope Island. The state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case next week. In its brief filed in the case, Swinomish tribal leaders, elders and fishers say the pen is a deep cultural insult and violation of their treaty fishing rights. The pen’s anchor lines foul their nets, tangle crab pots and force tribal fishers to keep clear of a productive fishing area they reserved a right to in the Treaty of Point Elliott, tribal members stated in declarations. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Invasive fungus that harms bats is spreading in Washington
An invasive fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats continues to spread in Washington, with the fungus detected in late spring near Rimrock Lake. During spring and summer field work this year, scientists with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Forest Service detected the fungus or disease in Yakima, Chelan and Mason counties. (Associated Press)

In Edmonds, $26M goes to a cleaner way to get rid of poop
If you live in Edmonds, whatever you flush down the toilet will soon be a little better for the world. The city’s new Carbon Recovery Project has a fancy name for a dirty job: reducing the carbon footprint of sludge.  Zachariah Bryan reports. (Everett Herald)

Loans for septic repairs and replacement now available to entire state
Approximately a third of Washington homes use septic systems for wastewater treatment. Well-functioning and properly maintained septic systems can effectively treat household wastewater for many years. Failing septic systems can result in sewage backing up in the home or entering local waterways and groundwater supplies– posing a public health threat. As of Sept. 1, the Regional On-Site Sewage System Loan Program has expanded state-wide, adding 17 counties to this successful program. (Washington Dept. of Ecology)

Conservative losses in Metro Vancouver suburbs mark biggest change for B.C. in status-quo election
Conservatives failed to make inroads in Metro Vancouver — in fact, quite the opposite.  The party lost Cloverdale-Langley City, Port Moody-Coquitlam and both Richmond ridings. They declined in support in four of the five Surrey ridings. Middle-class, suburban, multicultural ridings — key to the Harper government's victories last decade — slipped further away despite the party's best efforts. ustin McElroy reports. (CBC)

Hunting for one of Washington’s rarest flowers
Professor Steven Clark spends his days bushwhacking brushy trails until they turn into rocky scrambles, then vertical cliffs. It’s arduous work in service of a unique goal. He’s searching for the Columbia Gorge daisy, a rare flower that only grows in the trickles of water and tiny pockets of dirt in the wet, cliffside crevices of the Columbia River Gorge. Sarah Hoffman reports. (Crosscut)

Justices Urged To Revive Dakota Access Pipeline Permit
Owners of the Dakota Access pipeline on Monday urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the invalidation of a key approval for the controversial project, saying the more extensive environmental review ordered by the D.C. Circuit is unwarranted and could stymie U.S. infrastructure development. (Law360)

US extends land border restrictions with Canada, Mexico through Oct. 21
It's been more than a month since Canada reopened its land borders to travelers from the United States, but the U.S. has no plans to return the favor any time soon. Border restrictions on nonessential travel have been extended again, this time through Oct. 21, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said Monday. The restrictions were first implemented in March 2020 and have since been extended on a monthly basis. Bailey Schulz reports. (USA Today)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  134 AM PDT Wed Sep 22 2021   
TODAY  W wind 5 to 15 kt easing to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain  in the morning. 
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 13 seconds.

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