9/27 American dipper, Makah whale hunt, Fairy Cr protest, Skagit dams, bag ban, Oly Pipeline, Ida's oil, Mazama gophers, Charles Costanzo

 

American Dipper [Gene Helfman]

American Dipper Cinclus mexicanus
Gene Helman reports camping along the Skagit River and watching the pink salmon spawning at the river's edge. A dipper landed, dove into the water and popped out with a salmon egg in its beak. From Wikipedia, "The dipper is also known as a water ouzel. It bobs its whole body up and down during pauses as it feeds on the bottom of fast-moving, rocky streams where it feeds on aquatic insects and their larvae and may also take tiny fish or tadpoles [and fish eggs]. It has an extra eyelid that allows it to see underwater, and scales that close its nostrils when submerged.The presence of this indicator species shows good water quality; it was the favorite bird of famous naturalist John Muir."

Makah whale hunt approval recommended by federal official 
A federal official has issued his recommendation regarding the Makah whale hunt. Judge George G. Jordan, administrative law judge with the U.S. Coast Guard, says he recommends granting the waiver the tribe has requested under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This is a much-awaited decision after a weeklong public hearing that packed a courtroom in Seattle nearly two years ago. The judge’s response comes much later than expected, slowed by complications from the COVID pandemic. It does not mean the tribe has approval to resume the hunt; there are still several administrative steps that are needed, including approval by the head of NOAA Fisheries, Janet Coit, and permitting that could be more complex than anticipated, based on the ruling. In 1999, the Makahs briefly revived their hunt, after gray whales were de-listed as an endangered species in 1994. The whales had rebounded despite the ravages of the hunting era. That hunt 22 years ago was hugely controversial. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

‘Someone Is Going to be Seriously Injured or Killed’
Lawyers, a doctor, a criminology professor and dozens of protesters are warning that RCMP enforcement on the frontlines of the Fairy Creek blockades could lead to serious injury or death. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

Legal battles unfold during Skagit River dam relicensing
From Whatcom County where Seattle City Light's three Skagit River dams are located to Seattle where the public utility is headquartered, lawsuits are stacking up as relicensing of the century-old hydroelectric project gets underway. While one lawsuit focuses on "greenwashing" in Seattle City Light advertising and another focuses on the utility's financials, there's a common underlying theme among them: Fish. Skagit River salmon and steelhead populations are in trouble, and the dam relicensing due to be complete in 2025 has placed renewed attention on how Seattle City Light's Gorge, Diablo and Ross dams and powerhouses may affect those species.  Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Ban on single-use plastic bags in WA begins Oct. 1 
Beginning Oct. 1, 2021, a statewide ban of single-use plastic bags will go into effect in Washington. Here’s what you need to know. People in Washington use two billion single-use plastic bags every year, according to the Department of Ecology. Those single-use plastic bags are a major contaminant of Washington’s rivers, streams, roads and basically everything else, according to the department. Henry Stewart-Wood reports. (The Weekly)

Olympic Pipeline project planned in Bow area
Plans are under review for the proposed relocation of a section of the Olympic Pipeline where it crosses Colony Creek in Bow. The Olympic Pipe Line Co. proposes to cut out a portion of the existing petroleum product pipeline where erosion has left it exposed in the creek bed. Also proposed is stabilizing the stream bank in that area and installing a new segment of pipeline 10 feet to the west, according to a Clean Water Act permit application filed with the state Department of Ecology. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

See the Dozens of Offshore Oil Spills Caused by Hurricane Ida
 When Hurricane Ida barreled into the Louisiana coast with near 150 mile-per-hour winds on Aug. 30, it left a trail of destruction. The storm also triggered the most oil spills detected from space after a weather event in the Gulf of Mexico since the federal government started using satellites to track spills and leaks a decade ago. Blacki Migliozzi and Hiroko Tabuchi repoort. (NY Times)

Thurston plan to protect gophers, streamline permit process up for public comment
Residents have a new opportunity to comment on a Thurston County plan to locally manage federally protected species, including three subspecies of Mazama pocket gophers. The county and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a draft environmental impact statement on the Thurston County Habitat Conservation Plan on Friday, Sept. 24. The move kicked off a 45-day public comment period prior to final federal approval, according to a county news release. MARTÍN BILBAO Martin Bilbao reports. (The Olympian)

Charles Costanzo named executive director of Puget Sound Pilots
Puget Sound Pilots appointed a new executive director, Charles Costanzo, formerly general counsel and Pacific region vice president for American Waterways Operators (AWO). Puget Sound Pilots is an organization of independent, trained ship captains who help guide large vessels through Puget Sound waterways. Marissa Nall reports. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  204 AM PDT Mon Sep 27 2021   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT   
TODAY  S wind 15 to 20 kt becoming 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft building to 3 to 5 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 7 ft at 11 seconds building to 14 ft at 10  seconds in the afternoon. A chance of tstms. Showers in the  afternoon. 
TONIGHT  S wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SW 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 15 ft at 14 seconds.  Showers and a chance of tstms.

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