Salish Sea News and Weather: October 2021

Friday, October 29, 2021

10/29 Slime tube worm, bulkhead removal, piers and docks ban, Canada carbon count, MPAs, container ships, saving salmon, science forum, week in review

Slime tube worm [Dave Cowles/Walla Walla U]

It's slime time!
Jimmy Norris in Eyes Under Puget Sound treats us kids with: "Sliiiime. Just saying the word conjures up images of viscous, sticky monsters from scary movie classics like The Blob, The Thing, and Ghostbusters (although, who doesn’t secretly love Slimer)? Children of the '80s might remember Nickelodeon’s Saturday morning sketch series You Can’t Do That on Television, where letting slip an “I don’t know” would get you doused with a vat of green goop. But to the slime tube worm, all this revolting ooze looks like Home Sweet Home." (Dept. of Ecology)

Puget Sound meets 2020 bulkhead-removal goal; new indicators will chart the future
In a turnabout that offers hope for Puget Sound’s nearshore ecosystem, old bulkheads are now being removed faster than new bulkheads are being constructed, according to permit figures provided by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. In fact, officials with Puget Sound Partnership recently announced that the agency’s 2020 goal for reducing shoreline armoring had been reached — just barely — by the end of last year. Specifically, the goal, or target, was to remove more bulkheads, seawalls and other armoring (measured in length) than what was added from 2011 to 2020. One caveat: Not all armoring projects were captured in the permit data. Now that we’re past 2020, new targets are in the works along with new Vital Signs and indicators of ecosystem health. Last year, 13 revised Vital Signs along with 34 indicators were approved by the Puget Sound Leadership Council, as recommended by staffers. Chris Dunagan writes. (Puget Sound Institute)

Proposed rules would ban new piers, docks on much of Gig Harbor and Key Pen shoreline
New piers and docks would be forbidden on large swaths of shoreline along the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula under proposed revisions to Pierce County's Shoreline Management Plan. The ban would apply to about 39 miles of shoreline. Kerry Webster reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Canada underestimating 80 megatonnes of emissions from boreal logging: report
New research finds that by overcounting the carbon storage of intact forests and undercounting emissions from logging, the Government of Canada is vastly underreporting the climate impacts of clearcutting in one of the country’s greatest carbon sinks. Stephanie Wood reports. (The Narwhal)

Most of Canada’s marine protected areas still threatened by oil and gas, dumping and trawling: report
A new assessment from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society finds only a fraction of established ocean conservation regions actually enjoy enough protections to meet goals of preserving or restoring marine life. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

As storms roll in, new plans to keep container ships safe
On Thursday, as another storm arrived, U.S. Coast Guard officials said six container ships were waiting offshore and three were doing laps in the relatively protected Strait of Juan De Fuca. Three more large container ships were anchored in Puget Sound. As winter storms approach, the number of safe anchoring spots in Washington waters for the largest ships is down to 12 from 14 this summer. Two spots in Bellingham Bay are too exposed to south winds from winter storms. Graham Johnson reports. (KIRO)

WA fish researchers use tiny sensors and other tech to save salmon
Ecologists are piloting a technology that is expected to help restore waterways like the Green River to eventually produce more fish. Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

Cherry Point Science Forum
Sign up for the virtual Cherry Point Science Forum featuring local scientists speaking on marine mammals and the implications of the summer heat wave and on longer-term patterns of environmental and ecological change in our coastal marine ecosystems. Oct. 30, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Hosted by RE Sources, reservations required.

Salish Sea News Week in Review 10/29/21: Lemur Friday!, Lummi Tribe, Van Is glaciers, Steven Guilbeault, ESA rules, Navy jets, climate plan, shipping carbon, CB climate plan, protecting wilderness, orca study, PS bulkheads, carbon storage, MPAs

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 317 AM PDT Fri Oct 29 2021
TODAY NW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 9 ft at 11 seconds.
TONIGHT NW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming E 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 9 ft at 10 seconds subsiding to 6 ft at 10 seconds after midnight.
SAT E wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 5 ft at 10 seconds.
SAT NIGHT SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds.
SUN SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds.

--
"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to mikesato772 (@) gmail.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter.

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told

Thursday, October 28, 2021

10/28 Chinese lantern, container spill, Chinook study, Skagit dams, protecting wilderness, mining claims, kelp farming, local news

Chinese lantern [Love to Know]

Chinese lantern Physalis alkekengi
Chinese lantern, the bladder cherry, Japanese-lantern, strawberry groundcherry or winter cherry, is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family Solanaceae. It is a close relative of the new world Physalis peruviana. (Wikipedia)

From sofas to car parts: 109 containers, not 40, missing from ship
Far more containers than originally believed — 109 rather than 40 — fell off the container ship Zim Kingston in heavy seas off the west coast of Vancouver Island last week, the coast guard says. The containers carried everything from Christmas decorations to sofas, poker tables, metal car parts, clothing, toys, yoga mats, stand-up paddleboards and industrial parts. At least three are believed to have come ashore at Cape Scott, along with some debris, said Maria McCooey, deputy federal incident commander for the Canadian Coast Guard. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

The hopeful orca study, and the backlash that ensued
We've been hearing for years now about the dwindling supply of Chinook salmon, the primary food source of the endangered population of southern resident orcas. But recently, researchers at the University of British Columbia published a paper that found an abundance of Chinook salmon in one area of the Strait of Juan de Fuca where the southern residents forage for food. Researchers here in the Seattle area "stomped on it," according to Lynda Mapes, who covers the environment for The Seattle Times. Kim Malcolm and Andy Hurst report. (KUOW)

County resolution: Seattle City Light needs to do more for fish
The Skagit County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution Monday asking Seattle City Light to commit to a “regionally equitable salmon investment” in the Skagit River watershed as the utility seeks a new federal license for its three dams on the river...The Skagit is the largest river in the Puget Sound region and home to all five salmon species as well as steelhead. Two of those species are listed under the Endangered Species Act, along with orca whales that depend on some of those fish for food. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

North Vancouver couple put up $1 million for wilderness protection
A North Vancouver couple is putting their money where their hearts are – in the wilderness. Al Collings and Hilary Stevens have donated $1 million to the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The money will go to establish the Collings Stevens Conservation Acceleration Fund, which will be used to purchase ecologically important private lands across the province and protect them before someone else swoops in and develops the land. Brent Richter reports. (North Shore News)

Boost in Hatchery Salmon to Feed Endangered Southern Resident Orcas Reported
A new report from NOAA Fisheries says that federal, state and tribal salmon hatcheries in Washington and Oregon have boosted production of juvenile Chinook salmon over the past two years to help endangered southern resident orca whales recover...Federal funds for the project came in association with the Pacific Salmon Treaty, plus state funds from the Washington State Legislature. Hatcheries aim to increase prey for the top marine predators by roughly 4-5% as the young fish mature over the next two to three years. (Fishermen News)

The Gitxaala Nation Is Suing the Province Over Mining Claims
Dozens of claims have been staked on ‘sacred’ Banks Island, yet the nation has never been notified, it says. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

Farming Kelp the Heiltsuk Way
New research braids Indigenous knowledge with Western science to demonstrate the sustainability of a small-scale kelp fishery. Emilee Gilpin reports. (Hakai Magazine)

League of Women Voters looks at local news landscape in Washington, possible impact on democracy
We know local news outlets nationwide are less robust than they once were. And we know that has far-reaching effects in communities. What does it mean for Washington state? A two-year study by the Washington chapter of the League of Women Voters is hoping to find out. Ed Ronco reports. (KUOW)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 253 AM PDT Thu Oct 28 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY E wind 20 to 25 kt becoming SE 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 9 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 8 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening.

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

10/27 Copper fish, world climate, BC climate plan, shipper climate, ship fire, Navy jets, Hubbs' whales

Copper Fish [Gene Helfman]

Copper Fish
Author and scientist Gene Helfman was prompted by yesterday selection of the copper rockfish profile to share: "A few years ago, during a long spell of stay-inside-winter-weather, I fabricated an anatomically-correct, lifesize copper rockfish out of...copper. All scrap. I even tried to make it appropriately international, half the pennies were Canadian (when Canada still had pennies). And if you look closely, I got some of the radiating eye lines." And, "ps/can't wait for a halibut profile."

Latest National Climate Plans Still Fall Far Short, U.N. Report Warns
The latest plans by the nations of the world to tackle climate change over the next decade fall far short of what’s needed to avert a dangerous rise in global temperatures, according to a United Nations report released Tuesday. Brad Plumer reports. (NY Times)

The ‘glaring gap’ in B.C.’s new climate plan
Environmental groups say while the province has made important gains in new roadmap, it’s still not clear how B.C. will tackle emissions from fracking and LNG. Ainslie Cruickshank writes. (The Narwhal)

For Canada, meeting its current climate targets will be complicated and expensive
Government has a track record of setting ambitious targets and falling short. Kyle Bakx and Tony Seskus write. (CBC)

Big shippers promise zero carbon by 2040. Too late, say climate activists
Major shippers including Amazon, Ikea, and Unilever say they will stop putting their stuff on ships that burn fossil fuels in the next 20 years...Getting to zero carbon emissions by 2040 is more ambitious than the shipping industry as a whole has agreed to, yet less ambitious than climate activists say is needed. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Crews, firefighters board MV Zim Kingston to assess damage and next moves, says Coast Guard
The company responsible for the cargo ship incapacitated near Victoria, B.C., on Saturday, after several containers carrying toxic material caught fire, says a team has now boarded the Zim Kingston to assess the damage. (CBC)

U.S. District Court judge weighing merits of Navy EIS for Whidbey Island
A U.S. District Court judge heard arguments Tuesday in a lawsuit over the Navy’s expansion of its EA-18G Growler jet fleet at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in July 2019, argues the Navy did not adequately review the potential environmental and public health impacts that increasing its Growler fleet from 82 to 118 jets would have on Whidbey Island and surrounding areas. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

An Oregon State ocean expedition’s surprisingly close-to-home whale discovery
The sighting and sounds made by Hubbs' beaked whales--among the shyest marine mammals around--was a lucky encounter for researchers 200 miles off the Oregon coast. Jes Burns reports. (OPB)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 240 AM PDT Wed Oct 27 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 11 ft at 11 seconds building to 13 ft at 13 seconds in the afternoon. A chance of showers in the morning then rain likely in the afternoon.
TONIGHT S wind 15 to 25 kt becoming E after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 13 ft at 14 seconds subsiding to 11 ft at 15 seconds after midnight. Rain.

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

10/26 Copper rockfish, burning ship, ESA, BC climate plan, EcoLab penalty, whale chat, state forest lands, bug seeding, Steven Guilbeault

Copper rockfish [Biodiversity of the Central Coast]

Copper rockfish Sebastes caurinus
Copper Rockfish range from the northern Gulf of Alaska to central Baja California. They can be found from the subtidal zone down to 183 m (600 ft). Identifying a fish as either a Copper, Brown, or Quillback rockfish can be difficult, especially in Puget Sound where these three species are known to hybridize. One way to separate Coppers from the other two species is to look for the bandings coming from the eye, these will be absent in the other two species. The distinct clear band over the lateral line can also help, but cannot be relied upon in the case of hybrids. (WDFW)

As container ship smoulders off B.C. coast, environmental concerns remain
While a fire on a container ship near Victoria, B.C., continues, some observers are expressing concerns about potential environmental impacts. The Canadian Coast Guard said Monday there are still pockets of flame on the deck of the MV Zim Kingston and some containers may have internal fires. Meanwhile, stormy weather is causing some problems for the clean-up efforts. (CBC)

Wildlife agencies to cancel Trump endangered species rules
President Joe Biden’s administration announced Tuesday that it will cancel two environmental rollbacks under former President Donald Trump that limited habitat protections for imperiled plants and wildlife. The proposal to drop the two Trump-era rules by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service is part of a broad effort by the Biden administration to undo rules imposed under Trump that favored industry over the environment. Matthew Brown reports. (Associated Press)

Critics Aren’t Buying BC’s New Climate Plan
The B.C. government says a new climate plan will let it meet the legislated target for greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2030. But critics say it won’t work because the plan allows the oil and gas sector to continue to grow. Measures include increasing the carbon tax, pushing the adoption of zero-emission vehicles and public transit and reducing industrial methane emissions. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

Tacoma company must pay $214K for environmental violations, fire that hospitalized worker
Water and hygiene company EcoLab must pay about $214,000 in penalties for violating federal hazardous waste and pesticide laws that resulted in a fire at its facility on the Tacoma Tideflats in 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency announced. The penalties are part of a settlement between EcoLab and the EPA where the company agreed to address the violations and pay penalties for the March 2019 fire that produced significant levels of hydrogen phosphide gas, prompting an evacuation of its facility. Peter Talbot reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Are We on the Verge of Chatting with Whales?
An ambitious project is attempting to interpret sperm whale clicks with artificial intelligence, then talk back to them. Christoph Droesser reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Conservation groups want Washington forests managed ‘for all the people’
Conservation groups want the Washington Department of Natural Resources to change how it manages state trust lands. At a State Supreme Court hearing [last Thursday], an attorney for the conservation groups argued state trust lands should benefit all Washington residents but it doesn’t. The groups said the state should log fewer trees to generate revenue for public school construction. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

Can 'bug seeding' improve the health of local creeks?
Bug seeding involves moving beneficial insects and other aquatic invertebrates from healthy streams to streams where these creatures are missing from the food web. Chris Dunagan reports. (Salish Sea Currents)

Guilbeault to become Canada's next environment minister as Trudeau unveils new cabinet
Long-time environmental activist Steven Guilbeault will be Canada's next minister of the environment and climate change, CBC News has confirmed. Liberal sources told CBC News that Guilbeault, who has worked with groups such as Equiterre and Greenpeace, will be moved to the crucial portfolio from his previous post as heritage minister. David Cochrane and Nick Boisvert report. (CBC)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 256 AM PDT Tue Oct 26 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT
TODAY SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming S 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 11 ft at 13 seconds. Rain in the morning then showers and a slight chance of tstms in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SW wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 9 ft at 11 seconds. Showers and a slight chance of tstms.

Monday, October 25, 2021

10/25 Ruddy copper, container fire, Van Is glaciers, reducing methane, Snake R dams, Sultan R, old growth trees, dam management, Lummi Nation, science forum

Ruddy copper butterfly [iNaturalist]

Ruddy copper butterfly Lycaena rubidus
The ruddy copper is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae and is found in only North America, spanning from British Columbia and California to South Dakota. L. rubidus is not a threatened species, however it is becoming more rare, specifically at the edges of their range. Habitat loss and fragmentation may cause a decrease in the species in the future. (Wikipedia)

Container fire on freight ship near Victoria mostly under control, says Canadian Coast Guard
The Canadian Coast Guard says the container fire that broke out Saturday on a freight ship off Victoria is "smouldering" and mostly under control, and an investigation will be soon be underway to assess damage. During a media briefing Sunday, the federal incident commander with the Canadian Coast Guard said the fire aboard Zim Kingston has burned the affected containers down to their shell. (CBC) See also: Hazardous materials burned aboard container ship anchored off southern B.C. (Times Colonist)

‘Receding before our eyes:’ Vancouver Island glaciers likely to be all gone by mid-century
Glacier melt is accelerated because the Island glaciers are small to start with, and recent events like this summer’s heat dome and sustained temperatures above 30 C have put their demise on fast-forward. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Research shows getting tough on methane could reduce warming by 0.3 C
If Canada and other countries are serious about preventing global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 C, scientists say they should start with tougher regulations to slash methane pollution. Ali Raza reports. (The Narwhal)

Murray, Inslee detail salmon recovery process that could include Snake River dam removal
Washington Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee said they'll listen to diverse viewpoints with open minds to recover salmon and potentially breach the four Lower Snake River dams. A process to restore salmon runs in the state, including an in-depth study of potentially replacing four dams on the Lower Snake River in southeastern Washington, was announced today by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. The details on the federal and state plan have been in the works since May, when Inslee and Murray decided more scientific study should look into the fate of the four controversial Lower Snake dams. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

As a dam tries to mimic nature, Sultan River comes to life
Water is flowing through new channels, salmon have new spots to spawn and kayakers have more chances to battle whitewater. Zachariah Bryan reports. (Everett Herald)

It could cost 'big, big money' to preserve B.C. old-growth forests
Premier John Horgan has promised action to protect more old-growth forests, but ending all old-growth logging could come with a billion-dollar tab. Derrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

20-year legal battle over salmon to be paused until next summer
A longstanding court battle over the federal government’s plan to manage dams on the Snake and Columbia rivers could be on hold until next summer. A coalition of the State of Oregon, conservation and fishing groups, and the Nez Perce Tribe requested on Thursday to pause litigation that fought the latest federal dam operation plan to protect endangered salmon. In the meantime, the coalition and the Biden administration hope to find a long-term solution to help endangered salmon and steelhead runs. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

Can This Tribe of ‘Salmon People’ Pull Off One More Win?
....The Lummi, whose fishing grounds include most of the Salish Sea, count more commercial fishers among their 5,320 members than any other Indigenous nation in the Northwest. Their relationship to this catch, though, is more than financial: Like all Coast Salish tribes, the Lummi identify as “salmon people,” fluent in the chinook, sockeye, chum, coho and pinks that are born in freshwater rivers, migrate to sea as they enter adulthood, then return to spawn and die. E. Tammy Kim writes. (NY Times/Opinion)

Cherry Point Science Forum
Sign up for the virtual Cherry Point Science Forum featuring local scientists speaking on marine mammals and the implications of the summer heat wave and on longer-term patterns of environmental and ecological change in our coastal marine ecosystems. Oct. 30, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Hosted by RE Sources, reservations required.

Now, your tug weather--West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 255 AM PDT Mon Oct 25 2021
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY SE wind 25 to 35 kt. Combined seas 29 ft with a dominant period of 17 seconds subsiding to 24 ft with a dominant period of 16 seconds in the afternoon. Showers and a slight chance of tstms.
TONIGHT SW wind 25 to 35 kt easing to 20 to 30 kt after midnight. Combined seas 19 to 22 ft with a dominant period of 15 seconds. Showers and a slight chance of tstms in the evening then rain after midnight.

Friday, October 22, 2021

10/22 Port Neville, weekend weather, Blueberry R First Nations, BC whale watch penalty, fishery closures, deadly fungus, week in review

0700 hrs: Morning calm [Laurie MacBride]

Port Neville: a Love/Hate Story
Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "My husband and I have a love/hate relationship with Port Neville..." Read more and check out the photos.

Wind warnings in place for parts of coastal B.C. as 'intense' weather system rolls in
Environment Canada has issued wind warnings for several areas of coastal B.C., with gusts in some exposed areas expected to top 120 km/h.(CBC) A ‘bomb cyclone’ of rain, wind headed close to Seattle An especially strong jet stream over the Pacific Ocean is spinning off a series of five or six weather systems, including a massive “bomb cyclone” that is expected to arrive in the Seattle area on Friday. Christine Clarridge reports. (Seattle Times)

How a big win for a First Nation in B.C. could bring change for resource development in Canada
Results of legal victory for Blueberry River First Nations being watched by Indigenous leaders and industry. Tony Seskus reports. (CBC)

B.C. whale watching guide fined $10K for getting too close to killer whale
A professional whale-watching guide in Campbell River has been fined $10,000 for illegally approaching a killer whale within 35 metres while touring a whale-watching group. Nicklaus Templeman, the owner and operator of Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions, was found to be in violations under the Species At Risk and Federal Fisheries Acts in Campbell River Provincial Court in September 2021. (CBC)

Fishery Closures and the Ghosts of Past Mistakes
Canada is closing fisheries and buying back licenses. Will this latest scheme save salmon or sink fishers? Michelle Gamage reports. (Hakai Magazine)

How a deadly land fungus began killing marine mammals in the Salish Sea
In the early 2000s, a fungus infected hundreds of animals and people in British Columbia and Washington State. Scientists found that the disease also killed porpoises and dolphins in the Salish Sea—perhaps affecting cetaceans even earlier than people. A study published today in Diseases of Aquatic Organisms explores how human-caused changes on land can affect aquatic animals, specifically in the case of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus gattii. Justin Cox reports. (Phys.org)

Week in Review 10/22/21: Wombat Friday!, Spirit bears, sea otters, hatcheries harm orcas, salmon kill, North Van sewer plant, Lolita, 'forever chemicals,' salmon and trees, urine woes, Cherry Point industry, bad fungus

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 256 AM PDT Fri Oct 22 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY SW wind to 10 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. SW swell 12 ft at 12 seconds building to W 14 ft at 14 seconds in the afternoon. Rain.
TONIGHT SW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 11 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.
SAT SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 8 ft at 12 seconds. Rain in the morning then rain likely in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT SW wind to 10 kt becoming SE 15 to 25 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft after midnight. W swell 9 ft at 12 seconds.
SUN E wind 30 to 40 kt rising to 35 to 45 kt in the afternoon. Combined seas 13 to 16 ft with a dominant period of 16 seconds.

Thursday, October 21, 2021

10/21 Wooly bear, BC oil gas, climate resiliency, Intalco property, Fairy Cr protest, derelict boats, BC LNG, Tim Manns, Beyond the Human Realm

Wooly bear

Wooly bear
Woolly bear, or woolly worm, is the larval form of the isabella tiger moth, Pyrrharctia isabella, which is found in the United States and southern Canada. It was first formally named by James Edward Smith in 1797. (Wikipedia)

What the International Energy Agency’s path to net-zero means for Canada’s oil and gas industry
For years, governments and oil executives could count on the International Energy Agency to provide ammunition for continued fossil fuel investments, but with the recent release of its latest World Energy Outlook, that ammunition appears to have run out. The annual report, released earlier this year in advance of the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) summit in Glasgow, signals a monumental shift. The era of prolonged growth in demand for oil, gas and coal seems to be coming to an end, according to the report, co-authored by energy experts from governments and industry around the world. Drew Anderson reports. (The Narwhal)

Climate-Resilient NW Washington
Climate change is compounding challenges here at home. We can build resilience with compounding solutions. RE Sources presents artist Jane Chavey's story map world in which bold climate action has been taken and orcas have recovered from the brink of extinction. (RE Sources)

Two front-runners in reopening the Intalco facility offer jobs, cleaner operation
Negotiations to purchase the Intalco property at Cherry Point may bring aluminum production back to the facility or create a steel mill using recycled materials. Dave Gallagher reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Huu-ay-aht First Nations seeks permission to intervene in Fairy Creek appeal
The Huu-ay-aht First Nations is seeking leave to intervene in the Fairy Creek court appeal, following last month's decision to temporarily extend an injunction against old growth logging blockades on southern Vancouver Island. In a news release, the Huu-ay-aht, whose lands are located on the Island's west coast, say they are not directly implicated in the Fairy Creek protests or seeking to support any particular side. However, it says it does want to ensure the court is aware of the concerns of B.C. First Nations when it comes to "decision-making authority" over forests within its Indigenous territories. Ethan Sawyer reports. (CBC)

Canadian Coast Guard urges patience as it deals with up to 1,600 derelict boats
With close to 1,600 abandoned and derelict boats reported to be in the waters around B.C., the Canadian Coast Guard is asking for patience from boaters and others as it works to enforce the two-year-old Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act. Before July 2019, when the act came into effect, it was legal and common to abandon a boat along Canada’s 243,042 kilometres of coastline. Pedro Arrais reports. (Times Colonist)

Why tensions are escalating on Wet’suwet’en territory over the Coastal GasLink pipeline
After TC Energy cleared an archaeological site, armed with permits issued by the province, Gidimt’en clan members and supporters set up a blockade to prevent the company from drilling under a river that’s part of an important salmon watershed. Matt Simmons writes. (The Narwhal)

Skagit Valley birder wins statewide honor
Outside his Mount Vernon home Tuesday morning, longtime Skagit Audubon Society member Tim Manns saw a towhee, a bird common in the western United States. Meanwhile, inside his home sits a framed Washington state personalized license plate donning the name “TOWHEE” that serves as Audubon Washington’s Helen Engle Volunteer of the Year Award. “It’s definitely an honor. I’m really touched,” Manns said. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Beyond the Human Realm
Join Lopez local author and marine ecologist Gene Helfman today for a virtual launch of his newly published first novel Beyond the Human Realm. Noted by fans to be “an imaginative and compelling story” told in part from the perspective of an Orca whale, “combining biological rigor with a deeply felt sense of place. Helfman takes readers on an immersive inter-species journey through pain and redemption." 5:30 p.m. Register here. (Lopez Library)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 253 AM PDT Thu Oct 21 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY SE wind 20 to 30 kt. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. Rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT E wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. SW swell 11 ft at 12 seconds building to 13 ft at 14 seconds after midnight. Rain in the evening then a chance of showers and a slight chance of tstms after midnight.

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

10/20 Monarch butterfly, Puget Sound nitrogen, salmon and trees, salmon and orcas

Monarch Butterfly [National Geographic]

Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus
Monarchs are large, beautifully colored butterflies that are easy to recognize by their striking orange, black, and white markings. The wingspan of a full-grown monarch can reach nearly five inches (13 centimeters), although the average is closer to four inches (10 centimeters). The most amazing thing about monarch butterflies is the enormous migration that North American monarchs undertake each year. Every fall, as cold weather approaches, millions of these delicate insects leave their home range in Canada and the United States and begin flying south. They continue until they reach Southern California or central Mexico, more than 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) away! (National Geographic)

Urine trouble: High nitrogen levels in Puget Sound cause ecological worry
Among its many environmental challenges, Puget Sound has a water quality problem caused in part from too much pee from the 4.5 million people living in the region. This problem, known euphemistically as “nutrient waste,” has caused Puget Sound to run afoul of the federal Clean Water Act. Now the Washington Department of Ecology is poised to finalize new regulations for wastewater treatment plants that seek to cut down how much they concentrate and dump nutrient waste into the sound. Most of the sewage plants in the region don’t filter out nutrients before discharging their treated water. The new “nutrient general permit” that the Ecology Department is proposing would apply to 58 wastewater treatment plants around the sound. Ashley Braun reports. (Crosscut)

Salmon Need Trees
A new study stands as a striking reminder that logging watersheds has an outsized impact on salmon and trout. Led by Kyle Wilson at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, the study looked at the successes and failures of five species of salmonids in the Keogh River (called Giyuxw by the local Kwakiutl First Nation) on northern Vancouver Island. For steelhead trout, the salmonid Wilson and his colleagues had the most data for, the problems the fish faced in the BC river hit the population just as hard as the challenges they faced out at sea. Wilson suspects the same holds true for other species with similar life cycles. Nicola Jones reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Letter: Joint response to “no apparent shortage of prey for Southern Resident killer whales” in the Salish Sea
On Oct. 12, the University of British Columbia issued a press release claiming that a newly published study has “debunked” the idea that there are fewer Chinook salmon available during the summer for the endangered Southern resident killer whales compared to the abundance of fish available to the Northern resident killer whales. The press release grossly overstates the findings of the referenced study. The UBC study describes a new methodology for surveying for Chinook salmon in the oceanic environment, but includes too many unknowns and is too small of a data set to come to such a broad-sweeping conclusion. A coalition of partner organizations has responded with an in-depth statement which can be found at https://orcabehaviorinstitute.org/news/joint-response/. Letter signed by: Orca Behavior Institute, Orca Network, Center for Whale Research, Whale Scout, Salish Sea Ecosystem Advocates, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Wild Orca, Orca Conservancy, University of Exeter, Salish Sea School, Pacific Northwest Protectors, Salish Sea Orca Squad.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 301 AM PDT Wed Oct 20 2021
TODAY SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SW in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 8 ft at 13 seconds. Rain in the morning then a chance of showers and a slight chance of tstms in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind 10 to 20 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 6 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of showers and a slight chance of tstms in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

10/19 Varied thrush, 'forever chemicals' ban, free Lolita, B'ham climate measures, Marta Green

Varied thrush [Joseph v. Higbee/BirdWeb]

Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius
The Varied Thrush is a bird of thick, damp, mossy coniferous forests. Although it prefers dense, wet, old-growth forests, it can be found in a variety of forest types, including mixed forests. he Varied Thrush is similar in behavior to the American Robin, but more elusive. Much of its foraging is done on the ground, usually in dense cover, although sometimes it forages on open lawns and roads. Like other species of thrushes, Varied Thrushes eat a combination of insects and berries, shifting seasonally. (BirdWeb)

EPA unveils strategy to regulate toxic ‘forever chemicals’
The Biden administration is launching a wide-ranging strategy to regulate toxic industrial compounds used in products including cookware, carpets and firefighting foams The Biden administration is launching a broad strategy to regulate toxic industrial compounds associated with serious health conditions that are used in products ranging from cookware to carpets and firefighting foams. Michael Regan, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, said it is taking a series of actions to limit pollution from a cluster of long-lasting chemicals known as PFAS that are increasingly turning up in public drinking water systems, private wells and even food. Matthew Daly reports. (Associated Press)

Will Florida orca Lolita be released? New management, damning report renew advocates' fervor
After a quarter-century of futility, advocates seeking the release of Lolita the Killer Whale have renewed fervor. The sources for that zeal include a prospective new leadership at the Miami Seaquarium, a tsunami of outrage over a damning federal government report about care of animals at the nearly 70-year-old aquarium and rising fears about the vulnerability of the property's marine animals to a climate change-fueled super hurricane. At the forefront is the Aug. 17 announcement that the Dolphin Company, based in Mexico, plans to take over the Seaquarium. Founded in 1994, the company owns 32 marine parks and facilities, including Florida's Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City and Marineland Dolphin Adventure near St. Augustine. Antonio Fins and Wendy Rhodes report. (Palm Beach Post)

Bellingham’s mayor proposes these climate measures, including $5 million investment
Two proposed investments by Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood would tackle climate change from both sides of the problem. One proposal would reduce the community’s greenhouse gas emissions by requiring all new housing projects using federal pandemic relief funds to be fully electric and not rely on natural gas, a fossil fuel. The mayor’s second proposal would invest $5 million in electric cooling and ventilation systems in municipal buildings, which could then serve as locations where community members can escape wildfire smoke and high temperatures. Ysabella Kempe reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Marta Green to receive 2021 Legacy Award for oil spill prevention work in the San Juan Islands
The Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force is honoring Marta Green with a 2021 Legacy Award for her committed leadership in developing and advancing the San Juan Islands’ Oil Spill Prevention Strategy. Over the last five years, Green secured grant funding and managed two projects to advance oil spill prevention measures for the shipping lanes through Haro Strait and Boundary Pass. (San Juan Islander)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 248 AM PDT Tue Oct 19 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 3 ft at 11 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 11 seconds building to SW at 12 seconds after midnight. A slight chance of rain in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.

Monday, October 18, 2021

10/18 Anemone, sewer plant, salmon kill, salmon for orcas, sea star extinction, hatchery lawsuit,sea otters, sunken boats, Orca Recovery Day. Oly Green Faith, Spirit Bears

Ritter's brooding anemone [Mary Jo Adams]

Ritter's brooding anemone Epiactis ritteri
This low intertidal species is found in rocky areas with open coast conditions. Column color is red/brown and sometimes having indistinct white lines around the pedal disk. Sand or shell debris may adhere to small tubercles on the stalk. When closed up, the appearance of this species is rather squat as it is shorter than it is wide. When the tentacle crown is open, white radiating lines are present but do not come close to the oral opening. Maximum diameter of the oral disk is about 1.6 inches (4 cm.). This species has also known under the scientific name of Cnidopus ritteri. Another common name is the sandy anemone. (Sound Water Stewards/ Mary Jo Adams)

Metro Vancouver terminates contract of 'abandoned' North Shore wastewater treatment plant
Metro Vancouver is terminating its contract with the builder of a billion-dollar sewage treatment plant in North Vancouver after it missed key construction milestones and has appeared to have “abandoned” the project. Metro Vancouver said it provided a letter to Acciona Wastewater Solutions LP on Friday giving notice of its intent to terminate the contract for them to build the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant which is already two-and-a-half-years behind schedule. Cheryl Chan reports. (Vancouver Sun) See also: North Shore wastewater treatment plant contractor claims Metro Vancouver owes it $100m (Vancouver Sun)

Heat-loving bacteria kills thousands of Washington salmon
An estimated 2,500 Chinook salmon died before they could reach their spawning grounds in Whatcom County in September. Lummi Nation officials say a triple whammy of warm water, low flows, and bacteria killed 80% or more of Chinooks returning to the South Fork Nooksack River. Drone photos show their bleached-white carcasses – the latest victims of the Northwest’s summer of deadly heat – littering the bottom of the river. Tribes and state officials have been working for years to bring the South Fork Chinook population back from the brink of extinction. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Researchers make surprising discovery while tracking Chinook salmon in Salish Sea, B.C.
Researchers made a surprising discovery while tracking Chinook salmon in both the foraging areas of endangered southern resident orcas and the growing, healthy population of the northern resident orcas in B.C. In a study published last week in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, the researchers stated they expected to find the robust population of northern residents fat with fish, and the southern residents stuck with lean pickings. Instead, the team found four to six times the density of big Chinook in the area they tested in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, part of the southern residents’ core foraging area, compared with the area they sampled in the northern residents’ territory, in the Johnstone Strait. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

B.C. ocean researchers push to help understand, restore all but extinct sunflower sea stars
A Vancouver-based conservation organization is pushing for continued study and more resources to help restore a species of sea stars following a mass die off and cascading consequences for other marine life. A study released this week from Ocean Wise says that the decimation of sunflower sea stars, which began in 2013, has resulted in barren underwater landscapes in places like Howe Sound as the disappearance of the marine animals has thrown ecosystems out of whack. Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

Lawsuit claims hatcheries harm wild fish, orcas
The latest lawsuit over fish in the state claims hatchery-raised salmon and steelhead may impact already-diminished wild populations and the orca whales that eat them. In the lawsuit filed this week in King County Superior Court, the nonprofits Wild Fish Conservancy and The Conservation Angler argue that the state Department of Fish and Wildlife has in recent years not adhered to State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) regulations when making decisions about hatcheries. Kimberly Cauvel reports. The nonprofits are asking that Fish and Wildlife be ordered to halt any changes underway at its hatcheries that were based on decisions the state agency has made since 2018, and that Fish and Wildlife be required to review those recent decisions. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Sea otters' seemingly destructive digging is making eelgrass more resilient: study
Scientists in B.C. have shown how the seemingly harmful actions of one marine species are actually benefiting another. By digging holes in eelgrass beds, sea otters have helped the long ribbon-like plant become more genetically diverse, according to a new study published this week in the journal Science. The research was undertaken by University of Victoria graduate student Erin Foster and other B.C. scientists. Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

Eight sunken boats lifted from area around Oak Bay Marina
Five sunken boats and big pieces of three others were pulled from the depths around Oak Bay Marina over the weekend — drawing cheers from crowds on the docks and shore as some of the wreckage emerged. The three-day job by divers and crews aboard two barges with cranes picked all of the sunken vessels in the large bay, according to the Dead Boats Society. An underwater survey by Oak Bay Marina had earlier identified the wrecks. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

On Orca Recovery Day, students help document small but important fish in food chain
Holding up a jar filled with water and sand, students looked at roughly 400 tiny, white eggs floating inside — surf smelt at the very early stages of their lives. The small fish, a kind of forage fish found in the shallow waters of Puget Sound, are an importance food source for many species, including salmon. Salmon, in turn, are the favorite food of Southern Resident orcas. Several middle-school students in the Salish Sea School, which offers outdoor-based programs for youths, learned on Saturday the importance of forage fish in the marine food chain, and assisted with a forage fish egg survey on Fidalgo Bay. Jacqueline Allison reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) See also: Groups host Orca Recovery Day to connect people with Harper Estuary Peiyu Lin reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Olympia Green Faith to call for climate action at Oct. 18 event
The Olympia arm of Green Faith, an international, multi-faith grassroots organization, will call for climate action at an event at Fertile Ground on Oct. 18. The event, called Faiths for Climate Action, will run from 5 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Adams St. and 9th Ave. The scheduled activities are an introduction to the Green Faith movement and the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference, a song, an interfaith prayer, and a tree prayer inspired by a Siberian indigenous tradition. Julia Ornedo reports. (JOLT)

Spirit Bears Have a Special Power When Hunting
A UVic scientist has discovered the advantage their white fur gives them for catching dinner. Marina Wang reports. (The Tyee)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 249 AM PDT Mon Oct 18 2021
TODAY SW wind to 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 12 seconds.
TONIGHT SW wind to 10 kt becoming SE 5 to 15 kt after mid

Friday, October 15, 2021

10/15 Maize, Nov 8 border opening, Lower Snake R dams, Kirner Pond swans, no new kind of orca, sea otters, BC groundwater, week in review

Maize

Maize Zea mays
Maize, also known as corn, is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. The leafy stalk of the plant produces pollen inflorescences and separate ovuliferous inflorescences called ears that yield kernels or seeds, which are fruits. (Wikipedia)

U.S. to open border to fully vaccinated travellers starting Nov. 8
The United States is set to reopen its borders to fully vaccinated travellers starting starting Nov. 8, and will apply to those travelling by air, land or passenger ferry. Air travellers will need to show proof of vaccination on arrival to the U.S., but will still need to show a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of travel prior to boarding their flight. Non-essential travellers crossing at a land border will be required to show proof of vaccination or attest to their vaccination status upon request by a border agent, but unlike air travellers there will be no requirement for them to show a negative COVID-19 test. Darren Major and Katie Simpson report. (CBC)

Inslee says Lower Snake River dams report should be ready this summer
The fate of the four controversial Lower Snake River dams will be a topic of study this summer. Washington politicians said they plan to weigh in then on the fate of the four controversial Lower Snake River dams. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says a report should come out this summer on the four controversial dams on the Lower Snake River. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

Swan-saving project complete at Kirner Pond
A multi-agency, private-public effort to help trumpeter swans safely depart from their seasonal home on Kirner Pond is complete...Local bird advocates came together to start a GoFundMe fundraiser that kicked off on Jan. 25, and it quickly raised more than the goal of $65,000. Those funds, along with in-kind labor and efforts from Clallam PUD, helped fund the work to bury the power lines clearing the way for the trumpeter swans to take off from the small pond located about a mile west of the Woodcock/Sequim-Dungeness Way intersection. Michael Dashiell reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

No discovery of 'new kind of killer whale' off western North America
In a news release, cetacean scientists wrote on Oct. 8: "On October 4th, Hakai Magazine published an article with a headline reporting the discovery of “a new kind of killer whale”. Other media outlets subsequently reported similar headlines in Canada, the USA and internationally, and although some content has since been corrected in these articles, others continue to report false information. The fact is that no new type of killer whale has been discovered and that many of the whales in question are part of the known Bigg’s (transient) killer whale population that prey on marine mammals."

Sea Otters Are Reshaping the Genetics of Eelgrass Meadows
The once-imperiled marine mammal could help this vital coastal ecosystem adapt to a changing world. Isobel Whitcomb reports. (Hakai Magazine)

BC’s Groundwater Licensing System Is Still in Crisis
Experts warn of chaos and economic disruption, but say it’s not too late to save the needed initiative. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

Week in Review 10/15/21: Mushroom Friday!, northern goshawk, snow crab, Fairy Cr protest, Indigenous Peoples Day, FortisBC LNG, starving SRKW, border opening, bigleaf maples, Connie Gallant

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 237 AM PDT Fri Oct 15 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 7 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.
TONIGHT SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 8 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.
SAT SE wind 20 to 30 kt becoming S 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 5 ft at 10 seconds. Rain.
SAT NIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 7 ft at 8 seconds becoming W 4 ft at 9 seconds after midnight.
SUN Light wind becoming W to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 11 seconds.

Thursday, October 14, 2021

10/14 Chanterelle, bigleaf maples, WA ferries cuts, Connie Gallant, Fairy Cr protest, tug oil spill, Springer book, biodiversity conference

Chanterelle

Chanterelle
Chanterelle is the common name of several species of fungi in the genera Cantharellus, Craterellus, Gomphus, and Polyozellus. They are among the most popular of wild edible mushrooms. They are orange, yellow or white, meaty and funnel-shaped. (Wikipedia)

What’s killing the Northwest’s bigleaf maples? Scientists think they’ve found the answer
Climate change is the culprit behind the increasing deaths of bigleaf maples in Washington and across the Pacific Northwest. That’s the conclusion of University of Washington researchers and government agencies who began studying the phenomenon in 2011... In a paper released earlier this month, lead researchers Jacob Betzen and Patrick Tobin concluded that the varied effects of urbanization and climate change were leading to the decline and death of bigleaf maples across their range from British Columbia to California. Craig Sailor reports (Tacoma News Tribune)

Amid crew shortages, Washington State Ferries to cut sailings on some routes by half
Washington State Ferries announced late Wednesday afternoon it will impose cuts indefinitely to at least five routes, after failing to overcome a chronic lack of crew. Ferry officials said that by adopting a leaner schedule, to take effect on Saturday, they could better assure travelers that the remaining sailings do occur. It’s a drastic move that Amy Scarton, deputy state transportation secretary, said last week the agency might need to make. She compared this scenario to “snow routes” when transit or ferry managers carefully trim service but keep a mobility lifeline between communities. Mike Lindblom reports. (Seattle Times)

Port Townsend Marine Science Center presents Stopps award
This has been a difficult time for Connie Gallant. Her mate of 50 years, JD, died Sept. 2. “He was my cheerleader. We shared everything,” said Gallant. So it was bittersweet, she said this week, to receive news she’d won the 2021 Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership Award. Diane Urbani de la Paz reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

How Fairy Creek Is Influencing the Wet’suwet’en Resistance
Northern BC land defenders dig in, borrowing tactics and eying court rulings from the big standoff on Vancouver Island. Amanda Follett Hosgood and Zoe Yunke report. (The Tyee)

Heiltsuk leader says community still waiting for environmental justice 5 years after 'traumatizing' oil spill
In 2016, tugboat Nathan E. Stewart spilled 110,000 litres of diesel and oil, closing nation's harvesting site. (CBC)

Book Signing; Orca Rescue! The True Story of an Orphaned Orca Named Springer
Donna Sandstrom, Founder/Executive Director of The Whale Trail hosts a book signing celebrating her new book, Orca Rescue! The True Story of an Orphaned Orca Named Springer. 10/17, 2 - 4 p.m., C & P Coffee, 5612 California Ave SW, Seattle. The event will be open to the public in partnership with Paper Boat Booksellers.

Why the U.N.’s Biodiversity Conference Is So Important
Countries are gathering in an effort to stop a biodiversity collapse that scientists say could equal climate change as an existential crisis. Catrin Einhorn reports. (NY Times)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 240 AM PDT Thu Oct 14 2021
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt in the morning becoming light. Wind waves 1 ft or less in the morning becoming less than 1 ft. W swell 7 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then a chance of showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT S wind to 10 kt becoming SE after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of showers in the evening then rain after midnight.

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

10/13 Pumpkin, border opening, SRKW decline, islander ferry woes, Tilbury Is LNG, gas lawn tool ban, orca fight, fish sink

Pumpkin

Pumpkin
Pumpkins, like other squash, originated in northeastern Mexico and southern United States. The oldest evidence were pumpkin fragments dated between 7,000 and 5,500 BC found in Mexico. Pumpkin fruits are a type of botanical berry known as a pepo. Pumpkins are widely grown for commercial use and as food, aesthetics, and recreational purposes. Pumpkin pie, for instance, is a traditional part of Thanksgiving meals in Canada and the United States, and pumpkins are frequently carved as jack-o'-lanterns for decoration around Halloween. In 2019, China accounted for 37% of the world's production of pumpkins. (Wikipedia)

U.S. to reopen land border to fully vaccinated Canadians next month
Fully vaccinated Canadians will be allowed to enter the United States at land and ferry border crossings starting in early November. Senior U.S. officials announced Tuesday night a plan to begin reopening the land borders with Canada and Mexico, which have been closed for non-essential travel since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. An exact date for the reopening has not yet been determined, according to senior administration officials who briefed reporters earlier about the plan during a conference call. Alexander Panetta, Katie Simpson and Nick Boisvert report. (CBC)

Study raises new questions about why southern resident killer whales are in decline
A team from the University of British Columbia says the assumption that southern resident killer whales are in decline due to lack of chinook salmon in Canadian waters does not hold up under scrutiny. Instead, their new study suggests declining chinook stocks are only part of the problem facing the critically endangered orcas, and that researchers need to look beyond the Salish Sea for answers. Andrew Trites, co-author and director of UBC's Marine Mammal Research Unit, called the findings published earlier this month in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences unexpected. Karin Larsen reports. (CBC)

‘Where’s the ferry?’ islanders ask as crew shortages stymie scheduled sailings
Part of the state highway system but not taken for granted these days: Recent substantial crew shortages have resulted in cancellations of more than 50 Washington State Ferries sailings in a week in the San Juan Islands. State officials are looking for long-term solutions to serve commuters and other residents and visitors. Heather Spaulding reports. (Salish Current)

FortisBC Wants to Expand an LNG Plant on Vancouver’s Doorstep. Opponents Say No
Tilbury Island is a low-lying stretch of land a few kilometres from the mouth of the Fraser River, tucked in the industrial heart of the city of Delta. Tilbury Island is at the centre of a debate that’s leading environmental groups to picket the provincial legislature, and cities to vote in opposition. The island is home to FortisBC’s Tilbury Island LNG facility, which the utility company is seeking to expand by adding additional LNG storage and a jetty where it could load tankers bound for international markets. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

California set to become first state to ban gasoline-powered lawn equipment
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that would phase out the sale of new gas-powered lawn equipment in the state by 2024. Tik Root reports. (Washington Post)

Rare clash between two distinct kinds of orcas in the Salish Sea — and the endangered fish-eaters won
Whale watching in the Salish Sea is almost always a thrill. But a recent clash between two species of orcas presented a rare spectacle. Two distinct species of orcas feed and socialize in the waters of Puget Sound: fish-eating endangered southern resident killer whales and transient, or Bigg’s, killer whales, which feed on marine mammals and are more common. They seldom mix. In a recent encounter between these distinct ecotypes, it was the southern residents that appeared to break up a group of transients and drive them away. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (NNKX)

Letting Carbon Sink with the Fishes
Fish fall to the seafloor when they die, sequestering carbon in the deep. Our penchant for catching big fish is breaking the cycle. Amorina Kingdon, Kelly Fretwell and Meigan Henry report. (Hakai Magazine)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 226 AM PDT Wed Oct 13 2021
TODAY W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind to 10 kt becoming E 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft after midnight. W swell 7 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then rain after midnight.

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

10/12 Jonagold, Indigenous Peoples' Day, WA cider, BC Ferries Covid, octopus wrestling

Jonagold apple

Jonagold apple
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to Jonagold. The Jonagold apple is a cross between Golden Delicious and the Jonathan. It first appeared in 1953 at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York. This apple tends to be large in size and is tangy sweet with honey-like flavor notes. On the outside, Jonagold is crimson red flushed with yellow-green undertones. The flesh is a creamy pale yellow color. They have a shorter season than many apples, making them a real treat in the fall and winter months. (Stemilt)

‘We are the land’: Indigenous Peoples’ Day gathering at Lummi Nation celebrates survival
Sweet smoke lifted from the fire, burning to coals to prepare the feast of salmon for this gathering on Indigenous Peoples’ Day. It was, after all, a gathering of the Salmon People. From Canada to California and reservations in between, Native people gathered here at the Wex’liem Community Building west of Bellingham both in person and virtually to talk about what it means to be Native. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Climate change forces WA apple cider industry to adjust
The future of the business may depend on how apple growers and cider-makers start adapting now to conditions they can’t anticipate. Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

Public health experts call on B.C. Ferries to provide more stringent COVID-19 safety measures
Epidemiologists are calling for more clarity around B.C. Ferries' ventilation protocols and more stringent mask requirements on sailings after the corporation announced federal proof-of-vaccination rules would not apply to its passengers. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC)

When Octopus Wrestling Was All the Rage
Long before the NHL’s Kraken came to town, Seattle was home to another cephalopod-themed sports craze. Kristen Nelson reports. (Sports Illustrated)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 222 AM PDT Tue Oct 12 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 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 9 ft subsiding to 5 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming NW 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds building to 9 ft at 10 seconds after midnight. A chance of rain in the evening.