Salish Sea News and Weather: January 2022

Monday, January 31, 2022

1/31 Black rockfish, rising temps, salmon research, Salish Sea ship traffic, carbon costs, Guemes Is beach, fossil fuel bans, biochar, Nooksack flood

Black rockfish [Steve Lonhart WikiCommons]

Black rockfish Sebastes melanops
The black rockfish, also known variously as the black seaperch, black bass, black rock cod, sea bass, black snapper and Pacific Ocean perch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is sometimes misidentified as the "red snapper". (Wikipedia)

Rising temperatures take toll on coastal waters
Warmer summers, heat domes and marine heat waves are transforming B.C.’s coastal waters, and the consequences may well be far-reaching and long-lasting, a series of recent studies suggest. Over the past decade, 90 per cent of sunflower sea stars have disappeared from B.C. waters. The near-extinction of the colourful, many-armed seafloor-dwelling predator has removed checks on the region’s sea urchin populations, which inhabit rocky reefs and voraciously eat kelp. Monique Keiran reports. (Times-Colonist)

International research team to probe salmon mysteries in North Pacific
An international team of more than 60 scientists on four vessels is headed out on rough winter seas to investigate West Coast and Alaska salmon in the North Pacific. The Shimada, a flagship research vessel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will depart Port Angeles Tuesday to join the expedition with ships from Canada and Russia. The scientists will search for salmon as they probe mysteries that have long bedeviled scientists seeking to better understand the Pacific salmon that support cultures, communities and ecosystems across western North America. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Anticipated Salish Sea vessel traffic increases spark calls for more environmental protections
Fossil fuel and terminal expansion projects up and down the Salish Sea are estimated to boost annual shipping vessel traffic by at least 25% in the near future, and the projected increase has raised concerns about increased risk to the environment. Clifford Heberden reports. (Salish Current)

Canada’s biggest emitters are paying the lowest price on carbon
Oil and gas producers pay among the lowest average carbon costs of any sector – and it’s threatening Canada’s climate targets. Yannic Rack reports. (The Narwhal)

Keep walking, or keep off? Guemes beach-walking pushes question of private property versus public access
Disagreement between those who hold to a long-established practice on Guemes Island of public access to walking across privately owned tidelands and a property owner's opposition to what he sees as trespassing has evolved into a lawsuit. The underlying issue of public access to privately owned tidelands has been decided for other Pacific Coast states and for Washington state's oceanfront beaches, but not yet for beaches that surround the Salish Sea. Lauren Gallup reports. (Salish Current)

Bans on fossil fuel heating in new homes gain steam as world aims for net-zero emissions
Vancouver and Quebec recently banned certain kinds of fossil fuel-based heating in new home construction. Similar — and, in some cases more extensive — bans are happening around the world, from Norway to New York City. The goal? To cut CO2 emissions from buildings by replacing fossil fuel burning with electric heating. But are such bans necessary? And what impact will they have on people who live in those cities? Here's a closer look. Emily Chung reports. (CBC)

This new climate change solution could be tested on Whatcom, Skagit farms
The Whatcom-based organization Kulshan Carbon Trust is launching a pilot program in the coming months to experiment with a type of charcoal called biochar. When this substance is spread on the land, it has been shown to suck planet-warming greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere while boosting crop yield and tree growth. Ysabelle Kempe reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Atmospheric Rivers Spur Debates on Flood Management in Washington State
After a series of storms dumped unprecedented amounts of rainfall on the northwestern corner of Washington last November, small communities in the Nooksack Valley were left severely flooded and asking questions about how to prevent flood damage in the future. But finding a solution to flooding isn’t easy. The region is home to a diversity of stakeholders, including Indigenous tribes, community leaders, gravel-extracting firms, and agricultural landowners, whose interests, such as protecting fish habitat, commercial business, and private property, often come into direct conflict with flood prevention measures. Emily Denny reports. (Columbia Climate School)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 241 AM PST Mon Jan 31 2022
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY W wind 20 to 30 kt easing to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 11 ft at 10 seconds subsiding to 9 ft at 10 seconds in the afternoon. A chance of rain in the morning then a slight chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT NW wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 15 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 10 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

Friday, January 28, 2022

1/28 Lichenfoot, renewable energy legislation, tracking bills, sunscreen, Tulalip curriculum, Samish solar, rail blockade, Forks sewage, week in review

Lichenfoot

Camp Story
Reader Rick Haley recounts: "As a kid in the '60s, I attended summer church camp in woodsy locations near Portland - Bullfrog Park near Tualatin, Lacamas Lake on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge, Camp Adams near Mt Hood. One year camp was at Spirit Lake under the still-intact Mt. St. Helens. Even in the early '60s the area was known as a Bigfoot hotspot. There had been many notable sightings and experiences including a case where some loggers were under siege in their cabin while "something" moved around their heavy equipment and pelted the roof with boulders. A local lava tube has been called Ape Cave for a long time. This was before the 1967 Patterson-Gimlin film brought the creature to nationwide attention.

"One of the older kids at camp thought it would be amusing to add to the local lore, and with the assistance of a couple of others, went out into the woods and scavenged bits of the forest to dress up as a Sasquatch using plenty of lichen. He came gamboling back into camp, and it must have been a pretty fair imitation as he cause quite a commotion. I only saw him from a distance and wasn't particularly affected, but one young girl got quite a fright and it took some doing from camp staff to calm her down. I don't know how many Bigfoot sightings are caused by young pranksters dressed in lichen, but I know of at least one of them."

Two Washington bills, two different approaches to renewable energy projects
Two bills with opposite approaches in the Washington Legislature hope to change how some renewable energy projects get approved. One new bill, House Bill 1871, would pause the state approval process for new renewable energy projects until Dec. 1, 2023. H.B. 1812 would allow more clean energy developers access to the council’s approval process, which would expand renewable projects to include energy storage projects, clean energy manufacturing, and renewable hydrogen production. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

Legislative tracker 2022
Feb. 15 is the deadline for this legislative session’s policy bills to pass out of their house of origin. Bills related to the budget do not have a deadline, so even if a bill appears dead, it could come back to life later, if lawmakers decide it’s tied to the budget. (Crosscut)

Searching for the Future of Sunscreen
Scientists are sourcing new ultraviolet ray–blocking compounds from algae, seaweed, cyanobacteria, and other marine creatures with the hope of designing a more environmentally friendly sunscreen. Jea Morris reports. (Hakai Magazine)

This is how you create a curriculum the Tulalip way
A curriculum created with tribes not just about them. Keep the interests of Tulalip in mind. That’s what Marjorie James remembers Senator John McCoy telling her when she took her new role. James is the Curriculum and Engagement Manager for Tulalip Tribes. The job spans across ages, in the Kindergarten through lifetime education division. Brandi Fullwood and Libby Denkmann reports. (KUOW)

Samish Indian Nation expanding solar energy program
Like many Indigenous communities, the Samish Indian Nation is working to adapt when it comes to climate change. “We are committed to trying to make a difference on climate change,” Samish Natural Resources Director Todd Woodard said. One step the tribe is taking is to add solar power at its facilities. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

CN won't pursue contempt charges over Gitxsan rail blockade in northern B.C.
Canadian National Railway says it will not be pursuing contempt charges against a dozen people, including three hereditary chiefs who were arrested for blocking a major rail line in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en opponents of the Coastal GasLink pipeline in northwestern B.C. in February 2020. Martin Peters, the lawyer for the defendants, almost all of them members of the Gitxsan nation, welcomes the news but said important issues of Aboriginal title have still not been addressed. Betsy Trumpener reports. (CBC)

Forks to receive $2.4 million for wastewater treatment plant
Clallam County approved the use of $2.4 million in Opportunity Funds to improve and retrofit the City of Forks’ wastewater treatment facility. The total project cost will be about $3.4 million, with the city contributing $1,023,500 from the funds it received from the American Rescue Plan Act in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ken Park reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 1/28/22: Lego Friday!, firefighter toxins, Howe Sound fishery, stream tree planting, buying TM pipe, enviro justice, BC glaciers, BC fish farms, wetlands, Nooksack R., sunscreen

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 241 AM PST Fri Jan 28 2022
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less in the morning becoming less than 1 ft. W swell 3 ft at 12 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind to 10 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind waves less than 1 ft becoming 1 ft or less after midnight. W swell 3 ft at 12 seconds.
SAT SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 12 seconds.
SUN S wind to 10 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 12 seconds.

Thursday, January 27, 2022

1/27 Cordulegaster, Nooksack R overflow, Canadian CG, wetlands, green crabs, Great Peninsula Conservancy

Cordulegaster [Insect ID]

Cordulegaster spp.
Aquatic larvae, or naiads, for this dragonfly genus are underwater hunters that use the sediment and muddy bottoms to hide themselves. (Insect Identification)

U.S. officials consider plan that would 'send' Nooksack River overflow into Canada
A plan devised by American officials that could lead to the creation of a “floodway” to allow the Nooksack River to spill into Canada during high water has many Abbotsford residents on edge. Paula Harris, river and flood manager for Whatcom County, presented the concept to the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone Advisory Committee earlier this month, asking them to support a request for federal funding to buy out homes in an area between the Nooksack River and the Canadian border as a way to mitigate future flooding. The proposed floodway would act like a pressure-release valve, allowing the U.S. river to overflow its banks near Everson and run north into Abbotsford, protecting downstream cities such as Lynden, Ferndale and Bellingham, as well as Interstate 5. Glenda Luymes reports. (Vancouver Sun)

On its 60th anniversary, Canadian Coast Guard says First Nations relationship key to service in B.C.
The Canadian Coast Guard is celebrating 60 years of service from coast to coast to coast. Formed on Jan. 26, 1962, the coast guard, which has 123 ships, 23 helicopters, around 17,000 fixed and floating aids to navigation and 183 marine communication towers, is responsible for patrolling the world's longest coastline. (CBC)

Supreme Court tees up wetlands fight that could cuff EPA
The Supreme Court’s decision today to take a fresh look at the scope of the Clean Water Act could impair EPA’s ability to protect isolated wetlands and ephemeral and intermittent streams. It’s the latest brawl the high court has agreed to tackle with the potential to reshape national environmental policy. “They very well could address this whole issue fresh, what we call de novo, look at it in light of what the language of the statute really means,” said Larry Liebesman, a senior adviser at Dawson & Associates, a consulting firm that specializes in permitting. “With a 6-3 majority conservative, there’s a fair chance they may come out with a ruling that’s a lot closer to the Scalia interpretation.” Former Justice Antonin Scalia concluded in a famous court decision that “waters of the U.S.” should only include relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water because, according to him, that aligned with the Webster’s Dictionary definition, Hannah Northey and Pamela King report. (E&E Greenwire)

Nearly 70,000 Invasive Green Crabs Were Captured in Washington State Last Fall
The state of Washington is taking emergency action to fight an infestation of European green crabs, an invasive species that’s had an "exponential increase" in local waterways. Last fall, more than 70,000 crabs were captured and removed from the Lummi Nation's Sea Pond near the Canadian border. Corryn Wetzel reports. (Smithsonian Magazine)

Puget Sound nonprofit raises $2.15 million for conservation efforts
A conservancy agency in the West Puget Sound of Washington hopes to acquire 100 acres to extend recreational trails and restore forest and wetlands to a natural state. The Great Peninsula Conservancy reached its goal of $2.15 million through community fundraising to purchase the 100-acre property in December 2021. Donations that surpassed the acquisition goal will go toward property restoration, according to Executive Director Nathan Daniel. (Madysen McLain reports. (Woodinville Weekly)

Now, your tug weather--West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 234 AM PST Thu Jan 27 2022 TODAY SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 1 to 2 ft in the afternoon. W swell 5 ft at 12 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 4 ft at 12 seconds.

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

1/26 Playing possum, BC salmon farms, BC glaciers, enviro justice, WA bear hunt, Sound Waters, Methuselah the fish

Playing possum [Wikipedia]

Playing possum
Apparent death, colloquially known as playing dead, feigning death, or playing possum, is a behavior in which animals take on the appearance of being dead. It is an immobile state most often triggered by a predatory attack and can be found in a wide range of animals from insects and crustaceans to mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Apparent death is also referred to as thanatosis, animal hypnosis, immobilization catatonia, or tonic immobility, the latter of which is preferred in the scientific literature on the subject. (Wikipedia)

New salmon farm proposals for B.C. coast raise questions about Ottawa’s promised 2025 phase-out
A raft of proposals to expand open-net pen salmon farms on the B.C. coast, including a plan for a new salmon farm off the north-east coast of Vancouver Island, is raising questions about whether fish farming will really be phased out in the province or whether companies will find ways, such as partnerships with First Nations, to circumvent federal Liberal government pledges to remove open-net pen salmon farms from B.C. waters by 2025. Judith Lavoie reports. (The Narwhal)

B.C. glaciers melting 7 times faster in past decade than previous years, UNBC study finds
Glaciers in British Columbia and Alberta have been melting an average of seven times faster over the past decade than in previous time periods, according to a new study from geologists at the University of Northern British Columbia. PhD candidate Alexandre Bevington and professor Brian Menounos used new technology to conduct the study. Winston Szeto reports. (CBC)

British Columbia developing plan to protect drinking water, ecosystems
The B.C. government announced Tuesday it is developing a new strategy to protect watersheds and drinking water, in response to threats posed by climate change combined with the effects of urban and industrial development. Severe drought, wildfires, flooding and landslides in British Columbia last year show that responding to climate change requires focusing on water and strengthening natural defences provided by healthy watersheds, an expert says. (Canadian Press)

E.P.A. Chief Vows to ‘Do Better’ to Protect Poor Communities
The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday will announce stepped-up enforcement and monitoring to help disadvantaged communities struggling with polluted air and water. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times)

Washington commission to reconsider 2022 spring bear hunt
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will reconsider a controversial spring bear hunt that the commission had recently postponed. In November, the commission did not update permits for a 2022 spring bear hunt after a 4-4 split decision. A majority of commissioners needed to authorize the 2022 special hunt permits, which meant the upcoming spring season would not happen. Since the November vote, hunting groups petitioned the commission to open the 2022 spring bear hunt. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

‘True alien life form’ will be the talk of Sound Waters
Sound Waters University is an annual one-day educational conference on all things relating to the Salish Sea and its surroundings. This is its 28th year and the theme is “Hope in Action.”es, native pollinators and anemones. For the second year in a row, the event is online. Register here. soundwatersuniversity.org Kira Erickson reports. (Whidbey Mews-Times)

Meet Methuselah, the oldest living aquarium fish
Meet Methuselah, the fish that likes to eat fresh figs, get belly rubs and is believed to be the oldest living aquarium fish in the world. Methuselah is a 4-foot-long (1.2-meter), 40-pound (18.1-kilogram) Australian lungfish that was brought to the San Francisco museum in 1938 from Australia. Biologists at the California Academy of Sciences believe Methuselah is about 90 years old, with no known living peers. Haven Daley reports. (Associated Press)

Starry flounder
Reader David Beatty adds to yesterday's info bit about the starry flounder that: "A physiological feature of the Starry Flounder is its tolerance of a wide range of salinities. It is a euryhaline species that enters estuaries and even for short distances into freshwater. At low tide, juveniles are often found in the fresh water flowing over sand and mud. More? Try Ken Jones Fishing.

Black Diamond
Last Friday's info bit about the town of Black Diamond brought a response from Nicole Loeffler-Gladstone of Puget SoundKeeper Alliance who pointed out that Puget Soundkeeper helped support the permanent closure of the mine. John Henry Number 1 Coal Mine had been out of operation since 1999, but options to resume mining were on the table until our settlement. ["Black Diamond Coal Mine Agrees to Permanent Closure" July 1, 2021] "Thank you for featuring the beautiful Pagani House! I see it as a reminder that restoring and remediating land can be a way to honor those who faced (and continue to face) the impossible choice of working in extractive and destructive industries."

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 226 AM PST Wed Jan 26 2022
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 14 seconds. Patchy fog.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 13 seconds. Areas of fog.

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

1/25 Starry flounder, stagnant air, buying TM pipe, planting along streams, GOP surge, Barnaby Reach, what's an EIS

Starry flounder [WikiCommons]

Starry flounder Platichthys stellatus
Starry Flounders are found on sandy or muddy sea floors from northern Alaska to southern California. Starry Flounders are flatfish. When they are born, they have an eye on either side of their heads just like regular fish. As they grow, however, one eye migrates to the other side and they swim on their sides for their rest of their lives. As they mature, Starry Flounders can also change their skin color. On the topside of their bodies they form a mottled coloring to match their environment. The fish then lies still on the ocean floor so they can effectively ambush their prey such as crabs, shrimps, worms and small fish. (Oregon Coast Aquarium)

Smell that? Air stagnation advisory for western Washington
If you feel the air getting a little funky over the next few days, it’s most likely you. To be more accurate — it’s us. Most of western Washington is under an air stagnation advisory until Wednesday. That means the airflow common to the region is on pause for now, leaving the air to sit around, closer to the ground. All our pollution, burning, and other emissions we produce will just be hanging out until the next wind comes through to blow it away. Angela King and Dyer Oxley report. (KUOW)

Indigenous non-profit looks to buy Trans Mountain Pipeline
A new Indigenous non-profit organization is seeking an ownership stake in the Trans Mountain Pipeline, saying its aim is to make sure communities along the pipeline's route receive its benefits directly. Nesika Services publicly launched Monday, calling itself a grassroots, community-led not-for-profit. Amanda Stephenson reports. (Canadian Press)

Piece of state legislation has its detractors in Skagit County
With a state-level push to save salmon by planting trees along streams, angst is increasing among landowners and government representatives in farm-focused Skagit County. At issue is a bill under consideration by the Legislature — House Bill 1838, which if passed would be known as the Lorraine Loomis Act — that would require landowners on public and private land to maintain and restore streamside habitat called riparian vegetation. Kimberly Cauvel report. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Polling shows a Republican surge in Washington and beyond
A growing number of Washingtonians identify as Republicans, closing the gap with Democrats and signaling a very different political landscape for the midterms. H. Stuart Elway reports. (Crosscut)

Phase one complete of Barnaby Reach restoration project
The Barnaby Reach project team on Saturday hosted a tour of the restoration work completed on the former hatchery site. Skagit River System Cooperative (SRSC), which serves the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, is the project management group for the restoration of the hatchery formerly owned by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Maddie Smith reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Explainer: What’s an Environmental Impact Statement?
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) sounds like a highly technical and complex mechanism of governance. They take years, spiral into hundreds of pages with massive appendices, and get fought over in court. The truth is that EIS are a simple concept with plenty of spots that you can influence the shape of the city in the future. Ray Dubicki writes. (The Urbanist)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 231 AM PST Tue Jan 25 2022
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 5 ft at 13 seconds. Areas of fog.
TONIGHT SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 14 seconds. Areas of fog after midnight.

Monday, January 24, 2022

1/24 Kildeer, Howe Sound fishing ban, Risso's dolphins, fin whale, ghosts traps, firefighting gear toxins, methane bubbles, BC oil gas cleanup, B'ham news

Kildeer [All About Birds/Brad Imhoff]

Kildeer Charadrius vociferus
Often seen in dry, flat landscapes, running and halting on the ground in search of insects and earthworms. Although the Killdeer is common around human habitation it is often shy, at first running away rather than flying. When a Killdeer stops to look at an intruder, it has a habit of bobbing up and down almost as if it had hiccupped. Near the nest, Killdeer distract predators by calling loudly, bobbing, and running away. Killdeer are some of the best-known practitioners of the broken-wing display, an attempt to lure predators away from a nest by feigning injury. Pairs of Killdeer tend to stay together for one to a few years. [All About Birds]

Fisheries Department bans bottom fishing in Howe Sound near glass sponge reefs
The federal government has now protected all identified sections of prehistoric and living glass-sponge reefs in Howe Sound. As of this week, trawling for shrimp and setting prawn and crab traps is banned in five sections of Howe Sound by commercial or recreational fishers. This comes two years after nine other reef sites in the sound were protected. Fishing for groundfish and rockfish in the area with hook and line atop and near the reefs is also banned. David Carrigg reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Rare marine mammals sighted in Salish Sea
The Salish Sea has been alive with rare cetaceans lately. Risso’s dolphins were sighted Friday near Nanaimo in the Strait of Georgia, and last week a fin whale was spotted foraging for food near a popular beach in North Seattle. The Risso’s dolphins were first seen Thursday morning in the waters off Campbell River and again later in the afternoon near Nanoose. Almost a dozen of the dolphins were observed to be travelling south in Strait of Georgia near Nanaimo Friday morning. Scott Weston reports. (CTV) See also:‘Mystery whale’ spotted in Washington’s Puget Sound is one of the world’s longest The Pacific Whale Watch Association said Jan. 20 a fin whale, one of the longest species of whales on the planet, was sighted in Puget Sound.Maddie Capron reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Debris from fishing, oyster farms endangers BC sea life
Abandoned oyster and other aquaculture farms of the west coast of Vancouver Island are death traps to salmon, herring, marine mammals and myriad sea life — and nobody really knows how many are out there. Darron Kloster reports. (Times-Colonist)

Firefighters hope Washington bill will help remove toxic chemicals from protective gear
Firefighters already are diagnosed with certain cancers at a higher rate than the rest of the population, according to a study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. A new bill [HB 1694] in the Washington Legislature could help speed the process for state regulators to restrict toxic chemicals in firefighting gear. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

Scientists look for answers in methane bubbles rising from bottom of Puget Sound
In 2011, sonar operators aboard the ocean-going Research Vessel Thomas G. Thompson inadvertently recorded a surprising natural phenomenon, as the 274-foot ship traversed through Puget Sound while returning to port at the University of Washington...The initial discovery of the methane plumes, by Susan Merle of Oregon State University, would lead to further discoveries of methane bubbles throughout most of Puget Sound. The findings have raised many interesting questions while providing implications related to the Puget Sound food web, studies of earthquake faults and even worldwide climate-change research. Johnson, Merle and other collaborators just published their first report on Puget Sound’s methane bubbles in the journal “Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems.” Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

BC Oil and Gas Cleanup ‘Going in Wrong Direction’
The public will be the big losers after coming changes to British Columbia’s regulation of oil and gas industry contaminated sites, say critics. tarting next week, the industry will no longer have to meet contaminated site cleanup requirements set by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, says Donna Forsyth, a retired legislative advisor who worked for the B.C. Environment Ministry from 2006 to 2020. Instead, industry cleanup rules will be written and enforced by the BC Oil and Gas Commission, a Crown corporation which is wholly funded by industry and was created to promote energy resource development. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

Bellingham to be a two-newspaper town again — in a brave, new information world
A new digital and print publication launching this month will make Bellingham a two-newspaper town once again. The publication launches into an information environment much different from the last time the town had two papers, and observers look forward to the prospect of seeing more local news on government, agriculture and other topics. Matt Benoit reports. (Salish Current)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 226 AM PST Mon Jan 24 2022
TODAY E wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 15 seconds. Patchy fog in the morning.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 14 seconds.

Friday, January 21, 2022

1/21 Black Diamond, Skagit headwaters, BC storm damage, sea slugs, under Puget Sound, week in review


Luigi & Aurora Pagani House, Black Diamond. [Joe Mabel/WikiCommons]

Black Diamond, Washington
The town of Black Diamond in King County derived its name from the Black Diamond Coal Co, of California which opened coal mines in the area in the early 1889. (Washington State Place Names) The Luigi and Aurora Pagani House, pictured above, was typical of the houses of 1890s immigrant Italian coal miners in this area. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and as a city landmark. (Wikipedia)

Why Imperial Metals surrendered its mining rights in B.C.’s Skagit headwaters
After the mining company accepted $24 million from a coalition of groups in exchange for releasing mineral claims to the province of B.C., conservationists and First Nations are celebrating the end of potential exploration in an area known as the Doughnut Hole, an anomaly of unprotected land about half the size of the city of Vancouver that is completely encircled by Manning and Skagit provincial parks. Judith Lavoie reports. (The Narwhal)

'The whole landscape has changed:' Parks, trails and rec sites destroyed by B.C. storms
Access to some parts of the B.C. backcountry will likely be "restricted" this summer as assessments are still underway. Glenda Luymes reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Unlocking the secrets of Puget Sound sea slugs
There is no shortage of breathtaking wildlife in the Puget Sound region. The orca is, of course, our most famous mascot, but we also have a special love for our Dungeness crabs, octopi, and tide pool critters. Without a boat or special gear, a lot of these creatures remain out of our everyday reach. But there is one little guy you can find most any day on your neighborhood dock: sea slugs, also known by their scientific name, nudibranchs. Alec Cowan report. (KUOW)

Our neighbors Sound-under
Soundside takes a deep dive into the waters around Washington to learn about some of our less appreciated neighbors. Because while they may be lesser-known, they have a lot to tell us about our ecosystems, and might even offer some innovative solutions to everyday problems. Libby Denkmann, Sarah Leibovitz, Alex Cowan and Noel Garcia report. (KUOW)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 1/21/22: Aloha Squirrel Friday!, Nooksack R., park comanagement, Glacier Peak, water and landslides, orca decline, Lorraine Loomis Act, BC fish processing, Upper Skagit mining, BC old-growth, Springer, green crab emergency, dead pigs, storm destruction

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 214 AM PST Fri Jan 21 2022
TODAY W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 9 ft at 12 seconds.
TONIGHT NW wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 8 ft at 11 seconds.
SAT E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 5 ft at 10 seconds.
SAT NIGHT E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 15 seconds.
SUN Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. W swell 8 ft at 14 seconds.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

1/20 Black cod, blackcaps, Upper Skagit watershed, BC old growth, Springer, Corexit, methane, Omicron sewage, dead pigs

Black cod [D.R. Robertson [UC SD]

Black Cod Anoplopoma fimbria
Black cod, also known as sablefish or butterfish due to its velvety texture, which results from a rich content of healthy oils and omega-3 fatty acids. Most Black cod is shipped to Japan, where their seafood loving culture snaps it up. It’s becoming more prevalent here, as Japanese chefs have introduced it to Americans, most often as Miso-Glazed Black Cod or simmered in a Japanese style broth. (Real Good Fish)

Regarding blackcaps, Don Norman writes: "Blackcap grows in more well drained sunny locations than the small yummy more running native blackberry or the more shade tolerant thimbleberry. It has light colored canes (ie the leuco in the Latin) that will bend over and will root from the tips. This will make new plants from the canes, so bend them over."

Mining company drops rights to Upper Skagit watershed in key preservation step
The British Columbia government has announced the surrender of mining rights at the headwaters of the Skagit River, following yearslong controversy over protection of one of the region’s premier salmon rivers. Under an agreement announced Wednesday by the office of the B.C. premier, Imperial Metals will return to the province of B.C. all of its mining and related rights within a more than 14,000-acre area for a $24 million Canadian buyout. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times) See also: Canada: No more mining threat for Skagit River headwaters Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Deal reached between B.C. First Nations and forestry company to defer old-growth logging
Logging will be temporarily deferred in approximately 2,500 hectares of old-growth forest following an agreement between four Vancouver Island First Nations and a forestry company.The Nanwakolas Council, which represents four First Nations, and Western Forest Products have agreed to defer old-growth logging in a section of forest north of Campbell River, for two years. (CBC)

An orphaned orca brought a community together — and still inspires 20 years after her rescue
Twenty years ago this month, a baby orca was discovered near Seattle. She was lost and alone, unhealthy and lingering dangerously close to the Vashon Island ferry dock. Six months later, a community effort successfully returned her to her family off Vancouver Island, Canada. This is the story of the orphaned orca we now know as Springer. She’s still thriving today and her rescue remains the only successful orca rehabilitation in history. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Washington Gov. Inslee declares European green crab emergency
Washington Governor Jay Inslee has authorized emergency actions to combat an infestation of European green crabs. The crab is considered one of the world’s most destructive invasive species. Inslee says the need to protect local shellfish and ecosystems from the crabs is too urgent to wait for the legislature to approve new funding. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Rally in Seattle to Focus on Keeping Toxic Oil Dispersants Out of Salish Sea
Commercial fishermen, environmentalists and Native American entities concerned about toxics in the Salish Sea plan to rally outside the Gates Foundation in Seattle at noon on Thursday, Jan. 20, to voice concerns over the use of Corexit dispersants for oil spill response. Their goal, according to rally co-organizer Riki Ott, is to encourage the manufacturer, Nalco, to stop producing these dispersants and instead use the ingredients as feed stock for other products. (Fisherman's News)

Bubbles of methane rising from seafloor in Puget Sound
The release of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas responsible for almost a quarter of global warming, is being studied around the world, from Arctic wetlands to livestock feedlots. A University of Washington team has discovered a source much closer to home: 349 plumes of methane gas bubbling up from the seafloor in Puget Sound, which holds more water than any other U.S. estuary. The columns of bubbles are especially pronounced off Alki Point in West Seattle and near the ferry terminal in Kingston, Washington, according to a study in the January issue of Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. Hannah Hickey reports. (UW News)

In Sewage, Clues to Omicron’s Surge
Tracking the virus in wastewater is helping some cities and hospitals respond to the most recent wave of the coronavirus, but a more coordinated national effort is needed, experts say. Emily Anthes and Sabrina Imbler report. (NY Times)

Thousands of pigs that drowned on B.C. farm no threat to environment
The pigs were among approximately 600,000 animals that died on Sumas Prairie in late November. Net Zero Waste took the carcasses at the request of the B.C. Agriculture Ministry and City of Abbotsford’s emergency operations centre, which were unable to find any rendering facilities or landfills that would accept the dead animals as cleanup efforts began. Joe Fries reports. (Penticton Herald)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca Last Update: 236 AM PST Thu Jan 20 2022
Small Craft Advisory
Today: W wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 7 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain.
Tonight: W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 9 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening.

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

1/19 Blackcap, WA green lege, GasLink blocking press, finned sharks, Big Beef Cr., Mowi fish processing

Blackcap [Trade Winds Fruit]

Blackcap Rubus leucodermis
This species is native from central British Columbia (possibly into Southeast Alaska) to southern California; to eastern Montana, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. The berries were eaten fresh or dried by natives. They were also used to make a purple dye. Many people, however, love the flavor and use them to make pies, jams, jellies, or syrups. A tea, high in vitamin C can be made from the leaves. Young shoots can be peeled, eaten raw, or cooked like asparagus. The brambles rank at the very top of summer foods for wildlife, especially birds: grouse, pigeons, quail, grosbeaks, jays, robins, thrushes, towhees, waxwings, sparrows, to name just a few. The berries are also popular with raccoons, opossums, skunks, foxes, squirrels, chipmunks and other rodents. (Native Plants of the Pacific NW)

Bill to ramp up recycling a top priority for green coalition in 2022 Washington state legislative session
Senate Bill 5697, which seeks to improve Washington’s waste and recycling systems, would shift the burden of curbside recycling costs from consumers to packaging producers and would also would require all packaging and paper products sold in Washington to be designed for reuse, recycling or composting by 2031... Senate Bill 5665, called the "Lorraine Loomis Act" seeks to help restore salmon runs by improving tree shade that can improve cooling around streams where the fish spawn and may rear and would also establish a conservation grant program for stream-side zones. Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times)

Coastal GasLink Attempts to Block Reporters from Wet’suwet’en Territory
Months after the arrests of two journalists, the firm’s security doesn’t seem to understand injunction terms and press freedoms. Amanda Follett Hosgood writes. (The Tyee)

B.C. company fined $75,000 for importing fins of protected sharks
The federal government says an herbal medicine company has pleaded guilty in provincial court in Vancouver to a charge of unlawfully importing a protected shark species without a permit. Environment and Climate Change Canada said in a news release that Hang Hing Herbal Medicine Ltd. was fined $75,000 for importing an endangered species without a permit. (Canadian Press)

Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group adds 50 acres to protected estuary land at Big Beef Creek
Fifty more acres of land along Big Beef Creek has been secured by the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group for conservation purposes, the final piece of a 302-acre restoration effort of critical salmon habitat in the Hood Canal watershed. The land, if not secured for conservation, would likely fall into the hands of developers. Jessie Darland reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Fish processor says it's closing Surrey plant after federal decision to phase out salmon farms
One of the largest farmed salmon producers operating in British Columbia says it's permanently closing its processing plant in Surrey, B.C., because of a federal government decision to phase out some fish farms. Mowi Canada West says in a news release the plant closure is due to the government's cancellation of salmon farming licences in the Discovery Islands between northern Vancouver Island and the mainland. The plant employed 80 people and was operational for four years. (Canadian Press)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 208 AM PST Wed Jan 19 2022
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 12 seconds. A slight chance of showers in the morning then a chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

1/18 Black brandt, orca decline, spot prawn 'tubbing,' derelict boat removal, BC polluted land

Black brandt [eBird]

Black brandt Branta nigricans
Along our interior coastlines and into the Salish Sea, black brandt assemble in small flocks from Edmond's sandy beaches northward up into the embays of Pt. Susan, Skagit, Samish Bellingham and beyond. Here they graze on eelgrass beds and along the surf line sometimes keeping close company with shorebirds like sanderlings and western sandpipers that race back and forth at the upper edge of the water line to feed on a variety of small animals including mollusks, crustaceans, worms and crane flies. (Tony Angell)

"No shortage of questions to be answered" for region's shrinking orca population
While scientists, wildlife managers and others continue to untangle the complex web of fish, boat and water quality issues that affect the health of Southern Resident orca whales, the population remains endangered — and continues to shrink. The National Marine Fisheries Service published a five-year review of the species on Jan. 4 in which it recommended the orca’s status under the federal Endangered Species Act remain unchanged. The species uses West Coast and Salish Sea habitat and eats the region’s salmon. Despite billions of dollars spent and dozens of studies authored since the Southern Resident orca was listed as endangered in 2005, there are now 15 fewer whales than there were in 2005. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

B.C. fishers celebrate DFO announcement allowing spot prawn 'tubbing' to continue
B.C. prawn fishers are celebrating a change of heart by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) that will allow the practice of "tubbing" — freezing spot prawns in tubs of ocean water while at sea — to continue with minimal change. The announcement Monday by Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray is an about face from an announcement less than a year ago when DFO served notice it was making tubbing illegal. Karin Larsen reports. (CBC)

‘Dead’ derelict boats pulled from Goose Spit K’omoks First Nation harbour
Sunken yachts, skiffs and boats decomposing underwater are being pulled from the K’omoks harbour. The Dead Boat Disposal Society, an organization that removes sunken ships from the sea, will be removing 18 individual boats in the waters off Goose Spit. They work with Salish Sea Industrial Services, Esquimalt First Nations and Songhees First Nation along with other organizations and the provincial government to remove the boats. Justin Waddel reports. (Commox Valley Now)

It Pays to Pollute In BC
British Columbia’s property assessment for industrial areas is meant to give property owners a clear understanding of the value of their land. But there’s a serious loophole for companies looking to pay less property tax, according to experts. The loophole goes something like this: pollution decreases a property’s overall value, so corporations who wrap up a mine, creosote plant or even a neighbourhood gas station are incentivized to delay cleanup and remediation, as they pay less property taxes on the polluted land. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 208 AM PST Tue Jan 18 2022
TODAY W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of showers.
TONIGHT SW wind to 10 kt becoming SE after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of showers in the evening then a slight chance of showers after midnight.

Monday, January 17, 2022

1/17 MLK Day "On," Nooksack R., Sauk-Suiattle sues, park co-management, planting trees, Cable Bay, Glacier Peak, Perkins Ln., missing indigenous people bills

MLK Day "On"
“We've got to give ourselves to this struggle until the end. Nothing would be more tragic than to stop at this point, in Memphis. We've got to see it through. And when we have our march, you need to be there. Be concerned about your brother. You may not be on strike, but either we go up together, or we go down together.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (April 3, 1968, Memphis)

The Nooksack River is in “grave danger,” warns Whatcom scientist with numbers to back it up
The Nooksack River is in “grave danger” of experiencing irreversible changes and ecosystem collapse if Whatcom County doesn’t rapidly reform the way it manages nearby human activity. That was the warning that Western Washington University environmental sciences associate professor John McLaughlin gave at the annual environmental caucus meeting for the Water Resource Inventory Area #1 on Monday, Jan. 10. The Water Resource Inventory Area #1 is the watershed designation for the Nooksack River system. If we continue along the path we are on, Chinook salmon are “virtually certain” to go extinct by 2050, water will become even more scarce for farmers and flooding will continue to devastate our communities, he said. Ysabelle Kempe reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Sauk-Suiattle tribe: Seattle City Light violating rights of salmon under "natural law"
For the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, the city of Seattle’s hydroelectric dams on the upper Skagit River have caused harm to tribal members, its collective tribal culture and the the tribe’s spiritual beliefs...The tribe has filed a third lawsuit in Sauk-Suiattle Tribal Court to address its concerns over what it calls natural law. According to the lawsuit, natural laws are unwritten and found instead in values, beliefs, practices, customs and traditions practiced and passed on through language, stories, songs, dances, ceremonies and the leadership of elders. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Vancouver Park Board chair proposes co-management of parks with First Nations
A motion calling for the co-management of parks that fall within the traditional territories of Vancouver's First Nations communities will be debated at a park board meeting later this month. Park board chair Stuart Mackinnon, who is proposing the motion, does not specify how parkland on Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh land would be co-managed but says it's overdue by about 300 years. Baneet Braich reports. (CBC)

New Westminster races to plant trees to guard against future climate emergencies
A city in Metro Vancouver at high risk of being affected by climate emergencies such as extreme heat and flooding is moving fast on an ambitious goal to plant thousands of trees as a mitigation tool. After coming up with an ambitious tree planting goal in 2019, to plant nearly 12,000 new trees across the 15-square-kilometre municipality, it has ramped up planting, with financial support from the federal and provincial governments. Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

Our Community: Land at Galiano's Cable Bay protected, Elk Lake swim helps hospital
Two conservancy associations have partnered to purchase 26.5 hectares of waterfront land on Galiano Island, adding to a network of connected conservation areas totalling more than 500 hectares that spans the width of the island. The acquisition is the culmination of a multi-year partnership between the Galiano Conservancy Association, a community-based land trust and registered charity, and The Nature Trust of B.C., one of the province’s leading non-profit land-conservation organizations. Pedro Arrais reports. (Times Colonist)

At deadly Glacier Peak, one last hurdle for new seismometers
Snohomish County’s Glacier Peak, classified as one of America’s deadliest volcanoes, is a step closer to getting adequate seismometers to detect future eruptions. On Friday, the U.S. Forest Service announced it completed an environmental assessment and a draft decision for installing four new monitors and upgrading an old one, as part of a 30-year special use permit. Government officials estimate the GPS stations could detect and locate eight times as many earthquakes. Zachariah Bryan reports. (Everett Herald)

The inescapable power of water on a landslide-prone street
A little over a week ago, a landslide in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood pushed a home off its foundations. Perkins Lane is a tiny little street that runs along the side of Magnolia Hill. To the South, there’s a stunning view of downtown Seattle across Elliot Bay. To the North, there’s a steep hillside covered with trees and ivy and blackberries. And everywhere you look – there’s water. Joshua McNichols reports. (KUOW)

House bills target crisis of missing Indigenous people in Washington state
The House Public Safety Committee heard testimony Friday on two bills that would address the current crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women. House Bill 1571 would increase communications between county officials and the families of missing Indigenous people while also providing grants to aid human trafficking survivors’ rehabilitation efforts. House Bill 1725, sponsored by Rep. Debra Lekanoff, D-Bow, the state’s only Indigenous legislator, would create an emergency alert designation specifically for missing and endangered Indigenous people. Sarah Kahle reports. (Seattle Times)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 201 AM PST Mon Jan 17 2022
TODAY SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SW in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 5 ft at 12 seconds. Patchy fog. Showers likely in the morning. Showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 12 seconds. Showers in the evening then a chance of showers after midnight.

Friday, January 14, 2022

1/14 Snow bush, steelhead farming OKd, GasLink penalties, WA wastewater bill, puffins, week in review

Snow bush

Snow bush Breynia disticha
What is a snow bush? It is a bushy, evergreen plant native to the Pacific Islands. The amazing colors of the leaves are dappled with white, which makes it appear as if it was snowed upon. Snow bush is widely cultivated in tropical locales. It can be found from southeastern Asia through Malaysia, to Australia, New Caledonia, and New Hebrides. This tropical darling is often used as a colorful hedge, but it suckers profusely and must be maintained to keep it in a tidy habit. (Gardening Know How)

State Supreme Court OKs steelhead farming
The state Supreme Court published a unanimous decision by its nine judges Thursday to uphold the state Department of Fish and Wildlife's approval of steelhead farming in Puget Sound. The environment groups Wild Fish Conservancy, Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Food Safety, and Friends of the Earth have been fighting the state's decision to allow steelhead farming since early 2020. At issue is the plan of international seafood company Cooke Aquaculture to switch from raising nonnative Atlantic salmon at net pens in the region to raising native steelhead trout at the facilities. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Still No Penalties for Coastal GasLink Environmental Violations
More than a year after Coastal GasLink was cited for multiple environmental violations on its pipeline route through northern B.C., the provincial government still hasn’t imposed penalties. And while Coastal GasLink says it has resolved most of the issues, the most recent report by B.C.’s Environmental Assessment Office, posted in December, said that as of October the company had still failed to comply with an order issued a year earlier. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

Bill proposed to reduce pollution in Puget Sound
As Gov. Jay Inslee continues efforts to breach dams on the Snake River, a 9th Legislative District Republican is calling attention to sewage and other pollutants in Puget Sound. Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, has introduced a proposal that aims to help make Puget Sound cleaner. The bill targets Western Washington pollution as a cause for the decline of salmon and orca populations in Puget Sound. Schoesler's measure, Senate Bill 5786, is designed to protect Puget Sound from wastewater pollution by requiring the state Department of Ecology to strengthen the sound's nutrient general permit. (Whitman County Gazette)

The Puffins of Protection Island
Professional and citizen scientists are teaming up to help the tufted puffin on Protection Island. Meghan Fenwick reports. (The Planet Magazine)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 1/14/22: Kite Day!, TM pipe, record tides, Great Bear big whales WA lege climate bills, Electron dam charges, flooded salmon, Guibeault tasked, warmest ocean, RCMP report, WA steelhead farming, GasLink penalties

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 303 AM PST Fri Jan 14 2022
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 11 seconds. Areas of fog in the morning.
TONIGHT SE wind to 10 kt becoming E after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 13 seconds building to 7 ft at 15 seconds after midnight. A chance of rain. Areas of fog after midnight.
SAT SW wind to 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 10 ft at 14 seconds. Areas of fog in the morning.
SAT NIGHT Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. W swell 10 ft at 13 seconds.
SUN E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 12 seconds.

Thursday, January 13, 2022

1/13 Frost Is, Skagit steelhead, ocean warmth, Salish Sea Institute, giant hornet, RCMP monitoring, saving orcas

Frost Island off Spencer Spit, Lopez Is [Ecology]

Frost Island
Frost Island is an island in the San Juan Islands. The approximately 70-acre island has no public electric service or land-line telephone service. There is a water-taxi that runs between the island and Anacortes. The name was given by Charles Wilkes during the Wilkes Expedition of 1838–1842, in honor of John Frost, the boatswain of the expedition's Porpoise. (Wikipedia)

No Skagit River steelhead fishery for 2022
Too few wild steelhead are forecast to return to the Skagit River watershed this year for the state to allow for a steelhead fishing season. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife forecast, developed in partnership with tribes that co-manage the region’s fisheries, indicates 3,833 steelhead may return to the watershed. That’s below the 4,000-fish forecast needed for a season. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Ocean warmth sets record high in 2021 as a result of greenhouse gas emissions
Since the late 1980s, Earth’s oceans have warmed at a rate eight times faster than the preceding decades. Kasha Patel reports. (Washington Post)

Salish Sea Institute receives $300,000 gift to continue its transboundary environmental work
In December 2021, the Salish Sea Institute received the first installment of a $300,000 gift from the Greer/Solien Foundation to expand its work on transboundary issues. (Western Today)

Department of Agriculture releases new data on Asian giant hornet spread
Officials said that DNA samples taken from three Asian giant hornet nests matched those of the first hornets discovered in 2020. According to researchers, that suggests that the queens of the initial nest were not eradicated. Instead, they created several new nests across northern Whatcom County. (KGMI)

B.C. environmental, rights groups welcome court win over RCMP delay in approving watchdog report
B.C. Civil Liberties Association took force to court over 3½-year wait for review of monitoring complaint. David P. Ball reports. (CBC)

What are we willing to do to protect Southern Resident orcas?
Lynda V. Mapes, author of Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home, writes about their history, their interactions with humans, and what it will take to help them survive. John O'Brian reports. (KUOW) In November 2021, she spoke at Town Hall on "The natural history of the orca and the threats to their survival."

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 256 AM PST Thu Jan 13 2022
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming N in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 8 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning.
TONIGHT SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. SW swell 7 ft at 11 seconds.

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

1/12 Snowshoe hare, BC sockeye, whale numbers, do not travel, Island Gwawis, octopus friend, Steven Guilbeault, 'iceberg' pix

Snowshoe hare
[D.Gordon E. Robertson//WikiCommons]

Snowshoe hare Lepus americanus
The snowshoe hare, also called the varying hare or snowshoe rabbit, is a species of hare found in North America. It has the name "snowshoe" because of the large size of its hind feet. The animal's feet prevent it from sinking into the snow when it hops and walks. Its feet also have fur on the soles to protect it from freezing temperatures. (Wikipedia)

Why are Alaskan fishers allowed to catch B.C.-bound salmon?
A new report says the majority of 800,000 sockeye salmon caught in southern Alaska in 2021 were headed to B.C. rivers. The preliminary data comes as Pacific salmon face major declines and B.C. fishers are severely restricted from fishing in their own waters. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

Record number of orca, humpback whales spotted in Salish Sea
There were 1,067 unique sightings of Bigg’s killer whales last year — up from the 2019 record of 747. Jessica Cheung reports. (CBC) Southern Resident orcas hit Puget Sound absence record in 2021 (My Northwest)

U.S. issues 'Do Not Travel' warning for Canada
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. State Department on Monday advised against travel to neighboring Canada because of a rising number of COVID-19 cases as the Omicron variant spreads. David Shepardson reports. (Reuters)

What is the name of B.C. Ferries' new vessel?
The name Island Gwawis celebrates “the cultural connection between the original mariners of the coastal waters and the communities the vessel will soon serve.” (Times Colonist)

Can We Really Be Friends with an Octopus?
When octopuses are social, are they reaching out or simply reacting? Ferris Jabr reports. (Hakai Magazine)

‘We need to learn to do things faster’: Canada’s new environment minister talks climate — and compromise
From overseeing 2030 targets to phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, Steven Guilbeault has been tasked with one of the largest to-do lists of the entire federal cabinet. The environment minister says he'll act quickly, even if it means not getting exactly what he wants. Caitlin Stall-Paquet writes. (The Narwhal)

‘It was so convincing, so real:’ floating Salish Sea ‘iceberg’ stumps Nanoose photographer
Simone Engels was left in disbelief while taking pictures of a recent evening sunset. She was at a beach in Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay on Sunday, Jan. 9, taking snapshots of the changing sky and a distant Mt. Baker when an unusual object seemingly floating in the water caught her attention. “When I looked through the camera, I couldn’t believe my eyes because what I was looking at was an iceberg,” Engels told NanaimoNewsNOW. “I looked again then put my camera down…then I looked through it again and thought this was really strange.” An unusually sharp image of a white mass sat on the water line in the distance but with no-one else around to confirm what she saw, she decided to snap some photos to post online. (Nanimo News Now)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 301 AM PST Wed Jan 12 2022
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM PST THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY E wind 15 to 25 kt becoming SE 25 to 35 kt in the afternoon. Combined seas 9 to 12 ft with a dominant period of 14 seconds. Rain.
TONIGHT E wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 9 ft at 13 seconds. Rain after midnight.