1/4 Mtn beaver, WA lege session, dead whales, oil rigs, Nooksack Tribe, Snoqualmie Tribe, Port Angeles stormwater

Mountain Beaver [WDFW]

 
Mountain Beaver Aplodontia rufa
The mountain beaver is a North American rodent. It is the only living member of its genus, Aplodontia, and family, Aplodontiidae. It should not be confused with true North American and Eurasian beavers, to which it is not closely related, being more closely related to squirrels. (Wikipedia)

Omicron scrambles plans for start of Washington’s legislative session
So much for the best laid plans for Washington’s 2022 legislative session. The highly contagious omicron variant of Covid-19 has upended what was supposed to be a mostly in-person start to the 60-day session, at least in the House of Representatives. Austin Jenkins reports. (NW News Network)

How Dead Whales Seem to Connect Deep-Sea Life
By sinking a dead whale to the bottom of the ocean and studying what comes to visit, scientists are learning more about how deep-sea ecosystems are related. Fanni Szakal reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Oil Rigs Are a Refuge in a Dying Sea
Our reliance on fossil fuels is harming marine ecosystems—but the platforms we use to extract oil are giving marine life new homes. Sasha Chapman reports. (Hakai Magazine)

A Tribe’s Bitter Purge Brings an Unusual Request: Federal Intervention
After cutting 306 people from its rolls, the Nooksack tribe is moving to evict those who remain in tribal housing. The dispute has raised questions about individual rights and tribal sovereignty. Mike Baker reports. (NY Times/paywall)

The Snoqualmie Tribe asks for support to protect their most sacred site
The tribe says helicopter tours disrupt traditional ceremony and prayer at Snoqualmie Falls. Luna Reyna reports. (Crosscut)

Port of Port Angeles agrees to pay $67,000 fine
The Port of Port Angeles has agreed to pay a $67,000 stormwater-related fine to the Environmental Protection Agency for violating the federal Clean Water Act. Commissioners in December unanimously approved the proposed consent agreement that imposes a penalty they described as procedural and administrative that did not entail discharge of pollutants. Paul Gottlieb reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  303 AM PST Tue Jan 4 2022   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON   
TODAY  SW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 10 ft at 12 seconds. Showers and  a slight chance of tstms. 
TONIGHT  W 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 8 ft at 11 seconds. Showers likely in the evening.

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