2/11 The barge, stop Roberts Bank T2, forest fire management, Biden's 30x30, 'Life in One Cubic Foot,' WA redistricting

The Barge [Ken Weiner]

Sorry to see it go
Our Farther North reader writes: "I’ve been quite amused by the fact that since the beginning of the story, the barge has been tied to a rock and guarded 24/7. It seems like anybody who could steal it, or a super high tide or wave that floated it, would be just what the owners wanted! As for a more general observation from someone who regularly walks by, the barge has enlivened the community and will be missed. People gather, actually remove their earbuds and chat, take selfies (and also volunteer to snap photos of total strangers), reminisce about the wild storm that washed it up, and enjoy speculating about what’s going to happen. Hearing now that it will be scrapped and shipped to Tacoma, I’m dismayed by the waste of a perfectly good barge, and sorry to see it go." Kathy Fletcher muses.

Scientists make final bid to stop Port of Vancouver’s terminal expansion: ‘they can’t mitigate the consequences’
The port promises it can mitigate the impacts of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 expansion on endangered species like Chinook salmon and southern resident killer whales. But in a recent letter to Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, scientists argue the port’s final plan still impacts more than 100 species of concern in the heart of the Fraser River estuary. Stephanie Wood reports. (The Narwhal)

Billions of federal dollars headed to Western forests to manage fires
Less than a year after Washington state committed $328 million toward reducing the impacts of climate-charged catastrophic wildfire and improving forest health, the U.S. Forest Service announced a plan liable to supercharge that effort.  A U.S. Department of Agriculture announcement on Jan. 18 adds nearly $3 billion more to the nation's forest restoration efforts and fire reduction, especially on federal forest lands in the heart of Washington’s fire country and in 10 other Western states. Just as significant, the accompanying plan incorporates the newest science and reflects Indigenous stewardship practices. Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

Biden’s rebranded conservation plan has critics on all sides
The environmental community last year welcomed President Joe Biden setting a goal of conserving 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, even as critics on the right denounced the initiative as a federal land grab. Administration officials working to deliver on the president’s target now find themselves working to allay concerns among rural residents that they could face heavy-handed mandates — even as some environmental groups push for a more aggressive approach. All sides agree that much hangs on how the administration defines which lands and waters count toward the “30×30” goal, which is intended to preserve natural areas, protect threatened wildlife species and help address climate change. Joseph Morton reports. (CQ-Roll Call/Tacoma News Tribune)

Burke Museum invites visitors to explore biodiversity in ‘Life in One Cubic Foot’
“Life in One Cubic Foot” opens this weekend at the Burke Museum in Seattle. Using colorful photos, informative displays and artifacts, the exhibit celebrates biodiversity and encourages community science. It also shows the immense variety of species that can be discovered using a simple device called a biocube. These are frames, usually made of wire, that are placed in a landscape for 24 hours. Observers document what’s there. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

New political mapping concludes with revisions by lawmakers
Washington’s new legislative and congressional district maps are finished. On Tuesday, the state Senate approved a measure making roughly 75 small adjustments to lines drawn by the state Redistricting Commission. It passed on a 35-14 vote. With the House having passed the same measure last week, the once-a-decade process is completed. The final maps will be in use for the upcoming legislative and congressional races, barring legal challenges, and for the decade beyond. They can be found on the commission website. https://www.redistricting.wa.gov/final-maps (Everett Herald) See also: How big a makeover does WA redistricting need?  The process the state uses to redraw its political districts could get more transparent. But some say bigger changes are needed. Melissa Santos reports. (Crosscut)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 2/11/22: Women & Girls in Science, Snoqualmie Tribe land, microplastics, hot shellfish, Bigg's whales, stranded barge, Deschutes R, B'ham electricity rule, WA transportation $, rogue wave, kelp nutrition, no Roberts Bank

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  238 AM PST Fri Feb 11 2022   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON   
TODAY  E wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 8 ft  at 14 seconds. Areas of fog in the morning. 
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming E 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 13 seconds.  Patchy fog after midnight. 
SAT  E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 5 ft at  12 seconds. Patchy fog in the morning. 
SAT NIGHT  E wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 4 ft at 11 seconds. 
SUN  E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 3 ft at  12 seconds. 

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