2/7 NW salamander, Snoqualmie land, Lorraine Loomis Act, truck blockade, microplastics, shellfish health, BC sea level rise, NW tsunami, whale visits, PSE outages, COVID deer

 

Northwest salamander [Gary Nafis]

Northwestern salamander Ambystoma gracile
The northwestern salamander is a species of mole salamander that grows to 8.7 in (220 mm) in length. It occurs from sea level to the timberline, but not east of the Cascade Divide. Its range includes Vancouver Island in British Columbia and The San Juan Islands, Cypress, Whidbey, Bainbridge, and Vashon Islands in Washington. (Wikipedia)

For the first time in generations, the Snoqualmie Tribe has land
The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe has purchased thousands of acres of ancestral forestlands in east King County, land that holds special meaning to the people who have been without a reservation for generations. They have named the land the Snoqualmie Tribe Ancestral Forest. Diana Opong reports. (KUOW)

Lorraine Loomis Act
Rep. Debra Lekanoff [D-40] has withdrawn HB 1828 (Lorraine Loomis Act) which included creating stream side buffers to restore salmon populations. Its companion bill SB 5727 has not had a hearing or vote. (Salish Current)

Alberta’s response to Coutts blockade proof of discriminatory double standard, First Nations say
When rail lines were blocked in 2020, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney drafted a new law in response, but it hasn’t been used at the Coutts barricade. That leaves First Nations leaders ringing alarm bells, again, about racism in protest policing Drew Anderson reports. (The Narwhal) See also: Vancouver police defend actions at Saturday's protests amid criticism they took sides  (CBC)

Hidden research lab at Seattle Aquarium studies microplastics pollution
The Seattle Aquarium attracts visitors from all over to the city’s central waterfront. Perched on Pier 60, it has a commanding view of Elliott Bay. It’s also an ideal place to study the tiny bits of plastic that wind up in the water and threaten marine wildlife... Scientists here have engaged in long-term monitoring of everything from sea otter ecology to Salish Sea ecosystems for nearly three decades. And for about five years now, they have been studying the impacts of microplastics. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Climate change impacting local shellfish health
Extreme climate events are making shellfish less safe for human consumption, leading to harvesting closures across the county. While many of Whatcom’s residents recover from last year’s extreme flooding and heatwaves, others are preparing for a future where these severe events are “the new normal.” Julia Lerner reports. (Cascadia Daily News)

City planners turn to nature to combat Vancouver's rising sea levels
As climate change and rising sea levels continue to cause problems for coastal communities and their infrastructure, a new initiative from the City of Vancouver is aiming to get ahead of the issue. Two international, multidisciplinary teams are working on solutions through the Sea2City Design Challenge, a project that aims to look at how the city can adapt to rising sea levels — particularly in the False Creek floodplain — and address the social, economic and ecological impacts coastal flooding will have in the future. (CBC)

The Tsunami Could Kill Thousands. Can They Build An Escape?
A major quake in the Pacific Northwest, expected sooner or later, will most likely create waves big enough to wipe out entire towns. Evacuation towers may be the only hope, if they ever get built. Mike Baker reports. (NY Times)

Transient whales, whose Salish Sea visits are increasing, spending time in Hood Canal
Monika Wieland Shields, director of Orca Behavior Institute on San Juan Island, said there was a record-breaking presence of Bigg’s killer whales in 2021. Based on reports from professional whale watchers, regional sightings groups and shore-based observers, Bigg’s killer whales were documented in the Salish Sea during 1,067 unique sightings across 329 days. The previous record, set in 2019, was 747 unique sightings. On the other hand, salmon-eating Southern Resident killer whales were documented on just 103 days, or 28% of the year. Jessie Darland reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Blockbuster year for power outages pushes need to plan
Electrical power was out due to severe weather almost three times more hours in 2021 than in 2020 for customers of one of the state's largest utilities, prompting some customers to look at fallback plans — and for insights as to how outages are managed. Kenneth Duncan reports. (Salish Current)

Is the Coronavirus in Your Backyard?
White-tailed deer could become a reservoir for the virus, putting people and animals at risk, health experts say. Emily Anthes and Sabrina Imbler report. (NY Times)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  257 AM PST Mon Feb 7 2022   
TODAY  W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 8 ft at 14 seconds. A chance of  rain in the morning then a slight chance of rain in the  afternoon. 
TONIGHT  W wind to 10 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind  waves 1 ft. W swell 9 ft at 12 seconds.

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