2/8 Driftwood, stranded barge, Deschutes R, Nisqually flooding, WA lege bills, salmon voyage

Orlebar Point on Gabriola Island [Laurie MacBride]

 
Dodging the Drift
Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "t’s not unusual to see big logs on this exposed shore. Escapees from logging operations frequently wash up here, especially when we have extreme high tides, as we did last week. But what’s different this time is the proliferation of shattered, woody debris among the logs. Different, but not really surprising."

Barge stranded on Vancouver's Sunset Beach to be dismantled and removed
Contractors working on the project say the piece-by-piece removal will take up to 15 weeks. The barge ran aground at Sunset Beach on Nov. 15 due to strong winds, rough seas and a high tide. After attempts to refloat the barge failed, it has become a fixture. Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

Deschutes restoration project in Tumwater reveals history of poor forestry practices
The Deschutes River, which snakes its way north through Lewis and Thurston counties and out to Puget Sound through Budd Inlet, is fragile. Over the years, cities have used its banks more and more for recreation, with trails, parks, homes and more dotting it for miles. In Tumwater, a portion of the Deschutes River shoreline at Pioneer Park is rapidly eroding. Each year, experts say the erosion pushes approximately 2,380 cubic yards of sediment into the river. Standing at its banks, which are now closed off to park visitors, you can see portions of the trail have been ripped away and large trees have been pushed into the fast-moving water. The area also has very little tree cover, contributing to higher water temperatures. Ty Vinson reports. (Olympian)

Addressing flood risk on I-5 in Nisqually basin now a priority for Pierce County Council 
Pierce County has prioritized finding money to repair a 2.5-mile stretch of Interstate 5 that could flood within the next 20 years. On Monday, the Pierce County Council discussed the future of the Interstate 5 bridge that crosses the Nisqually River and its current impacts on the environment, military and traffic. Josephine Peterson reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Keep track of Washington's important legislation in 2022
Crosscut's bill tracker gives you an at-a-glance look at which bills are moving forward, failing or meeting roadblocks. (Crosscut)

North Pacific expedition gets underway aboard four ocean-going research ships
Chris Dunagan writes in Our Water Ways: "Four research vessels carrying more than 60 scientists from various countries will span out across the Pacific Ocean to increase their understanding of salmon — including migration, environmental stresses, availability of prey and risks from predators. Researchers aboard a U.S. ship operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration left from Port Angeles late last week."

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  237 AM PST Tue Feb 8 2022   
TODAY  SW wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft  at 12 seconds. A slight chance of rain. 
TONIGHT  E wind to 10 kt becoming NE after midnight. Wind waves  2 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain.

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