4/1 Tree octopus, WA WQ standards, Vancouver sewage, travel rules, invasive beetle, invasive earthworm, Jennifer Belcher, week in review

Pacific tree octopus [Lyle Zapato]

Pacific tree octopus Octopus paxarobolis
Endangered. Able to live both on land and in water. Found in the Olympic National Forest and nearby rivers, where its eggs are laid. "Pax" from "pacific," "arbor" from the Spanish "tree." Major predators are bald eagles and the Sasquatch. Lyle Zapato writes. (Republic of Cascadia)

EPA Proposes to Restore Protective Pollution Standards for Washington Waters
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on 3/29 announced a proposed rule to restore protective federal water quality standards for the state of Washington. When finzalized, this action would help protect the health of Washingtonians and Tribal members who locally caught fish...Under the Clean Water Act, the agency is proposing limits (called “human health criteria”) for dozens of chemicals that pose a health risk. Over the objections of state and Tribal leaders, the previous administration rolled back protective water quality standards established by EPA in 2016. As a result of this rollback, water quality standards being implemented in Washington are inadequate to protect human health. This proposed rule follows through on the agency’s June 2021 commitment to restore protective, science-based human health criteria in the state. (EPA)

Company ousted from $1B North Shore wastewater treatment project suing Metro Vancouver
The company ousted from building the $1-billion North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant is suing Metro Vancouver for $250 million in damages and unpaid bills.  In documents filed in B.C. Supreme Court, Acciona Wastewater Solutions LP said the regional government wrongfully and unnecessarily cancelled construction contracts mid-project, despite good faith efforts to solve the many issues. (CBC)

Canada's travel rules change today. Here's what you need to know
As of April 1, eligible travellers no longer need a PCR or antigen COVID-19 test to enter Canada. (CBC)

WA prepares against invasive rose- and hop-eating beetle
Officials are investing millions to trap, quarantine and eradicate the bugs in Yakima Valley, which are capable of devouring over 300 types of plants. Mai Hoang reports. (Crosscut)

Invasive earthworms are spreading through Canadian forests, and that's bad for bugs
In many parts of northern North America, there have been no earthworms since before the last ice age. Now, with help from humans, invasive earthworms are colonizing new areas. And in areas of a forest with more invasive earthworms, there are fewer insects, a new study has found. The study authors say that along with climate change, land use change and pesticides, earthworm invasions might be an "underappreciated driver" in a widespread decline of insects that some scientists have raised the alarm about. Emily Chung reports. (CBC)

Jennifer Belcher, Washington’s first female public lands commissioner, dies at 78
Jennifer Belcher, the first woman to serve as Washington state’s public lands commissioner, died on Thursday with her family in West Virginia. She was 78...Belcher led the state Department of Natural Resources from 1993 to 2001, administering 5.8 million acres of public land, according to her state biography. She also worked to protect wildlife habitat and hired the state’s first female state forester. Martin Bilbao reports. (Olympian)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 4/1/22: Spaghetti tree, Electron Dam, Woodfibre LNG, listening to orcas, sea lice, Taylor's checkered butterfly, financing fossil fuels, CA carbon cut, freshwater mussels, Howard Hanson Dam, restoring WQ standards

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  256 AM PDT Fri Apr 1 2022   
TODAY  S wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 10 seconds. A slight  chance of rain in the morning then rain likely in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  SW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  4 ft at 12 seconds building to 7 ft at 12 seconds after midnight.  Rain likely. 
SAT  SW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 7 ft  at 12 seconds. A chance of showers. 
SAT NIGHT  S wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell  7 ft at 12 seconds. 
SUN  S wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 8 ft at 15 seconds building to  10 ft at 15 seconds in the afternoon.

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"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.

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