4/11 Estatina, conservation fund, WA wolves, TM protest, salmon reintro, pump-outs, SEALs, parasitism, EV charging, BC cruise ships

Monterey Estatina [California Herps]

 
Monterey Estatina Ensatina eschscholtzii
Ensatina is a complex of plethodontid salamanders found in coniferous forests, oak woodland and chaparral from British Columbia, through Washington, Oregon, across California, all the way down to Baja California in Mexico. The genus Ensatina originated approximately 21.5 million years ago. (Wikipedia)

Conservation funding for states one step closer to becoming law
A bill that could provide the most significant wildlife funding in 50 years is a little closer to becoming law, according to conservation groups. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act on Thursday passed out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. [The bill] could provide more than $1 billion each year to state agencies and tribes to recover at-risk wildlife. The Washington and Oregon Departments of Fish and Wildlife each could receive more than $20 million per year. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

State says Washington’s wolf population grew 16% last year
Washington’s wolf population grew in 2021 for the 13th consecutive year, showing a 16% increase from the previous year, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said Saturday. As of Dec. 31, 2021, the department said there were 206 wolves in 33 packs in Washington. Nineteen of these were successful breeding pairs. This is up from 178 wolves in 29 packs and 16 breeding pairs in the 2020 count. Nicholas K. Geranios reports. (Associated Press)

Indigenous leaders, protesters gather in Vancouver to oppose Trans Mountain pipeline
Protesters against the federally-owned Trans Mountain pipeline gathered outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on Saturday to show the government and investors that opposition to the project is still strong and they believe funding it would be a "risky investment.''...Rally planners from the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation's Sacred Trust Initiative say this marked the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began that Indigenous leaders have come together to publicly oppose the pipeline...The federal government said in February that no more public money would go toward the pipeline as its new projected price tag increased to $21.4 billion. Brieanna Charlebois reports. (Canadian Press)

$3 million will help tribes study salmon reintroduction in the Upper Columbia Basin
The tribes recently received $3 million from Washington’s supplemental budget – a big chunk of change that tribes said will help kick off the second phase of a decades-long study. However, the tribes still will need to find significant funding sources, especially from federal agencies, to cover the entire study phase, which adds up to an estimated $176 million spread over 21 years. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

WA State Parks funds $700K for floating restroom, pump-out projects
Washington State Parks is funding $700,000 in new floating restroom and pump-out projects statewide to make disposing of sewage easier for recreational boaters. The projects include a new floating restroom at Cutts Island State Park, near Gig Harbor, and other replacement and maintenance costs at existing pump-out facilities. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

Navy SEALs facing adjustments if ban on training at WA state parks holds
....Washington state has long offered wide-ranging military training opportunities in the air, at sea and on land, and the judge’s decision marked a rare moment when a state court set a limit to where such exercises can take place. “Washington laws are clear, and Judge Dixon just enforced them. Parks are not for military use,” said Steve Erickson, litigation coordinator for the lawsuit plaintiff, the Whidbey Environmental Action Network. The decision could be appealed, but what happens next is unclear. Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times)

A scramble to save Puget Sound’s precious kelp and eelgrass 
A new protection zone for marine vegetation in Snohomish County is a big first step toward future efforts. Zachariah Bryan reports. (Everett Herald)

The Changing Face of Parasitism
A 90-year record of fish parasites, unintentionally preserved in museum specimens, shows that while some species are booming, many are in decline. That’s not a good thing. Jack Tamisiea reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Vancouver proposes $10,000 fee for gas stations without EV charging
A policy proposed by Vancouver city hall would charge gas stations and parking lots $10,000 per year for failing to provide charging stations for electric vehicles at their facilities. The proposal is aimed at speeding up the rollout of EV charging stations across the city in the hopes of encouraging more people to buy electric vehicles. Nathan Griffiths reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Cruise ships return to B.C., with tourist dollars and environmental concerns in tow
More than 300 ships are expected to call at B.C. ports between now and November, bringing in upward of a million customers. But along with their tourist dollars are some concerns, including the possible arrival of new cases of COVID and the environmental impact of giant ships floating through delicate coastal ecosystems. (CBC)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  259 AM PDT Mon Apr 11 2022   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING   
TODAY  NE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming NW 15 to 25 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the  afternoon. NW swell 7 ft at 9 seconds building to 9 ft at  9 seconds in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 10 to 20 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 9 ft at 10 seconds. A  slight chance of showers.

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