4/21 Salmonberry, Biden's old growth, marine heat waves, Vancouver barge, green crabs, Mother Earth Day, BC Earth Day, warm water menus

Salmonberry [Plants of the PNW]

 
Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis
The common name Salmonberry is thought to have come from the natives’ fondness for eating the berries with salmon roe, but it could also be due to the orangy-pink color of the berries. Salmonberries, being one of the earliest berries to ripen, were one of the most important foods for natives. Young sprouts were also an important food for natives in early spring and summer; they were peeled, eaten raw or steamed.  Preparations of the bark were used on wounds, especially burns. (Plants of the PNW)

Our man of the woods and desert comments regarding yesterday's clip about pumped storage plants ('Energy shift creates opening for 'world's largest batteries'): "Pumped storage is a boondoggle promoted by a dying industry.  It results in a net loss of electricity and destroys whatever ecosystem is lucky enough to be the uphill storage area. The local utility wanted to do that to Tumble Lake above Detroit Reservoir in the Santiam system of the Oregon Cascades clear back in the 1970s.  It was a crappy idea then and it's still a crappy idea.  That was personal to me as "The Tumble" was a favorite place of mine, so maybe I'm biased but it's still a net loss of energy. How about we use a little less instead?"

Biden to issue Earth Day order to safeguard old-growth forests
President Biden will sign an Earth Day executive order on Friday in Seattle laying the groundwork for protecting for some of the biggest and oldest trees in America’s forests, according to several individuals briefed on the decision. Anna Phillips reports. (Washington Post)

A first as the world warms: New forecasts could help predict marine heat waves
Marine heat waves have caused major ecological disruptions along the Pacific coast in recent years, but scientists have developed a global forecasting system to help fisheries and coastal communities anticipate and prepare for these extreme weather events. The scientific journal Nature on Wednesday published the forecasting system that provides projections on marine heat waves around the world up to a year in advance. Nicholas Turner reports. (Seattle Times)

No timeline for removal of 5,000-tonne barge washed up for months on Vancouver beach
No date is set for the removal of a 5,000-tonne barge that has been washed up on Sunset Beach in downtown Vancouver for more than five months. Permits not in place to allow company to cut up barge and take it away for recycling. David Carrigg reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Effort underway to control invasive European green crabs on Washington coast
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that it is working with its partners and tribes to “deploy resources and get more boots in the mud” to control infestations of the invasive European green crab along the coast and certain sites within the Salish Sea. (KIRO)

Mother Earth Day celebration will look to the future, through the vision of Indigenous youth
Messages from Indigenous youth with eyes on environmental justice and the future will be featured at a Mother Earth Day celebration presented by Children of the Setting Sun Productions at Bellingham's Maritime Heritage Park on April 22. Clifford Heberden reports. (Salish Current)

Earth Day 2022: Where events are being held in B.C.
Here's a list of some of the events happening in B.C.'s bigger municipalities (all times PT) throughout the week. Events will also be held in smaller communities across the province. (CBC)

Monster Humboldt squid showing up on Vancouver seafood menus as waters warm, UBC-led research finds
Seafood served in Vancouver restaurants is increasingly being dominated by warmer-water species, due to climate change, according to a University of B.C. professor.  To understand the effects of climate change on seafood, a team led by William Cheung at UBC’s institute for the oceans and fisheries studied 362 restaurant menus in Vancouver over four time periods. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  241 AM PDT Thu Apr 21 2022   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM PDT THIS MORNING  THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON   
TODAY  E wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE 15 to 25 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 5 ft at 17 seconds building to 7 ft at  16 seconds in the afternoon. Showers likely in the morning then  showers and a slight chance of tstms in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  SW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 9 ft at 15 seconds.

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