Salish Sea News and Weather: May 2022

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

5/31 Abalone, Duwamish, ancient forest garden, hatcheries, BC old growth, NW recreation, EVs, Canada gun laws, lithium from water, BC ticks, psilocybin 'shrooms, red barge

Adult pinto abalone [Gemima Garland-Lewis]

The quest to help tiny abalone survive
The pinto abalone was once harvested for food. Now functionally extinct, the shellfish needs all the help it can get. Written and photographed by Gemima Garland-Lewis. (Crosscut)

‘Real’ Duwamish: Seattle’s first people and the bitter fight over federal recognition
....the Duwamish Tribe once more is seeking federal recognition that it is in fact a tribe, in a federal lawsuit filed May 11. Meanwhile, an online fundraising campaign has raised millions of dollars in so-called “Real Rent” for the Duwamish. This claim to sovereign status is at odds with rulings of federal evaluators who have repeatedly found this group of Duwamish descendants are not a continuation of the historic Duwamish Tribe and do not meet the criteria to be federally recognized. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times) See also: Duwamish recognition fight underscores plight of treaty tribes (Everett Herald)

How ancient forest gardens could impact Nuchatlaht First Nation's land claim
New research is shining a light on how the Nuchatlaht people cultivated plants for centuries on Nootka Island in B.C. The findings, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, challenge some commonly held beliefs about plant cultivation in the territory and could have a significant impact for the Nuchatlaht First Nation's claim of Aboriginal title to more than 200 square kilometres of land on Nootka Island, off Vancouver Island's west coast. (CBC)

The Hatchery Crutch: How We Got Here
From their beginnings in the late 19th century, salmon hatcheries have gone from cure to band-aid to crutch. Now, we can’t live without manufactured fish. Jude Isabella reports in the series "The Paradox of Salmon Hatcheries." (Hakai Magazine)

Understanding B.C.'s old-growth logging deferrals by the numbers
A process is underway in British Columbia to temporarily defer logging in priority old-growth forests, allowing time for the government to work with First Nations to decide how they should be managed in the long term. The province appointed a five-member panel of ecologists and forestry experts who identified 2.6 million hectares (26,000 square kilometres) of unprotected old-growth forests at risk of permanent biodiversity loss in mapping released last November. At the same time, it asked more than 200 First Nations across B.C. to decide whether they supported the deferral of logging in those areas for two years. Brenna Owen reports. (Canadian Press)

How climate change will impact recreation in the Pacific Northwest
According to Climate Impacts Group Director Amy Snover, “we should expect warmer winters with less snow in higher elevations, earlier springs, with the snowpack melting sooner than what we have typically experienced in the past, and hotter and drier summers.” (UW College of the Environment)

7 factors driving electric vehicle policy forward
Washington state raised the bar with its 2030 target deadline for new electric car registrations. How did we get here? Kate Yoder reports. (Grist)

Canadian government proposes tougher gun laws
Proposed legislation aims to cap number of handguns to those already in Canada, take away gun licences from violent people. Jim Bronskill reports. (Canadian Press) See also: How Washington State Has Done on Gun Control Jean Godden writes. (Post Alley)

Tri-Cities researchers say they can extract lithium from water. That's a big deal.
Researchers in Washington's Tri-Cities say they have devised a way to use magnets to pull valuable elements like lithium out of groundwater. They say their technology, using iron-based nanoparticles, could supply a large share of the lithium needed for batteries as America transitions to electric vehicles and displace the environmentally harmful methods currently used to mine and process lithium. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

High-risk areas for ticks in B.C. highlighted in new online map
It's the season to start being cautious about ticks and Lyme disease, and this year the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has launched an interactive map to help people assess their risk of being bitten. (CBC)

B.C. company opens Canada's largest licensed psychedelic mushroom growing facility
B.C.-based company Optimi Health has harvested its first cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms at its Health Canada-licensed facilities in Princeton, B.C., positioning itself as a major player in the burgeoning psychedelic sector. The $14-million venture consists of two 10,000-square-feet facilities with a combined total of 10 growing rooms that can produce approximately 2,000 kilograms of dried psilocybin mushrooms a month, according to Optimi's head cultivator, Todd Henderson. Brady Strachan reports. (CBC)

No movement in efforts to free big red barge from Vancouver beach
Six months after washing up at Sunset Beach during a storm, the 5000-tonne vessel remains unmoved. David Carrigg reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 251 AM PDT Tue May 31 2022
TODAY NW wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.

--
"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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Friday, May 27, 2022

5/27 Hawthorn, J-pod returns, DFO turmoil, kelp forests, Discovery Creek, week in review

Common hawthorn [Ben Legler]

Common hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Common hawthorn, also called English, one-seed or single-seed hawthorn, is an introduced tree that has naturalized in the Pacific Northwest. This small tree spreads readily by seed into woodlands and open fields, often creating a dense, thorny thicket. Its abundant red berries are attractive to birds and other animals, which help spread this tree far beyond where it is planted. It is classified as a Class C noxious weed by the Noxious Weed Control Board.

J-Pod whales spotted in Salish Sea
All 25 members of J-Pod have returned to the Salish Sea, including the newest member, born in late February. The pod of endangered southern resident killer whales appeared just off Pender Island on Tuesday and has been hunting for chinook salmon around Haro Strait, the U.S. San Juan Islands, Active Pass and the Strait of Georgia toward the Fraser River. Scientist Monika Wieland-Shields of the Orca Behavior Institute said it’s only the second time in the past five years that J-Pod has appeared in the Salish Sea in May. That’s a good sign, she said, and the fact the pod seems to be sticking around indicates there is chinook salmon for the whales to feed on. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Docs show turmoil in DFO following fisheries harassment investigation: ‘this article is horrific’
Freedom of information documents reveal that DFO has created a suite of new policies and is spending millions on modernization in wake of whistleblowers speaking up about harassment, intimidation and assault aboard Canadian fishing vessels. Jimmy Thomson reports. (The Narwhal)

Work being done to help the region's kelp forests
The south Puget Sound saw an 80% reduction of bull kelp in the past 50 years, according to the Puget Sound Restoration Fund. Kelp has the ability to turn carbon into food for marine life, said Jodie Toft, deputy director of the fund...In response to disappearing kelp, the Puget Sound Restoration Fund teamed up with the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation to launch a kelp forest monitoring program in the state. Maddie Smith reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

NWI: Purchase protects Discovery Creek headwaters
Ninety-one acres of forest and streams at the headwaters of Discovery Creek, a major tributary to Dabob Bay in East Jefferson County, have been acquired by Northwest Watershed Institute. The acquisition on May 12 means the land will be permanently protected by the nonprofit organization that has focused on land conservation and habitat restoration along Tarboo Creek and Dabob Bay for 20 years. (Peninsula Daily News)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 5/27/22: Three Little Pigs Friday, fish skin, carbon price, trash diving, water wins, saving salmon, Bristol Bay, BC climate, pond turtle, DFO in turmoil, J-pod

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 254 AM PDT Fri May 27 2022
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY SW wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. SW swell 6 ft at 11 seconds. Showers likely in the morning then a chance of showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming S to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 10 seconds subsiding to 6 ft at 9 seconds after midnight. A chance of showers.
SAT E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 8 seconds. A chance of rain.
SAT NIGHT NW wind 15 to 25 kt becoming W 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. SW swell 2 ft at 11 seconds.
SUN W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 8 seconds.

Thursday, May 26, 2022

5/26 Carp, Similk Bay, Gathering of Eagles, pond turtles, microplastics, coast tsunami, BC Ferries, prism lights, drone fishing

Asian carp

Asian carp
The four types of invasive carp currently found in the U.S.--bighead carp, black carp, grass carp, and silver carp-- are collectively known as Asian carp and were imported into the country for use in aquaculture ponds. Through flooding and accidental releases, they found their way into the Mississippi River system which is like a giant freshwater highway that has given invasive Asian carp access to many of the country’s rivers and streams. Asian carp are fast-growing and prolific feeders that out-compete native fish and leave a trail of environmental destruction in their wake.

Salmon habitat project will also bring improvements to county road
An upcoming salmon habitat restoration project will also mean improvements for an important Skagit County road. By 2024, the Skagit River System Cooperative hopes to begin restoration of about 17 acres of crucial chinook salmon habitat along Similk Bay south of the Swinomish Golf Links. The work will turn the land that is owned by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community into what is known as a pocket estuary. Brandon Stone reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Canoe encampment highlights Earth, sky, water threats
The Esqaplh etse Kwelengsen (Gathering of Eagles) canoe encampment is traveling the Salish Sea bringing attention to threats from pipelines, tankers and extractive fossil fuel industries. Nancy DeVaux reports. (Salish Current)

Nearly extinct 30 years ago, Washington’s western pond turtles are slowly recovering
Only two species of turtles in Washington are native. And one of those, the western pond turtle, nearly went extinct here in the 1990s. 30 years ago, the state began collaborating with partners at the Woodland Park Zoo to bring them back. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Microplastics are being found in multiple Salish Sea species
Behind closed doors, in restricted access, is a research lab where Dr. Lyda Harris measures levels of microplastics in samples from the Salish Sea. Harris samples the water every 2 weeks, filtering 100 liters down to the man made material left behind. Kelly Koopmans reports. (KOMO)

How politics have stalled tsunami prep efforts on the WA coast
It's not a matter of if but when the tsunami comes. Whether Washington is prepared depends a lot on the will of voters. Eric Scigliano reports. (Crosscut)

B.C. Ferries marks record vehicle numbers, offers recruiting incentives for trained workers
B.C. Ferries saw no service disruptions and carried a record number of vehicles on the Victoria Day weekend as it continues a hiring spree, offering a cash incentive of up to $10,000 for its employees to find trained staff who stick around. A new hire in a desired category can also earn up to $10,000 if they stay for at least one year. And money is being offered to retirees as well. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Prism Lights
David B. Williams writes in Street Smart Naturalist: "On June 6, 1889, downtown Seattle burned to the ground. In response, the Seattle City Council passed new legislation regarding building codes, including Ordinance 2833, in which Section 22 addressed sidewalks. 'Openings in such walk, for the admission of light or coal, shall be covered with prismatic lights in iron frames.'...Prism lights are still abundant in downtown Seattle, most abundantly in the Pioneer Square area." (Street Smart Naturalist)

Drone Fishers Are in the Hot Seat
The giant trevally, a stubborn and powerful apex predator, is one of Hawai‘i’s most coveted game fish. Hiding out in coral reefs and caves, the fish is tough to see when fishing from shore. But Brandon Barques, a 35-year-old construction worker in Honolulu, knows how to find it. Watching through the video feed streaming to his phone, Barques sends a flying drone carrying a fishing line out over the surf, searching for large sandy canals and depressions in the seafloor. When he finds the right spot, he triggers the drone to drop the line. Then he calls the drone back—and waits for a bite. Abe Musselman reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 250 AM PDT Thu May 26 2022
TODAY Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. W swell 5 ft at 8 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then rain likely in the afternoon.
TONIGHT NE wind to 10 kt becoming S 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft after midnight. W swell 2 ft at 8 seconds. Rain in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

5/25 Knotweed, vanishing salmon, salmon city, Bristol Bay, PT Paper, Polley pollution, BC pipe, murder hornets, fake reefs, BC climate adaptation, monarch return

Japanese knotweed [Jennifer Andreas]

Japanese knotweed Polygonum cuspidatum
It is a perennial species with spreading rhizomes and numerous reddish-brown, freely branched stems. Plants can reach 4 to 8 feet in height and is often shrubby. It is a very aggressive escaped ornamental that is capable of forming dense stands, crowding out all other vegetation and degrading wildlife habitat. It can also create a fire hazard in the dormant season. It is difficult to control once established.

The US has spent more than $2B on a plan to save salmon. The fish are vanishing anyway.
The U.S. government promised Native tribes in the Pacific Northwest that they could keep fishing as they’d always done. But instead of preserving wild salmon, it propped up a failing system of hatcheries. Now, that system is falling apart. Tony Schick (OPB) and Irena Hwang (ProPublica) report. See also: About the data: How we analyzed salmon and steelhead survival About the data: How we analyzed salmon and steelhead survival (OPB/ProPubica)

The city where salmon might be the most famous residents
The Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, just a half-hour drive from downtown Seattle, is one of many hatcheries in the state. They aim to boost local salmon populations. Though there’s debate among some scientists and conservationists about these facilities, hatcheries breed fish and provide protected places for their young to grow. Diana Opong reports. (KUOW)

EPA proposes protections for world’s biggest sockeye salmon fishery
The Biden administration’s decision to protect Bristol Bay deals a blow to a huge proposed gold and copper mine in southwest Alaska. The iconic sockeye salmon there has been a source of food for Alaska Natives for generations and today attracts big-spending fishing enthusiasts from around the world. Dino Grandoni reports. (Washingtonn Post)

Port Townsend Paper fined for water quality violations
Port Townsend Paper has been fined $27,000 by the state Department of Ecology for repeated water quality violations. Ecology said in a press release that between November and March, the mill spilled more than 800 gallons of untreated process wastewater into Port Townsend Bay. Ken Park reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Ecological impact of Mount Polley mine disaster confirmed by new study
Research shows higher levels of metals in invertebrates taken from Polley and Quesnel lakes. Winston Szeto reports. (CBC)

Wet’suwet’en Warn of More Damage from Pipeline
A recent inspection with government officials showed continued erosion and sedimentation, despite two recent fines. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

Scientists will set 1,000 traps for murder hornets this year
...Scientists believe the hornets, first detected in the Pacific Northwest state in 2019, are confined in Whatcom County, which is located on the Canadian border north of Seattle. (Associated Press) Researchers confirming first ‘murder hornet’ of 2022 has been found in Whatcom County (Bellingham Herald)

Could artificial reefs protect B.C.'s coastlines from climate change?
Only ever used on a piece of public art in B.C., Metro Vancouver will trial biorock technology as a way to create new habitat for sea creatures, regrow coastal infrastructure and protect shorelines threatened by climate change. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

B.C. to release 'full' climate adaptation strategy this spring
The B.C. government expects to release a climate adaptation strategy in the coming weeks, but it is unclear whether the plan will include elements that experts say are needed to make it effective. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun)

After years of declines, numbers of wintering monarch butterflies rise by 35% in Mexico
Mexican experts said Monday that 35 per cent more monarch butterflies arrived this year to spend the winter in mountaintop forests, compared to the previous season. Experts say the rise may reflect the butterflies' ability to adapt to more extreme bouts of heat or drought by varying the date when they leave Mexico. (Associated Press)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 244 AM PDT Wed May 25 2022
TODAY SW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 3 ft at 8 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning.
TONIGHT NW wind 5 to 15 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 9 seconds.

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

5/24 English ivy, unstuck orca, Water Always Wins, stolen orca

English ivy

English ivy Hedera helix
English ivy, a non-regulated Class C noxious weed, is a woody, evergreen, perennial vine often found in King County's urban and suburban forests. Vines are trailing or climbing, and can reach 90 feet long with stems 1 foot wide. The four cultivars of English Ivy that have been shown to be the most invasive in the Pacific Northwest are Class C noxious weeds on the Washington State Noxious Weed List.

Orca, stuck overnight, finds its way into Strait
A young orca whale safely found its way out of a lagoon near McKinley Paper Mill on Monday. The whale was initially spotted swimming in the lagoon late Sunday night, researchers with Feiro Marine Life Center and the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network said. Ken Park reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Letting the Sea Have Its Way
Welcome to Medmerry, a community that welcomed back the marsh. [An] excerpt is from the book Water Always Wins, in which Hakai contributor Erica Gies follows innovators in what she calls the Slow Water movement who are instead asking a revolutionary question: what does water want? What water wants is to reclaim its slow phases—wetlands, floodplains, mangrove forests—that we’ve erased with development. Merida Gies writes. (Hakai Magazine)

Washington tribe fighting to return stolen orca to the Salish Sea
Members of the Lummi Nation are fighting to return Lolita, an orca stolen from her home and forced to spend her life in a Miami aquarium. (KING)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 304 AM PDT Tue May 24 2022
TODAY SW wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 8 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SW wind to 10 kt becoming E after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 9 seconds building to 4 ft at 9 seconds after midnight. A chance of rain in the evening then a slight chance of rain after midnight.

"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.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter.

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told

Monday, May 23, 2022

5/23 Scotch broom, fish skin disease, Duwamish Tribe, fossil fuel cap, greenhouse gas, building bylaws, Lyme disease, 'Frankenfish,' Snohomish R trash, snowpack

Scotch broom

Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius
Scotch broom is a perennial, many-branched, shrub ranging in height from 3 to 10 feet tall. Scotch broom can be found on roadsides, pastures, grasslands, open areas and areas of recent soil disturbance. Scotch broom is toxic to livestock and is on the Washington State quarantine list. (Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board)

Bacteria causing fish skin disease spiked around fish farms, a study finds
A bacteria known to cause skin disease in fish was found to peak in juvenile Fraser River sockeye salmon in the Discovery Islands region, with one particularly big spike in 2015, a new study finds. Nelson Bennett reports. (Times Colonist)

Duwamish Tribe sues Interior in federal court, alleging sex discrimination
After decades of back-and-forth with federal authorities, the matrilineal descendants of Chief Seattle want federal recognition, once and for all. Brian Oaster reports. (High Country News)

WA will soon put a price on carbon emissions for its biggest polluters. Here’s how it will work
A new program launching in January will put a cap on fossil fuel emissions and require nearly a hundred of the state’s biggest polluters to partake in a carbon trading scheme. If successful, the state could make great strides toward achieving net-zero emissions by rebuilding the way people get energy, drive to work or power their homes — providing a model for the rest of the country while minimizing damage to its economy. Failure could create an entrenched system that prevents meaningful change for decades. Or, as several experts believe, it might not make much of a difference at all. Nicholas Turner reports. (Seattle times)

A climate bill that died in Legislature lives on, in plans for future
A bill requiring cities and counties to cut greenhouse gases failed to pass, but they’re planning to do it anyway. Julie Titone reports. (Everett Herald)

Vancouver votes to change building bylaws to address climate crisis
Among the changes are that all new multi-family buildings will require cooling systems by 2025 and air filtration to protect residents from intense heat waves and fire smoke pollution. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

B.C.'s iconic Kokanee Glacier in rapid decline, says B.C. scientist
'The Kokanee is in a death spiral,' says Ben Pelto, a UBC researcher, who contributed to the latest World Meteorological Organization's report on climate change. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Diving for trash in Snohomish River, biologist fills 59 pickup beds
At Thomas’ Eddy, Doug Ewing estimates he has collected 3,000 pounds of lead fishing weights. And that’s just one spot. Zachariah Bryan reports. (Everett Herald)

What is Lyme disease and what are the symptoms?
As reported cases of Lyme disease surge across Canada, B.C. experts are tracking how climate change could make things worse, and hope the public — empowered with a new 'Instagram for ticks' — will help. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

Like it or not, invasive ‘Frankenfish’ are still among us
Twenty years after their discovery in Maryland, northern snakeheads are beloved by some anglers. Jason Nark reports. (Washington Post)

Snowpack leaps to highest mid-May level in decade, increasing fears
An 'extreme heat wave' — like the heat dome of June 2021 — could lead to major flooding across B.C. if it happened in late-May to mid-June. Glenda Luymes reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 250 AM PDT Mon May 23 2022
TODAY W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight.

Friday, May 20, 2022

5/20 Forsythia, green crab, BC oil subsidies, Biden forest plan, San Juans cap, BC spring melt, managing waste, Whatcom heat and floods, oysters, Intalco smelter, SEA Discovery Center, Steingerwald NWR, drought, seafood shift, week in review

Forsythia [The Spruce/Evgeniya Vlasova]

Forsythia
Forsythia is a genus of flowering plants in the olive family Oleaceae. There are about 11 species, mostly native to eastern Asia, but one native to southeastern Europe. Forsythia – also one of the plant's common names – is named after William Forsyth. (Wikipedia)

Invasive European green crab found in Hood Canal for first time
A European green crab was captured in Hood Canal on Tuesday, the farthest south the invasive species has been found in the Salish Sea. Volunteers with Washington Sea Grant, tasked by the state with early detection of the crab’s spread, trapped the male European green crab in Nick’s Lagoon near Seabeck, Kitsap County. (Seattle Times)

B.C. overhauls oil and gas royalty system by changing 'broken system' of subsidies
After a review of B.C.'s 30-year-old oil and gas royalty system, the province says it plans to phase out its current fossil fuel subsidies and introduce a new system for royalty payments. (CBC)

Biden forest plan stirs dispute over what counts as "old"
President Joe Biden's order to protect the nation’s oldest forests against climate change, wildfires and other problems devastating vast woodlands is raising a simple yet vexing question: When does a forest grow old? Millions of acres are potentially on the line — federal land that could eventually get new protections or remain open to logging as the administration decides which trees to count under Biden's order covering "old growth” and “mature” forests. (Associated Press)

San Juans adopt island-by-island vacation rental cap
How much tourism is too much? San Juan County sets a cap on vacation rental permits. Nancy DeVaux reports. (Salish Current)

B.C. river watchers worried spring snowmelt may wash flood debris downstream to ocean
While cleanup is continuing on the Fraser and Chiliwack rivers, hundreds of debris sites along eight B.C. waterways have been cleared. Glenda Luymes reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Managing waste: what’s in your bins? https://salish-current.org/2022/05/18/managing-waste-whats-in-your-bins/
China’s 2018 steps back in accepting the world’s throw-aways have resulted in better local systems for managing our millions of tons of waste and recyclables—but more needs to be done. Clifford Heberden reports. (Salish Current)

When National Policy Stalled, This Community Took Climate Action Into Its Own Hands
How Whatcom County tribes, governments and people met the challenges of heat wave and flooding. Jenna Travers reports. (State of the Planet)

Local oyster company exploring new farms in Drayton Harbor
The Drayton Harbor Oyster Company is exploring a new site for its oyster farm about 3,000 feet off shore. The off-bottom farm is still just a proposal, but owner Stephen Seymour hopes to have permits in hand later this year. Julia Lerner reports. (CDN)

Union cements contract with Blue Wolf for potential smelter restart
Ferndale’s local machinists' union has finalized a collective bargaining agreement with Blue Wolf Capital Partners, the private equity firm attempting to restart the curtailed Intalco aluminum smelter. Below-cost power contract still being negotiated. Julia Lerner reports. (CDN)

Sea creatures at home at SEA Discovery Center in Poulsbo after pandemic closure
About 300 sea creatures have returned home from "foster" facilities around Puget Sound nearly two years after leaving their home aquarium in Poulsbo following a pandemic shutdown. Downtown Poulsbo's SEA Discovery Center, owned and operated by Western Washington University, will reopen on Friday. Peiyu Lin reports. (Kitsap Sun)

What the largest project of its kind on Lower Columbia means for salmon, waterfowl
Two years, $32 million and 1.7 million cubic yards of soil later, the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge has reopened to the public. Deborah Bloom reports. (Columbia Insight)

Spring rains ‘not nearly enough’ to overcome Northwest drought, wildfire risk, experts say
Spring showers have helped alleviate drought and wildfire risks in Western Washington but large swaths of the Pacific Northwest remain dry, if not drier than usual. Last month was the state’s 10th-wettest April in 128 years, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. And yet, more than half of Washington state is abnormally dry or experiencing moderate drought, nearly 25% is in the midst of severe drought and 3.9% is facing extreme drought. Nicholas Turner reports. (Seattle Times)

Climate Change is Shifting What Seafood Restaurants like Tojo’s Source and Serve
A new UBC study says we can expect more warm-water-loving species on our plates. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 5/20/22: Pac-Man Friday, DFO salmon farms, WA hydrogen, Springer, humpback mothers, Haida Gawaii, salmon knowledge, Hood Canal green crab, Whatcom's challenge

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 234 AM PDT Fri May 20 2022
TODAY Light wind becoming NW to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 7 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 6 seconds.
SAT Light wind becoming N to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 6 seconds.
SAT NIGHT W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds.
SUN Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. W swell 4 ft at 11 seconds.

Thursday, May 19, 2022

5/19 Dill, climate stress, Haida Gwaii village, trees and climate, Indigenous knowledge, Owen Beach, nurse buildings

Dill

Dill Anethum graveolens
Dill is an annual herb in the celery family Apiaceae. It is the only species in the genus Anethum. Dill is grown widely in Eurasia, where its leaves and seeds are used as a herb or spice for flavouring food. The word dill and its close relatives are found in most of the Germanic languages; its ultimate origin is unknown. Dill has been found in the tomb of Egyptian Pharaoh Amenhotep II, dating to around 1400 BC. It was also later found in the Greek city of Samos, around the 7th century BC, and mentioned in the writings of Theophrastus (371–287 BC). (Wikipedia)

How climate change stresses sewer systems in King County
As climate change elevates rainfall intensity in the Pacific Northwest, sewage treatment plants are increasingly at risk of going over-capacity, which can lead to toxic overflows. What are cities doing to prevent sewer spills and protect the Puget Sound? Anushuya Thapa reports. (Investigate West)

Village of Queen Charlotte to restore its original Haida name in move that could be seen elsewhere in B.C.
Village of Queen Charlotte to restore original Haida name in move that could be seen elsewhere in B.C. The Haida Gwaii village is the second municipality in B.C. to consider a name change after being approached by First Nations. Gordon McIntyre reports. (Vancouver Sun)

When “I Speak for the Trees” Means the Climate, Too.
Karen Sullivan in Rainshadow Journal writes that public proclamations of saving forests aren’t enough. "We need more, larger, and bolder conservation and restoration measures that can’t be reversed by political whim. We need to collectively focus on a coordinated vision for the future, on a scale that hasn’t been done before...Everyone knows infinite growth in a finite system is neither rational, smart, nor possible. Our big Pacific Northwest trees have a giant role to play, if we’ll let them." (Rainshadow Journal)

Prioritizing Indigenous Knowledge about Wild Pacific Salmon
What would happen if western science considered fish relatives, rather than commodities? Andrea Reid writes. (The Tyee)

Popular Tacoma beach to reopen next month after a 16-month closure for improvements
Metro Parks Tacoma has announced the reopening of Owen Beach at Point Defiance Park is set for June 4 after a 16-month closure for renovations. The reopening will display new features such as new roadways for vehicles, safer trails for pedestrians and ADA accessible drop-off zones that are close to the water. Sabrina Jiles reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Nurse Buildings
David B. Williams writes in Street Smart Naturalist: "Nurse logs are a well known forest feature. Lesser known are nurse buildings, where the structure provides a good home for plants to grow. Consider Rome’s Colosseum as perhaps the finest example..." (Street Smart Naturalist)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 218 AM PDT Thu May 19 2022
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY NW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming W 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 9 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of showers in the morning.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 9 seconds.

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

5/18 Lilac, salmon farms, 'living dike,' climate faith, Fairy Cr protest, hydrogen fuel, Brie Chartier, Springer, noise pollution, humpback mothers, novovirus

Lilac

Lilac Syringa vulgaris
Common lilac bushes are deciduous shrubs that bloom in the springtime. They are part of the olive family, along with other such ornamental plants as ash trees, forsythia bushes, and privet hedges. The outstanding quality of many lilac varieties is the sweet fragrances of their flowers. (The Spruce)

DFO Suppresses Science and Pushes Salmon Farms, Critics Tell MPs
The federal fisheries department should be stripped of its role in promoting aquaculture, urges MP Elizabeth May. Judith Lavoie reports. (The Tyee)

'Invertebrate engineers' combat sea level rise
A pilot project to create a 'living dike' in Canada's Boundary Bay is designed to help a saltwater marsh survive rising waters due to climate change. Sarah DeWeerdt reports. (salish Sea Currents Magazine)

‘The climate crisis is a moral crisis’: How Bellingham’s faith communities unite in action
Despite a pandemic that upended how we gather, the Multifaith Network for Climate Justice has continued to meet via Zoom and correspond online, sharing information about policy, events and news...Leaders from over a dozen spiritual traditions — including Catholicism, Buddhism, Judaism and Paganism— spoke at the first gathering, held during the city’s annual ALL IN for Climate Action Week.
Ysabelle Kempe reports. (Bellingham Herald/paywall)

1 year into injunction enforcement at Fairy Creek blockades, 100s of protesters await trial
49 sentences for contempt so far, ranging from a $500 fine to 10 days in jail, CBC analysis shows. Kathryn Marlow reports. (CBC)

Washington wants to plug in to the next thing in fuel: hydrogen
The state hopes to secure up to $2 billion in federal funding to produce hydrogen fuel as a substitute for petroleum-based gasoline. John Stang reports. (Crosscut)

BLM Selects National San Juan Islands National Monument Manager
Brie Chartier has been selected as the new San Juan Islands National Monument Manager. (LopezRocks)

Springer- 20 years later
Springer, the rescued Northern resident killer whale, rescued 20 years ago is celebrated on May 22 at 2 p.m. in a special in-person Seattle Town Hall event which will also be live-streamed. The event brings together Lynne Barre, Lance Barrett-Lennard, Donna Sandstrom, and members of the Namgis First Nation, including Chief Bill Cranmer and Councilmember Ernest Alfred, who welcomed Springer home. Register here.

Noise pollution harms endangered orcas, scientists are rushing to find solutions
The southern resident orcas are in a rough spot: there is too little food for them to eat, their favored hunting grounds are contaminated and noise pollution makes it harder to hunt prey. While a lot of work is underway to restore salmon populations to the Pacific Northwest, the work takes time. When you turn off an engine, or re-route large shipping vessels, the impacts are immediate. Matthew Smith reports. (Q13)

Humpback Mothers Are Being Squeezed from Both Sides
Humpbacks prefer to keep their calves in shallow water, but increasing boat traffic is pushing them out to sea. Marina Wang reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Investigators search for culprit behind norovirus outbreak in B.C. oysters
International recalls and warnings are tarnishing the industry's reputation, officials say. Curt Petrovich reports. (CBC)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 201 AM PDT Wed May 18 2022
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY SW wind 20 to 30 kt in the afternoon. Combined seas 7 to 10 ft with a dominant period of 9 seconds. Rain in the morning then showers likely and a slight chance of tstms in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft subsiding to 1 to 3 ft after midnight. W swell 12 ft at 10 seconds subsiding to 10 ft at 10 seconds after midnight. Showers likely. A slight chance of tstms after midnight.

Friday, May 6, 2022

5/6 Humpback, BC climate, saving kelp, monitoring kelp, BC avian flu, fecal pollution, cougar kitten killed, week in review

[Salish Sea News and Weather will take a break and return in about 10 days.]

Humpback Whale [NOAA]

Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae
Humpback whales live in all oceans around the world. They travel great distances every year and have one of the longest migrations of any mammal on the planet. Some populations swim 5,000 miles from tropical breeding grounds to colder, more productive feeding grounds. Humpback whales feed on shrimp-like crustaceans (krill) and small fish, straining huge volumes of ocean water through their baleen plates, which act like a sieve. The humpback whale gets its common name from the distinctive hump on its back. Its long pectoral fins inspired its scientific name, Megaptera, which means “big-winged” and novaeangliae, which means “New England,” in reference to the location where European whalers first encountered them. (NOAA)

Fire & Flood, Facing Two Extremes: Why B.C. can't always build its way out of risks
Moving homes and infrastructure out of a flood-prone area, or "managed retreat," is often seen as a last resort but it's a tactic some experts believe should be used more frequently in B.C. Glenda Luymes and Gordon Hoekstra report. (Vancouver Sun)

Kelp has protected Samish people for millennia. Now it needs their help
Kelp forests have fed and supported coastal tribes like the Samish since time immemorial. With these underwater forests in trouble up and down the West Coast, some researchers and tribal members are now trying to return the favor. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Puget Sound Restoration Fund Announces Critical Multi-Year Kelp Monitoring Initiative
Today, Puget Sound Restoration Fund (PSRF) and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation announced the launch of a multi-year, comprehensive kelp forest monitoring initiative as part of their larger ongoing kelp program. Puget Sound kelp forests are currently in decline due to threats from pollution and climate change. (Paul G. Allen Family Foundation News Release)

Bird baths, feeders should be removed to stop spread of avian flu: B.C. SPCA
The B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has asked the public to temporarily take down backyard bird feeders and empty any bird baths as avian flu continues to spread across the province. The society on Thursday said the disease can spread via feeders "because they encourage unnatural congregations of birds and attract other wildlife." (CBC)

Fecal pollution restricts shellfish harvest in Mason, Pierce, Snohomish, and Thurston counties
The Washington State Department of Health has completed the annual water quality evaluation of the state’s commercial shellfish growing areas... high fecal bacteria levels will lead to harvest restrictions in four of Washington’s 115 shellfish growing areas. Portions of the Annas Bay, (Mason County), Vaughn Bay (Pierce County), Port Susan (Snohomish County), and Henderson Inlet (Thurston County) do not meet public health standards and shellfish harvesting will be restricted. The restrictions will be in place by August 2022. An additional 19 areas currently meet water quality standards but are threatened with classification downgrades. (WA DOH)

Cougar kittens illegally shot and killed in Cowichan Valley
The B.C. Conservation Officers Service is asking the public for information after two cougar kittens were illegally shot and killed in the Cowichan Valley. The paws and heads of the kittens had been removed. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 5/6/22: Aloha Nurses' Day, railroad blockages, Intalco, Union Bay ship-breaking, Healing Forest, Tina Whitman, orca protection, orca calf, MMIP Awareness, humpbacks, BC climate, kelp

Now, your weekend tug weather--

West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 343 AM PDT Fri May 6 2022
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING...
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming NE in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then rain likely in the afternoon.
TONIGHT NW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of showers.
SAT W wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 8 ft at 14 seconds. A chance of showers.
SAT NIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 2 ft or less after midnight. SW swell 5 ft at 14 seconds.
SUN W wind to 10 kt rising to 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 11 seconds.

Thursday, May 5, 2022

5/5 Horsetail, humpback, Red Dress Day, totem journey, gopher plan, ghost crab pots, water conservation, Western wildfires, woolly dogs

Common horsetail [USFS]

Common Horsetail Equisetum arvense
Equisetum arvense is distributed throughout temperate and arctic areas of the northern hemisphere, growing typically in moist soils. Being a relative of ferns, common horsetail does not reproduce via pollen but via spores which are borne on the plant’s reproductive stems. Equisetum arvense has a long history of cultural use with Native Americans and ancient Roman and Chinese physicians using it to treat a variety of ailments. It is still of interest today as an herbal remedy because of its purported effectiveness as a diuretic. (Robinson Sudan/USFS)

Naturalists spot first Salish Sea humpback whale calf of the year
Just in time for Mother’s Day, the first humpback whale calf of the 2022 season was spotted in the Salish Sea in Boundary Pass near the U.S./Canadian border Monday. (KIRO)

Raising awareness of missing, murdered Indigenous women
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day has been observed in the United States on May 5, after the first national day of recognition was initiated in 2017. Terri Thayer writes. (Salish Current) In Edmonds, red dresses represent a crisis of missing Native people (Everett Herald) On Red Dress Day, Coquitlam students, activist call for action on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls (CBC)

Lummi-carved totem will travel 2,300 miles for salmon advocacy
A 14-foot totem pole sculpted by master carvers in the Lummi Nation will travel more than 2,300 miles over the next few weeks as part of an advocacy campaign for salmon restoration. The totem, which features a child resting on an orca atop two large Chinook salmon, was blessed during a ceremony at the start of its journey Tuesday night. Faith leaders from churches around Bellingham joined representatives from the Lummi Nation to pray over the totem and salmon restoration in the region. Julia Lerner reports. (CDN)

Thurston County’s habitat conservation plan for gophers nears final approval
Thurston County’s long-coming plan to locally manage federally protected species took another step toward realization on Wednesday with the release of a final environmental impact statement. Once approved, the county’s Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) should make it easier for developers to get permits for projects in unincorporated Thurston County. Martin Bilbao reports. (Olympian)

Northwest Straits Foundation to retrieve derelict crab pots
While most crab pots sent into the depths of the Salish Sea are recovered with or without crab, many are not. Pots remaining on the seafloor can cause havoc for years, trapping and killing marine wildlife unlucky enough to be caught. The Northwest Straits Foundation is doing something about that. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Conserving water in Metro Vancouver still vital — even with cooler, wetter summer ahead, experts say
Although this summer in British Columbia is forecast to be cooler and wetter compared to 2021, experts say the need to conserve Metro Vancouver's water supply is more important than ever. While a cool, damp spring has made the recent introduction of lawn watering restrictions appear unnecessary, such measures are required to preserve the region's water supply through to the end of summer. Kiran Singh reports. (CBC)

NOAA Image Catches Wildfire Smoke and Dust on Collision Course
A time-lapse image of smoke from wildfires in New Mexico and dust from a storm in Colorado illustrates the scope of Western catastrophe. Maggie Astor reports. (NY Times)

Woolly dogs
David B. Williams in Street Smart Naturalist writes: "Sailing down Puget Sound on May 24, 1792, Captain George Vancouver wrote in his journal of an abundance of dogs, which “were all shorn as close to the skin as sheep are in England…and were composed of a mixture of a coarse kind of wool, with very fine long hair, capable of being spun into yarn.” A few weeks later Vancouver added that Mr. Whidbey had observed about 200 Native people “walking along the shore [of what is now Camano Island], attended by about forty dogs in a drove.” The dogs, too, were shorn..."

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 228 AM PDT Thu May 5 2022
TODAY SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 8 ft at 14 seconds. Rain.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 13 seconds. Showers likely in the evening then a chance of showers after midnight.

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

5/4 Calypso orchid, Kpod calf, DFO orca measures, bad boaters, Indigenous oyster fisheries, saving salmon, seagrass services, beavers, pollen season

Calypso orchids [Alan Fritzberg, Sumas Mtn, 2009]

Calypso orchid Calypso bulbosa
Calypso is a genus of orchids containing one species, Calypso bulbosa, known as the calypso orchid, fairy slipper or Venus's slipper. It is a perennial member of the orchid family found in undisturbed northern and montane forests. The genus Calypso takes its name from the Greek signifying concealment, as they tend to favor sheltered areas on conifer forest floors. The specific epithet, bulbosa, refers to the bulb-like corms. (Wikipedia)

New orca is born to K pod, first in 11 years
A calf has been born to mother orca K20, the first baby for the K pod family of southern resident orcas in 11 years. Deborah Giles, science and research director for the nonprofit Wild Orca, confirmed the birth Monday. The baby’s sex is not known. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

DFO expands protection measures for southern resident killer whales
Days after the Canadian government expanded protection measures for southern resident killer whales, unverified reports of a new baby orca swept social media. What does it all mean for the endangered species? Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

Tacoma boaters head straight for humpback whale, advocates call for enforcement h
A video sent to KING 5 shows two boaters head straight for a humpback whale off the shores of Tacoma when the mammal slaps its tail on the water. Sebastian Robertson reports. (KING5)

Indigenous oyster fisheries persisted for millennia and should inform future management
Conservation biology increasingly recognizes the interconnections between colonial atrocities against Indigenous peoples and contemporary environmental disasters, with several studies emphasizing the importance of the co-production of knowledge in setting conservation priorities and goals. Despite significant advances, Indigenous knowledge and archaeology are often neglected in conservation and ecology, including in studies of shellfish like oysters. (Nature Communications)

Scientists are zeroing in on best practices to save endangered PNW salmon
The Salish Sea Marine Survival Project (SSMSP), led by Long Live the Kings and the Pacific Salmon Foundation, connected scientists and organizations from both sides of the border – all interested in dwindling salmon populations in shared waters of Washington and British Columbia. Matthew Smith reports. (Q13)

Scientists believe beavers can build resilience in Northwest waterways
When beavers are allowed to do what beavers do, it’s good for us and the climate. That’s the conclusion of Northwest researchers who are looking to improve water quality and curb our carbon output. Geoff Norcross and Rolando Hernandez report. ((OPB)

The Surprising Scale of the Seagrass Sanitation Service
Millions of cases of potentially deadly gastroenteritis are prevented each year because of the pathogen-reducing powers of seagrasses. Sean Mowbray reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Climate change could make pollen season a lot worse in the Pacific Northwest
[If] it seems like you’ve started sneezing sooner than usual, or been extra sensitive, you may not be imagining things: a study from the University of Michigan suggests warmer temperatures due to climate change are stretching pollen season, and making seasonal allergies worse. Libby Denkmann and Noel Gasca report. (KUOW)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 259 AM PDT Wed May 4 2022
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt becoming E in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 13 seconds building to 9 ft at 14 seconds after midnight. A chance of rain in the evening then rain after midnight.

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

5/3 Moon snail, sewers, ocean extinction, Tina Whitman, Stillaguamish watershed, Indigenous Healing Forest, 300-year old tree, saving old growth, bird conservation, ship-breaking, shifty ships, Keystone XL

Lewis's moon snail [Sound Water Stewards]

Lewis's moon snail Neverita lewisii
You'll find the moon snail on sandy beaches, plowing half-buried through the sand as it searches for clams, its favorite prey. When the fleshy mantle is extended, it nearly covers the snail's shell. Watch for clam shells with a countersunk-looking drill hole in them, a sign that the clam was a moon snail victim. Also watch for the moon snail's distinctive sand collar egg case. The eggs are actually sandwiched between two plies composed of sand and mucus. (Sound Water Stewards)

How climate change stresses sewer systems in King County
Storm-related sewage spills dump about 93 million gallons of chemical discharge a year into Puget Sound. Anushuya Thapa reports. (Investigate West/Crosscut)

Mass extinction in oceans can be avoided by curbing fossil fuels
If not slowed, climate change over the next few centuries could lead to marine losses unlike anything Earth has seen in 252 million years, says a new study. Craig Welch reports. (National Geographic)

Salish Sea Science prize awarded to Shoreline restoration scientist Tina Whitman
The SeaDoc Society is awarding the prestigious 2022 Salish Sea Science Prize to Tina Whitman, Science Director at the Friends of the San Juans for producing science that led to copious beach habitat protection and restoration throughout the San Juan Islands. Whitman received the no-strings-attached $2,000 cash prize at the 2022 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference on April 28. (San Juan Journal)

Forest Service formulating big plan for Stillaguamish watershed
On over 61,000 acres of land in the Darrington and Mount Baker ranger districts, the Forest Service plans to thin trees, make habitat improvements, decommission trails or study the possibility of new trails, including at mountain biker-friendly North Mountain. Zachariah Bryan reports. (Everett Herald)

B.C.'s first Indigenous Healing Forest will be on the Sunshine Coast
The Healing Forest Initiative is now partnering with the David Suzuki Foundation to build a network of healing forests across Canada to honour residential school victims, survivors and families. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

What's a 300-year-old tree worth? WSDOT, Bainbridge agree on funding to keep Douglas fir
Lumber mills at Port Madison and Port Blakely once buzzed with action, and logging activity over the years brought changes to the island's landscape. Still, the Adas Will Lane tree managed to survive for more than three centuries – even as homes and a highway sprouted up nearby – and will get an opportunity at an extended lifespan thanks to the efforts of Jones and other neighbors. As the state’s Department of Transportation zeroed in on plans to build a roundabout on the highway, neighbors signed on to an effort to save the tree, which was slated to be taken down. Nathan Pilling reports. (Kitsap Sun)

B.C. highway blockades aimed at forcing a dialogue, activists say
History has shown that “when you have to force a dialogue onto society, you have to engage in transgressive truth telling,” said 21-year-old Zain Haq, a spokesman for the group called Save Old Growth. Brenna Owen reports. (Canadian Press)

Help wanted for 2 bird conservation projects in B.C
There are currently two conservation projects happening in the province and researchers are asking for public participation counting birds. On the South Coast, Environment Canada is asking for help tracking glaucous-winged gulls, and in the Prince George area, Birds Canada needs volunteers to count long-billed curlews. (CBC)

Comox Valley Regional District goes to court to halt ship-breaking at Union Bay
A ship-breaking operation at Union Bay on the east side of Vancouver Island is being taken to court by the Comox Valley Regional District which argues this industrial use is not permitted. The regional district filed a notice of civil claim in B.C. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

How the Shipping Industry Sails through Legal Loopholes
A murky world of shell companies, flags of convenience, and end-of-life flags allows companies to dodge accountability and dispose of ships cheaply. Paul Tullis reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Alberta is suing the U.S. over Keystone XL. The province just had to pay its American taxes first
To prop up pipeline giant TC Energy, Jason Kenney’s government set up numbered companies in Delaware. The purpose of 2254746 Alberta Sub Ltd., according to the commission’s annual report, was to allow Alberta to help finance the costs of building the U.S. portion of the pipeline, which was meant to massively expand Canadian crude oil exports from Alberta. It would have brought 830,000 barrels per day of crude from Hardisty, Alta., to Steele City, Nebraska. The project, however, actually left the province on the hook for $1.333 billion, according to Alberta auditor general Doug Wylie. Alberta shared in the financial pain that the company suffered after U.S. President Joe Biden issued an executive order on his first day in office that revoked the pipeline’s permit. Alberta and TC Energy are now trying to recoup their losses through two separate challenges under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico-Agreement. Alberta launched its challenge on Feb. 9, seeking “damages” of $1.3 billion. Carl Meyer reports. (The Narwhal)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 256 AM PDT Tue May 3 2022
TODAY W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 9 ft at 11 seconds subsiding to 6 ft at 11 seconds in the afternoon. A chance of showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SW wind to 10 kt becoming S after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of showers.

Monday, May 2, 2022

5/2 Elderberrry, Mukilteo waterfront, Howard Breen, railroad blockages, AK crab fishery, lake toxin, Intalco plant

Red Elderberry [Native Plants PNW]

Red Elderberry Sambucus racemosa
Red Elderberry is native to Europe, temperate Asia, and North America. Natives steamed the berries on rocks and put them in a container stored underground or in water, eating them later in winter. Leaves, bark or roots were applied externally to abscesses, aching muscles, or sore joints. Roots or bark were chewed or made into a tea to induce vomiting or as a laxative. Flowers were boiled down to treat coughs and colds. Hollow stems were used for whistles, pipes and toy blowguns. Although they have sometimes been eaten fresh, it is advisable to always cook the berries before eating, raw berries may cause nausea. The seeds are considered poisonous. Cooked berries can be made into wines, sauces or jellies. (Native Plants PNW)

Got ideas? 26-acre Mukilteo waterfront beckons improvement
The waterfront changed dramatically with addition of the splashy new Mukilteo ferry terminal. That was well over a year ago. Little has changed since. Much of the 26-acre waterfront is blighted, unwelcoming and inaccessible to the public. Now there’s even more talk — but this time with possible action in the forecast. Port of Everett CEO Lisa Lefeber said the goal is a unified plan among the mix of private and public owners for the shoreline from Mukilteo’s Lighthouse Park to the port’s Edgewater Beach. Andrew Brown reports. (Everett Herald)

A Visit with Climate Crisis Hunger Striker Howard Breen
What is gained, and forfeited, when pushing the limits of compassionate coercion to the edge of death? Peter Fairley reports. (The Tyee) Howard Breen ends hunger strike on Day 31 (Times Colonist)

Scientists taking this new approach to restore salmon habitat along the railroad in Whatcom
There are about 73 miles of shoreline between Olympia and the Canadian border impacted by the railroad. The railroad not only blocks access to streams, it also reduces the size of estuaries and impedes the natural delivery of sediments and large wood to the shoreline. Since 2017, a team of scientists has been coordinating plans to restore these critical salmon habitats without disrupting the railroad, which serves as a major pillar of the region’s bustling port economy. The team includes members from environmental consulting firms Environmental Science Associates and Confluence Environmental Company, as well as the Tulalip Tribes. Their work is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Choosing Winners and Losers in Alaska’s Crab Fishery
Managing commercial fishing activity is a complicated job, one in which every small decision can have far-reaching consequences. Whether to regulate fishing based on season, area, or gear type, and whether to allot quotas for fishing activity—and if so, how many, and to whom?—are all decisions prone to triggering unexpected repercussions. A quota system implemented in 2005 has meant economic and social trade-offs. Tim Lydon reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Anderson Lake closed due to high level of toxin
Anderson Lake has been closed to fishing and other recreation five days after the lowland lake fishing season opened. Elevated levels of the potent nerve toxin anatoxin-a were detected in a water sample taken from Anderson Lake on April 25, it was announced Friday. (Peninsula Daily News)

Intalco plant reopening 'highly questionable'
Ferndale’s Intalco aluminum smelter is no closer to resuming operations despite months of discussions and a $10 million promise from Gov. Jay Inslee. Talks to reopen the plant between Blue Wolf Capital LLC, the relaunch proponent, and the Bonneville Power Administration, the likely electrical provider, have not produced a viable energy contract after several months of negotiations. Satpal Sidhu, Whatcom’s county executive, said the reopening is “highly questionable,” during an event at the Bellingham City Club, though he hopes the smelter resumes operations. Julia Lerner reports. (CDN)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 210 AM PDT Mon May 2 2022
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON PDT TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING
TODAY W wind to 10 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds. Rain in the morning.
TONIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 6 ft at 11 seconds.