8/31 Shaggy mouse, Nookachamps Cr, urban trees, plastic bags, AK salmon

Shaggy mouse [Dave Cowles/Walla Walla]

Shaggy mouse Aeolidia papillosa
Deriving its common name from it's resemblance to a small, furry rodent, this little fellow is about two inches long, but has been reported to grow to just under five inches.  It has also been called the maned or shag-rug nudibranch. The shaggy mouse can be found from Alaska to southern California.  It also occurs on the east coast of North America and in Europe.  It has also been recorded on both the east and west coast of South America.

Nookachamps project seeks to reduce flooding, restore fish habitat
Residents near the east fork of Nookachamps Creek may see some relief from frequent flooding and declining fish populations — eventually.mTwo years after Peter Janicki told a room full of neighbors that he would spearhead an effort to address these issues, a detailed study of the watershed is underway.mConsultant Environmental Science Associates has spent the summer collecting data, and at a Thursday community meeting, the team began to gather public input on the direction of the plan. Brandon Stone reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

New rules put Puget Sound's urban trees in private hands
Because the majority of the region's trees are in residential neighborhoods, responsibility for maintaining canopy coverage is shifting to homeowners. Lizz Giordano reports. (Crosscut)

One Last Dance with Plastic Bags
The age of plastic bags might be officially over in Vancouver, but you can still spot these so-called “single-use” items around the city living another life. There are the binners who use them to lug cans and bottles to the recycling depot. There are the backyard farmers who use them as jackets to warm their hanging melons and squashes. Like many others who’ve been hoarding them long before the ban, I’m still reusing them as (what else?) bags for gifts, groceries and garbage. Christopher Cheung reports. (The Tyee)

Judge: Sustainable Salmon Harvest isn’t Sustainable
Those sustainably harvested Chinook salmon seemingly legally caught by trollers off Southeast Alaska aren’t “sustainably harvested.”  So ruled U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones, adding that the plan that has allowed them to be harvested there violates the federal Endangered Species and National Environmental Policy acts. On August 10, the federal judge granted Duvall-based Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC) summary judgment against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), its parent Department of Commerce, various officials of both agencies, and the Alaska Trollers Association and the State of Alaska, which had intervened.  Dan Chasen writes. (Post Alley)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  257 AM PDT Wed Aug 31 2022   
TODAY  NW wind to 10 kt rising to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. W  swell 4 ft at 10 seconds. 
TONIGHT  NW wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds.

--

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8/30 Ratfish, Blue Heron Slough, Chinook film, sewage pause, more trees, Chinook Nation, weather costs, shipbreaking, oyster shells

Spotted ratfish {Seattle Aquarium)

Spotted ratfish Hydrolagus colliei
These fish have smooth skin, large green eyes, a rabbitlike face and a mouth with platelike, grinding teeth. The tail is tiny, so for propulsion they flap their large, winglike pectoral fins. Ratfish cruise just above the seafloor searching for crunchy food like crabs and clams. They live from surface to 3,300 feet. (Monterey Bay Aquarium)

Port of Everett’s Blue Heron Slough Wetland Restoration Project Reaches Final Phase
The Port of Everett and its project partner, Wildlands, have reached the final phase of Blue Heron Slough – a project restoring 353 acres of Snohomish River estuary habitat between the cities of Everett and Marysville. (My Everett News)

New film about spring Chinook delves into history, culture and science in unique habitats
A new film, titled “The Lost Salmon,” opens with a video montage that takes us through some wondrous scenes: A wide aerial shot of California’s majestic Salmon River, moving to an underwater view of salmon swimming through the clear water and then to an action spectacle of wild salmon practically flying through the air to surmount a rushing cascades. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

Mayor proposes pause to Post Point anaerobic digester project
Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood has proposed a pause to the upcoming Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant construction project following a sharp rise in expected project costs to as much as $1 billion. City staff and council members initially reported anticipated costs to be around $220 million for anaerobic digestion, though those costs represented only a portion of projects necessary for the final sewage management system. Julia Lerner reports. (CDN)

Towns May Grow Millions More Trees with $1.5B for Urban Forestry
States and cities across the country are beginning to embrace trees as critical infrastructure in urban areas. Neighborhoods with tree cover are significantly cooler than exposed areas known as “heat islands,” which can affect human health and utility bills. Urban forests absorb stormwater runoff, filter pollution from the air and sequester carbon. Alex Brown reports (Stateline)  Listen: "Can planting a trillion new trees save the world?" Zach St. George reports. (NY Times)

Chinook Indian Nation members rally for federal recognition
Members of the Chinook Indian Nation rallied Monday on the steps of a federal building in Seattle to raise awareness for their long fight to get federal recognition. Federal recognition would mean access to federal dollars for healthcare and housing for this group of tribes, which are based in Southwestern Washington, particularly Pacific County. Scott Greenstone reports (KNKX)

Dispute in B.C. reveals cracks in Canada's shipbreaking regulations
Activists say federal law needed to curb the environmental risks of dismantling seacraft. Yvette Brend reports. (CBC)

Floods, droughts, storms will cost Canadian economy $139B in next 30 years, report says
Floods, droughts and major storms that wash out highways, damage buildings and affect power grids could cost Canada's economy $139 billion over the next 30 years, a new climate-based analysis predicts. The report, titled Aquanomics, was published Monday by GHD, a global engineering and architecture services firm. (Canadian Press)

Oyster shells sell for top dollar as biologists scramble to protect shellfish beds
North Carolina sponsors work to protect imperiled oyster populations by returning shells from restaurants, backyard oyster roasts and other sources to tidelands. Putting shells back in the mud rebuilds reefs, the refuges baby oysters need to grow and multiply. But efforts to restore oyster reefs in places like Beaufort County face a threat that could affect virtually anyone who depends on the harvest of wild oysters. South Carolina and nearby states are having trouble finding the shells they need to put back in tidal areas to restore oyster populations. Sammy Fretwell and Sarah Haselhorst report. (The State)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  234 AM PDT Tue Aug 30 2022   
TODAY  E wind to 10 kt becoming N in the afternoon. Wind waves  1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 8 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind to 10 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 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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8/29 Grasshopper, AK sockeye, oil spill, Pacific marten, 'grease log,' Nooksack flood, scaring seals, old growth protest, Ahousaht wastewater, Anjali Appadurai

Egyptian grasshopper [WikiCommons]

Egyptian grasshopper, a nonnative insect, spotted in Everett
A striped-eyed bug wound up a long way from home this spring. That’s the Egyptian grasshopper, found by an Everett resident in April, the first time the insect has been detected in the state. As grasshopper season begins, state agriculture officials asked Everett-area residents this week to keep an eye out for the nonnative grasshopper. Jacqueline Allison report. (Everett Herald)

In a warming climate, Bristol Bay sockeye return this summer to Alaska in another record run
The Bristol Bay sockeye spend much of their lives in the Bering Sea, and studies have found that they generally do better in years when water temperatures climb a few degrees Fahrenheit. During the past decade, which has included severe marine heat waves in 2018 and 2019, sockeye, though smaller in size, stormed Bristol Bay in a series of big runs. This year’s return smashed the previous high set only last year. Meanwhile in western Alaska, the Yukon River’s runs of king and, more recently, chum — both mainstays of Native fishermen — have imploded, shutting down harvests for the past two years. Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times)

Vessel recovery devices arrive off San Juan Island
Recovery equipment for raising the Aleutian Isle arrived Sunday. Once the dive team commences recovery operations, it is estimated to take 10 days. Recovery of the 49-foot boat grew more complicated when the vessel, which originally sank to about 100 feet deep, settled to more than 200 feet deep. Leah Leach reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Camera station documents a Pacific marten in Olympic National Forest
A rare Pacific marten recorded by a motion-triggered wildlife camera is the first time the species has been recorded by a camera survey in Olympic National Forest. (Peninsual Daily News)

'Grease log' blamed as another spill spews sewage into Oyster Bay
A hefty "grease log" clogged the city's sewer system at Madrona Point Wednesday, spewing about 6,000 gallons of sewage into Oyster and Ostrich bays.  Bremerton Public Works crews responded to a seeping manhole cover in the beach about 10 a.m. They were able to deduce that a mass of grease some three to four feet long was obstructing a sewer pipe, according to Public Works Director Tom Knuckey. Josh Farley reports (Kitsap Sun)

New scientific tools will help predict, warn about Nooksack River flooding
New gages are being added near the Nooksack River to provide faster warnings when water has surged over dikes near Everson and Nooksack, and to give scientists more precise data on where floodwaters are flowing in rural areas of northern Whatcom County. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Looking For a Better Way to Scare Seals
By tapping into a nails-on-a-chalkboard-like reflex, scientists are hopeful they’ve found a way to keep seals away from endangered salmon. Marina Wang reports. (Hakai Magazine)

B.C. judge lambastes conservation group for using protesters as 'cannon fodder'
A B.C. provincial court judge has accused a conservation group of using frontline protesters as "sacrificial lambs" to mount illegal traffic blockades aimed at drawing attention to their climate change agenda by stirring up chaos. In a searing decision, Judge Laura Bakan gave a conditional discharge to a 30-year-old who took part earlier this year in repeated Save Old Growth demonstrations. Bakan said Ian Wiltow Schortinghuis was the type of "unsophisticated" person organizers convince to get themselves arrested instead of those who "pull the strings." Jason Proctor reports. (CBC)

Ahousaht First Nation opens new wastewater treatment plant
The $25-million plant, funded by the federal government, replaces an aging septic-tank treatment system and lift station, as well as an outfall pipe that spilled into a shellfish habitat sensitive to contamination. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

How a 32-year-old climate activist is shaking up the race to be B.C.’s next premier
In a litmus test for the political clout of the climate movement, Anjali Appadurai, who’s never held public office, is gunning for an upset over establishment favourite David Eby in the NDP leadership contest. Arno Kopecky reports. (The Narwhal)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  237 AM PDT Mon Aug 29 2022   
TODAY  W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 8 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 8 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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8/26 Sand verbena, dam benefits, 'forever chemicals,' BC environmental infractions, national monuments, week in review

Sand verbena [Sound Water Stewards]

 
Sand verbena Abronia latifloria
A native species in the Pacific Northwest, yellow sand verbena belongs to the four o’clock family. Its range extends from Southern California to the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia. This plant is found in dunes and other sandy beach areas where it forms low lying mats to 3 feet across. It often has sand adhered to its stems and leaves. The clustered flower heads reach a diameter of 2-½ inches and bloom from May to September. (Sound Water Stewards)

Report: Benefits of dams must be replaced before breaching
The benefits provided by four giant hydroelectric dams on the Snake River must be replaced before the dams can be breached to save endangered salmon runs, according to a final report issued Thursday by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Washington U.S. Sen. Patty Murray. (Associated Press)

EPA to designate ‘forever chemicals’ as hazardous substances
The Environmental Protection Agency said Friday it is designating some toxic industrial compounds used in cookware, carpets and firefighting foams as hazardous substances under the so-called Superfund law. The designation means that releases of long-lasting chemicals known as PFOA and PFOS that meet or exceed a certain quantity would have to be reported to federal, state or tribal officials. Matthew Daly reports. (Associated Press)

Pattullo Bridge, Coastal GasLink rack up environmental infractions
Inspections by the Environmental Assessment Office turn up problems with reporting, fish habitat protection and sediment control. Derrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

The fraught political battle over national monuments
The National Park System oversees more than 400 sites across the United States. These sites range from national parks to national forests, historical sites, and recreation areas. But the most fraught conflicts over our public lands often involve national monuments, which range from remote marine sanctuaries to millions of acres of red rock desert — all designated with a presidential signature. Libby Denkmann and Alec Cowan report. (KUOW)

Coastal habitat spatial data report
The Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership has released the "State of the Knowledge of U.S. West Coast Nearshore Habitat Use by Fish Assemblages and Select Invertebrates" report  and data products. (PMEP)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 8/26/22: Dog Day!, climate law, Clean Fuel Standard, Columbia salmon, gas pipe expansion, Fraser sockeye, fish passage work, WA EVs, Columbia R dams

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  251 AM PDT Fri Aug 26 2022   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH  SATURDAY MORNING   
TODAY  W wind to 10 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. NW swell 5 ft at 7 seconds. Patchy  drizzle and fog. 
TONIGHT  W wind 15 to 25 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. NW swell 8 ft at 8 seconds. 
SAT  W wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 ft or less. NW swell 8 ft at 8 seconds. 
SAT NIGHT  W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less after midnight. NW  swell 6 ft at 8 seconds. 
SUN  Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. NW swell 5 ft at  8 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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8/25 Clover, EVs, green crab, fish passages, False Cr cleanup, WA ferries, coccolithophores

White clover

 
White clover Trifolium repens
A low, creeping plant with distinctive, compound leaves that have 3 same-sized, egg-shaped leaflets. Leaves often display faint, symmetrical white markings. White flowerheads rise above the foliage on leafless stems. Prefers cool, moist soil. (Preen)

Washington to phase out new gasoline-powered cars by 2035
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says the state will phase out the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by the year 2035. Inslee announced the move in a tweet on Wednesday and said a new rule will be finalized by the end of the year. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)  California poised to phase out sale of new gas-powered cars California is poised to set a 2035 deadline for all new cars, trucks and SUVs sold in the state to be powered by electricity or hydrogen, an ambitious step that will reshape the U.S. car market by speeding the transition to more climate-friendly vehicles. (Associated Press)  Chinese province plans ban on sale of gasoline cars Hainan island in the South China Sea says it will become China’s first region to ban sales of gasoline- and diesel-powered cars to curb climate-changing carbon emissions. (Associated Press)

138K green crabs pulled from Washington waters ... so far in 2022
So far this year, Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife says more than 138,000 European green crabs have been removed from Washington waters. It's a considerable increase in green crabs captured locally than previously reported this year. A total of 85,000 were captured near Bellingham last year. (KUOW)

WA Fish Passage Program To Flood Contractors With Work
The state’s Fish Passage Program, a 17-year, $3.8-billion effort to correct barriers to fish passages is beginning to ramp up funding with the goal of repairing 90% of the region’s roughly 1,000 fish barriers by 2030. Tim Newcomb reports. (ENRMorthwest)

Meet the People Who Want to Clean Up False Creek
Scientists will descend for a five-day ‘BioBlitz’ to better understand the health of the inlet. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

Washington ferries seeing increased delays
An analysis of Washington State Ferries data shows ferries are running behind schedule this year more than they have in the past decade, with a consistent decline in on-time performance. (Seattle Times/Associated Press)

School of Rock
David B. Williams in Street Smart Naturalist writes: "A couple of weeks ago life exploded in Discovery Bay, just west of Port Townsend. Viewed from space, the profusion of critters turned the normally blue-hued bay into a vibrant turquoise green. The culprits were billions of coccolithophores (Emiliana huxleyi, or Ehux), single-celled marine plants (phytoplankton), commonly described as photosynthesizing algae. These microscopic organisms build a protective exterior made of plates (called coccoliths) that come in a variety of shapes ranging from shells shaped like steering wheels to pig-snouts surrounded by ruffles to a hollow disc with radiating fingers." (Street Smart Naturalist)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  241 AM PDT Thu Aug 25 2022   
TODAY  Light wind becoming W 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves less than 1 ft becoming 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. W swell  4 ft at 7 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less after midnight. NW  swell 5 ft at 8 seconds subsiding to 3 ft at 8 seconds 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.

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8/24 Blackberry, Fraser sockeye, methane pipe, Elwha birds, trash patterns, green crabs, indoor smoke

Himalayan blackberry

Himalayan blackberry Rubus armeniacus
A rambling evergreen, perennial, woody shrub with stout stems that possess stiff, hooked prickles. It may grow up to 13.1 feet. Plants grow into impenetrable thickets. It is a notorious invasive species in many countries around the world and costs millions of dollars for both control and in estimated impacts. This species spreads aggressively and has severe negative impacts to native plants, wildlife and livestock. (WA State Noxious Weed Control Board)

High hopes for Fraser River sockeye dashed by precipitous returns
Returns for the fabled Adams River sockeye run will likely be just one-third of expected abundance, according to revised estimates of the Pacific Salmon Commission. Derrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

West Coast states band together to fight methane pipeline expansion
California, Oregon, and Washington have joined forces to push back against a methane pipeline along the West Coast...The pipeline is a subsidiary of Canadian company TC Energy. The company is currently asking for federal approval of the pipeline expansion. According to the AG's Office, this proposal would result in 150 million cubic feet of additional methane gas moving across the Northwest, each day. The gas is intended to be sold in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and California.  On Monday, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a motion opposing an expansion of the pipeline. Ferguson argues that about 3.47 million metric tons of carbon dioxide would be emitted from this project each year, for 30 years. Kim Malcolm reports. (KUOW)

Bird populations improve after Elwha Dam removals
Dam removals are often associated with salmon recovery, but new research on the Elwha River suggests that birds also benefit. Scientists say birds are a sometimes-overlooked indicator of river health. Alyssa J. Sargent reports. (Salish Currents Magazine)

Beach trash accumulates in predictable patterns on Washington and Oregon shores
Citizen scientists recorded trash on Pacific Northwest beaches, from southern Oregon to Anacortes, Washington, to contribute to the growing study of marine trash. A study by the University of Washington analyzed 843 beach surveys and found that certain beaches, and certain areas of a single beach, are “sticky zones” that accumulate litter. The study was published online Aug. 11 in Marine Pollution Bulletin. Hannah Hickey reports. (UW News)

More than 100,000 invasive crabs removed from WA waters this year
European green crabs can consume shellfish and other native marine life, and destroy habitats that much of the food web relies on. Erica Zucco reports. (KING)

Scientists work to protect indoor air quality from wildfire smoke
As smoke filled the skies over Portland during the Riverside and Beachie Creek fires in 2020, scientists from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory gathered their air quality equipment to get a closer look at the air inside homes. What the scientists found could help people keep the air inside their homes cleaner, even as wildfire smoke season gets longer in the Pacific Northwest. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

Restraining the Tide Exacerbates Climate Change
Saltwater wetlands store vast amounts of carbon. But when they are impounded and cut off from the sea, some wetlands begin releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Michael Allen reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  244 AM PDT Wed Aug 24 2022   
TODAY  Light wind becoming NW to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 2 ft. W swell 2 ft at 11 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 11 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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8/23 Vetch, oil spill vessel, Columbia R salmon, changing ecosystems, fed climate law

Common vetch
[Burke Herbarium/Ben Legler]

 
Common vetch Vicia sativa
Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest and east in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; Alaska to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast. Found on roadsides, fields, forest edges, thickets, lawns, wastelots, and other disturbed open areas. (Burke Herbarium)

Crews prepare to raise sunken fishing vessel leaking oil into Salish Sea
The U.S. Coast Guard says it is making progress dealing with an oil spill in the Salish Sea near Canadian waters and it hopes to begin raising the sunken fishing vessel later this week.  A barge and crane are being shipped from Seattle to San Juan Island to help with the removal of the Aleutian Isle, which had nearly 9,840 litres of oil and diesel on board when it sank west of San Juan Island in Washington state on Aug. 13. (CBC)

Columbia River's salmon are at the core of ancient religion
For thousands of years, Native tribes in this area have relied on Nch’i-Wána, or “the great river,” for its salmon and steelhead trout, and its surrounding areas for the fields bearing edible roots, medicinal herbs and berry bushes as well as the deer and elk whose meat and hides are used for food and ritual. That reliance transcends the material realm into the spiritual, as the acts of gathering, consuming and respecting those foods are inextricably linked to the tribes' religious practice. Yet the river is under threat. (Associated Press)

WA ecosystems are changing. Conservation efforts are, too
The Natural Areas program is critical for preserving native biodiversity in the state, but climate change is challenging its future. Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

Democrats Designed the Climate Law to Be a Game Changer. Here’s How.
In a first, the measure legally defines greenhouse gases as pollution. That’ll make new regulations much tougher to challenge in court. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  213 AM PDT Tue Aug 23 2022   TODAY  W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 8 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 8 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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8/22 Fireweed, Salish Current, WA Clean Fuels, oil spill, hatchery fish, world coasts, NW photos, 'slow water'

 

Fireweed

Fireweed Chamaenerion angustifolium
Chamaenerion angustifolium is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the willowherb family Onagraceae. It is known in North America as fireweed, in some parts of Canada as great willowherb, in Britain and Ireland as rosebay willowherb. In the United Kingdom it is also known as bombweed, as a result of its rapid appearance on city bomb sites during the Blitz of World War II; the plant is also traditionally known as Saint Anthony's Laurel.  It is also known by the synonyms Chamerion angustifolium and Epilobium angustifolium. It is native throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere, including large parts of the boreal forests. (Wikipedia)

Salish Current ICYMI:
Court ensures San Juan County charter proposals go to voters; island water supply managers plan for climate change, population growth; surviving heroin addiction; + the week’s news from Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan counties. (Salish Current)

State’s new Clean Fuel Standard takes aim at climate-changing pollution
A mammoth accounting ledger. A carrot-and-stick rule with a focus on incentives. However you describe it, Washington’s proposed Clean Fuel Standard has a simple goal: reducing vehicle-related carbon pollution, which accounts for almost 45% of statewide greenhouse gas emissions. As drafted, the standard seeks to improve air quality in high-pollution neighborhoods. Deadline to comment bit.ly/WAcleanfuel on them is Aug. 31. Julie Titone reports. (Everett Herald)

Steps continue to remove sunken boat from seafloor near San Juan Island
Response teams continue to take gradual steps to remove the Aleutian Isle from the seafloor after the 49-foot fishing vessel sank last weekend west of San Juan Island. Teams are moving forward with a plan to remove the whole commercial vessel and have it placed onto a barge, where contaminants can be safely removed, according to a Friday news release from the U.S. Coast Guard 13th District Pacific Northwest. Elise Takahama reports. (Seattle Times) See: Public urged to report whale sightings as San Juan oil spill spreads to Canadian waters  (Times Colonist)

The US Endangered Orcas with Overfishing, Court Finds
By approving unsustainable salmon harvest levels, the U.S. government failed to protect endangered southern resident killer whales, the federal court in Seattle has found. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Association violated the Endangered Species Act by authorizing commercial salmon harvest in southeast Alaska at levels that they knew would push southern resident killer whales, who almost exclusively eat Chinook, closer to extinction. The court also found that NOAA violated the National Environmental Policy Act when, instead of limiting harvests, it turned to hatcheries as a way of bolstering fish populations, a mitigation method that the court concluded was undeveloped, unresearched and uncertain. Kate Helmore reports. (The Tyee)

In Graphic Detail: No Coastline Left Untouched
Human activities on land and in the ocean are degrading shorelines around the world. No coastal region is entirely free from our influence. Vanessa Minke-Martin reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Newly digitized Northwest photos connect history to recent headlines
The Seattle Public Library digitized approximately 800 new images this year, more than doubling the size of its historical Northwest Photograph Collection. Completed over nine months, the project was funded by a grant from the Washington State Library and Institute of Museum and Library Services. Part of the library’s Special Collections Online, the Northwest Photograph Collection is one of 41 digital collections available to the public. The Tacoma Public Library also has special collections available through its Northwest Room. Cara Kuhlman reports. (KNKX)

Reflections on the extraordinary power of 'slow water'
In her new book, "Water Always Wins," environmental journalist Erica Gies says stop resisting, just go with the flow. Rochelle Baker reports. (National Observer)

Now, your tug weather--West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  237 AM PDT Mon Aug 22 2022    TODAY  W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 2 ft at 9 seconds.  TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  2 ft at 8 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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8/19 Fir Island winter, anaplasmosis, pilings removed, marine noise reduction, northern leopard frogs, sewage discharges, week in review

Wintering Trumpeter Swans, Fir Island
[Ruth Childs]

Fir Island
Tony Angell writes: "Fir Island is a nearly 10,000 acre wedge of alluvial soils facing Skagit Bay and bordered by the north and south forks of the river of the same name.  Before the end of each year each it becomes a premier wintering ground and migratory stop off point in North America for tens of thousands of shorebirds and waterfowl often in the unsettling company of the predatory eagles, falcons and hawks that pursue them.  Witnessing them from roadside in flight or as they blanket or bustle over the waters and land is an unforgettable spectacle.  It's also a powerful example of what responsible land and water stewardship can do to sustain both essential wildlife habitat and responsible agricultural enterprises."

First locally acquired human case of tick-borne disease anaplasmosis hospitalizes Washington resident
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is reporting the first locally acquired human case of the tick-borne disease anaplasmosis in a Washington resident discovered on August 8. A Whatcom County man in his 80s was hospitalized with severe disease, and is now in recovery, after working in the brush in Mason County where he was likely bitten by an infected tick...the disease is spread by the western blacklegged tick which are mainly found in the western part of the state as well as along the eastern slopes of the Cascades. (WA Dept. of Health)
    
1,800 Old Pilings Removed From Mouth Of Duwamish-Green River
More toxic pilings have been removed from Puget Sound, this time at the mouth of the Duwamish-Green River in Seattle.  King County reports crews pulled 1,800 of the creosoted timbers while taking out an old 72,000-square-foot dock at Harbor Island, on the edge of Elliott Bay, as part of an $8.1 million project that’s expected to wrap up late next month. Andy Walgamott reports. (Northwest Sportsman)

$3.1 million pumped into B.C. marine noise reduction as advocates call for targets
The federal government is putting $3.1 million into projects aimed at reducing underwater noise from vessels to protect marine mammals like southern resident killer whales...Part of a previously announced $26-million investment over five years, the $3.1 million will support 22 projects, including developing real-time tools to track underwater noise from marine vessels, detect marine mammals and alert nearby vessels, among other things...Announced Aug. 11, these investments in research technology are positive, but tangible results and benchmarks are consistently missing from these types of announcements, Christianne Wilhelmson, executive director of the Georgia Strait Alliance, told Canada’s National Observer. Natasha Bulowski reports. (National Observer)

Northern leopard frogs released as part of Calgary Zoo project
More than 1,900 tadpoles of the endangered northern leopard frog have been released into the wild in the last few months. The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo says it has been working with other conservation groups, governments and zoos to breed, translocate and release the frogs into wetlands in interior British Columbia. (Canadian Press)

Two spills discharge sewage into Dyes Inlet, Oyster Bay
Thousands of gallons of sewage seeped into local Puget Sound waters this week from two different area sewer systems. On Thursday, a ruptured force main running under Chico Way NW near Silverdale spewed about 7,700 gallons into Dyes Inlet. The roadway, near the intersection of Holly Park Drive NW, was shut down for much of the day while Kitsap County Public Works crews worked to replace the broken 10-inch pipe. Crews were able to contain the spill in the morning by using trucks to capture and haul away sewage flowing at the source of the main break. Josh Farley reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 8/19/22: Orangutan Friday, BC glass sponge, defamation lawsuit, steelhead meddling, Big Rock salmon, Skeena sockeye, green biz boost, BC marine noise

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  638 AM PDT Fri Aug 19 2022   
TODAY  W 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 8  seconds. A chance of tstms in the morning then a chance of showers  in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming NW to 10 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less after  midnight. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds. 
SAT  Light wind becoming N 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves less than 1 ft becoming 2 ft or less in the afternoon. W  swell 3 ft at 9 seconds. 
SAT NIGHT  NW wind 10 to 20 kt in the evening becoming light.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft in the evening becoming less than 1 ft. W  swell 2 ft at 9 seconds. 
SUN  Light wind becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves less than 1 ft becoming 2 ft or less in the afternoon. SW  swell 2 ft at 8 seconds.

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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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8/18 Rat, Intalco reopen?, green biz boom, Swift Cr asbestos, oil spill cleanup

Brown rat [WikiCommons]

Brown rat Rattus norvegicus
The brown rat, also known as the common rat, street rat, sewer rat, wharf rat, Hanover rat, Norway rat, Norwegian rat and Parisian rat, is a widespread species of common rat. One of the largest muroids, it is a brown or grey rodent with a head and body length of up to 28 cm long, and a tail slightly shorter than that. (Wikipedia)

Will federal climate legislation help reopen a WA aluminum plant?
The federal health care and climate legislation signed Tuesday by President Joe Biden includes tax credits and grant money that would help subsidize the cost of low-carbon aluminum produced in the United States. But the reopening of the Intalco Works aluminum smelter in Ferndale, Whatcom County — sought by a coalition of unions, environmentalists and Washington politicians pitching design changes to reduce carbon emissions — remains uncertain. Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times) See: Intalco restart: can ‘green’ aluminum get ‘clean’ power?  Eric Scigliano reports. (Salish Current 7/21/22)

Massive new climate law could give Pacific Northwest green businesses a boost
Companies large and small around the Pacific Northwest say they are excited by growth opportunities that may flow from the climate, healthcare and tax package signed by President Biden on Tuesday. Turbocharged federal spending could benefit the region’s green energy sector in particular, although congressional Republicans remain dubious that Americans on the whole will come out ahead. Tom Banse reports. (NW News Network)

Construction on asbestos-filled creek in Whatcom to begin next week
A sediment-filled creek in East Whatcom has been transporting naturally occurring asbestos deposits across the region for decades, prompting significant health concerns among neighbors of Swift Creek.  Next week, though, Whatcom County officials hope that will change, as a long-awaited construction project plans to dam the source of the carcinogenic sediment in the creek. Julia Lerner reports. (CDN)

Cleanup continues on sunken fishing boat east of Victoria in Haro Strait
The oil sheen from a sunken boat appears to have dissipated, officials say, but there are still concerns about the impact on marine life around the Haro Strait spill site. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  214 AM PDT Thu Aug 18 2022   
TODAY  E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft  at 8 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  4 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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8/17 Northern flicker, heat, Biden's climate and health care, oil spill, WA ferries diversity, eating nature, Seattle Aquarium

Northern Flicker [eBird/Warren Lynn]

 
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
The Northern Flicker is a common bird in many areas of the Pacific Northwest. They visit yards and feeders and are visually striking. In the wild, flickers can be seen most commonly around standing trees that are dead or dying. Flicker use these ‘snags’ for feeding on tree-dwelling and wood-boring insects and also for excavating nest sites. Additionally, flickers may feed on the ground, searching for ants and beetle larvae. Northern Flickers have two subspecies: the Red-shafted Flicker (C. a. cafer) of western North America and the Yellow-shafted Flicker (C. a. auratus) of the east and far north. (eBird)

Heat warning issued for east Vancouver Island, parts of B.C.
The warning includes Duncan to Nanaimo, Nanoose Bay to Fanny Bay and Courtenay to Campbell River, where daytime temperatures up to 35 C are expected Wednesday and Thursday. Jeff Bell reports. (Times Colonist) NWS issues Heat Advisory for Puget Sound region Wednesday, highs could hit the 90s  Temperatures will be in the upper 80s and are expected to reach the low 90s across western Washington. (KING)

Biden signs massive climate and health care legislation 
President Joe Biden signed Democrats’ landmark climate change and health care bill into law on Tuesday, delivering what he has called the “final piece” of his pared-down domestic agenda, as he aims to boost his party’s standing with voters less than three months before the midterm elections. The legislation includes the most substantial federal investment in history to fight climate change — some $375 billion over the decade — and would cap prescription drug costs at $2,000 out-of-pocket annually for Medicare recipients. It also would help an estimated 13 million Americans pay for health care insurance by extending subsidies provided during the coronavirus pandemic. Zeke Miller and Seung-Min Kim report. (Associated Press) Federal climate and inflation bill to bolster wave of new laws in WA  Nicholas Turner reports. (Seattle Times)

Plans to remove sunken fishing boat off the coast of San Juan Island delayed
Plans to remove a sunken 49-foot fishing vessel carrying about 2,600 gallons of fuel and oil off the coast of San Juan Island have been delayed, according to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)...USCG was hoping to remove the vessel on Tuesday, but plans were delayed after crews discovered the boat sank an additional 100 feet from where it initially came to a rest, putting it at a depth of around 210 feet...Approximately 2,600 of the 4,000-gallon capacity of fuel and oil is estimated to have been on the boat according to the USCG, which has allocated $130,000 for salvage cleanup. Divers are still working on removing the fuel from the vessel. (KING)

Washington State Ferries looks to the next generation to staff — and bring diversity to — future crews
Young students of color from around Seattle are checking out what life is like working onboard a Washington state ferry. The ferries need more employees, plain and simple. "We’re hiring!” said Bryn Hunter from Washington State Ferries. “Traditionally we've only had a lot of white and men as a part of it and we need more women, we need more diversity, and that's a really key thing that we're trying to reach out to," Hunter said. Casey Martin reports. (KUOW)

You're on a Beach and See a Tasty Critter. Can You Eat It?
Michelle Gamage writes: "I’m looking at foraging local plants and animals. Vancouver is a coastal city with beaches littered with Pacific mussels and varnish clams, and lush parks overrun with rabbits and Canada geese. All of these things are edible — so why aren’t they also considered valuable urban food resources?" (The Tyee)

Seattle to lend additional $20 million to aquarium waterfront project
Seattle agreed Tuesday to lend an additional $20 million to the Seattle Aquarium to complete its ongoing expansion project, bringing the city’s overall contribution to $54 million as the project comes in over budget. The city’s initial $34 million contribution to the new Ocean Pavilion — an expansion to the aquarium’s waterfront presence designed to host a variety of sharks and rays in a 325,000 gallon tank — was approved in 2013. Since then, the project once budgeted at $113 million has ballooned to an estimated $160 million. Sarah Grace Taylor reports. (Seattle Times)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  223 AM PDT Wed Aug 17 2022   
TODAY  Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. W swell 4 ft at  8 seconds. Patchy dense fog in the morning. 
TONIGHT  W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft  at 9 seconds.

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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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8/16 Termite, Nooksack R, FEMA aid, Skeena sockeye, Gitxsan Nation, oil spill, English Bay barge

Termite [Tom Myers]

Termite
Drywood termites are a termite species known for thriving in hard, dry wood found inside a home.  This includes structural timbers as well as furniture, picture frames and banisters. They do not make colonies under the soil - instead, they make their way into the wood and are able to extract necessary water from the wood they ingest. Drywood termites are commonly found on the West Coast, Florida and Hawaii, but they can extend east to Texas and the Carolinas.

WA's Nooksack River has been sounding the alarm, and people are finally listening
One WA county aims to restore a troubled river by focusing on the needs of tribes, farms, communities, and fish. Rochelle Gluzman reports. (InvestigateWest)

Nine months later, Whatcom County flood survivors await FEMA aid
The federal agency is failing to meet community needs in the wake of major disasters. Climate change isn't helping. Rochelle Gluzman reports. (InvestigateWest)

Skeena Sockeye Returns Are Surging — But Big Concerns Remain
Four million sockeye, twice the average for the last decade, are expected this year. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

‘We are inseparable from our land’: Gitxsan Nation house group declares 170,000 hectares of territory protected 
An intact ecosystem in the upper Skeena River watershed is now an Indigenous Protected Area. All decisions about the area will be guided by a principle of respectfully passing the abundance of the territory from one generation to the next. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Crews begin removing oil, fuel from sunken boat near San Juan Island
Commercial divers and salvage teams on Monday began removing remaining diesel and other potential pollutants on the Aleutian Isle, a 49-foot vessel that sunk Saturday west of San Juan Island. Crews will get to the vessel, which is in 100 feet of water, using two decompression chambers, according to Petty Officer Michael Clark of the U.S. Coast Guard 13th District Pacific Northwest. Christine Clarridge reports. (Seattle Times)

Oil spill off San Juan Island 'pretty well impossible to clean up,' expert says
Gerald Graham, a Victoria-based consultant who specializes in marine oil spill response and prevention, said the diesel fuel flowing from the boat is very light, which means crews can't use booms or skimmers to clean it up.n up," he told The Early Edition host Stephen Quinn. "In the open water, there's virtually nothing you can do because the oil would either splash over a boom or go under it." Courtney Dickson reports. (CBC)

Orcas, so far, have stayed away from oil spill site near San Juan Islands
A fishing boat that sank with nearly 10,000 litres of fuel on board near the Canada-U.S. marine border, about 25 kilometres east of Victoria, went down in one of the worst possible places for endangered orcas, an ocean pollutants expert says. Peter Ross, a senior scientist with Raincoast Conservation Foundation, said the vessel sank in an important feeding area for endangered southern resident killer whales. It will be a race against time to clean up the spill, he said. (Canadian Press)

An intruder into Pleasantville: The barge that wouldn't leave
The days are numbered for Vancouver’s most unlikely tourist attraction, the English Bay barge. Work crews from Vancouver Pile Driving have been busy dismantling the barge for the past couple of weeks. The top walls are gone and now crews seem to be carving concrete ballast out of the hull. Not so long ago, the barge was a rock-solid, 5,500-tonne industrial workhorse that stubbornly resisted attempts to tow it off the beach. Now, it’s basically a shell that will soon disappear into wherever industrial detritus disappears. John Mackie reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  245 AM PDT Tue Aug 16 2022   
TODAY  W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 8 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  2 ft at 6 seconds.

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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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8/15 Nazca booby, Big Bar salmon, plankton, steelhead science, SLAPP suits, AK kings, BC farm fish, Cherry Pt report, glass sponge, BIPOC outdoor access, Atlas moth, oil spill, coast drilling

Nazca booby, 7/24 [Matt Stolmeier]

Rare Nazca booby bird sighting near Vancouver Island leaves boat captain, whale watchers amazed
A Duncan, B.C. boat captain says it was the "highlight of her birding career" when she got a glimpse of a rarely-seen South American bird while out on a tour a few weeks ago. Tasli Shaw says she was on a full-day boat trip in the Salish Sea on July 23 when she noticed a bird that looked different from the usual gulls she's seen over her 13-year career, just south of Trial Islands close to Victoria. It's only the third confirmed time the seabird has been seen in B.C. waters. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC)

Higher salmon returns celebrated upstream of 2019 Big Bar rockslide north of Lillooet, B.C.
First Nations are cautiously celebrating upstream of a 2019 landslide that dealt a devastating blow to salmon populations reaching the Upper Fraser River to spawn. This year, preliminary data suggest that more of the fish are finally reaching their spawning grounds upriver, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). As of this week, more than 280,000 salmon have migrated past a monitoring site roughly 40 kilometres upstream of the rockslide. Over 80 per cent of those are sockeye, and the rest are chinook salmon, according to the DFO. David Ball reports. (CBC)

A Fascinating Explosion of Puget Sound Plankton So Big It was Seen from Space
Ross Anderson writes: "A week or so ago, folks in the Port Townsend area found themselves gawking at Discovery Bay, wondering what to make of the strange turquoise color that stretched shore-to-shore. They weren’t the only ones.  NASA scientists were seeing the same thing in satellite photos – a brilliant aqua-hued bay surrounded by the normal deep blues and greens of Puget Sound Country." (Post Alley)

B.C. wildlife federation alleges DFO meddling in steelhead science
B.C.’s commercial fishers are anticipating a lucrative Fraser River sockeye salmon harvest this season, but conservationists fear critically low Interior steelhead trout remain at risk due to a federal decision not to list them as endangered. Derrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

‘Every citizen in British Columbia won’: court dismisses defamation suit against conservationists
On Monday, the B.C. Supreme Court dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by a developer against the Qualicum Nature Preservation Society and its president Ezra Morse, ruling that the case did not have substantial merit. The case was a test of B.C.’s new Protection of Public Participation Act, intended to prevent strategic lawsuits against public participation (often referred to as SLAPP suits), which can be used by companies to silence and out-resource opponents.  While the law has been tested a handful of times, this may be the first time it was used to defend an environmentalist against defamation claims arising from land-use disputes, according to Morse’s counsel, Chris Tollefson. Stephanie Wood reports. (The Narwhal)

Ruling clouds future of southeast Alaska king salmon fishery
A federal court ruling this week has thrown into doubt the future of a valuable commercial king salmon fishery in Southeast Alaska, after a conservation group challenged the government’s approval of the harvest as a threat to protected fish and the endangered killer whales that eat them. The ruling, issued Monday by U.S. District Judge Richard Jones in Seattle, said NOAA Fisheries violated the Endangered Species Act and other environmental law when it approved the troll fishery. The ruling means the federal agency will have to consider anew the effects of the fishery on orcas and on protected Puget Sound and Columbia River salmon stocks and whether a plan to offset the harvest by releasing more king salmon from hatcheries is sound. Gene Johnson reports.(Associated Press)

Fisheries minister tight-lipped on timeline for B.C. salmon farm transition
Conservation group worries ‘slippery language’ in discussion document could signal the federal government is walking back commitments to transition salmon farms out of the water in coming years. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

Conservationists worry about destruction of B.C.'s rare glass sponge reefs
...These reefs are as fragile as the most delicate crystal, given that they are made of silica, the main component of glass. They can be instantly shattered by things like crab and prawn traps, anchors, fishing line and downriggers. Not only are these sponges rare, scientists say they contribute to the health of the Howe Sound. Susana da Silva reports. (CBC)

Environmental report on Cherry Point Refinery dock begun in 2006 released Friday
An environmental impact statement examining the incremental environmental impacts of the BP Cherry Point Marine Terminal was released Friday, Aug. 12, by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The report looks at several alternatives to traffic at the refinery docks and evaluates their environmental impact risks. Risks include the possibility of oil spills and accidents in Puget Sound. Additional considerations of the report included assessing vessel traffic, including the use of extended escorts and the effect of eliminating a path between Cherry Point and Padilla Bay. Zach cortège reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Meet the BIPOC groups working to make the outdoors accessible
The culture of outdoor recreation appeals to communities of color in Washington but for some, it remains too white for comfort.  Chevon Powell is trying to change that. At the annual Refuge Outdoor Festival — a three-day event beginning Aug. 12 in Carnation, Washington — her team centers Black, Indigenous and people of color, or BIPOC, communities in outdoor experiences, including workshops, music and art. Maleeha Syed reports.(Crosscut)

Behemoth moth lands in Bellevue, alarming agriculture officials
One of the world's largest moths showed up in Bellevue, Washington, to the astonishment of the homeowner who found it basking in the sun on the side of his garage — and the alarm of entomologists. How did an Atlas moth, with massive orange wings wider than an outstretched hand and wing tips resembling a pair of cobras, get from Thailand to the Seattle area? John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Coast Guard responds to small oil spill near San Juan Island
The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to a diesel spill off the west coast of Washington state’s San Juan Island after a 49-foot (15-meter) fishing vessel sank with an estimated 2,600 gallons (9,854 liters) of fuel on board. The cause of the sinking wasn’t immediately known. The Aleutian Isle reported it was taking on water about 2 p.m. Saturday, the Coast Guard said. (Associated Press)

Could oil and gas drilling happen off B.C.’s coast? A new lawsuit aims to prevent it
Conservation groups want to keep resource development out of marine waters that support millions of seabirds and face multiple environmental threats, despite supposedly being protected. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  234 AM PDT Mon Aug 15 2022   
TODAY  W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 2 ft at 9 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 8 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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8/5 Mock orange salmon plan pause, Indigenous Council, ship breakers, wildfires, Vashon kelp, whale rights, week in review

Lewis' Mock Orange [D.G. Carr/WNPS]

Lewis' Mock Orange Philadelphus lewisii
This species is extremely variable in both vegetative and floral characters and appears to be particularly responsive to local ecological conditions. The wood is strong and hard' it never cracks or warps when properly prepared. The Saanich used the wood for bows and arrows, and the Lummis made combs, netting shuttles and recently knitting needles. Aristotle gave the name Philadelphus to a tree, now unknown, commemorating Pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus. Somehow the name, which means 'brotherly love,' was applied to this shrub. It has nothing to do with the city of Philadelphia, where a whole block once burned after the police bombed a house to keep the peace. (Plants of the Pacific NW Coast)

Editor's Note: Salish Sea News and Weather will take a few days off and return in a week. Thank you for reading.

Groups seek pause in long-running Columbia River Basin salmon dispute Groups seek pause in long-running Columbia River Basin salmon dispute
A legal dispute over the impact of hydroelectric dams on salmon runs in the Columbia River Basin has been winding its way through federal court for more than 25 years. It’s been on hold for the past year while stakeholders develop a long-term plan that protects fish while safeguarding the region’s power system. On Thursday, a coalition of tribes, environmental groups and the U.S. government asked a federal judge for another year to craft that vision. Todd Milbourn reports. (OPB)

Seattle's Duwamish Tribe 'on the outside looking in' as city names new Indigenous Advisory Council
The city of Seattle is named for Duwamish leader Chief Seattle, yet his own descendants say they’ve been excluded from an effort to involve more Indigenous people in city issues. Duwamish Tribal Councilmember Ken Workman was the tribe's chosen delegate to be considered for a spot on the city's new Indigenous Advisory Council. Workman actually applied for three positions, including as the Duwamish delegate, as a representative of an urban Indian organization and as an Indigenous elder. He was rejected for each position. Katie Campbell and Angela King report. (KUOW)

Who Watchdogs BC’s Ship Breakers?
Hazardous industries setting up shops in vital ecosystems are traditionally the purview of the province. Not this time. Second of two in a series. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

More wildfires expected through August in B.C., as hotter than normal temperatures forecast
More than 35,000 lightning strikes struck the southern and northeast parts of B.C. last week, sparking 121 new wildfires. (Vancouver Sun)

Community project aims to help the kelp
Michael Kollins’ community project focuses on researching, restoring and replicating kelp forests near Vashon Island. Olivia Sullivan reports. (Vashon Beachcomber)

Four years after Tahlequah's journey, the legal and ethical debates over orca protection continue to evolve
It has been four summers since a mother orca’s dramatic vigil brought worldwide attention to the plight of Puget Sound’s southern resident killer whales. A recent gathering of legal experts, conservationists, and academic scholars looked at how perceptions of the whales have changed since then and whether laws and policies should reflect new thinking about ethical responsibilities to orcas and other animals. Sarah DeWeerdt reports. (Salish Sea Currents)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 8/5/22: Oyster Friday! Fraser R dikes, Terry Williams, warming Columbia R basin, cleaner Duwamish R., Mt Polley mine, Columbia R salmon, Navy Growlers, Indigenous Council, Columbia salmon plan, whale rights

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  232 AM PDT Fri Aug 5 2022   
TODAY  Variable wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell  4 ft at 9 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less after midnight. NW  swell 5 ft at 9 seconds. 
SAT  Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. NW swell 5 ft at  8 seconds becoming W 3 ft at 8 seconds in the afternoon. SAT NIGHT  W wind to 10 kt becoming SW after midnight. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. NW swell 4 ft at 8 seconds. 
SUN  SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming E to 10 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. NW swell 4 ft at 7 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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