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.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter. 

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told