10/10 Sea cuke, BC drought, WA culverts, Taylor Shellfish, oil spill response, oiled birds

California sea cucumber
[Dave Cowles/Walla Walla U]

California sea cucumber Parastichopus californicus
The California sea cucumber is an important species in Puget Sound. It occurs in waters from southern California to Alaska and is one eight common species of sea cucumbers found here in Washington. Beach combers may be familiar with the brightly orange-colored burrowing sea cucumber, which you’re likely to spot in tide pools along Puget Sound. Of the sea cucumbers local to Washington, California sea cucumber are the only species harvested both recreationally and commercially. (WDFW)

Historic drought behind B.C. wildfires, salmon die off could continue, experts say
Thousands of dead fish, a prolonged wildfire season and intense water shortages leading to ice rink closures are all symptoms of record-setting drought in parts of British Columbia. The Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast and West Vancouver Island areas are experiencing Level 5 drought conditions — the most severe in the province's classification scale, which the B.C. government's drought information web page says means adverse impacts are "almost certain.'' Brieanna Charlebois reports. (Canadian Press)

$1B up for grabs to help salmon get to where they're going
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announce a $1 billion program to help save the region's salmon while visiting Washington state Thursday...Salmon need to travel up rivers to spawn. A lot of them don't make it because culverts get in the way. Culverts are like tunnels that let streams pass under roadways. Many were installed decades ago. While they allow water to pass through, they don't work as well for salmon. The new program will help pay to improve or replace culverts in the region. A total of $1 billion is available over five years thanks to the "National Culvert Removal, Replacement and Restoration-Culvert Aquatic Organism Passage Program." Applications are open for tribal, state, and local governments. David Hyde reports. (KUOW)

Why the country’s largest shellfish farm is struggling to hire and retain workers
It used to be that [Taylor Shellfish] could fill a job opening within a few weeks. Now, amid a remarkably tight labor market, that process can take four months. Taylor is struggling to find technicians to grow oyster larvae, as well as farmers.... Last summer, the company’s workforce was a third slimmer than it was four years ago. (High Country News)

Preparing for disaster: Marine responders team up with First Nation in oil-spill training exercise
Dry run of oil-spill response on the southeast coast of Galiano Island was part of Coastal Response Program that includes specific plans to protect 600 sensitive areas in the event of a marine disaster. Pedro Arrais reports. (Times Colonist)

Just a tiny amount of oil damages seabirds' feathers, study reveals
Tiny amounts of crude oil on the water surface, less than one percent of the thickness of a hair, can damage seabird feathers, a University College Cork (UCC) study finds. (ScienceDaily)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  249 AM PDT Mon Oct 10 2022   
TODAY  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. NW swell 5 ft at 8 seconds. Patchy fog in  the morning. 
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  5 ft at 8 seconds building to 9 ft at 9 seconds after midnight.

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